five

baby blue eyes, april 2008

Hey there sweet pea!
It should come as no surprise to you that I am late with your 5 month letter. Being late is one of my best talents. I'll most likely be late to many events in your life. I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive me. I hope you'll think to yourself, "She'll be here...she's just late again." And I hope you won't tell your dad when you get a tardy slip on the first week of preschool. He frowns on lateness. (But, I'm working on him.)

Why is your letter late? I've been busy loving on you, of course. That, and celebrating your dad's birthday, and enjoying Derby festivities, and many photo shoots, and a little shopping, and some cleaning, and several thousand loads of laundry. You know, the usual. Also, I was hoping that if I slowed up on the letters....you'd slow up on the growing up. But, you are relentless. You grow and you change every hour it seems. Proof: You no longer fit in your cradle. See picture below.

too big, april 2008

Maybe I have said this before but this...this is my favorite stage! You laugh now. It's a short and quick little laugh...but it is a contagious one. I tickle you and make loud, crazy obnoxious noises and straightaway your neck disappears and you laugh. The first time it happened I thought I was hearing things so I spent the next half hour singing and dancing trying to hear it just one more time. Turns out, you only wanted to laugh once that day. Now we hear it all the time, though. Much like your voice, your laugh is the sweetest I've heard. You are going to be funny.....I just know it.
laughing at daddy, april 2008 (maybe because he has his orange shirt on again!)

As if the laughing wouldn't be enough for one month, you decided to start rolling over. Up until the other day you haven't shown much of a desire to be anywhere but on your back. Then, just like that, you rolled over. I put you on the kick and play mat and looked back from the kitchen to see you on your belly with a bright red face! I let out an impulsive celebratory scream and almost scared you out of your onesie. I quickly put you back on your back so you would stop straining and then I waited around the corner with the video camera, paparazzi style, to try to get your new trick on film. Sure enough, you did it again right away. You remind me of myself once I learned how to do a backhandspring. I couldn't stop. I was so proud of myself I would just go out in the yard and do them just because I could! You are doing the same thing. Only problem is....you hate being on your stomach. The order of events usually goes something like this.
You roll over.
You pop your head up and look around.
You realize you are stuck.
You begin to strain and make your face bright red.
You spit up.
You cry.
I come and roll you back over.
You start all over again within 5 seconds.
There is a life lesson hidden in here, baby girl. If you keep doing what you are doing...you're going to get more of what you've got.
We'll keep trying to teach you how to roll back to your back until you get it. In the meantime, your dad and I will always be around to try to help you get "unstuck." That's true in life, too. You can count on us.
cheeks, sleeping in the swing, april 2008

The morning after your dad's birthday party, Gigi had you on the floor here in the great room playing with you. She stood you up in front of the mirror. I have done this many times with you but this time was different. You looked at yourself and a huge grin crept across your face. You were so happy to see you! You bounced and squealed and leaned in closer. This carried on for several minutes. That old familiar lump climbed the stairs to my throat as I watched you in front of the mirror. It is my hope that you will always be that thrilled with the person who stares back at you from the glass. I hope you will always be that proud and happy with yourself. When you are a teenager, you will (if you are anything like your ol' mom) stand in front of the mirror and complain whilst throwing a thousand clean, but inadequate outfits all upon the floor. You will wish you were taller or shorter or skinnier or more blonde or more brunette or more blue-eyed or more anything. I will try to remind you of your beauty (and, beware, I'll probably say something my mom told me so many times.... about how inner beauty is far more important than outer beauty.... and it will annoy you...but it is very true) I will run to an old photo album and come back to your room with this picture in my hand. It will remind you that you were once very pleased with your reflection.

hello gorgeous!, april 2008

Maybe I am being dramatic....but this next milestone aged you by years! I might have sat in the kitchen and cried if it weren't for how seriously cute you looked.
mmmmm, may 2008

You had your first taste of rice cereal at 5.5 months! And...the jury is still out...but we think you like it. You'd rather go straight for the bottle when you are really, really hungry.....but at lunchtime you willingly open the hanger that is your mouth for the little puddle-jumper airplane spoon. It's absolute cute overload when you open your mouth for a bite and then proceed to squeeze most of it out of your lips while you "chew."



After just a few days of "eating" you are really getting the hang of it. I even fed you rice cereal at the race track the other day! How is it that my tiny baby is old enough to eat semi-solids in public? Next thing I know you'll be feeding yourself!
going for a walk, may 2008

I am so glad you are mine, Isabella Grace. Each night before I go to sleep I stand beside a sleeping you and I put my hand lightly on your chest to feel it rise and fall. Our room is dimly lit by the glow of a little nightlight, yet it is enough light to see both halves of my heart sleeping soundly. You in your bed, your dad across the room in our bed. I stand there and hope that somehow, someway God knows how thankful I am. That He knows that my cup absolutely runneth over.
I love you so, so much!


