Harpers on a diet (formerly known as "Project Nick and Jessica")

I'm just gonna put it out there. We are on a DIET! Wow...I said it. That wasn't horrible.

In the past I've made my diets public knowledge and the second I do, I go eat a super value meal somewhere and blow the whole thing. I'm still not sure this won't happen again. But this time I am trying a new tactic: Put in on my blog and then I'll feel reeeeaallly guilty when I cheat. And it's working already-I am feeling really guilty about eating Jose Pepper's for lunch;)

Jason has lost over 15 lbs and I have lost about 10lbs. It's feels so good to slip on a pair of jeans that used to be tight and be able to button them...right out of the dryer! Don't get me wrong, I have a couple mountains to climb before I will truly be happy about my size but there is nothing wrong with celebrating a small victory.

I am really proud of Jason. You may think Jason doesn't need to lose weight but sir packed on 25 lbs when I was preggs with Keet.

(beat for gasp)

You need to know this about Jason though-he is very dedicated to this diet and will lose those last 10lbs- NO QUESTION! In fact, when Jason sets a goal about anything, he achieves it every single time. It's really respectable and I may go as far as saying it's one of his best qualities.

These last few weeks have been a struggle for me as I am tempted 7.5 hours a day with shelves of giant candy bars such as Twix, Snickers, Kit Kats and worst of all TURTLES!

Case in Point: Jason called me one day to check up on my eating and asked if I'd eaten a candy bar. I said 'no' proud of my restraint. The minute I hung up the phone I got a candy bar. It was as if he reminded me I needed to stuff my face with all that sweet goodness.

I think just leaving my job will help me lose 5 lbs. As with a lot of things in our lives, my motto has been "we'll see". That isn't necessarily a positive motto just realistic.

So wish us luck and we'll see...

Silly Daddy

The first time I filmed this, I told Jason it was too boring. This is what I got on the second take.
I guess I asked for it huh?

Last Hurrah

So tonight Cortney and I realized that this could possibly be our last weekend of just the two of us. The doc is thinking about inducing her on Thursday pending her Wednesday appointment. So we decided to celebrate with the old school dinner and a movie. Full circle from our very first date over nine years ago (minus the scary walk).

On our first date I decided to take her on a walk through what I was told was a nature trail. As per normal, I didn't really pay attention when I was given directions to this place. Apparently I was supposed to be taking her to the nature center in Springfield but I pulled into a gravel parking lot next to the highway. I saw a pathway that looked suitable to be walked upon and figured I had the right place. I can only imagine what was going on in Cortney's head at this time. Probably nothing compared to what she was thinking after we followed this "trail" under the highway and into a wooded area. The trail eventually faded and we agreed that we had the wrong place, turned around and headed back to the car. The date just got better as I treated her to one of Springfield's finest dining establishments, The Olive Garden. After that I took her to the romantic movie entitled Remember the Titans (best viewed from the far end of the front row).

Now here we are more than nine years later. After the movie we went out for dinner. We spent the dinner reminiscing about our past together; the first meal I cooked her (burgers on the Foreman), me trying to impress her by playing a Ben Folds song on the piano(she soon realized that was the only song I could play), our 6 pm breakup followed by a 7 pm dinner together as "friends" which ended in us getting back together. We went on and on laughing about so many memories bringing us to the present.

It has been just the two of us for so long and we have had a great time. But we are ready for a change. Ready for the next chapter. Ready to make some new memories. Ready to continue laughing. And ready to go to a movie followed by dinner and hear... "Harper, party of three."

37 weeks

Wowza! Look at that belly! Somebody's gonna pop. Jason thinks that pic of him kissing my belly is weird but I think it is really cute.

We are officially full term and can't wait for baby Keeton to get here!

37 week Belly shot!

and here is a video of Jason's dramatic painting of the nursery...

About to explode!

Christmas time is here and while I love the songs on the radio and the lights on the houses and Jesus as the reason for the season, I really haven't been overtaken with the Christmas Spirit. There is no tree this year and no decor. I waited till the last minute to buy Christmas gifts and couldn't think of anything that I wanted to put on my Christmas lists. I did not send out Christmas cards. Bah Humbug huh?

My only excuse is that I'm EXHAUSTED! I know all preggos go through this but I just can't shake it. I am waddling and my back hurts and I'm not sleeping and...I know, I know. For some reason I feel like he is going to come early. Like in the next couple of weeks. Maybe it's a little bit of wishful thinking or maybe there is some real intuition. Who knows.

Last weekend my mom and dad came to KC to visit and have a mini Christmas with J and I. It was such a fun time. I miss them so much. It's been hard not having them around being preggo. (Lots of lonely nights and not a lot of help while Jason's been in the throws of school- which is now over, YAY!!!, I have my hubby back)

My mom really stepped up and put the final touches on the baby's nursery. It looks really great and I am so proud of how it turned out. We are just waiting on some prints to be framed before I post pics.

In other news, my sis found out she is having another little boy. I am so excited to have another nephew and for him and Keeton to be best friends! YAY! They will only be about 4 mos apart which is perfect.

Jason officially passed his Optometry Admissions Test and we couldn't be more excited and relieved! It has been a bumpy road but God's timing is sooo perfect. Now we just have to continue our faith and hope that his interviews coming up result in an acceptance to either Memphis or St. Louis.

Things have changed so dramatically in the past two years. From NYC life to KC life and a baby on the way. I wouldn't change a thing. I sometimes miss the old life we had but nothing feels as good as knowing you are walking in the will of God.

Daddy Diaper Shower

Jason had a Daddy Diaper Shower yesterday! Just a group of guys hanging out, watching the Chiefs play and cooking out. The admission to the shower: a pkg of diapers!

