Happy 3rd Birthday- I

Happy 3rd Birthday Isabel! This year was your first birthday party (aside from our living room of course) and the first time you requested the food (hot dogs and apple pie ala mode). 

We love your excitement for life, for both the mundane and the special.

You are a lover of people. Last month as we pulled into a deserted park, my favorite, you asked where all the people are. First thought out of your mouth. An outing can't be an outing without friends.

You still love Christmas songs, weeks later you still request Silent Night at bedtime, every night, without fail.

Your favorites this month are Fancy Nancy books, frozen yogurt (fruit mixed with yogurt then frozen), stickers, dollhouses, playing "restaurant" , and playdates. 

You have fantastic retention and memorization skills. You've been soaking up Bible lessons, catechism answers and preschool lessons like mad. Ah to be young and curious. 

This last year you mastered giving up the pacifier, sleeping in a toddler bed, potty training, becoming a big sister, unloading your half of the dishwasher and going to sleep unassisted sans yelling and crying. 

I look forward to the milestones this next year has to offer. Much love to my enthusiastic, sweet and curious girl!

First Birthday

Happy First Birthday! Congratulations to you, and us, for finishing the year out strong. I feel like this last week a flip was switched and you can do so many new things. You've added some words to your vocabulary, you now say hot- making the h and t sounds, you can also say hi and often talk on your phone, to who I'm not sure. And you've started to say do-do, which everyone knows means dog. You say it when you hear one and see one, a live one or a picture- go you, that is a big accomplishment!

You've also grown quite a bit, as we see from your photos, but you are "walking" now, across the living room and down the hall, often without being prompted- it's so exciting!

And my new favorite, you seem to understand us now, you can follow directions, bringing me socks or toys from where you are sitting. Ahhh to be understood. I know you also love to be understood, 'cause when I acknowledge that there actually is a do-do (dog) outside you get so excited, almost in tears with relief. Here's to another year of learning to communicate. 

We love you girl, Happy First Birthday!

Uncle John

Dan and his siblings grew up with an Uncle John and now our girl will too! Meet our Uncle John, even though he now lives in Montana we've still been able to see him a few times this year- though not as much as we'd like (hint, hint), we've even been able to chart Isabel's growth through the year. 

March, 6 weeks old in Mississippi

July, 5 months old in Washington.

December, 10 months old in WA

Loves to all Uncle Johns out there!

11 Months

We are weeks away from having a one year old. Ready or not, here she comes!

We spent the majority of this last month in Washington celebrating the Holidays with family. You are such a trooper; considering all the different people we spent time with. I know you prefer to be with me (who doesn't) so the only way we could get you to spread the love to others was for me to leave the room, or house. We may have to work on that skill in the coming weeks, but I know they loved having you around, near or far from me. 

You are cutting three molars now, we are all feeling the pain and discomfort, you more than us I'm guessing. 

You can now say uh-oh, wave bye bye, point your finger as a greeting and most everything has the label of dada. I'm sure you haven't forgotten about mama right?

You've taken a total of 10 steps in a row but still aren't "walking". I'm thankful for that and would encourage you to take your time. No sense in rushing things, there will be plenty of time for that later, just enjoy being 11 months for now. Much love, dada and mama. 

10 months

Happy 10 months! You've made it into the double digits, welcome. 

You are initiating peek-a-boo now and getting into everything. You can now reach the top of the dining room table and the TV stand and, yeah us, pull things down, to inspect them of course. 

Even though you challenge my housekeeping skills we have lots of fun together; taking walks, exploring and reading lots of books, lots and lots of books and let's not forget everyone's favorite: eating.

Note to our readers: If you need some help wrapping gifts this year I know someone who might be available. Merry Christmas!

Remember what I said about getting into everything?

9 Months

As we all know, a lot can and has happened in nine months. Baby, today you are nine months old. We've had so much fun with you this last month. You've started laughing to engage us, and others- a skill that spreads smiles everywhere we go. (gulp) I think you are an extrovert, which makes your introvert mother a little nervous. You squeal and laugh to engage and not surprisingly people look to us and....engage with us. (sigh) So much for my wallflower existence.

Last week at the library during mommy and me sing time you spent the entire song time without me. That's right, while all the other babes stayed close to mom and did motions with her you made your rounds seeing who you could pal around with. I guess coming to sing time doesn't always imply that I'm going to be singing WITH you, maybe just AROUND you (wink, wink). Don't get the wrong impression, I love who you are, and love that you love people. You are so much like your father both in actions and in looks. This is your father below, tell me you aren't the female version of him?

Everywhere we go people ask who you take after, I think they are just being polite. There is no denying you are your father's daughter, you are family; and that I love!

This month you are learning to stand, you've almost passed 30 seconds on your own. Are you trying to walk soon? You're on the right track. You are also the proud owner of two new teeth, totalling seven now, congrats! My favorite thing you've learned (maybe this won't be a favorite for long) is when you crawl away from us in laughter. Like when the dishwasher is open- I've never seen you crawl so fast, you let out a squeal of pure delight and know you are being tracked. I really love playing with you. Promise you'll obey though when the time comes (I can hear all the seasoned parents laughing at me now).

Happy November and Happy 9 months!

Daniel and Isabel both at 9 months. 

Celebrate

Happy 4th, October 4th that is. Today Isabel turns 8 months and Dan turns 372 months. 

Happy Birthday Dan, day after day I'm thankful for you!

No one could love our girl like you do. 

Thank you for being so patient and kind with us, here's to another year full of adventure.

In other news, precious girl is 8 months old today! 

