Santa came early this year-----10 months ago today.....

No I haven't lost it amid the stress and happiness of this Christmas season. But, Santa did come early this year. On February 23 at about 2am in the morning we walked into our home with Isabella. Santa musta played a little part of that, :) That was 10 months ago.

Not only has Isabella grown, but Keith and I have too. We didn't know that we could love another person quite as much as we do Isabella. She makes up just feel warm all over with the things that she does and the way she expresses herself. Now....she does have her moments.....and I will leave it at that...lol

We are so blessed this year to have such a wonderful addition to our family. To see that sparkle in her eyes when she sees Santa or a Snowman or a Reindeer, just can't be explained. Or, to hear her say, 'hey mama', when I walk into her room. Isabella has truly helped us to see the meaning of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

1 Year 'Blog' Anniversary

Wow...hard to believe....I started this blog, 1 year ago today. Time is just flying by. In just a few days, the 23rd, Isabella will have been home with us for 10 months. And omg!!! Bella is turning into a 'little girl'. She repeats nearly everything we say and wants to do everything for herself. And now her first Christmas with us. We are soooooooo excited. She is all into saying 'HO, HO, HO'. And we can't wait for her to get her goodies from Santa. Keith has been traveling quite a bit and won't be in until the 23rd. Thank goodness, he will get to put all of the toys together. I has to do all of the decorations, inside and out, for the new house. Many more than the one we moved out of.

More to come....let the Christmas celebrations begin!!!!!!

Christmas Pictures-2008

Bella was one tough cookie on Saturday. We did everything that you could imagine to sneak a smile out of Boo. She wasn't crying or fussy. She just was not interested in having her picture made. We did manage to get a few really special ones. And while we were waiting for our pictures to be processed, Bella decided that she wanted to be a part of another family having their session. Now mind you, we had already been in this small, very crowded room for almost three hours. And up until this point, Bella had just been wonderful. When I walked over to bring her back to the chair that we were sitting in, she let me know that this was not her choice. As we got back to the chair, she started to cry. I asked her if she was going to 'have a meltdown'. And her reply was 'Yes'. Needless to say, everyone in the immediate area that heard this started to laugh. Luckily though, Bella didn't have that meltdown.

Bella has a few new words. She will say 'peez' for please. She bumped her head and said 'ouch'. She is beginning to say 'help' when she needs assistance. And her walking skills have greatly improved the past couple of weeks. And she is sorta, kinda saying 'one, two, three'. Time is going by too fast. She will be 18 months old in just a few days.

Home 9 Months Today

Nine months...where has the time gone. Bella is doing and saying so many things. Notice, she will now eat her yogurt with her own spoon. She hasn't quite mastered getting the food in the spoon completely. But, does a dang good job. And won't let me feed her anything. She will say 'please', 'off', 'waffle', gobble like a turkey, ho-ho-ho like Santa, 'juice', 'water', 'outside', and I am sure several that I have forgotten. She repeats so many things that are said to her. And she is now walking everywhere.

17 Months Old

Another month has passed and Bella has turned 17 Months Old. Where is the time going? Bella is so much fun to be around. Her newest phrase is 'Oh No' as she puts both arms out to her sides, palms turned up. She will now 'sign' when she is done eating and say 'done'. She now nods her head and will say 'yes'. We are loving every minute that we get to spend with Bella as we watch her grow.

Happy Halloween

After a long night of 'Trick or Treating'


Lets get this wagon on the road, pops!
Kiss for the road
Here is Bella in her 'Chocolate Milk Cow' costume

What a fun time going out with Bella on Halloween Night. And I thought is was fun when I was the kid....Bella experienced her first roasted marshmallows and malted milk balls. They both were a hit.

Big News Today!!! Isabella is Walking!!!

Bella has been pulling up and scooting around since July. And today, she finally got up the confidence to take a couple of steps. And by the end of the day, was taking about 10 steps. She even managed to walk some steps while out on a mission for a pumpkin to carve. What a long way she has come since we brought Bella home 8 months ago. She will be 17 months old on Nov 2.

And some new words that Bella is saying: two, Amen, yes. And sounds: moo, quack, baa, meow. She has also taking a liking to dipping chips into sour cream and ranch dressing. And was even eating celery tonight. That was really a shocker. She likes most everything, but I wasn't sure that she would eat the celery.

Forever Home 8 months today

Another month has passed. We came home 8 months ago today with Bella. She is such a special little girl. She still continues to amaze me each day. With the new words that she repeats after I speak them to the new tasks that she is mastering. Today, she took the tortilla chip and was dipping it in to the sour cream (loves sour cream) and eating the dipped chip. And loves purses and shoes. We will drive crazy shopping. Good thing we have lots of closet space in the new house.:) Bella is not too crazy about having her hair 'styled'....she and the other little girl in her class at daycare (also from Guatemala) both have the same style each day, the 'natural look':)

Isabella-the newest 'Harley Chick' in the family!!!

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We love you Bella....your smile, actions, and personality keep us smiling all the time!!!

'Get your motor running....head on the highway....looking for adventure....''''''

Fall Is In the Air--Apples-Mums-Oranges

 
 

Bella took a liking to an apple and orange today. She was calling them both a 'ball'. Trying to bounce them and roll them across the floor. And then decided they might be 'tasty'. And TJ..he's just stopping to smell the roses---in this case--Mums.

Happy 16 Months Old! Bella Boo!