PS. Not so much a milestone, but a very important bit of news, nonetheless...you got your first pair of gauchos this month. Each time I put them on you I say the very same line....
"Ewwwwwwwwww....I could eat you up for breakfast!"
I would attempt to tell you how cute you look in them but there simply aren't any words to describe it. I regret that I didn't get them in every color they had!

gauchos, may 2008
(with daddy's birthday balloons)

a day for mom

Grandma 90, Mom 59, Sara 30, Isabella 3 months
4 generations of love

The only way I know how to be a mother is by having had the best one to teach me.
One who taught me by always putting my needs before her own.
One who taught me by holding me to a high standard.
One who taught me by putting notes on a heart shape in my lunch box.
One who taught me by laughing with me.
One who taught me by showing me practically the entire 50 states.
One who taught me by sitting on a curb and eating ice cream with me...with sprinkles.
One who taught me by always being there....always.
One who taught me by buying me special first day of school outfits.
One who taught me by cheering me on every chance she got...(every chance she still gets!)
One who taught me by being my mom first and my friend second.
One who taught me by crying in church. (I never understood it then. Now it's me who cries.)
One who taught me by trusting me.
One who taught me by giving so freely of herself.
One who taught me by teaching me that it is time, not money, that people need most.
One who taught me by having fun wherever she is.
One who taught me by hosting giant birthday parties for me each year wherein 10-15 loud girls piled onto the living room floor and talked on the swatch phone into the wee hours of the night.
One who taught me by always looking out for me.
One who taught me by showing me that an education was essential.
One who taught me by doing so much for others.
One who taught me loving so unconditionally.
I could literally go on for hours...but it is midnight now and since I am a momma....I must get my rest.

This mother's day...my heart goes out to this tiny angel who is the very one who made me a mother. I must give the glory first to God....for deciding that I was worthy of raising this precious soul....and then to my husband for helping to create her. Being her mother is the best and most fulfilling work I have ever endeavored to do.


Happy Mother's Day...to my mom and to my mother-in-law.....and to all the many wonderful mothers I know!

Catching up on 2 tags...

Tagged by Minky.
maybe i should try to get to bed earlier.
i love the smell of Tommy, Isabella's head, fall air, the ocean, Italian food, my dogs, and lastly...the "new smell" be it a new car, a new house, new shoes...whatever.
people would say that i’m sarcastic. (not sure this is good)
i don’t understand why someone won't let me over when I have my blinker on.
when i wake up in the morning I always try to start by thanking God for the day.
i lost my willpower to give up soda.
life is a great blessing.
my past is part of who I am .
i get annoyed when I pick the slowest checkout line at the store. (Seems to happen every time.)
parties are so much fun. I love to entertain and I love to be entertained.
dogs...make our house a home. They are also very hard on a house.
cats .....are not my favorite animal.
tomorrow ....is a blank canvas...something to look forward to.
i have low tolerance for ...... animal cruelty, drunk driving, child abuse, and vegetables (except for corn.)
i’m totally terrified of .....sad things.
i wonder why I am a worrier.
never in my life did i .... think I would love motherhood as much as I do.
high school ..... seems so long ago.
when i’m nervous I get miserable, lightheaded, nauseous, cold.
one time I ... laughed so hard I cried.
take my advice: eat sprinkles with your ice cream.
making my bed happens less than it should.
i'm almost always thinking about some new creative project I'd like to do.
i’m addicted to bows for Ella, internet shopping, Graeters, taking photos, and lists
i want someone to clean all the floors and bathrooms in my house each week!

The rules: List as many random current items about yourself as you are old. Tag five other people by leaving them a comment on their blog.

1 My current favorite shows are 60 Minutes Dateline, 20/20, 48 Hours Mystery, The Office, and The Bachelor.
2 Speaking of the Bachelor, I really like Shayne even though I think she might be a little crazy. Her mom is who tipped me off on this. Yikes! Lips!
3 I am sad about poor Eight Belles. This sort of thing really gets to me.
4 I love iced tea.
5 I need new makeup.
6 I still have nightmares. Isn't one supposed to grow out of this sort of thing?
7 I always wear heels.
8 I love photographing people.
9 I wish I knew more about gardening.
10 Shopping for Ella is way more fun than shopping for me.
11 I love shopping, period.
12 I love vacations.
13 I love Wrigley's gum.
14 I love horse racing on a warm summer day.
15 I love outdoor seating at a restaurant (bonus points if it's on the water.)
16 I love decorating with pictures.
17 I love holding Tommy's hand.
18 I am currently completely grossed out by the many earthworms that slither into our garage. 19 Earthworms are disgusting, I think. I am not even interested in where they fit into our ecosystem.
20 I wish we recycled more. (ok...at all)
21 I have tons of ironing that I should be doing.
22 Most of the time I find the news very depressing.
23 I love sending and receiving old fashioned mail.
24 I love traditions.
25 I love happy hour with Tommy.
26 I love my daughter's smile.
27 I love quotes.
28 I would be lost without my planner. (My lists! My lists! )
29 I HATE getting gas (and it's even worse now that is costs $70+ for a full tank.
30 Friday is my favorite day of the week.

