Santa's early visit to 10 Tinsbury!

Looks like this will be the Christmas of wrapping paper!

Watch out pony, I will be big enough soon.

Please everyone do not be jealous...Santa has already paid a visit to the McDaniel residence.  Caden must have been a very good boy!

Seriously, this morning we had our family Christmas.  We are leaving tomorrow to visit our families for the holidays and we didn't want to haul all our stuff everywhere...so we decided to have an early celebration.  I loved it.  We are definitely in the holiday spirit now.

So you know you are getting old when you want a new robe.  That's just what I got and I am proud to say I love it.  It's the softest thing ever and pink...my favorite color.  Jason got a new wardrobe of shirts and little Caden received his first pony...The cheap kind you don't have to feed.  We wanted to get him a key toy he would use for a long time.  So a rocking horse it was.  Jason and I both had one as children and some of our fondest memories are with them.  Although little man can't ride it yet, he loves staring at it.  The horse makes clicking noises, twitches his nose, and wags his tail.  Active horse for an active Caden.  He's moving all the time.

Christmas with the Tuckers!

What a sweet couple.

Caden also enjoyed the wrapping paper.

Good buds.

Tuesday night we shared Papa Johns with the Tuckers and had a great time.  Thanks guys for coming over.  Caden thanks you for the crawling pooh, and Jason and I love our shirts.  Thanks so much.  We had such a great time.  We love you and are thankful for you this Christmas!

Watch out for reindeer...one named Caden!

A "deer" caught in headlights!

Here's our little reindeer.  So glad to have him here with us this Christmas!

Happy Birthday Sweet Thang

Jason with one of his favorite friends, Jason Huprich.

My Darlin turned 27 on Sunday.  What a great birthday he had.  After church we went out to eat at Ted's with some friends.  Thanks guys for joining us.  We had yummy bison burgers, our fav.  He then watched a movie with the guys and spent the night with Caden and I.  Happy Birthday Jason.  Love you!

Construction Ahead!

So you've never had entertainment until you've made gingerbread houses with two sweet and crazy dudes like Faith and Jordan.  There's no denying that we're related.  We all performed while making the houses.  Singing and dancing around.  

Believe it or not, Jordan was the one most into it out of everyone.  He constantly said, "Heather, pick which one you think is the best."  In which I responded of course, "I think they are both great."  So Faith and Jordan did most of the work and Caleb occasionally came in, laughed, and grabbed some sweet treats.  Jason was on Faith's team and I was on Jordan's. We had a great time.  Good job Harris family!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

I am behind.  We went on break for Thanksgiving, stayed away from home for 5 days, then all 3 were sick.  Nonetheless, here is a happy Thanksgiving from the McD's.  Hope everyone had a great one!  Little Caden did.  He got to see all the special family!

Caden's Stats

Caden went for a well child check-up today.  Here are his measurements:

Height 26in.--greater than 50th percentile

Weight 14 lbs. 1 oz.--greater than 10th percentile

Head circumference--17.25 in.--greater than 50th percentile

I might add from my estimation his feet and hands are humongous.  

The "7" Game

So, my homegirls Angie and Carrie tagged me on their blogs.  The game is called "seven."  What you are supposed to do is list seven things about you most people don't know.  So here goes...

1-I was also 1/2 tomboy and half girlie girl too.  I grew up with three brothers and now have five.  I still live in a home with two dudes, my husband and my son.

2-I was raised on a Farm 1/2 of my childhood.

3-I didn't have hair until I was 2 years old.  Thank goodness Caden is not taking after me.

4-My favorite restaurants are Pizza Villa and Khanki.

5-One of my favorite things to do like Carrie is clean.  I know, sounds crazy, but I get a little frazzled when my world is chaotic.

6-I love to run around in the summer barefoot.

7-I secretly used to love liver when I was a child.  It was great.  My mom made it like steak and gravy.

Seven people I tag:

1-Mom

2-Annette

3-Elizabeth

4-Christy

5-Anne

6-Jennifer

7-Tiffany

 

Harris wins Miss Kinston 2009

If I were a newspaper writer that's what I would call this article.

Last night was Miss Kinston.  Two bonuses were involved with going to the pagent.  I had the honor of being backstage with my cousin, who won by the way, and seeing my homegirl again.  Angie sang and did a great job.    

Yesterday about 4pm Caitlin (one of my friends from UNC) and I headed out for a trip to K-Town and we returned approx. 11:30pm.  Needless to say, I was pooped.  It was well worth it though.  

Jason and Caden had boy time.  He was daddy daycare this weekend.  He pulled most of the weight with little man.  Thanks babe. 

Back to Miss Kinston...I had a great time.  My cousin, Larissa competed this year and SHE WON! She had amazing talent and won the interview category.  I am so proud of her.  So off to Miss North Carolina we shall go in June.  

Turning 26!

Code communication.

Noah loves little Caden.  They will be best of friends!  He loves you back Noah.

Noah helped me with the candles.  Thanks bud.  I couldn't have done it without you.

On Tuesday I am turning 26 and I am happy about it.  I think our country values youth a little too much.  Why wouldn't you want to get older?  I love my life.  I have a great husband, little boy, family and friends.  It only gets sweeter as the years progress.  The wrinkles that are added to my face each year only means I'm a little wiser and I have had the honor to experience life for one more year.  So bring on the big 3-0.  I'm ready.

