Balance bike!!

Izabella's first real bike. She is makin' her daddy proud ♥

The idea is that this bike, without pedals, will help her develop the proper balance to 

avoid training wheels when it is time to upgrade to a big girl bike. 

She loved it after about 5 minutes of "testing the water".

♥♥♥

Possibly a tree lighting, and some other goodies

We tried to partake in the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Hurkamp Park downtown this past Friday. I'd say it was a holiday cheer fail. This is the best picture I have of that night. 'Nuff said.

It was said to start at 6pm. We walked there by 6:20pm and nothing was happening other than quite a few people/kids standing around looking antsy. Then Santa showed up on a fire truck and greeted people like he was on drugs. He then took the stage and gave the anxious crowd a speech about our towns history, starting his walk through time with events from 150 years ago, really? Can't you hear the kids screaming and babies crying?! We looked around to see if we could spy the tree they would be lighting. Nope, couldn't find one. We left and had a nice walk home through town. You can't see in the picture, but Izabella has a Scooby Doo Shirt on, and is holding a sequined purse of hers. Stylin'.

-------------------------

We stopped by to see my momma before heading to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner. I didn't bring new flowers, daughter fail. Izabella got to meet her Grandma Sue for the first time though. She appropriately danced on her grave (without instruction to do so from us) and told her she loved her. "I yuv eew granma ooo". It melted my heart.

Little monster during game time Thanksgiving day. She was active to say the least. So many fragile/handle with care items at Grandma's house. Yikes. Enjoying my photo.graphy skills? Thought so.

Side note - 38 weeks with Izaiah!

Things accomplished:

I have packed my bag for baby go time.

I have organized the littles room.

Mattress purchased for Izaiahs bed.

Storage closet cleaned out in their room so it is usable now.

Got all the day of meds for Izaiah when he's born.

Need to:

Sew Izaiahs crib sheets

Organize sewing area. Cra.zy. Messy.

Make a few more frozen meals.

Leaving you with this:

What happens when your toddler gets a hold of the camera.

♥♥♥

October goodness + a (big) belly shot

We are having so much fun watching Izabella grow and absorb things on a daily basis.

It is amazing how quickly her brain is developing at this age.

Izabella is saying so many things now. 

She is combining words together, her favorite is "More, please".

She is still using some signing for what she needs/wants.

She is learning her colors, and we are working on her fine motor

skills with stringing blocks and matching shape blocks with

their corresponding holes.

We are working on counting to 10. She refuses to say one, 

but loves two, three, five, nine and ten. She will say the others

with encouragement.

Her other favorite thing to say is "That's mine! Mine!"

She knows almost all of her body parts.

Picture recap of October

 Izabella likes to lay on Joshua's butt and snuggle. 

I promise I did not model this behavior. She does this all on her own!

 Family photo at the park!

 Leaves, leaves and more leaves!

 Izabella and her Papa at the pumpkin patch

 Family photo at the pumpkin patch

 Izabella and her Papa & Gigi

 Workin' it 80's style for Halloween

36 weeks belly shot, whoa baby!

Just for comparison, this was me at 33/34 weeks with Izabella.

♥♥♥

Brooklyn: Family, Fun + Fall weather!

We got to spend four days in NYC with Chris, Erin and Stephanie this past weekend. It was so great to be with them and enjoy their neighborhood in this perfect fall weather. Stephanie flew with us (sans Joshua) which was a huge ginormous help to me. Thanks Steffi! We managed to fit into E+C's totally cool apartment and still love each other in the end, a successful trip I'd say!

These are the pictures I have for now thanks to Erin, more will be posted soon.

   E+Izzy walking in the park

                                                                      Izzy strolling

Uh.ma.zing. These macarons were simply delish. Erin ran, literally, to get in line before closing so we could enjoy some sugary heaven after an afternoon/evening downtown. She is amazing!

We were able to eat out at some great places. We got to spend some time with Erins momma, Mrs. McManus, and grab some pizza and donuts with her. She gave Izabella some adorable knitted finger puppets which are made locally in Brooklyn and Izaiah now has some super cool striped socks! He will be stylin' n' profilin'! 

I'm so thankful for family and fun. I'm thankful for the great weather we had. For the awesome scenery in their neighborhood. For the incredible parks so close by. For the super cool Brooklyn Flea. Thankful that Izabella has aunts and an uncle who love her to pieces.  And even though Izabella was sick, and made Chris and Steffi sick, I'm pretty sure we all had a great time. 