Wowza....I am old. Now, I am going to break the rules and tag people by leaving your names right here. If you think this sort of thing is a complete waste of time (which it probably is) and you don't want to do it...no problem. If you do, we'd all like to come and read your post. I tag (sorry, my blog link-er is acting wierd and I am too tired to wait for it) casey w, whit p, susan v, alison k, amy (of joel and amy), angie h, staci h, blake t, allison t, jane w, rhonda, jennifer k, erin t, jessica m, meg t, chesnye, christina m, jus or lib, and dad. Anyone else I forgot? Pick one or both of the tags and post on your blog. (Copy and paste the top one...it's easier.)

G'night.

29 on the 29th

Happy birthday to the love of my life.
I am so thankful that there is beautiful you.
You are, without a doubt, my greatest blessing.
Hope your day is the happiest.

**We celebrated with a successful surprise party on Friday night! More photos to come!**

dancing with daddy, april 08

We are back from a very fun weekend in Grand Rapids where we got to meet baby Wade for the first time! I have pictures of the babies and Jack but am too scared to download one. more. thing. to my laptop! I am in the middle of proofing photographs for 4 clients and would be more than in trouble if the computer decided to give up. Once I get a few orders finished and cleared out I will post pictures of the weekend. Until then, you can sneak a peak at the newest Thompson over on their blog. We enjoyed our trip, as always! This was Isabella's first road trip and she did quite well. She only freaked out once...and that was when we were two hours from home on the way back and I totally pushed the envelope by insisting that we make a quick stop at the outlets. Outlets are never quick though...and she was way done with sitting in her carseat. She continued to cry....even after I showed her that I was, indeed, shopping for her! Uh, hel-lo! You may not cry while I am buying you cute clothes.
Anyway, glad to be back safely. We have a busy week ahead. All the way home from Michigan we concocted a rather large to do list containing all the things we've been meaning to do around here but continue to put off. We decided...no more procrastinating! We are pretending to be on a serious deadline. By Friday---everything must be completed. We knocked out two of the biggest items on the list tonight...one of which was painting the powder room ceiling. I've only been meaning to do that since we moved in!! The other item was a nursery decoration that needed to be created an hung. While we were upstairs Tommy and I mused that we have spent an awful lot of time and funds on a room that never gets used. Oh well. At least when we take her up there to get ready...things look nice. We have many more things to accomplish. It's a good time for getting things done. The weather is outstanding. We had the windows open and the radio playing while we worked tonight. Spring is lovely, really. So fresh. We officially have our flip flops out.
Speaking of flip flops.....is it tacky to paint a baby's toenails? I'm guessing you are nodding "YES" frantically at the computer screen right about now....but I thought I'd ask. I'm so tempted.

4.12

e & j, wedding day, 4.12.08

We are back home after a busy weekend in my hometown. I photographed the rehearsal and wedding of an old, dear, and true friend. Though the weather wasn't our friend, the evening turned out perfectly. She is now cruising along in the ocean...probably sipping on a fun drink with a little umbrella in it side by side with her new husband. I haven't started the long process of wading through the pictures deleting/sorting/editing, etc...but this one caught my eye so I took some time after dinner to edit it so I could post it. I think it captures them. Simple happiness. Together. The reception was great fun. We met so many wonderful people and enjoyed celebrating with the bride and groom.
Isabella spent lots of time with her Gigi and her great Gigi while we were "working." Mom reports that she was an angel. Tommy and I missed her. I carried her picture in my pocket all night and showed it to lots of people I haven't seen in too long. It still sounds funny to say "my daughter." Am I old enough to have a daughter? The reality is...YES! I'm old enough to have three of them! YIKES.
In unrelated news...I am looking forward to getting together with Blake and Tex and Palmer tomorrow night. Blake and I are going to watch The Memory Keeper's Daughter (tivo'ed it) since we read the book in Book Club last year. The guys will.......entertain their kiddos!
Also looking forward to visiting with Allison, Chris, Jack, and baby Wade this weekend. We will finally get to meet the babe in person. That's exciting.
And.....
Thanks for the rice cereal/sleeping advice. We will hold off on the rice cereal for sure. (I think I'll go to pieces if I see my baby actually EATING from a spoon, anyway!) While we were away this weekend she slept in her pack n play and slept soundly all night. So...we are thinking that the problem was that she is waking herself up by hitting the sides of the cradle (or more accurately, the big aquarium musical thingy that is hooked to the side.) We removed it from the cradle and will see how she sleeps tonight. If she still wakes herself up, the cradle will go into the storage room and we will put the pack n play in our room. I really prefer the look of the cradle to the pack n play....but then again, I really prefer solid sleep over broken up sleep. We've also decided that she'll stay in our room for now. That works for us. If she needs therapy for dependency issues later in life well, we'll just have to hope we still have good insurance.
Monday is nearly here. I'm off to bed.

