Getting back...

Hi everyone!

There has been so much to be thankful for and Bella has done so much! But the past 3 weeks have been PACKED with new adventures in the world of Isabella. First, she started crawling like a big girl on all fours and can get anywhere she wants to go! She crawls up to all the furniture and toys she has and stands up on them. From there, anything she can reach is fair game for walking to. I love seeing her get braver when it comes to to switching from one thing to another. I know she will be walking before we know it!! Second, she started clapping and signing back to us! It was amazing! One day she just signed 'milk' and I said, 'Bella, do you want milk?' and she got the BIGGEST smile on her face. She also seems to be signing 'bye' or 'more,' we aren't sure really, but she is definitely exploring the signs as a way of communicating with us. And the clapping- it is so cute! She starts and we sing "patty cake, patty cake bakers make. Roll 'em up and throw 'em in the pan!!" When we say the last part, she throws her little hands down with emphasis!! HA it is so cute!! Lastly, she has made some new friends! Jaxon Crump finally arrived from Korea and we visited this weekend for the first time. He is 10 months old now, but they loved each other! She immediately crawled over to him, crawled up and gave him a kiss!! The rest of their play-date was "sharing" toys and getting to know each other. This week we have another play-date with Sydney (a little girl just a couple weeks older than Bella) and I know they will have a lot of fun together :) In short, I am so happy to be a Mom to a beautiful, smart girl who is constantly growing and surprising me. She even slept through the night last night- randomly. But it was a nice break from the usual nursing fest! Or should I say feast :) It will probably be back to normal tonight, but I am thankful for a full night of sleep when I really needed it.

that's all for now! be happy for the quick update, people! :) Hopefully more will come sooner and closer together from now on...

A Couple Months Late

This first part I wrote on my second anniversary, Jan 2 2011 and a few days after Bella's ears were pierced. Better late than never. New Post comes afterward...

Happy New Year all! I am a few days belated, but whatever. I am managing to post less than a month after my last (victory!) and what a month it as been. First of all, working backwards- happy anniversary to me and my sweetie. 2 whole years has passed and I can't believe it, we are more in love today as we were last year. And thank goodness, because we have some stuff to get through that will challenge us and push our limits. We have just started our move into my in-laws (love you, Gail!) and it is going pretty smoothly so far. I keep telling myself that we will all settle in soon, but I can't help but feel like I'm stepping on toes sometimes. Tonight, for example, I am up in the middle of the night and feel like I'm waking up everyone! Plus, living somewhere where nothing is really yours can be tough...but my parents and us kids have done it a few times before, I know it can be done. This next month will be spent packing and starting to move things to VA and hopefully selling our furniture. Anyone want a practically brand new couch and lazy-boy recliner, 2 side tables and matching coffee table and some lamps?

So besides all the moving and such, Daniel is back at work and I'm trying to get school things sorted out. I was in my last two classes as of Monday, but for some reason I was dropped out of them. At about 8am today I will be calling to yell at some people :) Then real work starts on the 10th for me. I'm still doing part time with Cheryl, yay, but hopefully working my way out of that.

NOW, for the stuff you really want to know. Bella :) Our little girl has had a banner month! Right before 4 months old (Dec 17) she started sitting up on her own AND she got her first bite of "people food." Since then we have learned that she hates bananas, which I don't blame her for, and that she love pears. She is only eating the organic baby food so far, but has had some random tastes of mommy's plate if it's something mushy. She is still 99% breastfeeding, which will stay this way for another few months at least, but it's fun for daddy and other family to get a chance to feed her.

Also this month Bella got her ears pierced! We went to our favorite Salon and Spa in Mooresville, NC - Bella Lago Salon and Spa. Merrisa (the owner) and a wonderful lady, Denise, were all set to do it. Unfortunately, our Bella was less than cooperative and fought hard against the tiny marker that was just going to mark the earing's place! Then, I held her head while they did both ears at once. She screamed. :( But it wasn't over...the left side was at a bad angle and didn't match. At this point, Daniel is nearly in tears and is hating so much that his little girl is in pain. However, it was better to just get it over with than come back another day. It wasn't the easiest thing, but she has been great since.

Here are some pictures!

ALMOST CHRISTMAS - yay Cards!

