Snow Day

Okay, so there wasn't any actual snow, and none of us are in school so we didn't get the day off, but it was still a fun day. Robert worked from home for a day and a half while we had a bit of an ice storm, and Isabel and I dressed up nice and snug and went sledding down our driveway. We had to improvise on all winter type things because, well, its not very wintery here very often, so we're not that well stocked. In lieu of a snow suit Isabel wore multiple layers of everything, she had socks on her hands instead of mittens, and we used an empty diaper box instead of sled, we had a blast!

Extra Hand

Isabel has decided that two hands aren't enough anymore, so she has figured out how to use her mouth to hold onto things.

Fun with Grandpa

Isabel and Grandpa kept each other entertained with funny faces.

Sweet Isabel

Isabel really likes to give me kisses and rub noses with me. It is so sweet, I know I'll miss this phase whenever it ends.

Going to the Zoo

Robert's dad is in town this weekend, and Isabel is enjoying his visit. Today he took us all to the zoo, and Isabel was amazed. It was cute to watch her reaction to all of the animals we always talk about. She really loved the monkey's (and baboons, gibbons, etc) and the birds.

So Smart

Isabel seems to be getting smarter by the day. Where is your hair Isabel?
She also can show you where her head is and for a couple of months has known where airplanes are (she points out the window at the sky).

Happy Birthday Grandaddy

A Mother's Prayer

A friend sent this to me recently and I really enjoyed it, so I thought I would share.

A Mother's Prayer

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray.
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called me to be a mom --
Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with wooden blocks,
Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose,
Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read --
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of Your grace,
I see then, in my small one's face,
That you have blessed me all the while --
And I stoop to kiss that
precious smile.

Author unknown

Nature

We took advantage of some wonderful weather today and went to the Wildlife Refuge. We stopped to see the buffalo on our way in, which really excited Isabel, then went on a hike along the water. I think it is the first time that Isabel has seen so much of nature at one time.

Spoons

Isabel has decided that it is time to start using her spoon. Until now if I gave her a spoon with food on it, she would pick off the food with her fingers then play with the spoon, chewing on both ends, ultimately tossing it on the ground. Then yesterday I was holding a spoonful of avocado waiting for her to finish whatever she was eating and she grabbed the spoon and stuck it in her mouth. She then waved it around the bowl and stuck it in her mouth again. With a little help from me getting the food on the spoon she ate a whole bowl of avocado last night and again today. What a big girl she is getting to be!

Laying Around is Best

Laying on her back is still Isabel's favorite thing to do. She's figured out how to lay down when she's sitting by just plopping back, and from standing by just falling like a board (and scaring her mom to death). And she's always a ham no matter what she is doing.

Our Year In Review

As the year has come to a close I have been thinking about all that has happened this year. The major event in our life was of course the birth of our beautiful baby Isabel, and that brought with it so many other wonderful things.

I spent January dreaming of my little girl and preparing for the future (as best as I knew how at the time). Robert and I spent a lot of time together just hanging out and enjoying each others company.

Hanging out at the park
On Ash Wednesday I went to my regular midwife appointment and was surprised to learn that I was dilated three centimeters and having contractions every 15 minutes. I wasn't feeling great, but I honestly hadn't noticed the contractions yet. By 1:00 am the next morning they were every three minutes and we headed to the hospital.

Headed to the hospital...just take the gosh darn picture...
Isabel joined our life early in the morning on February 7, three days early.
The end of February and through April brought family visiting. First my parents, then my sister on her spring break, as well as a short visit from my Aunt Virginia, followed by Robert's dad and my friend Wendy. It was such a blessing to have them all here to meet Isabel and help me out around the house.
May brought more sleep which made me very, very happy, I do not function very well without enough sleep. It also brought the start of summer here in Texas. At the end of the month I started taking Isabel to the pool which she absolutely loved. She just chilled in the water, watched all of the action, and almost fell asleep on me several times!
In June Isabel learned how to roll over and we had some more visitors, Tony and Meredyth. Isabel loved Tony so much that she made a dirty diaper every time he held her.

July brought another visit from my mom, and hot summer days. Most memorable of events was that our air conditioner went out while she was here and I was very miserable for about four days, although Isabel seemed fine with it, just laid around in her diaper and watched the fans spinning.

August was spent as all good summer days should be going on a lot of walks to the park, going swimming, and hanging out with friends.

Labor day brought a visit from my brother Dennis who is spending six months living in Kansas. He called on Wednesday and said he was coming down for the weekend. What a great surprise!
This was followed by our awesome vacation in Hilton Head with my parents, as long as a weekend with my brother and his family. Isabel was such a great traveler that we came home and immediately booked another trip.

Grandpa made another visit in October, and then the end of the year holidays started. We had so much fun picking out a pumpkin and carving it up for Isabel.

With November and December bringing some cooler weather we turned our attention to the holidays with family and friends. We were blessed by another visit from my brother Dennis and his girlfriend Stephanie for Thanksgiving, as well as a wonderful trip east to see everyone for Christmas.
Since Christmas we have been hanging out at home, enjoying each others company and playing with all of our new toys. We rang in the new year yesterday by going to bed early. :o)

Robert made a Chocolate Pie in our new Pi Plate from Laura.

Isabel is enjoying her new activity table, it is just her height.


We hope that you all have had a wonderful year as well! And hope that you have a very Happy New Year!