***Rickert, do you read this blog? We absolutely adored the baby gift you sent us (the bibs are perfect because they look so cute and she has to wear a bib all the time because of her frequent spit ups!) but we don't have your new address to send you a thank you note. Please comment here or email it to me if you read this...or if anyone else (Ann, Amanda, Brandy, etc) reads this and can send it to me, I would be so thankful.

random random

*We are backsliding a bit on the whole sleep issue! She has been sleeping through the night since 6 weeks...and started sleeping 9 hours at about 8.5 weeks. For the past 3 nights she has been getting up every hour or so and crying for her paci. She is still in the cradle in our room (I know, I know...we're terrible) for several reasons. The major reason being that her nursery seems soooooo far away. In reality, it's just right upstairs. But to me, it seems something like this...

out our bedroom door, through the great room, around the corner and through the dining room, through the foyer, up 35 steps, around the corner, down the hallway, through her door, across her room, and finally....to her crib.

Now, that seems like too far away to me for safety purposes (I realize this is irrational) and it also seems like too long a trip for who ever is on paci police duty that night. Plus, there is the whole door dilemma with the dogs. I feel too closed off from her if I shut our door or hers....but then I feel like it's too unsafe to have two 80 pound dogs roaming the house at night when each of them is easily able to jump the height of her crib. (It should be noted that both dogs have been wonderful with her...but dogs are unpredictable. Also, I worry that they might try to get in bed and snuggle with her or something. Not good.
Also, I am now obsessing about the cornice and tapestry that hangs above her bed. What if it falls on her in the night. Tommy has pulled on it to test it...but I am not convinced.
So for now, I have to keep her in the cradle in our room. Though this situation won't last much longer as her arms are starting to poke through the slats. But anyway, let's take a vote from some other mom's. Do you think I should start rice cereal with her? She's old enough and maybe it would help her sleep more soundly?? Here's whats holding me back on the rice cereal...she doesn't wake up at night hungry. She seems to be perfectly happy...even smiling at me as if to say, "Hmmmmm, why is it still dark. I am quite sure it is time to get up."
Here's what I do know: Waking every hour to play "Pin the Paci to the Mouth" in that dark is not getting it. To add to the broken up sleep, she has also developed a cute little rodeo arm that circles wildly in the air before slamming repeatedly into the mattress. It's lovely, truly.

*The weather.....we are loving it. It has been amazing. I took the fleece Bundle-Me off of the car seat just in time to see that temperatures will plummet this weekend and that there is a chance of SNOW on Monday. We will be so glad when the weather turns for good. Sunday-Wednesday felt like Florida minus the sand and palm trees. I was like an excited native showing my daughter (who played the role of tourist) all around town in the balmy weather. There is so much we haven't been able to do with her because it's been so cold since she was born. And a new season of baby clothes! And the summer shoes! The cuteness abounds!

*I've been proofing photos into the wee hours. I need to get everything done before this weekend because of Erin's wedding photography. We have our fingers tightly crossed that the weather holds out. Rain+wedding photography=very nervous photographer. I am really looking forward to the event. Erin, it's going to be beautiful!!
Mom will have Isabella for lots of hours on Friday and Saturday. I hope she is good.

*Last night for date night (my turn) I rented Kite Runner for us. I read and loved the book. The movie was very good, but had a lot of subtitles...which is kind of annoying...especially with a baby involved. If you look away for even a second, you miss something. The movie was heavy...but moving.
Then, before bed, we watched the tivo'ed Oprah show on puppy mills. Too heavy for me. Too sad. Unbelievable and completely disturbing. The ONLY show on which I have ever seen Oprah cry.

*This would be my favorite summer song. An odd video, yes...but a great windows down song, nonetheless. Give it a listen.


*And...my favorite summer dinner song.... (add Moet and candles and open windows...or even better, a large body of water nearby)


*Last one. Forgive me..I'm in a bit of a You Tube phase. My favorite song that reminds me of Thomas! Love you, babe!



Lastly, baby brother...I'll put your package in the mail on Monday. Sorry to disappoint!

Baby girl...
More than 4 months have passed since you left my belly for a brighter, and perhaps a more roomy world. You are so big now that it is hard for me to fathom that you were ever inside me. Yet, many nights when I am in bed and nearly ready to fall asleep, I will swear to myself (and to your dad) that I felt something in my stomach that felt just like you kicking! Of course, it isn't real....and no, we don't have a sibling incubating in there (not yet!) but I think that once you've felt your child move inside you....your body never forgets. Though four months have passed, and though you've grown and changed so much, there is still a string connecting your heart to mine and I am so comforted and fulfilled by our link to one another.

