MUMS

Fall is finally here and we are really enjoying the nice weather and a break from the heat. Brian is putting in alot of hours with his new job and trying to tie up the loose ends at his old; so we really cherish those moments when we get to hang out as a family.

Izzy and I have been spending alot of time at church lately it seems. We volunteer in the nursery/walkers on Wednesday nights, in the Cry Room a couple of time a month, and I take a Mothers Uplifting Mothers class on Tuesday mornings with my friend Kristen. It has been so refreshing to get together with moms each week who are in the same life stage that I am and it has really made me start to realize the important job God has entrusted me with!

My friend, Kristen, said something this morning that really spoke to my heart. How awesome would it be to go back for just a day to a time when you lived and loved life as a little child. Or even to just feel that way now. To greet each day with the enthusiasm. To look outside and see all of the wonderful things that He created just for me. To love my Father as completely and unconditionally as Izzy loves me. To trust Him the way Izzy trusts me. To want to spend all my time with Him like Izzy does with me. Knowing how much I love my little girl gives me a glimpse into the depths of His love for me.....and I am encouraged to know that it doesn't even come close to measuring up!

Life as we know it.....

Sorry that we have been off of the blog radar for over a month now. It's not that Izzy hasn't been growing or doing anything cute lately its just that life as we know it has been busier than normal. I recently started my own business as a Pampered Chef Consultant to add to our income. This came at a really good time because Brian just took a new job with Lincoln Fire and Rescue and we will have to take somewhat of a paycut for a few years. Nonetheless, I am really excited and happy for him and I know that the Lord will provide for us if we are patient and put our trust in Him!

All in all, life is good and we are more than blessed! Lately, Brian has been staying home with Izzy on his days off so I can go to the office. Days with Daddy are "Diaper Days" as these latest pictures show....

For an update on "Miss Izzy", she is a very busy 15 month old. She loves pushing her dolls around and giving them kisses, playing with Rocky and teasing him with toys, and just recently she and her friend, Kaci, have taken to jumping on the trampoline. They don't exactly jump on it, they just run around and chase each other all while trying to keep their balance. Isabella is starting to use sign language also. She knows the sign for "more" but she uses it for "more" and "eat".

The other day as we were driving in the car, I heard a loud "MOM" from the back seat. I turned around and she was using her sign for "more". She must have been trying to tell me she was ready for another cookie for too long and decided to try something else to get my attention!

Dancing Queen!

Check out Isabella's new moves.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTb-TdmOlA4

A Day at the Park

On Monday, Isabella and I had the pleasure of hanging out with my friends little girl, Bree, for the day. The girls get along great and Isabella really enjoys having other little ones around. We played with toys all morning and then took a bike ride to the park. The girls had a blast sliding, swinging, and running around. Isabella even went down the "big-kid" slide all-by-herself and then tried to crawl back up! She is growing up so fast :(

Growing in Leaps and Bounds

We finally took Isabella to her 1-year checkup last week and her doctor told us that she is in the 97th percentile for height which could explain why she is able to scale the stove, climb up on any chair, and uses anything and everything as a jungle gym. We definetily have a little monkey on our hands :) She also is finally getting some teeth!! She has four on the top and 2 on the bottom. That's alot considering that 6 weeks ago, I think she may have had 2!!

Isabella has been surprising us left and right by the new things she is learning. She can blow at the bubble wand and on her food that is hot. She is running up and down the sidewalk in front of our house. She also likes to play chase and "Run, Run, Run" where she runs away from you. She has recently started to dance to music also. It is really funny. She kind of sticks out her butt and bounces it up and down. Very amusing! We try to get her to do it at every opportunity. She is also starting to sign. She has mastered "more" and "please"; although she chooses to do them only at her own desire.

Her vocabulary is increasing as well. She can say Mama, Dada, gog(Dog), ock(Rock), mine, me, and her two favorite: No and Don't! We are working on new words and body parts and are having a blast watching her little mind grow!

Her is a picture of her and the "gog".......

Playing and Catching 'gators!

The weekend of the 14 and 15th, Isabella and I made a trip back home to spend some time with the family for the Madison County Fair. We had a great time hanging out with friends and family, petting animals, eating fair food, and listening to great music!

We finally got to meet little Ava. She was so precious! Isabella didn't mind if I held her as long as we gave her a turn. Here she is trying to pull Ava's socks off. I guess Ava told her that she didn't want them anymore.

On Saturday night, I went out with some friends to the Dierks Bentley concert and put our babysitters, Ashley and Amanda to work. They watched 3 1-year-olds and a 7-year-old. They sure earned their money! Isabella had a great time and was the last to go to bed.

On Sunday, we went back to the fair and ate and ate and ate. Isabella really got into the Dippin' Dots and Bavarian Cream Funnel Cake :) Yummy!! She also played her first carnival game. She enjoyed picking up the ducks so much that she continued even after my money ran out. She also had a blast visiting the petting zoo. She loved the goats!

She also showed up that she has "no fear." I caught a little alligator and she touched it! She had such a great time at the fair that I can't see how she does next year!

Vegas Baby!!

Last week, we went on vacation with my parents and sister to Vegas to visit my Aunt Cis and her boys. We had a blast hanging out beside Jeff and Lori's pool most of the trip. We did see a few sights but mostly relaxed. Izzy and her cousin Lauren had a great time getting to know each other and being pool bums. It was all we could do to get them out of the water to eat, for naps, or at the end of the day. All in all, it was a great trip and we had fun visiting with everyone despite the 115 degree temps!!