Welcome to Onederland

So I'm a couple weeks late on this, but Happy First Birthday to my beautiful, smart, amazing little girl- excuse me, BIG girl, Isabella Grace!! We have lots of pictures from parties 1 & 2, but of course Mom hasn't gotten around to getting them off the camera. This weekend, I promise! But in the mean time, I had to say happy birthday to my girl. She is the light everyday of my life.

I love you, Isabella!!

Vacation

Bella has always loved to sleep in.

But on vacation, she really loves it. And especially after a long day on the beach and a night of wrestling with her cousins.

We are now 7 days from her birthday, I can't believe it! I am so thankful that I don't have to work this week and that we will be home. Us two girls can spend the week getting ready for the big day and maybe I won't be so sad to see her turn 1.

The Countdown...

So I think it is only appropriate to do a little countdown here, since only one year ago today I was praying for labor and time to speed past and today I'm watching my baby girl sleep and she looks more to me like a 5 year old than an infant, wishing time would stop going at all!! I can't really describe how fast the past year has gone by, but from my lack of posts and abundance of pictures I know that it was a wonderful, fun-filled, emotional year. So today- 9 days before my baby girl enters "One-derland" and leaves infancy behind her, I want to say this: what hasn't changed in the past year is: 1) her love for nursing, anywhere...any time and 2) how much Bella looks like her daddy and acts like me. It's a blessing and a curse :)

Okay- so 9 to go.

I love you SO MUCH little Isabella Grace!! And since I can't make you stop growing, at least keep going at a pace where mommy can sorta keep up :)

I can't believe it worked....

Bella is a signing machine!

It's true; she can tell me "hi" and "bye," "more" and "all done," "please," "dog," "dirty," "water" and "phone." Oh, and "milk/nurse" - pretty much her favorite sign!! :) I'm actually considering not teaching my next kid that one, it gets pret

ty abused ;) But really, she is so smart! We have little conversations back and forth now:

"Bella, are you hungry?"

- Bella signs "milk"

"Really, right now? What about water?"

- Bella signs "milk"

"What about pears? Or crackers!?"

- Bella signs "milk+please"

Mom gives in.... :)

It's pretty cute. And what I love even more is how her signs have gone from erratic and ambiguous, to controlled and precise. When we add a new one, she does her own then for a day or two. Like with 'please' [which is rubbing your chest, open hand], for a few days she just rubbed her hands together after she said 'more,' then she started rubbing her arms...and then yesterday- POOF! She is signing it like a pro :) All and all, I can't believe it really work!

To all the moms and dads who don't think that it's worth the effort to teach your kids to sign, take it from me: it so much easier to guess between a few signs (like 'water'/'dirty' that are similar) than to play 'decipher the screams...' If Bella wants it, she can

tell us 90% of the time. Plus, now that she has the basics down, we are adding more and more specific signs every week. And to those of you who think this will delay her speaking- not the case! Bella already says, "hi" "mom" "dad" "baby" "dog" "hello" and what sounds like "Joel." It is remarkable!

I know I'm over due on photos... so more to come soon! I need to get some up of Bella walking/running. She is already faster than her daddy ;) Till then- love you all!

Just wanted to post another of my favorite moments in honor of my grandma- I miss you, Nana! Bella would have loved you so much! And I think "Nana" would have been one of her first words too :)

A Year Goes By...

Today is the first anniversary of my Nana's passing. We all love her so much and wish that she were here, but I am so thankful for all the years we had together, for everything she taught me (like how to give a man directions) and that she is still keeping an eye on us from heaven. I know that she is watching her first great-granddaughter grow into such a big girl and that she loves her so! So even though today is marked with sadness and memories of our loss, it is also a day to remember how much she loved us all and how blessed we were to know her! I <3 you, Nana!

Life After Bachelors...

That's right ladies and gentleman, I am a graduate. Bachelors in hand (sorta) and the UNC system behind me, I am forging my way into the future. And by forging I mean, I'm not doing one bit of thinking about classical literature, grammar and linguistics, or lifting a finger to write one more essay (except here, of course). It is, however, only a temporary hiatus. I know that my teaching license and Masters are in my near future...and maybe a law degree in the later future; but at least for the summer I am out of school and focusing on being the best wife and mommy ever. Isn't that enough?!?! No- throw in there cook and cleaner, coupon'er and grocery-shopper, sister/daughter/daughter-in-law and employee, too. That about covers it. :)

On a much better note: Bella is walking. YES WALKING! And has been since 9m 3w old (or May 10th)... She started out taking lots of steps together, but once she fell over she started crawling. Then she started falling and getting back up and walking some more. Now she barely stumbles! Until she starts trying to run, then she usually falls over :) I think Daniel likes this the best (because she is usually trying to run to him while she cries out "Dada!").

That brings up the second awesome thing: officially she is saying 'Dada' and 'Mama' and 'Hi' and 'Baby.' Pretty much in that order. I mean, I could be annoying and argue that she said Mama and Dad at the same time, but she clearly calls for her Dada and I think I might just let Daniel have this one ;). Either way, it's pretty darn adorable.

Besides all that, there is lots to say. But so much is still unsure and in God's hands that I won't speak of it just yet. Just know that we are happy and full of Faith that we are in God's will with our decisions as a family right now. It is a great feeling to have- to know that you are walking in His will. Everything looks better: even finances! Yay for a God-guided budget!

Well, I better go. I successfully have my little one down for a 2hr+ nap (whoop whoop!) and I really want to get working on some Father's Day presents for her #1 man (and mine, truthfully). Can't wait to see him tonight!!

Love and God Bless, I will be on here more than once ever other month from now on. Have I said that before? Well, ignore anything that I said before my BA was done- I was 3/4 crazy then. :) So till next time...

More Firsts...

The past few weeks, we have had many firsts!! Isabella has just crossed the '9 months old' mark and Daniel and I can hardly believe how fast time is flying by... It's pretty crazy how one day she is barely moving and the next thing you know, she is asking for the car keys and some money. The first thing that we have learned about Isabella in the last few weeks, she loves rice. Rice and black beans, rice and gravy, just plain rice... any way Mommy makes it, she will eat it. I think it's adorable and a sign that she will be a great eater!
Next thing, about 10 days ago Bella's first tooth appeared. Her bottom-right, center (incisor) is almost fully through now. She has been messing around with it and biting everything she can get her mouth on :)
Next- A couple weeks ago we had a play-date with Sydney (a little girl just a couple weeks older than Bella) and the girls had their first experience with swings. Surprisingly, they LOVED it! Bella especially... she was laughing and screaming with joy.
Next, we have caught Bella standing on her own every now and then. Just for 10 or 20 seconds at a time...but it's a start!
Next- we had our first car wash! Finally, spring and warm weather have made it to NC and Bella helped daddy wash the car (kinda)...mostly we just played in the grass. :)
The last big first has been this week- my family, is on vacation at Myrtle Beach and besides when Isabella was just a few weeks old, this is her first time at a beach/pool. She is definitely her daddy's daughter though, because she loves it! I will get some pictures up soon- now that school is wrapping up for me, blogging about all-things-Bella is my next project. I know that if the first kid is the best chance you have for remembering every little thing, so I want to try and get caught up. Before I go (the pool is calling my name)- I want to say one thing that I want to make sure I remember about my little girl: I love how when she nurses, lying down beside me, that she kicks her little feet up on top of me...and when she falls asleep, that she stays that way. With her legs up on my side...and she notices when you try to move them! I think it's sweet and just one of the ways that she says 'I love you, Mommy' to me every day.