almost ready for a walk, March 2008

The past four months have taught me why nearly every mother I know says...."Now this, THIS is my favorite stage!" like they've never said it before. They say it because it's true. You are blossoming overnight. Each day brings a new accomplishment, a new little trick. What I like best is your response to things. For one thing, you smile immediately when smiled at. It's a smile that takes over your whole body and causes you to kick and squirm as the delight makes it's way from your lips to the tips of your toes. You also startle easily. Your dad thinks this is funny because you get it from me. I almost jump out of my skin when someone sneezes in the booth behind us at a restaurant and I nearly faint if someone pops a balloon unexpectedly. You are the same way. Your little arms fly up as if to say, "WHOA!"
You are very loud now. Gone are the days of taking you to quaint, candle-lit restaurants and having you sleep while we enjoyed dinner. You are a little car alarm, a little blaring alarm clock....you squeal and scream and test all different pitches and tones with your vocal chords. Every once in a while, you stop to crack up at what an amazing voice you have. It makes us smile to hear your voice and I find myself looking forward to the day when you can say ma-ma or da-da even though I don't want to rush a singular second of your life.

daddy's look alike, March 2008

You are a huge baby Einstein fan these days! After crazily googling phrases such as:
Pros and cons of baby Einstein
Is baby Einstein linked to ADHD later in life?
Infant vision problems linked to watching baby Einstein videos
etc, etc, etc
I finally caved and popped Baby Bach in the ol' DVD player (you know, just to see how you would react.) Well, you might as well have requested popcorn and a box of Sour Patch Kids. You were tickled. Your eyes would bug out in utter amazement as a colored truck drove itself across the length of our television screen. My eyes were bugging out, too. Only mine were bugging out thinking of the multi-millionaire stay -at- home mom who got to the tippy-top of the financial ladder by filming brightly colored toys from the Dollar Store rolling across a black background.
{Why, my sweet, didn't I think of that?}
Anyway, thanks to our dear family friend, Mr. Google, I don't let you watch it very much...but when I do, you totally enjoy it. You have even developed a favorite part. You squeal and kick each time the chicken clucks his way from the left of the tv to the right. Then a little girl appears and says something to the effect of, "When I see a chicken, I go bwack, bwack, bwack," and at that point you are so thrilled that you melt right into your bumbo seat. I practically have to scrape you out of it with a spatula.

sitting in daddy's chair and in your bumbo chair, watching baby einstein, March 2008

This weekend while we visited with Pop Pop and your Unky and Aunt Libby, we decided to watch the footage that we've taken of you on our new video camera. I didn't know how good it would be to watch ....as I felt like we had about one hundred tiny little 30 second clips here and there of this and that. Once we got the video camera hooked up to the tv, the memories started to play back on command. The first clip was from when you were just 2 days old. You were more tiny than I recalled and I looked more worn out than I recalled! Yikes! We continued to watch and I became so thankful for videos in addition to the thousands of still photos that we have taken of you. The videos capture your smallness, your coos, your cries. They forever preserve the voices of a mommy and daddy who are giddy with excitement and down-trodden with sleep deprivation. We had fun watching the footage from late November up to the present... and we all laughed until we were sick at the insane amount of times that I said, "Let's see your pretty smile," while I was filming. I said it multiple times each time I taped you. I said it more times than one could possibly believe. I said it in a crazed, new mommy tone, too. If I had to throw out a number of times I said it...I would say 200.
{And I would be being conservative!}
You will make fun of me for it when you are older. I just know it.
The other thing that had all of us slapping our knees was the unbelievable number of times your dad was on camera in his ratty orange polo t-shirt. It must have been a big coinky-dink, but it cracked us up that he had it on almost every single time he appeared on the tape.
Know what other annoying thing we did on each clip? We got a shot of the dogs just staring up at that camera.
We promise to improve out videographer skills before your first dance recital. We really do.

sitting by mommy while she reads, March 2008
I am greatly enjoying the 4 month old you. I am wishing, once again, that I could freeze you right at the age you are now.
Time is breaking the speed limit and I am trying hard to remember all the scenery from this trip that is your life. In the blink of an eye, I will be sitting as this computer composing a letter to you as a 5 month old, while you lay sleeping in pajamas that are growing snug.
I feel like I would cry and protest your growing up so fast if I wasn't so darn excited to see you bloom. The wonder of who you will become makes the passage of time endurable.

asleep in your carseat, March 2008

Know this baby girl....I love you like crazy.
Momma

Dear Spring,
Are you caught in traffic? Can't find something to wear?
You are late and we have been waiting ever so patiently. Please hurry. We would like to take a walk with you.

Hope yours was hoppy!

Ella & her basket.

She's a fan of Easter!

Surrounded by all the little gifts the bunny left her! (and seemingly not phased by the fact that he didn't leave her a slicky suit!)

Excited about wearing her big girl shoes to church.

Loves a good camera....just like her momma.

A book with her name & mine! It's bound to be a favorite! (It's one "H" away from being perfect for us!)
**********************
Hope your Easter was happy, too. We enjoyed a leisurely morning. We had a delicious breakfast of bagels and coffee. We even got to church EARLY! The service was extremely moving and we got to see/hear it all because Isabella was quiet as a mouse. We had a late lunch at Tommy's family's house and enjoyed visiting with everyone and hunting eggs in the living room as it was snowing huge flakes outside. Now we're home and we're all heading to bed early. Easter wore us out.
G'night.

today...

