Birthday Pictures

You birthday party in GA:

Your actual birthday, a small party at home with friends:

Your official 2 year old photo:

25 Months and Counting

As you all know I have my ups and down with this blog. I try to be better and I am, then I slack again. Vicious cycle. So, there are many things I don't blog about and I can easily shrug it off. Today I realized I never blogged about Isabella turning two. Sad mommy, bad mommy.

So here is everything you need to know about a 2 year old Isabella.



What can I say about you, sweet Isabella? My little noodle turned toddler in the blink of an eye. I guess I will start out by telling you that you are truly loved by everyone who meets you. You're sweet, outgoing, and funnier than I knew any kid could be. People are just drawn to you, you're that girl. I guess you are like your mother in that you never meet a stranger and for some reason your mouth never, ever, stops moving.

At your two year well check up you really impressed the doctor. You talked her ear off and told her that you loved her watch. You even told here that you would like to have it. (I would have liked to have it too, so shiney and diamond-y!) Although she declined your request you were still an exemplary patient as always. (By the way, keep that up, seriously!) At two you are a towering 35 1/4" tall and and 23.2 pounds. Is it obvious that you have your daddy's body and not mine? I think by the time you are 5 you'll be taller than me. Everything checked out as above average to exceptional, you are one special girl!

The things you love very best are Dora, playing outside, your big girl bed, books, and your daddy! The things you love the very least are sleeping, wearing clothes, messes, and Santa Claus. It's so fun to watch you every day as you explore and learn new things. As you are getting older the way you interact with everything around you is changing. Some things in the past that you have completely shunned are now your favorite and things you once loved aren't your "thing" anymore. Hey, by the way, welcome back to the meat eating world.

You say the funniest things and always keep my laughing. You're big heart and sweet soul are even more beautiful to me than your perfect little face. These are the things I think of when I think of you. Your compassion for other people and other things amazes me every day. I am proud to be your mommy, and I wouldn't trade you for anything. You are going to be an amazing big sister. Even if you are a little jealous at first, I know that you will be good to her, because that's who you are. (Oh yeah, I'm pregnant, but that's another post!)

Oh and before I forget, thank you for being awesome and making potty training a breeze. We started on Dec 30, a Thursday, and by the end of the weekend you were going all day accident free. You are a super star, my dear. It's been 3 weeks and there is no looking back, diapers, as are most baby things, are a part of your past!

Most importantly remember that at 2 I love you, as I did when you were a tiny embryo in my tummy, and as I will when you are a teenage girl making my hair grey. You are now and will always be my Isa!

Holy Deja Vu

Today at lunch Isabella was doing her usual terrorizing of the refrigerator and I was shocked at how tall she looked standing there. All of the sudden I remembered taking some pictures of her doing this exact same thing when she was much smaller. I whipped out my camera and grabbed a few shots while I had the chance. While she was napping I started looking through my pictures and found the "original". What a coincidence that they were taken almost exactly a year apart. Look how she has grown! I can't even think about it, it makes my head hurt.


January 14, 2011


and just a short 369 days before....




January 10, 2010.

Wordless Wednesday

This is my life...

A blog that I read regularly did a posted yesterday called "A little bit awkward, a little big awesome". When I read the title I thought to myself that I HAD to make a blog post like this. It's a perfect description of my life!

A little bit awkward:

Showing up for my OB appointment a week before my actual appointment. The right day and right time, just a week early!

Having my daughter YELL "toot toot" in the middle of a store because someone else on the isle passed gas.

Calling my husband at work and instead of asking for SSgt Laurence I said Jonathan, then hung up from embarrassment.

Having to cross your legs when you sneeze, then looking up to see 3 other moms looking at you sympathetically. I guess I wasn't as discreet as I thought.

Having an elderly lady tell you that your daughter needs a jacket on because it's cool outside. But she DOES have a jacket on and you don't know what to say.

Tearing up and then crying during a college football game because one of the players went down.

Having a friend ask you a question that you really don't want to answer because they really don't want to know the truth.

A little awesome:

My husband getting up at 4:30 with our wide awake daughter because I tossed and turned all night.

My daughter - enough said.

Feeling a little life moving inside of me, which is, by the way, the most amazing thing ever.

Having a clean house AND being caught up on laundry. It's amazing the things that make you happy when you get older and become a mom.

Getting the exact gift we wanted for Isabella's birthday and spending $20 less than we expected! SWEET!

