Tomatos

One of Isabelle's presents for her birthday was seed planting kits.

The first one we started with was the tomato seed kit.

SpringTime

HA Ha ha... that is a laugh! Though these were taken in April, this was the one day that was sunny, in the whole month. We were lucky that we were all well this day so that we could enjoy it! I am hoping for more of these days soon.

peek-a-boo

The shirt I got her from my trip to Montana I took with my dad a year ago.

'cheese' y

playing with the goats

Faces of a Newly turned 3

Bubbles

One of Isabelle presents was a bubble set and so out we went to play.

Yes, I do see that we are near the edge of the deck with no railing...

we were careful ;)

and yes, we are wearing only socks, no shoes.

Way more fun this way

Fun Bubbles

Perfect timing of the shot to catch a bubble popping near her waist.

Weeks 3 and 4

Week 3

Working on his singing pose

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Week 4

Good ole' Tummy Time

Isabelle is 3

"I'm Three!"

For her party, she insisted that she have balloons, a Wubbzy cake (for those that don't know, 'WowWow Wubbzy' is a cartoon on NickJr), streamers and goodie bags (thanks to Dora).

So, Friday night, Eric made our beautiful 3 year old her 'Wubbzy'Cake.

...And she loved it!!!

All of us getting ready to sing

(minus William who was sleeping and we all know not to disturb the sleeping baby)

"Happy Birthday Dear Isabelle!"

She did not need our help with the candles.

She was so ready for cake... and apparently so was Sophia... look at her eyeing that cake.

present time

We had only invited family over and there were still a ton of people and gifts for her to open.

... and her favorite is her new baby doll that makes slurping sounds when you put the bottle up to her mouth, burbs when you pat her back, laughs when you squeeze her ribs, and makes sleeping sounds when you lay her down... almost like a real baby.

I CAN"T believe my little girl is already THREE!!!

Where did the time go?!?!?!

Getting back to Normal

The reason for no updates as of late, is that we have been sick, in between all the happenings of holidays, birthdays, baby showers, and meetings. Eric got sick first, bringing home and giving Isabelle and William infant bronchitus. Luckily that is all it was and didn't develop into pnemonia. After almost 4 weeks now, Eric still has a cough and after 2 weeks, so does Isabelle. William so far, appears to be back to 100%. I seemed the luckiest, until about 3 days ago, when I was at UW in a meeting and had to excuse myself... twice... turned out I, somewhere, had gotten a dose of food poisoning... needless to say that car drive home had a stop. Once home I crashed for the day (Yay for Eric having the ability to work from home).

So here is to me hopefully soon, having a family and myself back to 100% and then I can post pics from the last month.

Conversations

I absolutely love the conversations that we are having with Isabelle these days, and it is all I can do to keep up writing them down in her book... However I had to post the latest one.

We are trying to teacher the difference between boys and girls...

Me: Are you a boy or a girl? (my help... ggg)
Isabelle: girl
Me: Is daddy a boy or girl? (my help... bbb)
Isabelle: boy
Me: Are you a boy or girl?
Isabelle: (looking at me carefully) girl
Me: Good!!! What is baby brother?
Isabelle: (thinking a bit and then clear and loud with a smile of satisfaction) A monster!
Me and daddy: laughing hysterically!!!

It starts so young...

Already on their cells, ignoring the rest of the world around them

Photo courtesy of Kristy

Confession

Ok, so every once in a while I have to eat my words and this is one of those times.

For a while now, I have been 'making fun' of older people (those in their 30's like me) and laughing at the younger ones (those of the middle and HS age) of their obsessions with the Twilight book saga. My sister in-law finally (after all 4 books and 2 of the movies have come out) got to me, and gave me the first two books, Twilight and New Moon, to read (now that I have all this time on my hands with an almost 3 year old and an infant). Karen came over last Wednesday with both books, over 1000 pages combined. So that night, I started in, after Isabelle went to bed, reading Twilight in the twilight... between the late night and last feedings of William. Yup, there it was... I was hooked. It was a nice, super easy read... that is what got me hooked first, honestly. Just one simply story line, following Bella the heroine. The first night I surprisingly read 150 pages. I don't do that...