So I heard about this from my girl Shawna, and she is ALL about getting something for free. And well, so am I- so ladies, get on this! It ends on the 10th!

Shutterfly is giving away 50 FREE Holiday Cards to bloggers!!

I'm so excited about this! I use Shutterfly for all of my photo printing. I have always been pleased with Shutterfly's quality AND customer service. We have not used Shutterfly for our Christams Cards but since this will be our first Christmas as a married couple with our BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL I really went to start using photo Christmas cards so that our family and friends can not only receive a nice holiday but it they will also receive a nice photo of us as well. I have heard that it so easy to use and upload my personal pictures.

There are so many great designs to choose from, but this is my favorite so far:

I really like how simple this card is, more focus on us!. Shutterfly has many options for bright and cheerful colors and they are one of the only places I can find that have beautiful designs in the colors that I really like.

Not into Christmas cards? They also have a wide range of products including: Calanders,
Mother's Day Cards and Story Cards.

I never use anyone but Shutterfly. I've been a customer of theirs for a couple years now, and I am so excited for the 50 Free Card promotion! I have ordered a few MANY prints since my daughter was born, they make wonderful gifts for all occasions!

Go here to sign up for your 50 FREE cards too!

Good luck I can not wait to get our Christmas Cards!!!

Whoa- time for an update

yeah Shawna- this is for you, girl :)

Hi all! I know, I know- it's been a good 4 months since I updated this thing! Thankfully I have a wonderful excuse and I will do better. These past four months have been blessed, amazing, stressful and worth it! Our little Isabella Grace is now a little over 4.5 months old and is making leaps and strides towards being an independent little girl. In the past two weeks she is starting to sit up on her own (it's not very pretty right now, but getting better by the day) and she can army craw (slowly, thank goodness) to things she wants. Which is pretty much anything. She had a four month appointment this past Monday (29th) and weighs 4lbs 8oz and is 24" tall! Funny thing is, at the same age I was 5lbs 14oz and 27" tall! Maybe she won't be as tall as mommy, but that's ok :) I don't know if my back could take another pound or two! At my latest doctor trip they told me to stop losing weight... I swear breastfeeding is amazing.

Besides things of recent, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Daniel's family and then drove to VA to surprise my family! Dad knew, but mom and Gima, Virginia and the kids had NO clue! We stayed till Sunday afternoon and then came home :( Halloween was also great, Bella was a ladybug and a watermelon. Marisa and Will came to visit for the day and we avoided all the tricker-treaters in Troy. Sorry kids, I don't have $200 for the candy it would take to please you. She already has way too many Christmas presents, but I guess a little girl's frist Christmas is a very special one.

Just a little shout out for two of my wonderful friends Matt and Kathleen- they had their first child, Roslyn Moran early this morning. I am so excited to share parenthood with them and can't wait to live closer and raise our little girs together.

anyway, i'm done for now. I'll get photos up soon.

love- Caly and Bella

Finally here :)

I'm here!!
Our beautiful angel was born at 6:26am on Saturday- July 17th. She weighed 7lbs and was 20 1/4" long. She had a great first couple days at the hospital and a great first night at home. She is happy, healthy and absolutely perfect! Can't wait to start blogging about her many amazing adventures, but no promises that I'll be on here soon. Already crazy here and being a new Mom will take some practice. Love you all!

More updates later...

+4

still waiting!

Isabella,

What are you doing in there?! Can it really be so comfortable in my tummy that you are still happy?? And this week has been even quieter than last...no contractions, no more dilating, no nothing! You are keeping people waiting coast to coast and I've started checking my own facebook hourly for hopes up an update. Could you pretty please make Mommy and Daddy (and SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE) happy and come today! Or tomorrow... Monday is really just too far away. And besides, the longer you wait the shorter the time for us between now and when classes start! So make Mommy happy and come soon.

Love you more than you will ever understand (that is until you are a mom yourself) - Mom

updates

Mommy is still only 2cm dilated .

But Bella is crammed down as low as a kid can get without being born :)

She weighs a whopping 6 lbs, 15 oz (as of today)

If she doesn't come this week, we are scheduled for an induction at 7am Monday the 19th.

She made her Daddy happy today by giving him his Father's Day present (some video game) a day before it was released to stores...but he still wants her to come NOW!

Nothing else new.