Sittin' Pretty!

Here are some pictures of our sweet Isabella. Isn't she getting so BIG! We went to the doctor this week and she weighed two ounces shy of 15 lbs.

These are a few samples of my attempt to make hair bows for Bella. I made these two without the help of my trusty bow making buddy Julie (who's daughter Maddie is ALWAYS decked out with cute hair accessories).

I bought a ton of ribbon off of Ebay to kick start my bow making. Bows are actually quite expensive, so I am saving money buying my own ribbon and making them myself.... At least that is what I keep telling myself and poor Ben (who now thinks I have enough ribbon for a lifetime supply of hair bows for our little princess... which he is probably right)!

Christmas in the Park

On Sunday night Ben, Bella and I went to the Altus light display in the park. I wanted to go last year, but Ben and I never got around to it... and I guess it just wasn't a priority without a little one. This year with Isabella I wanted to start a new family tradition.

It was a little chillier than we thought it was going to be... but at least Bella Girl was all bundled up. Ben and I got Hot Chocolate and popcorn to keep us warm as we walked through all the lights.

There is a Santa you can have your picture taken with that is the most realistic Santa I've ever seen... but our sweet girl decided to fall asleep in the car on the way over, so no picture with the Santa in the park this year. Maybe next year we'll wake her up!
Check out Katie Lairmore's Blog to see just how real Mr. Claus looks.

Here is a pic of what the whole park looks like.

A pic of Bella and Peety getting cozy on the chair after the park!

54th Squadron Christmas Party

Last Friday we had Ben's Squadron's Christmas Party. It was great fun this year.

We had a really fun table... we sat with Nick & Julie (Maddie), Tera & Louis (Eva), and Bobbie & Tim. Our table was known as the 'baby' table and also as the 'sneaky stealers' for the dirty Santa game.
I brought the Belly Dancing kit that I won last year at the Sq. spouses Chriatmas Party for our Dirty Santa present... and we took home a cute MEMORIES picture frame.
Isabella, Maddie & Eva graced us with their presence... although Bella Girl wasn't too fond of all the noise, and had a bit of a rough night not wanting to fall asleep. Ben and I even won a 'GREAT' knife set as a door prize... that we will be donating to Good Will unless anyone needs one?!
Here is a picture of our table at the end of the night!

Here is a picture of "THE GANG"...Our friends Klara & JJ, Faye & Sam, Kate & Devon sat just next to us, so they were close by!

Abs of Steel!

Yesterday during Bella's nap I could hear that she was awake and chatting to herself... I poked my head in her door to see what was up, and this is what I found:
Her LEGS straight in the air!
Here is a little video clip of our little sweets working her abs!
What a funny girl!

American Thanksgiving!

This last week we celebrated American Thanksgiving with the Shaub Family.

We drove up to OKC last Saturday to pick up Grammy. We spent the day eating at the Cheese Cake Factory and shopping before heading back home.

Dan, Liz and Grampy all came on Tuesday!
Our week with everyone was packed and we had so much fun!

On Wednesday night we had a fire in our fire pit in the back yard.

After the fire pit we got into Ann's homemade Apple Pie (a night early).... But it was O soooo Good!

Thursday was Thanksgiving Day... The girls cooked all day!

I told the Shaub's that the only way they could all come and stay with us for Thanksgiving was if everyone helped cook the Thanksgiving Day meal. I was a little scared to do the whole meal, as the last time I was on duty for cooking was two years ago when Ann was out on disability due to a foot surgery... Liz and I TRIED to cook the whole Thanksgiving meal and here's how it went:

• The Turkey wasn't fully cooked when we were ready to eat... so we cut off the pieces that looked done. (no one got sick, so they must have been ok)
  
• We had NO stuffing or gravy (because the turkey wasn't fully done)
  
• I was on mashed potato duty and ruined the mashed potatoes by whipping them in Ann's non stick pan... needless to say there were little pieces of the non stick mixed into our mashed potatoes. They ended up in the garbage and luckily we had back up mashed potatoes out of the BOX!!!!

Anyway, this time around was MUCH MUCH better! I think our turkey was the best turkey I've ever had!

On Friday we went for a post Thanksgiving Day hike up at Quartz Mountain. It was a beautiful day... and it was so much fun, not to mention good for burning off all of the calories from the week! Isabella was a little trooper and loved being in the hiking pack! Ann has better pictures... so more to come!

This morning we had to say goodbye to our visitors... It was sad. We had so much fun with all the Shaub's being here over the last week. We are so Thankful for having such a wonderful and loving family. Isabella sure does love her Grammy, Grampy, Uncle Dan Dan & Auntie Lizzy!!!

Thanks so much for coming to visit us here in Altus! We are Blessed!

I'm a BIG Girl!

I weigh 14 lbs and 5 oz...

& I am 27 inches long!

5 Months Old!

Can you believe that Isabella is 5 MONTHS OLD already!?!? I simply cannot!
She is growing up so fast! Here is a list of the things Bella Girl is up to these days!

• Playing with her feet (she just started this yesterday)
• Finally likes her Bumbo Seat (pictures to come)
• Likes playing in her Exersaucer
• Always has her hand in her mouth
• Is really starting to laugh... usually when people clap at her
• Just yesterday she started rolling over almost every time I put her on the floor
• Loves to stand on your lap... She's a STRONG girl.
• Chews on her tongue

Here is Isabella's Shrinking Bear Photo:

Katherine's Baby Shower

My Mom and I hosted a Baby Shower for my good friend Katherine (who is due in one moth). Over 20 ladies came to celebrate Katherine & John's new baby! It was a great evening, filled with lots of fun, laughs, good food and company!

We can't wait to see if Katherine's baby is going to be Isabella's BEST FRIEND (a Girl) or BOYFRIEND (a Boy)! We can't wait for Christmas holidays in Calgary to meet that little baby!

Here are some pics from the evening!

Coffee with Karen, Mark, Bella and Me

On Tuesday Isabella and I met my good friend Karen and her husband Mark at Starbucks! Mark is a photography guru... so he brought his camera along to take some pics of us our coffee date. It was so nice hanging out with them as a married couple! And all these pictures were a very special treat! Thank Mark (& Karen for supplying a husband-photographer)

This one is my Favorite!

Our Daughter is the cutest ever!

A sick little Baby!

On Saturday morning Bella woke up at 3 coughing and with a stuffy nose (I did also)!
When we actually got up Saturday morning, she had a little fever and just wanted to sleep and nurse. By the evening, her temperature was 102 degrees and she was a little fussy.

As a mother, the worst thing is seeing your child in pain and feeling crummy. It was horrible! Isabella especially HATED getting her nose suctioned out, which she screamed at every time...although she really didn't seem to mind getting the thermometer stuck up her little bummy. LOL!
Saturday was filled with laying LOW, a hot steamy shower to clear out our noses, and lots of Kleenex!

Here is our little muffin with a damp cloth on her head... still looking cute even with a cold and fever!

On Sunday we got up and Isabella was feeling much better. Her temperature was only 98.7 (normal) and her nosey wasn't as stuffy! We were so thankful that she was better and her cold only lasted a day! This is a pic of Bella Girl on Sunday afternoon... looking much better!

More Halloween Pics!

Here are some more Halloween pics of happening around town!

A Family pic at the Squadron Halloween Party!