How awkwardly funny must it have been to see those guys handing over their diapers to Jason and trying to explain why they picked certain sizes and certain brands. haha!

Overall we got quite a few packs of diapers for the little one. At the end of the "shower" Jason got to open up his present from his mom and dad and me! A diaper dude bag and goodies inside.

Here's Jason's Cookie Cake!

And this is the part where he pretended to cry because he was so touched by the gift!

(Drama Queen)

Overall I think he had a really good time. And hey, the Chiefs actually won!

Daddy Tips Part 2: Deadbeat Dads

Okay, so I know I've touched on this subject before but I just get the biggest kick out of it. As I have mentioned, one of the books Cortney has gives the father a "Daddy tip" every week. For the past three or so weeks I have been completely dumbfounded by these tips. A few weeks back it said that if you were going to be out of town be sure and call your wife at least once a day to make sure she is doing alright. WHAT?!?!?! So if she were not pregnant I would go out of town and just talk to her when I got back? This isn't the 1800's. It is pretty easy to communicate from long distances. I don't need to send a telegram. So this raises the question: Are there husbands out there that would go out of town and not call their wives everyday? Come on...seriously? I started dating Cortney about 9 years ago and I don't think there has been a single day that we have not talked to each other at least once. And that includes two years of long distance dating and about 5 months of long distance while we were married.

So the very next week the daddy tip says if you are out of town (why are you always out of town?) and you can't talk to her make sure a family member or friend stops by to check on her. So I guess in this scenario you have absolutely no possible way to get in touch with your wife. Hmmmm. So how is that you were able to contact your buddy to tell him/her to check on her? And now you totally got off the hook from last weeks tip.

Who in the world are these tips geared toward? Who is the target audience here? Are these couples even married??? Sometimes I think not. The Daddy tips should be prefaced...if you know who the daddy is, let him know this....

Party Baby

So the other day I accompanied Cortney to her 12 week appointment. This was an interesting event full of surprises. My first surprise was the hour wait for the doctor to come into the room. Then once the doctor came in she surprised me with all the MANY possible diseases my baby could get. That was exciting to listen to. Then came the ultimate surprise, without any warning as I sat in a chair opposite my wife, she gave Cortney her yearly exam!!!!! I hopped out of my seat and and tried to desperately find a corner where I could hide without causing a huge commotion. I was trying to think fast. I couldn't leave the room. That would seem weird and I knew I shouldn't open the door in the middle of her exam. I was trying desperately to play it cool. Yeah, this is totally normal to watch some lady feel my wife's boobs and put some crazy arrowhead looking thing in a area that I'm almost positive arrowheads should not go.

So finally the exam was over and not a moment too soon. She then tried to find the baby's heartbeat to no avail. Surprise number four, my baby has no heartbeat. She then told us that she could find it eventually but was running behind (obviously...we just sat and waited for an hour for you). So she sent us off to get an ultra sound so we could hear the heartbeat. Now for the good surprise!!! The baby looked amazing. At only 12 weeks it looked like a real baby. And shorty was moving like crazy. It was like there was a party going on in there. At one point I truly believe I saw this baby doing the Nsync "Bye Bye Bye" dance. Cortney disagreed though and thought it was the Arsenio Hall arm motion. Either way, it was definitely having a good time in there. I can't wait for the little one to get out of there and start partying with us!

Daddy Tips

So Cortney is starting her 10th week. According to one of "the books", shorty is starting to look more like a human and less like a sea manatee. So that's exciting! Also, this book always gives "Daddy tips". Well we didn't really notice these until a few weeks ago and so far I have been getting some great tips. The first week we looked said to buy her something. Well, we are poor and so she told me not to. And not in a joking kind of way, she meant it, like don't buy anything or you will get hit. In case you didn't already know this...Cortney hits. This meant I had the week off from my "Daddy tips". The next week it had something to do with pets. Like cleaning them or feeding them so she didn't have to. Well we don't have any pets. Sweet..another week off for Daddy. So that brings us to this weeks "Daddy tip". It lets dads know that "pregnancy is an opportunity for increased closeness and intimacy as a couple and that sex can be a positive part of this experience". SWEET! I love "Daddy tips". Well when I read this to Cortney she basically let me know that Daddy would again have another week off. Hmmmm...maybe I should just do something special for her that isn't in the book? Then again, who am I to question the experts.

Jason

The day we found out!

I think at this point, we still didn't really believe it. That is why we took 4 more pregnancy tests. We are freaks!

A man couldn't handle it

Ah pregnancy. A wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles. All I can say is...I am so glad I don't have to carry it. First of all...I HATE to throw up. This may be a TMI, but seriously, I can't deal. Luckily for Cort, she has only had two experiences. The first one happened while I was out getting a beer with a friend. Typical guy huh? She is at home, tired, sick and not allowed to even drink a beer. He is out tipping them back and having a jolly old time. However, the second time I had the privilege of rubbing my wife's back as she projectiles the worst smelling material known to man (and if you know me, I can't really smell all that well). I could get more graphic about the experience but I am sure you can imagine. And I know this is only the beginning. A couple of nights ago I watched in amazement as Cortney began to burst out into tears during the middle of the bachelorette. I think it may have even been during a commercial. Nothing provoked it. It was accompanied by laughter. I had no idea how to respond. During the laughing parts, if I joined in on the laughter it would make her cry, but if I tried to comfort her, she would get mad and then the laughter would start again. I eventually had to just sit back and watch the show (Cortney, not the bachelorette) and wait for it to end. Which took longer than you might imagine. I know there is so much more still to come. Insomnia, back pain, heartburn, not to mention the actual birthing process itself. A guy could never do it. I sneeze in the evening...no work for me the next day. Hats off to all the ladies out there who have gone through it. Ugh...I need a beer.

Jason