We have moved into full baby proofing mode, challenging both my sanity and housekeeping skills. Nevertheless we love her to pieces and find her joy and discovery of the world contagious. 

This last month we've experienced babe's first autumn and first tailgate (wink) along with babbling, pulling up on....everything and the addition of three more teeth. We've been busy. 

Here is to another month full of adventure baby!

Seven Months

How does that saying go? The days are long but the years go quickly, or in our case the months. There are some days where I can't wait for 7:30 (bedtime) to come but then how can it be September already? 

We've been busy, some of us busier than others. Some of us learned to crawl this month. I've put in a request for one milestone at a time but I have a feeling it was denied as we have learned to crawl, are babbling in consonants, pulling up to our knees and have cut our top two teeth. Impressive and overwhelming. What happened to takin' it easy on mom?

Told you we've been crawling, under and through, around and thankfully not yet on top of anything....yet.

Dan has a sneaky grin on his face as this is a rare moment in our house. Baby is not a fan of being held or cuddled like, well, a baby, except of course when she is suffering from teething pain. Dan is taking full advantage.

Mom and dad are still in shock over all the changes that have taken place this month. Happy seven months kiddo. Thanks for keeping things interesting. 

Happy Birthday

Today is my half birthday, yep, that's right I'm 6 months old today. It seems like just yesterday mom and dad were bringing me home from the hospital. But today I've reached half of my first year. 

Yeah, I'm big stuff now!

This summer was pretty fun I guess, although it seemed like every four or five nights mom and dad were putting me to bed in a different spot. I used to sleep through the night (I'm talking 10-12 hours people!) but I decided I'd had enough of that so now I wake them up at 5am (or sooner), after all sleeping is for babies and I'm a big girl.  

You probably can't tell from this photo but I now have two teeth now. Pretty great stuff. Who knew teeth could be so good?!

I'm sure I don't have to point this out to you but I can now sit up on my own, that also happened this summer. Talk about a whole new world! There are so many new things to see, explore and experience from a sitting position, how did I manage before? 

Since mom and dad decided to drag us all over Washington (and Oregon and California) I met a lot of  new folks. I mean A LOT of new folks. I never knew we had so many relations. Best part is they all wanted a piece of me so I hardly ever had to sit on my own or entertain myself. I sure wish they'd come 'round again, it's pretty dull without them. 

Did I tell you I'm thinking about crawling soon? That's right I can get up on all fours. Moving my legs is no problem, but I can't get my arms to cooperate. I've tried and tried but just end up doing a face plant. Good thing daddy passed along a nice sturdy(aka big) head for me. I'll keep you posted on the upcoming changes. Mom and Dad have no idea what they're in for (wink, wink).

4 months

Precious girl, Happy 4 months! You have made us both a little sappy these days. We are pretty sure we'll be moving to a new house in August but before we decided to move we first had to mourn the loss of our first home together, our first home as three. Mushy business I know, it's just 'cause you're so special.  

You have become your own person for sure! Your own person with a will and a desire. Most often I witness your will being opposed to mine during nap time. Yikes, girl, you've got some lungs. I'm pretty sure Tom Petty wasn't talking about parenting, nevertheless his song kept coming to my mind, specifically; 

"I will stand my ground, and I won't back down, 'cause baby there ain't no easy way out." 

You've since come around to my way of thinking concerning naps but I'm sure our desires will clash again and I'll have to reference this song once more.

You can now roll and stand with help. You really love to stand, I think you'd do it all day if we had energy to hold you there. Good thing we are calling in backup and travelling to Washington for a little vaca. I'm sure we'll find lots of folks willing to help you stand.

 You've grown so much, you now sit up in your stroller, that was a milestone that caught me by surprise and yes, it did make me a little sad, pathetic I know!

You've always been a good eater but these last two months you grew three inches. You are now 26in tall. Good work! We love you baby, there might not be an easy way out but we are happy to walk it with you.

Confessions before month three

Time flies when you're having fun or when raising babies. I mean really, where did these last weeks go? Week 12?? Are you kidding me.

Confession: I've come to enjoy middle of the night feedings. Now that you are sleeping through the night (well sleeping through the night in your rock n play, you have yet to master a complete night in your crib) 3am feedings have become a thing of the past, almost. There are the sporadic nights (when we put you in your crib) where you wake and need me and while I do my best to make them boring and quick (cause we all know you don't really 'need' me) I love our time together. I never thought I'd linger in the rocking chair at 3am but I find myself rocking you for a few more minutes than necessary just because I can. 'Cause it's just you and me, and nothing else is demanding my attention, and if this last month is any indication pretty soon you aren't going to need me at all in the night. Don't get me wrong, I love sleeping for a solid 8 hours but I also really love our time together.

Are you kidding me mom? Another blog post photo, really?

You seem to have graduated from newborn to full on baby this month. You have so many skills that you didn't have at first. I'm amazed that you've caught on so quickly, amazed and also a little sad. 'Cause was 8 weeks really long enough to be so small? I was emotional and sore and in a fog for most of those 8 weeks, couldn't we go back now that I am more alert? Confession: I wasn't ready for you to grow so quickly.

You  I survived your first time to stay with a non-family member and your first time in the church nursery. You were great of course, and kuddos to me: I didn't check up on you/stalk you while you were away. I've been mentally preparing myself for a while now but confession: leaving you is harder than I imagined. Leaving you with grandma/grandpa is way easier than leaving you with someone who isn't related to me, I'm not sure why but it just is. But now that we have the first time under our belt I think the next time with be a touch easier.

We love you so very much and look forward to the adventures that lie in month three.
Loves