Happy 16 Months Old...'Sweet Isabella' My have you have grown and each day you seem to learn to say or do something new. She will now say 'eat' when she signs, she is beginning to nod 'yes', says 'beep' when I set the alarm in the house, trys to say 'button' when she pushes the garage door remote. And loves books...seems all she pretty much wants to play with these days are 'books'. What a wonderful thing? And I did find something that she doesn't like to eat, raisins.

So Bella has a new nickname at school----everyone calls her 'Belly Boo'. And I am Bella Boo's Mom. This week they have been doing something different each day. Monday was 'Hat Day', Tuesday was 'Tacky Day', Wednesday was 'Inside Out' Day, Thursday was 'Weird Hair Day' and tomorrow will be 'PJ' Day. We have all had such fun this week...kinda reliving our youth a bit.

We tackled what I felt was a big obstacle, 2 weeks ago today. Bella has been off all bottles..except for that 'before bed bottle' since June. Well....2 weeks ago today, Bella went cold turkey....no more bottles!!!! She takes her bath, brushes her teeth (she has 12 now), we read some books, she gives me a big old bear hug, she flips the light switch off and she goes 'nite-nite'. The first few nights, was she happy about this change, not. But, wow, what a difference 2 weeks makes. She is in her bed by 730 pm and sleeps till I wake her the next morning about 630 am.

Home 7 Months Today

Isabelle and Isabella....this photo was made while they were still in the Foster Home in Guatemala
Isabelle and Isabella and me..Such a wonderful thing...both girls are finally home

Isabelle and Isabella


Sleeping Little Angel


New toy??? The Dirty Clothes Hamper


Need a hug? Step right up!


Remember back in December...I posted about another child that was in the same Foster Home with Isabella....well, Isabelle came home last Thursday. Welcome Home Isabelle!! We went to visit Isabelle and her mom, Lauren on Sunday. Sadly, the girls didn't seem to remember each other. But, they did play and have a snack together. Check out the photos of the girls together---then and now.

We have been home 7 months today and those months have flown by. Bella is such a loving, sweet child....most of the time...lol. But, does she ever have a temper if she doesn't get her way. She can get as angry as a Jalapeno pepper is hot. But just leave her alone for about a minute and she gets over it as if nothing happened at all.

We reached another milestone about a week ago. Bella was still drinking a bottle of milk before she went to bed and last Thursday we put the bottles away and she went 'nite nite' with no bottle. We have a few new words that Bella will say on occasion...juice, snack, bubble, hat, nite-nite, Nat-Nat (she is in Bellas class at Daycare), Alan (my nephew). Of course, the pronunciation leaves a bit to be desired, but I know exactly what she is saying. :)

Do we have a drummer in the family?

'I don't want to work...I just want to bang on my drum all day'




'Wassup'




'Baby you can drive my car'

I got Bella her first drum the other day. She loves it. She will just jabber as she pounds away...then its off for the next adventure. She loves ballcaps. She and TJ had a tug of war with the cap....guess you see who won! And the car, our friend Lauren, (Isabelle's mom) gave this to Bella for her 1st Birthday. She loves to ride it around, backwards. Guess she will get the hang of going forward in time.

We have 'grass' and 'plants'

Ten months ago, we broke ground on our new house. Ten months later, we have grass, trees, flowers and shrubs. I see now that Isabella makes this house a true home. For without her, it would just be a place to eat and sleep. She brings new emotions each and every day. Her personality is really starting to show. I am convinced that she will win 'So You Think You Can Dance' one day. She will now shake her head and say no if she doesn't want to do something. Still not walking on her own, but she loves to walk around with support. She has been cutting those nasty 'eye teeth' the last couple of weeks. And she has not been the 'happy camper' that she normally is. And drool....omg!!!!! She hasn't drooled with any of her other teeth. But these, a bib wouldn't hold all of the liquid.

And more good news today!!! Remember what seems like eons ago? I had pictures of the other baby girl that was in the same Foster Home as Isabella.... Well, Isabelle, came home yesterday. I can wait to meet her and have Isabella get to know her again.

Isabella is 15 months old today...

Wow...another month has passed and Isabella is 15 months old today. She will stand alone for just a few seconds....but, not quite walking yet. She has a few new words and actions. She will say 'backpack', 'boo boo' for blueberry, and will sign that she loves Keith or me without prompting. And when we offer her something to eat or drink, she will shake her head 'no' and say 'no'. She will 'meow' like a kitty and can identify her mouth, nose, eye, head, toe...tries to put her shoes and socks on and even put her arm through her pj's last night before me. Whoo Hoo....

We had another nasty cold that went on for a couple of weeks. The Pediatrician decided to put her on some meds which cleared it up, thank goodness.

We took our first trip to Myrtle Beach over the long Labor Day Weekend. Bella loved the pool and the ocean. She stayed in her float even in the room. And when we had her in the pool, she would just lay back and chill out. I think she would have just floated around all day. And she slept all night long in a different bed, room. I was really concerned about that. And the ride down and back, about 4 hours, was uneventful. Bella watched her DVD's, snacked, and snoozed. Way different from 6 months ago when 30 mins was about her limit. Bella rode her first Merry-Go-Round at the beach too. She wasn't quite sure of the thing she was sitting on at first, but loved the wind in her face.

We also had a photographer come out on the beach and take some photos. We should get those back in a few weeks. I will try and post some of those at that time. We just had the 'grandest time' on the Myrtle Beach Grandstand. And we can't wait to get back to the beach when Bella is walking. We are sure she will love the seashore when she can motor around on her feet instead of her knees.