Anyways, I read Thursday night, skipped Friday (went out drinking and dancing with some other momma's for a momma's night out - but that is a whole other story of ridiculous fun) and then finished the book Saturday. Then Sunday night and last night, I read New Moon (which was longer then Twilight). You ask how?? I am still asking that... I do not know why (or how) I can stay up all night long, literally, and read these books. But they are written in a way that makes you wanting to keep reading. I am a bit tired today, of course. Funny thing is, Karen invited me over tonight to watch the first 2 movies... of course I said yes. Though in all honesty, I think I will be disappointed, since movies never do the books justice. But she will be giving me the other 2 books tonight too, so that I don't go into 'withdrawls' hehehe

Where to begin on the parts of the story so far that intrigued me the most??? Most people (girls mainly) are into the love stories that are playing out and tho that is a good chunk of the book, I rather liked the 'chase.' Adrenaline rushes capture me to the fullest and stay with me for days when I think back on them and then oddly enough they go into my dreams too. (yes, I am wierd that way ... those that know me love me). I do also like the newer theories about vampires and werewolves that contradict the 'real' myths and legends that are out there.

I have been asked too, which 'team' am I on? The Edward (vampire) team or the Jacob (werewolf) team? My stalk answer is ' I must read the other two books to make my decision,' and I am always greeted with grunts with that answer. In all honesty though, I see myself as Bella, the heroine, somewhat confused yet knowing exactly what I want and can't see any way of getting it. A Risk Taker... someone that pushes the boundaries, of logic and nature, full of willfulness. Now of course maybe after reading the last two books that will change. Or maybe I will stay on her 'team' always wanting both, what I have and what I can't have. :J

Either way, the point of this little confession is that the series is good and that I would highly recommend it to anyone; boy or girl, romantic or sinic, you catch my drift. I got hooked!

Here's to movie night!

My Family

Things Forgotten...

I have gotten so used to a two, almost 3 year old that having an infant in the house is like learning a foreign language.

Our beautiful little girl now talks fairly clearly with real conversations, is potty trained, eats real people food, is learning letters and numbers, is excited to start going to school, sleeps in a big girl bed: She has become a real independent little person.

I have honestly forgotten what it means to have an infant again. I remember the wobbly head part and the part that all an infant does is eats, sleeps, poops and occasionaly cries (we are so lucky again that William is a wonderful sleeper like Isabelle was).

But WOW!!! those few things are so big in the life of an infant and the mom! That wobbly head is hard to catch when he throws it about; even the doctor at the hospital 'difficulty' holding on to his head. Then there is the poop... When does it become solid??? I am really tired of the mustard seed liquid that is coming out... AND is it because he is a boy that it is projectile poop?? I do not remember that at all with Isabelle. I have learned and am 90% good with catching / covering quickly with a rag or diaper so not to get peed on, but that first week was a crazy adventure learning how to deal with that new piece of equipment. Like I said though, I am 90% good with that, I sill have my moments when I not quick enough and oooops, there it goes again.

Then there are the constant 'costume' changes, either from me being to slow in a diaper change and he pees or poops faster then I can get a new diaper under him or he spits up what seems like an entire bottle, even aftermultiple giant sized burps. A good day is 3 changes, but I have been up to 7 changes.

And then there are baby eyes... I forgot too how cute an infant is when they are trying to learn how to use their eyes and learn how to focus on things. He gets cross-eyes so often... I do remember Isabelle occasionally doing it, but it seems as though William does it a lot. I have some funny photos of him beign all cross-eyed. However the rolling of the eyes back in the head I don't remember and that is just plain creepy when he does it and all you see are the whites of his eyes.

The biggest thing I had forgotten is just how precious and little an infant is and how much I adore him!!!

Of course the newest learning piece for me is dealing with an infant and an almost 3 year old at the same time... wow! There is the curve ball if any. It is an adventure each day literally juggling feeding and burping an infant and running to the potty with the older one, for example. I could not imagine doing this with multiple kids running around. The house is a constant mess with toys, and the washing machine is run every day.

I wouldn't give this up for the world, though I do need to figure out a system where I don't live in a pigsty, since hiring a maid is out of the question. :( drat!