When I was in second grade each student was assigned to bring 6 dyed Easter eggs to school for the class egg hunt. On the day of the hunt I brought in my six eggs. 3 of them were dyed the regular old PAAS colors (of course, I had used that nifty white crayon on them prior to dyeing so that after they soaked in the chosen color, I could pull them out to find my cute little stars, hearts, and smiley faces tattooed all over them.) The other three had the ever-so-beautiful plastic shrink wrap sleeves on them. Did you have those? They were like a little plastic cuff with cartoon-y figures on them and you slipped them onto the egg and then lowered it into boiling water so that it "shrunk" around the egg, tight as can be. So, I was very, very proud of my eggs when I turned them into the teacher to be hidden by the room moms. My pride was dashed when Jason Taylor got one of his eggs out. I swear to you, I can still remember it with vivid detail. Mutli-colored and vibrant, so shiny it looked like he had dipped in five or six shades of glorious fingernail polish. It was seriously beautiful. So beautiful that our teacher, Mrs. Wilson, declared it the prize egg the minute she laid eyes on it. I felt like crying because I wanted her to pick one of my eggs as the prize egg...and then I felt like my world would end if I wasn't the one who found that gorgeous egg. I didn't find the egg...pretty sure I was too busy keeping an eye on my classmates to make sure they didn't find it! All this to say that every Easter thereafter I've been trying to duplicate Jason Taylor's prize egg...to no avail. If only I had called his house after school that day to ask his mother just how they did it!! This year, the egg dyeing was very important because we will keep these eggs and always put them in Ella's Easter basket to remind her of her very first Easter. To be able to keep them, we did the whole "blowing out" of the egg through needle holes on both ends. She slept while Tommy and I sat at the kitchen table and blew our brains out! We blew out the yolk and whites of 9 eggs...which is no easy task...but after they've been rinsed and dyed, they will keep forever. (Providing she doesn't smash them when she's a toddler.) The entire process had us laughing and, of course, Tommy had to turn the blowing thing into a race to see who could blow their egg out the fastest. (He won.) And.....I'm fairly happy with how they turned out. I wish they were a little more muted...more pastel-ish and eastery....but I wanted them to be Jason Taylor-ish, too...and it's hard for an egg to be all those things. I like that they are shiny, like fingernail polish and maybe next year (we'll do the same hollow egg thing and keep them because Duh! next year will be her first, first Easter...like the first one she doesn't sleep through) I will add some white which would probably produce a lighter shade of colors.

As I said before, we blew out nine eggs and you might see that there are only 8 pictured. That would be because my husband ignored the warnings on the package and mixed all the colors together resulting in a near black and very scary looking egg that had to be thrown away.

Easter eggs, March 08

I couldn't really be too mad that he ruined a precious hollow egg (that one of us worked very hard to blow out) because he had come home from work with these....

red roses, 11 for me, 1 for baby girl, March 08




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daddy's little sports fan, March 08

The poor Cats. We were all sad today. So, so close they were! Maybe next year!

cheering with daddy, March 08

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sleeping beauty, March 08

Today I was getting ready to run some errands and I put Isabella in her pink Boppy chair that we keep in our bathroom specifically for when we are getting ready, showering, etc. She doesn't bounce around in it at all, in fact, she usually falls asleep. So after I was done in the bathroom I walked around the corner to our closet to get dressed. I was halfway into my jeans when I heard a boom (seriously, a loud boom) followed by hysterical crying. My heart fell to my feet as my mind tried to fathom how in the world she made it up and over the side of this bowl-like seat? She doesn't roll over yet, doesn't grab things yet, nothing. I took off running (only to slip on the carpet and fall because I had one leg in my jeans and the other out). When I got to the scene I realized that the entire seat cushion had slipped off the frame and had fallen through to the tile floor beneath it which seems nearly impossible given how tightly the cloth is stretched over the frame. I swooped her up and tried to soothe her while checking her head for a lump. (The fall was less than six inches, and the cushion/pillow was between her head and the tile...but given the boom I heard, I was upset to say the least.) So I am crying, and she is really crying. I'm telling her how sorry I am, I'm rubbing her head, I'm rocking her. She calmed down pretty quickly but then my mind started to race with snippets of things I have heard in my lifetime about head injuries...
"...may seem like nothing at the time, but turns out to be very serious..."
"....just laid down to try to get rid of the headache and then slipped into a coma....
".....seemed fine after it happened but later became very lethargic..."
So, I proceeded to call Tommy (whom I had just talked to prior to the accident and had told me he was just stepping into a meeting.) He knew something must be wrong when he saw that it was me. I sobbed through an explanation of what had just happened. He assured me that he thought she was fine given that the cushion had prevented her from making contact with the tile. After a few minutes of him soothing me, I got off the phone and gave her my own mini version of a physical. Everything seemed to check out OK.
She even smiled. Check.
She didn't wince when I rubbed the back of her head. Check.

