Something New...

Well after many months of sitting in her bumbo to eat, Bellie girl is the proud owner of a new high chair! It was just getting too hard to feed her in that little chair... she was easily distracted because she could reach everything around her. Besides, our baby isn't such a baby anymore... She's almost 1!

But now she is flying high in her Eddie Bauer high chair. And she loves it!

I think her favorite part was playing in the box!

OKC Half Marathon

We ventured up to OKC this past weekend for the Memorial Marathon.

I have enjoyed getting back into running lately (especially with Bella's new jogging stroller). It reminds me of those days way back when I used to 'really' run.
I hadn't really trained all that much for this race, but I knew I would be able to complete it.

My goal was to run under 2 hours... Here is a synopsis of the race:

It was 75 degrees and 93% humidity at 6:30 in the morning when the race started. I went out too fast (as always)... felt really good for the first 4 miles and then hit a wall. Besides already drenched in sweat because of the weather, my hamstrings were really tight (especially my left one). Miles 4-9 were hard for me. The course was actually hillyer than I ever thought possible and then the wind kicked up... It seemed as though every up hill was against the wind!

During these few miles I kept thinking to myself... I actually paid money to do this to myself?!?! Haha... I could feel the blisters on my toes in my shoes, my legs hurt, my knees hurt and I thought to my self... How did I ever run double this in a full marathon?

Anyway, there is nothing like seeing the finish line... and this finish line looked oh so sweet to me! I usually am able to kick it into high gear at the end of a race... but my high gear was only really at a medium crossing the finish line.

I came in a 1:59:16.

Well, I accomplished my goal so that made me happy.

My groin and hamstrings really tightened up after I crossed the finish line and it was hard to walk, bend over and put on my clothes. Ben kept saying... this is ridiculous, this is the last time you're doing this! Which would probably be smart. BUT, even though it was painful and my calfs, hamstrings and quads are super sore this morning... I will do it again!

Here are some pics from race day:

This is just after I crossed the finish line. Bella clapping for her Mama.


Emily, Monica, Faye and Me.


Bella wearing my medal (it kept her entertained for a good 30 minutes)


Bellie showing off her pointing skills.

Yummie Yogurt!

This is Bella eating her yogut the other day...
As you can see she really really liked it!

What a funny little girl!

10 Months Shrinking Bear Photo...

Well it was a little hard to capture Bellie at 10 months.
Not only would she not sit in the same spot of more then two seconds.... she was literally diving off the chair head first! Haha, too funny!
I am going to try and get a few more photos when I have a little back up (someone to catch her from falling off the chair).
Here is what I have so far:






This is the only photo that I really like, where she's looking at the camera sitting up!

Things Bella Girl is up to these day:

• Clucks like a chicken
• claps on command
• waves on command
• we are working on blowing kisses, when Grandma Susie was here last week she got the first part of the motion... but hasn't figured out how to blow the kiss
• fits in most of her 6-12 months clothes (finally, her torso is so darn small that nothing fit up until now)
• loves to stand in her play yard and holding onto the table
• deliberately picks her legs up to take a step while holding onto my hands
• scoots all over the place now, she has mastered the 'SCOOT' and can now travel across the room on her little bottom
• still loves yogurt and apple sauce
• new food introduced in the last month: turkey, chicken, spaghetti squash, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, noodles, bread
• is learning how to drink from her sippy cup
• loves snuggling
• holds onto the corner of her blanket when she is falling asleep (so cute)
• really finding her little will... when she doesn't like something she lets you know... usually in the form of flinging her hand at you

This month I have literally seen the change in out sweet girl. She's not a little baby anymore... but rather our little toddler girl! I love seeing her little personality develop. I can't quite figure out who she is going to be like. She definitely has Ben's calm demeanor, but she has a little spitfire in her too. It will be interesting to continue watching her develop and grow. She's just so precious either way!

Rabbit Run

Last Saturday Ben and I ran in the Rabbit Run here on base. It was the first race of a whole series the fitness center is hosting this spring/summer.
A few girls that I have been training with (for the OKC 1/2 Marathon this weekend) went in it too. So it was a lot of fun.
Ben didn't really want to run it, but I made him!
The next race (4 miles) is the day before Mother's Day... so that will be fun too, because both Steve & Ann and my parents are going to be in town!

Do you know Him?

Let me introduce you to my friend...
His name is Jesus
He is my Savior
He is my Redeemer
He is the I AM

Today HE IS RISEN!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11: 25- 26

Bunny Ears!

My mom has been here this week to visit. It has been a busy week, so Grandma Susie has been able to spend a lot of time all alone with Isabella.

This afternoon we took Bella out around town to snap a few photos. Our photo shoots aren't as easy anymore now that Bella just wants to go go go! But I was able to capture a few good shots of Bella and her Grandma Susie.

And a few of our precious little girl all by herself!

Bella in the tub!

Bella in the bath tub...

Clucking like a chicken!

Discovering Grass!

The other day I tool Bella out to shoot some photos... and it was the first time she really discovered the GRASS.

She thought it was interesting...

& studied it hard!

& tried to eat it a few times...

I love Cougars!

Ben and I finally decided on which jogging stroller to buy!

Our NEW Chariot Cougar2 came in the mail the other day...
And I LOVE IT!

It's a bit of a monster piece of equippment... so I wasn't sure how it was going to handle on runs, but I took it for a spin yesterday afternoon and WOW, it was great! I couldn't believe how smooth and easy it was to push and turn! I am so glad that we bought this model. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

Isabella seems to love it too...
She fell asleep on our run!

Child-proofing Anyone?

Well, these days Isabella has been changing a lot!!!
She is no longer just content with sitting quietly on the floor...
Her newest thing is getting into the cupboards. I love her little looks as she opens the doors and starts to grab something... She'll look up at me with these eyes that say... "Mommy I'm going to touch whatever is in here is that ok?"
Bella loves to open and close the doors as well. I keep thinking she's going to get her little fingers... but so far so good, no caught fingers.

Not only is she getting into the cupboards... today while I was changing her diaper, she some how managed to get the screw top off of her baby lotion (that was over and behind her head on the change table) and decided to take a hand full and eat it!

I have a feeling that our days of our sweet little girl who was so compliant, calm and didn't really get into 'trouble' are over (which in one way I'm not complaining about).
She'll still be our sweet girl, just in a different way!