Hope you all were able to recover quickly!

♥♥♥

This is how we do it.

What's new? Well, take a looksy at my gorgeous 18 month old. 

I can't believe she is 1.5 years old!!!

 Izabella likes to rest her head on the big girl swings. Makes perfect sense, if you're an 18 month old.

 Her "say cheese" face. I'm undecided on my feelings towards the scrunched nose and look of "I'm pooping now" when she is asked to smile for the camera.

 Izabella at a bonfire with some friends. She loved loved loved that red scooter. She rode it (with dad's help) and had the biggest smile I've ever seen on her face. I know what to get her for Christmas. Spoiler alert.

 Uh oh, Izabella is playing ball with a gangsta. Oh wait, that's my newly fully sleeved hunk of a husband!

She has decided that white little girl can't jump, yo, and runs away to play on the playground and harass other bigger and smaller kids. She sure is sassy and cute ♥

Izabella is 18 months old and:

Saying please and thank you at appropriate times

Understands share, and wait your turn

Still loves high fives!

Is drinking out of a cup without spilling 80% of the time

Can count to three and say ABCD

She loves to walk when she wants and be carried when she wants. Like, this second, she wants it now. NOW.

She kisses my belly when I ask her to love the baby.

She is still using signs for all done, and more and thank you but also says the words now.

She is getting so good at dancing, like, SYTYCD good. I'm a little jealous.

She is picking out her outfits now. I should snap a picture of the reallly good ones.

She loves to dress up her stuffed animals.

She puts her stuffed animals to bed, feeds them, burps them, gives them water and kisses.

She still calls me dada. 

♥♥♥

Warning: Picture heavy post!

I realize this post is more for me, and my need for reminiscing right now. One would think that after seven months of being back in good 'ole Virginia, I wouldn't miss Idaho so much (or the West in general) ... but I still do. 

Good news: we get to visit for an entire week in September! Yay!

Here are some pictures of places we loved out west, and people we thoroughly enjoyed!

 Packing the jeep back up to head down the mountain. June 2010. 

I was 3 weeks pregnant with Izabella then and didn't know it!

 Kevan & Lindsay, September 2010. The Oregon Coast with friends.

Yes they are crazy wet.

No the water is NOT warm.

McCall Thanksgiving 2010!

 Stephanie came to visit end of January 2011 to meet Izabella (still cooking)!

 Stephanie and Joshua doing what they do best. Work it.

 I think this is McCall, February 2010? Lake monster. Yes we are standing on the frozen lake.

 Hiking 2009? It was a looong but gorgeous trail that lead to a lake with geo-caches on the way. 

It was breathtaking.

 Big blue. Don't tell Joshua but I do miss her.

 Best.Picture.Ever. Summer 2009 Vegas and Grand Canyon trip with Steffi.

 Isn't she beautiful? The canyon is too I guess ... :) 

 Hiking with Kevan & Lindsay. Yes, our men are that strong!

Baaleefoospahkey Memorial Day camping 2009 I believe. Wolves howling in the middle of the day, severe thunderstorms in our (incorrectly put together) tent at night. Awesome!

Joshua's parents, Grady & Carolee. To be honest, this picture wasn't taken in Boise, but in NYC, but I think it's a great picture and we sure do miss them!

♥♥♥

Playing, exploring & getting messy

 Some new words Izabella uses:

bottle

"ide" = slide

Wee! when going down the slide

potty

pay = play

nite nite

mine = we hoped this day would never come

mama = yay, Izabella now has a mom and a dad!

and a lot more I can't think of right now

She is the happiest, most lovable little girl. She gives huge open mouthed (with some teeth and occasional tongue) kisses. She runs to the door squealing with delight when her dad comes home. When she does something she is not supposed to she puts her hands on your cheeks to get your attention and very cheerfully says "Hi!" to you because she knows she can't be resisted. We are having so much fun in this stage.

Izabella having fun playing in the "sand" at the Childrens Museum of RIC

Izabella drawing on herself, her chair, her notepad (in that order). 

Yes, she has her very own Poang IKEA chair!

A lined zippered pouch that I made to store Izaiahs things in 

once inside my pit of a purse.

Gots some catching up to do

Westmoreland Park: Dad, Sally, Joshua, Izabella & Me (photographer)

Richmond Zoo: Izabella & Me (photographer) 

Fun with a toilet paper roll! Isn't she beautiful?!

A (somewhat) functioning sewing machine = a new manly boppy cover!

♥♥♥