(This all happened before noon.)

Fast forward to 7pm this evening. My mom came to have dinner with us and we were all sitting on the floor playing with Isabella. I was showing mom how she can pull up/ sit up by doing this elaborate routine that I do with her (that she loves!) wherein I go..."Oooooooooone, Twooooooooooooooooooooo, and then on Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...I pull on her arms and she sits up and cackles. We do this ten times a day (What To Expect... says that a 4month old baby should be able to pull up and keep their head level with their body...which she can do.) So......we're doing it for Gigi...we're really showing off....we're smiling and laughing.....

do you see where this is headed?

She jerks one hand out of my hand and goes backwards ....again, only 5 or so inches but...bumps her head on the same spot again...and this time it is all my fault.
And again, she is crying and I am holding back tears and trying to soothe her.
Guilt swallowed me up whole.
I felt more than terrible.
I felt awful.
It was one of those moments that I've written about before where I felt way too young and irresponsible to be someone's mother.
I felt so inadequate.
Again, she calmed right down with some rocking and consoling...
but my heart ached for the rest of the night.

It's hard to describe how it made me feel but the closest thing I can compare it to is this:
You know how when you hurt your toe and you spend the rest of the day trying to guard that toe from getting hurt any worse? It feels to you like everything and everyone is about to hit your sore toe? Well, that's how I feel now. I'm handling her with kid gloves, with that "I-just-came-an-inch-from-rear-ending-the-60,000$ bmw-in-front-of me" weak, jittery-ness.
I'm the one who is supposed to keep her safe.
And, twice in one day I've let her get hurt. I'm hoping she forgives me easier than I forgive myself.
And I'm so dreading the first time she wipes out on pavement. Tommy will have to scrape us both off the sidewalk.

We're waiting for the Easter Bunny...

Isabella Grace, Easter, March 08

I did a session with Isabella (and her dad!) on Saturday using my new studio lighting. I am still working on several shots and will add them soon, but you can view some of the others by clicking here.
I did a black/white Easter rather than pastels. I know it's extremely non-traditional...but I like it. The basket liner with her name on it is pale green/white gingham but I decided to take it out for the photos (in the nick of time, too, as she spit up in the basket just minutes after I removed it!)
Anyway, we will dye eggs tomorrow night and then we'll be ready. I have totally enjoyed gathering some Easter basket goodies for her. I realize it might be a bit insane...as she is just 4 months old and surely won't get into the whole basket joy. But I will. And, I will take pictures for her so that she can see that she did, indeed, have a first Easter Basket.
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Speaking of insane...are we the only lame brains that tuned into the season opener for the Bachelor last night? I haven't watched it for several seasons but decided to watch this season. A few thoughts about it: (I'm so hoping someone else watched it and will validate here!)
~one girl played a clarinet for him. Really? Seriously? (not that there is anything wrong with playing an instrument, it just seemed a little akward.)
~one girl listed her profession as "hot dog vendor." Tommy and I agree that we will later find out that her dad owns Oscar Meyer or something. (again, nothing at all wrong with being a hot dog vendor...we just think there might be more to the story there.)
~one girl got absolutely smashed (and proceeded to give the bachelor her undies) Again, seriously?
~one girl arm wrestled the bachelor. I still can't fathom why.
~one girl (apparently to impress) bit the side out of a beer can. Lovely.
~one girl used the "L" word on the first night.
See, if you didn't tune in...you missed some interesting stuff.
I told Tommy that when each girl got out of the limo I wanted him to say one of three things...HOT, DECENT, or UNATTRACTIVE. He agreed.
(Before I make him sound like too much of a homer, I should mention that he was going along with my little game because we have watched nothing but ESPN for oh, say, 7 months straight. He owes me some shows and it just so hapens that I picked the ol' Bachelor.)
Anyway, hot, decent, or unattractive. The first girl gets out (whom we have since picked as the winner and who received the first impression rose) and he hesitates and then says, "hot." I then get mad. I should have never given him the word hot as a choice. It is way too........too........jealousy-inducing. (I made that word up.) So, I say, "You know what, let's go ahead and change "hot" to "pretty." I can deal with "pretty" better than I can deal with "hot".
For some reason after that, he hardly gave out any pretties. Mostly decents with a few unattractives thrown in for good measure.
Question: How much of that is juiced up for television. For example: Do they choose a handful of the girls and say,
"I'm sorry, but you've been chosen to make a fool of yourself to boost our ratings. Your assignment: Tell him you love him approximately 4 minutes after you meet him."
Lib, Al, Beck...do you remember a year or so ago when I made us all act out how we would get out of the limo and walk up and greet the bachelor? It still makes me laugh.

green

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day yesterday with a little green. Since I'm a big fan of balloons...that's how I usually decorate. This was the balloon that greeted Tommy when he got home. (I would've taken a picture of the green beer...but it turned out more deeply yellow than green.) He reported that it tasted just fine, though.