On that note, my great buds Angie and Ryan had me a little b-day celebration.  We went over just for dinner, but sweet girl had some yummy brownie cake iced and a great gift.  My gift, the prettiest tank tops I've ever seen...UNC baby.

Thanks guys for your love.  You are the best friends!  We love you back.  

"Happy 50th Gigi"

Surprise!

She doesn't look 50 does she?

The best Aunt in the world!

Great job bro.  You did well.

Little sugar eating his first sugar.

This weekend we had the honor of attending my (Heather) Mom's 50th, that's right, the BIG 5-0, birthday party.  We had a wonderful time.  Oh my gosh.  Basically, Ken, Shane, Jason, Aunt Linda, and myself starting planning this just a few weeks ago.  I had wanted for Mom to have a surprise partay, but she told me she wasn't in the partying mood.  Mom has had a rough go for the last few years in the death of her two parents.  Despite her telling me this, her daughter knew she needed a big bash to get her back in the partying mood.  This party did just that.  Around 35 family members gathered to celebrate Mrs. Gail Mewborn Knapp in Emerald Isle, NC.

At the party, Caden got his first dab of icing.  Needless to say he wanted more.  Shane also conquered the task of BBQing his first pig.  He's a natural.  Jason is my detail man.  He thought through many things that never crossed my mind.  Ken, you did a wonderful job getting the sides.  Thank you Aunt Linda for all your hard work in making this special for Mom.  

Love you my sweet Mom.  Happy Birthday tomorrow.  You are more loving, beautiful and wise than you were last year.  You're simply amazing! 

"Gotcha!"

We decided your yard needed a little redecorating.  HAHA!

Gotcha Grandaddy.  

The MC Tradition-Cornhuskin

For those of you who went to Meredith you know what I'm talking about.  For those who didn't nor have ever been to Cornhuskin, "You just have to experience it."  I used to strongly dislike this statement, but it's really true.  It's hard to put a crazy week of strange activities into words.  Cornhuskin week activities include:  corn shucking, hog calling, can art, parade, apple bobbing, hall rades, dancing, etc. 

This past Friday night Jason, Caden and myself joined Tori, Rebekah and Brian for a night of Cornhuskin at Meredith.  Brian nor Jason had ever been.  They thought it to be very interesting.  

Because Meredith does not have a football team, Cornhuskin is basically like their homecoming event.  Many alumni come back to see the classes compete in the finally performance.  It's pretty fun every so often especially if you're with great people.  

Thanks Rebekah for inviting us.  We had a great time! 

"That was then and this is now!"

Our Caden has had a change of opinion in his cereal.  We started him two Thursdays ago on cereal once per day in the early evening and he wasn't feeling it.  This past Thursday he really started enjoying it...Now he loves it.  

Our first Cereal feeding

Mom, seriously, I really don't like this.  

Please just get me out of here.  

Look at all the napkins we used as he spit each bite out.  

For a few weeks now Caden has not seemed too satisfied with Mommy's milk.  It seems as though he's wanted a little more.  Last Thursday night, I finally got up the courage to feed him a little cereal.  We'll let the pictures explain his reaction.  Needless to say, it didn't go over too well.  Every day gets better though.

P.S.  His diapers are horrendous now.  

Happy Birthday Grandaddy and Yahoo Fiesta

As you can see we had an exciting week last week.  On the 28th, my dad turned 51.  So on Friday night (Halloween), my dad, 3 brothers, sister, and Brandi came over to celebrate Dad's birthday.  Then we headed off to our Fall Festival called Fiesta at church.

We had a wonderful night as you can see.  Caden did so well.  We bundled him up in his halloween outfit (with 2 layers underneath) and he handled it like a champ!  

Happy Birthday Dad.  Thanks for coming over everyone.  We had a wonderful time!

To The Pumpkin Patch We Go

Here's the One.

This is the first Halloween for our boy so we decided to take him to the pumpkin patch last Thursday in his candy corn outfit.  Thank you to Grandaddy and Mema for the outfit.  Look at my two favorite Men.  

Mommy broke it.

He's thinking, "Hope you're not taking me out of my beloved."

If you have a swing, do not go into that box on the upper right hand corner.  BEWARE.

Our hope has come!

Before Caden was born, the students at UNC gave us this amazing swing.  It goes with our pack n' play and we love it.  It's still one of Caden's favorite things too.

A couple of weeks ago the batteries needed to be changed.  Jason had an extremely busy week that week so I thought I would change the batteries (he put together all of Caden's toys).  So I was a little unsure where the batteries were.  By looking at the swing, it looked like they could have been two places.  I tried the first box, that wasn't it, so I put it back together and the swing didn't work.  I got so frustrated with myself.  I messed with that swing for 1 hour and still couldn't get it back working correctly.  

A couple of days later Grandaddy Randy came up and he and Jason worked on it for another 30 minutes...still not fixed.

Then I went to Babies R' Us to see if they would help us out. They suggested that we call Graco (the manufacturer).  Graco is GREAT!  They sent us a whole new motor for our swing free of charge.  

I am a happy Mama.  My child's favorite toy is now fixed and our swing and pack n' play can still match!!!

If you ever need anything for a baby, I encourage you to buy Greco.  They're the BOMB.