Balloon Fun

Fun with the birthday balloons!

The outtakes...

Looking for trouble!

Pretty

My Little Bug-A-Boo

I love this picture. I could stare at it for hours. I love every little detail of her little face...aww, the eyelashes, the nose, the cheeks, the lips! How is my bug-a-boo growing up so fast?!

Book for Grandpa

I just made this awesome book on Shutterfly for my Dad's birthday! Check it out!

Click here to view this photo book larger

The Zoo

While we were in St. Louis, we ventured out to the St. Louis Zoo. I'm not sure who was more excited...Ben or Isabel! This zoo was totally awesome. The weather was kind of odd...it stormed all morning, but we decided to brave it and head toward the zoo. By the time we got there, the rain clouds disappeared and we had almost the whole zoo to ourselves. It was pretty sweet.

Isabel was confused by the penguins. They had an indoor penguin exhibit too which was so neat, the penguins were so close to us that you could reach out and touch them (if you wanted to get in trouble by the zoo security).

Another confused moment...not sure what to think of the carousel.

Ahh, finally, something Isabel understands...kitties! She loved the cat house. We saw a couple cats walking around their cages, but this sign was the hit of the day. She gave it multiple kisses!

Checking out the camels with Daddy.

Zonked...

STL

We took Isabel down to St. Louis for her first baseball game in September. It was a nice weekend away for all of us. PLUS, my good friend Angela lives in St. Louis so we headed to the game with her family.

Isabel was so well behaved and she did great being in a different environment...however we were completely stupid to think we could enjoy 9 innings of a baseball game with friends. We spent about 5 minutes in our seats and the rest of the game was spent wandering around the ballpark. Next time, Ben will go to the game and I'll go hang out somewhere sanitary with Isabel and watch the game on TV!

We checked into our hotel and promptly started playing in the pillows with Daddy.

We had great weather for the game, but Isabel could have cared less about the game. For all she cared, we could have been on the other side of this gate (for free) and she still would have been thrilled.

Isabel and Amelia were instant friends. Amelia gave Isabel lots of hugs!

Isn't this picture just adorable? Isabel totally looked up to Amelia.

Chatting the game away...no where near our seats...

The Pozzo Family

A family portrait.

Pushing Around Elliott

One of Isabel's favorite playmates is baby Elliott! We have had lots of get togethers, but I'm terrible with managing photos during play dates. However, I did capture a couple that I just had to share because they are so cute.

Here is Mr. Elliott just chilling out, so laid back. That is his motto...laid back.

Miss Isabel showing Elliott the ropes in the walker.

What did I say, laid back!

A Year in Review

I'm speachless about how fast my baby is growing up. I've been working hard on her baby book lately and I can't believe how fast the first year went by. Here is a year in review to see the amazing works of the Lord.

A Mousekabration

What else do you call a Mickey Mouse celebration??!

Isabel's first cartoon was Mickey Mouse. She would be absolutely mesmerized by the TV when she heard Mickey talking. So it was easy to pick a theme for her birthday. I started looking for ideas online ages ago...and found a million ideas. If I had more time, I could have gone crazy! Anyways, here are some pictures of how things turned out.

Here are the adorable (if I do say so myself) invites that I made. FYI...I later realized that not everyone knows...but "Meeska, Mooska" are the magic Mickey Mouse words you say to get into the Clubhouse. Seriously...you will start speaking (& dancing) Mickey Mouse after only a couple episodes...trust me.

I am by no means a graphic designer, but I found a "Disney" font online...which I think turned out so cute in the invites. I'm sure no one that we invited noticed the Disney font, so I have to point it out!
The Mousekalicous 7 layer dip that Meema made for the party!
Dessert, my favorite part!

I found a picture of this banner on etsy (best website ever) and I thought, I can make that. So after a couple skewed attempts, this is how it turned out. Sooo fun! Oh, and the Mickey balloon was a hit too...once Isabel was comfortable with the balloons, she gave Mickey lots of kisses!

Now, what should I do for her second birthday party???

Little People

I know I have been blog negligent lately. I read somewhere in the blogging etiquette that a blog which doesn't have a post more than once a week is shameful...and out of date. Ha...shameful...that person clearly doesn't have little people in their household! Sooner or later I will catch up as I do love sharing pictures of Isabel for those that volunteer their time to read. Plus, I just made a book out of blog posts over the first year to keep as a journal of sorts...I'm so excited to see how that turns out!

Anyways, I was going through some pictures today and stumbled upon these. This is Mr Finn Pants and Miss Isabel hanging out at her birthday bash. Finn is one of the most entertaining (and tiring) little people I have ever met. Here are Finn and Isabel playing nice.

And here are Finn and Isabel...Finn is playing, Isabel...not so much. This video was taken about six months ago...but Ben's hard drive crashed and I thought we lost this one. So glad I found it!!!

The Aftermath

As I finish up the thank you notes from Isabel's birthday, I am absolutely floored by the thoughtfulness and generosity. She was generously blessed by so many people with happy wishes in texts, emails, phone calls, cards, prayers and gifts. Ben and I really tried not to go crazy. I bought her a slide (used from a garage sale), a book on prayers, a big girl spoon and sfork and a baby guitar. I would love to buy her the world, but really...what good is it going to do for her? Not to mention, I have enough clutter in my house. So instead, we put some money in her college fund. Hopefully she'll thank me for it someday. Btw, did I ever thank you Mom and Dad?! If not, thanks SO SO much!

This was our cue that it was time to start opening presents...

Isabel loved these animal crackers so much that it was difficult to get her to open the rest of the presents.

Yes folks, that is a VINTAGE, 1980 stove top. It's identical to the one I had a child. My mom thought it was important to hunt down the exact same model on ebay!

Meema bought Isabel her very first Bitty Baby for her birthday. Here she is skeptic about this pint size, life like thing in the box...check out the furrowed brow.

Still concerned

Kissable and lovable

Best friends forever

Grandma got Isabel this adorable chair which she and "Dolllllly" thoroughly enjoy.

As does Daddy

The aftermath...and a view of the disaster in my living room