Our St. Patty's dinner table...complete with a little leprechaun in a bouncy seat to watch us eat.

She had too much green milk and passed out early.

**Thanks for the emails and comments about my new blog decor. I'm still getting used to it...but I think I like it.
Staci H. I am so glad you are finding so many useful ideas here! Congratulations on your new little guy. He's a cutie. Thanks for visiting.

white

Hard to believe that we just took a stroll around the neighborhood this afternoon with short sleeves on when this is what it looked like less than a week ago. Isabella seemed to enjoy her first real snow. (She likes bright things!) And, as you can see from the photos...I let her sit by the windows and watch it fall.

backyard snow, march 2008

watching snowflakes from the bumbo seat, march 2008

snowday entertainment, march 2008

watching snowflakes from the exersaucer, march 2008


Pepper always has loved the snow! He would stay out in it until his paws were frostbitten if we would let him.

Pepper in the snow, March 2008

As pretty as it was, we are very ready for Spring. Today's weather was a big teaser for us. Ella and I met Blake and Palmer for a quick lunch at Panera today and there were people eating outside! I could hardly believe my eyes! There wasn't a Northface garmet in sight. Spring is flirting with us, if I may be so bold!
I am looking forward to Easter. (I love Easter Baskets because my mom, er..the bunny used to give me such great things. One year I seriously got a Michael Jackson slicky suit that went "swish, swish" when I did the moon walk and a folder that was shaped like a Wacko Jacko record on top. I was elated! Who knew the guy would later dangle his first born over a 10-story balcony?) Anyway, I am looking forward to filling her Easter basket with some baby goodies. I am going to be trying some new Easter egg techniques a la Martha...so we will see how it goes.
We have to fill our family eggs for the upcoming neighborhood hunt, too. Although, after checking the weather just now, it looks as though our Easter outfits will need to be thermal.

This year, Spring will also bring a wedding. A very special one, at that!
Erin...it's getting so close!

bridal shower fortune cookie, e&j, march 2008

dedication luncheon photos + old, random photos

We are snowed in. 12 inches! It's been quite nice. We've all spent lots of time together. I have gotten lots of housework done (ie mopping, dusting, sweeping, etc.) I dread the day when Isabella wants to go play in the frigid temperatures. I will need a long extension cord for my space heater! Even as a kid...I took a couple trips down the hill with the tube and then I was knocking on the front door for my mom to let me in! I'm not a fan of the cold. (Dad, remember when you paid for an all night ski pass for me and I took one trip down the bunny slope and then headed for the lodge and spent the rest of the night by the fireplace?) Tommy and I have said, more than once this winter, WHAT are we doing here? We must move to Florida or California quickly! I know, I know...the seasons. We'd miss them terribly! But this winter and it's ugly, dreary days have caused us to lose perspective. Speaking of how we hate winter...our baby has her first cold. Keeping with the theme, I over reacted. Was it pneumonia? Something worse? Emphysema from that one time we sat sort of near a guy smoking a cigarette?? Nope, turns out it's just a little cold...most likely from Noah's Ark...the gym nursery. Seriously, her tiny cough and congestion are pitiful.
We are expecting to be snowed in again tomorrow which is fine with us. It's March Madness, you know.

The first section of photos below is from the dedication luncheon last Sunday. The next set is a random group from the past couple of months. I have been going through pictures trying to put them into chronological order. I ordered 380 4x6 dating from November to February that I must write on the backs of and put in albums. Maybe a project for tomorrow morning? I love pictures. I could look at old ones over and over. In fact, I do.

(click on the picture for a larger view)

dedication lunch table, march 2007

cousins, march 08

your party, march 08

visiting with family the night before the dedication, march 08
(the big empty corner in the great room is due to the fact that we pulled the big armchair into the kitchen so my 90 year old grandma could be in the kitchen where the action was.) Also, I did clean off my desk (left corner of photo) before the party. Another also...the bulb is not burned out over the bar...it's just that my dad insists on unscrewing it so it doesn't shine too brightly on the baby! He does it every time he's here, don't you Pop Pop??

the cake I made for ella's dedication lunch, March 08

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o l d p i c t u r e s

pepper, ella, abby, february 08

abby kate and isabella, lil a d pi roommates, February 08

keeping your tootsies warm like mommy does, february 08

baby chase, February 08
(not a baby anymore, ONE)

your first new years eve. it was crazy! december 07
(These would be all those empty frames I mentioned several months ago! They are nealry all filled now!)

your baby slippers from aunt b, December 07
(they made me melt)

balloons from family and friends to welcome you home, November 07

you saw 'em for the first time!, January 2008

your parents have a sick sense of humor, huh?, January 08

sitting like a big girl...all by yourself, February 08

toes barely touching on the new exersaucer, February 08