The fact that the hair on my legs virtually stops growing when I'm pregnant. Nothing better than that.

Putting up my Christmas tree in another 10 days! I know Thanksgiving comes first, but why can't we celebrate Thanksgiving with a beautiful Christmas tree in the background?

Having awesome friends and family, near and far, who love and support you. The life we live because of Jonathan's career is hard at times, but we have met some awesome people who have changed our lives, and that's what it's all about! And family is family! :)

So that's my awkward and awesome. Is it weird for me to blog about things other than Isabella?

To finish it off, a little awkward and a little awesome photo style.

AWKWARD!

AWESOME!

Do You Still Love Me?

Of course you do! I may be the world's worst blogger, but I'm the only person in the world blogging about something you all love - ISABELLA! So let's get to it.

Almost 2 months ago Isabella turned 18 months old. We took her for her well check up and everything was great! She weighed 21 lbs 7 oz, and was 31.5 inches long. Can you believe she it? She had a huge growth spurt and grew an inch in one month. Um, that's crazy! She has a fat head, that we already knew. When the doctor measured her head she said "Well, we know she has a big brain!". Love it.

She is running around, talking, singing, dancing, causing chaos, and most of all, leaving a trail of toys everywhere she goes.

She has big brown eyes that could charm the pants off of anyone. And unfortunately I think she already knows that.

She's smart.

She's independent.

Oh, yes, and she is STUBBORN!

She can say anything she wants to say, but 99% of the time she doesn't want to say ANYTHING when we want her too. Stinker.

We love the little person she is becoming, it's a miracle every day watching her grown and learn.

I love her guts.

**This pictures is from almost exactly a year ago (Jul 21, 2009 to be exact). Look how much my baby has grown!

Time Is Taking My Baby Away

Two nights ago we converted Isabella's crib to a toddler bed. Personally, I wasn't ready for the change, but Jonathan's upcoming shift change made it necessary. It may seem like a really small thing, but for me it's just another reminder of how my baby is a baby no more. Although I've spent almost every day of her life with her and watched her every move she turned into a big girl without me even knowing. The days came and went, and now my baby is almost a year and a half old. Time, it seems, is not my friend. On the bright side my beautiful baby is now a smart, funny, loving little girl. Still beautiful, but so much more too! By the way, she loves her new bed.

Swan Lake

Yesterday we took a much needed break from packing to get outside. I had found information about this lake online and we thought it would be cool to check out. The reason it's called Swan Lake is because it's the only lake in the States that has all 8 breeds of swans. The weather was nice, about 77 and sunny. We had a really good time getting outside and seeing this beautiful lake. Isabella loved everything about the trip, but especially the birds! She was fearless feeding the geese, but we kept her away from the swans (evil birds). She even got to play on the playground a little before we left. I have a video of her laughing on the slides that I will post later today.

233 Years for America, 7 Months for Isa

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Carrots

Isabella is teething so she puts everything in her mouth. I cut a carrot in half for her and Riley to share. She liked it a lot. Don't worry she doesn't have any teeth and it was VERY thick so there was no danger of her breaking a piece off and choking on it.

Beach Bums

Yesterday we had a really rare beautiful summer day in England. We packed up and took Isabella to the beach for the first time ever! Jonathan and I both love the beach so much we couldn't wait to take her and see what she thought. In the beginning she wasn't so sure about it, but after a nice nap and a diaper change she was ready to play. Watching her discover new things is amazing. It's so much fun helping her discover and explore new things. You never know how much joy a child can bring you until you have one. We had a great time!

Bubble Fun Time

Bubble glasses!

Picture Update

Napping with Daddy. She is so dang sweet when she is asleep.



Are you a baby or a billy goat?




I like this hat!





Daddy's glasses scare me!




She wants to eat that banana puff so badly.

Pool Time

Friday it was finally warm enough to let the kids (Isabell and Riley) get in the pool that Aunt Rachel had bought for them. Rachel and I had to wait all week for a day that was warm enough. We got it all set up and let it sit for hours in the sun so the water could heat up. Neither of the babies were too impressed in the beginning but eventually everyone was smiling and having fun! Babies are weird, even if you tell them it's just like taking a bath (which they love) they still cry. What's up with that?

Sitting by the pool. Look at my long legs!

She didn't like this so much.

Oh there are toys, that's better!

Getting squirted with a toy.

Being silly.