Friends

Cecelia and Eamon

AJ's birthday present was to go to the Nickelback concert!!

AJ's 4th grade speech! He won first place in his class and did such a wonderful job speaking in front of a cafeteria full of people!

Singing to Baby Bella

Isabella is 5 months old!

She's so beautiful!

So, eating is going well and then...........




ACHOO!!! :)

Isabella is growing in leaps and bounds everyday! Look how well she can hold her head up! She is also "talking" back to us. :) Such a cutie patootie!

Last night a friend of mine half joking says to me "What happened to you? That baby sure put a cramp in your style. Geez, you can't do anything anymore..no class...no parties. I sure hope it's worth it."
So, as I am sitting here in my sleep deprived state I take a look around my house and am in absolute shock in what has changed in the last year. You see, our beautiful baby girl was conceived last Valentines Day (chocolates and Champagne) and the whirlwind that has now become my life is astounding to me. Work has been replaced with well, unpaid work. Work outs with friends have been replaced with breastfeeding. It seems there is no time to work out while breastfeeding every two hours. I used to get my hair cut and highlighted by a trained professional. It was expensive, but something that made me feel and look good. I now cut my hair in the bathroom and wonder how long it will take for these highlights to grow out. I had my dream car...it was replaced by a rather large grocery getter. I would sleep through the night, now I don't even remember what it's like to wake up well rested. I look at my pre Bella clothes and wonder so many things... how did I ever fit into those? Will I ever fit into those? Why do I feel like I have to fit into those?

But, here is the thing. This feels nice. I miss my friends, I really miss my classes, I miss my car, but it seems I was always meant to be a Mommy first. It puts things into perspective for me. It is impossible to go down the road of "what might have been" when my sweet little Bella looks me in the eyes and smiles that smile that could light up the sky. I can't imagine where life would have taken my little family had she not come into our world. What an incredible irony, that as difficult as she sometimes makes things, her presence has made it so much better.

So many of the things that are sacrificed being a mother, they seem to be the luxuries in life. My babies are the necessities and they are the only things that make sense. The only things I can't live without. So, my half joking friend, yes there are things that are difficult having an infant in the house, worth it? 100%

I'm laughing!

My girl is laughing and we actually caught it on tape!

Some updated pictures

Well, Christmas was great, but New Years was kind of rough on some of us...


Bella's Resolution was to work out more,


Tummy time to work those neck muscles!


So Funny!!


It was so sweet of Grandpa Ron to send a box of diapers... bigger than Isabella!


Look at me...I'm getting bigger every single day!


I'm not.


AJ is an amazing big brother. Bella is so lucky to have such a wonderful Bubby!


We would like to thank Baby Einstein (lullaby edition) for this lovely slumber.


Good Night.

How was your day? Did you do anything today? My dear husband asks after his 11 hour workday. Now, I realize his job has a two part payoff. He not only single handily financially supports our family, but he can take a step back and look at the beautiful home he has built and take great pride in himself. It is much easier to visualize what he has accomplished all day. My job, however has hidden paychecks. Straight A's, wide toothless grins and healthy check ups at the Dr's office rate at the top of the list.

How do I answer this question?
There is the obvious: dishes, laundry, feeding, changing, bathing, puppy training and grooming, help with homework, tummy time, cooking, cleaning and sustaning an entire life with the nutrition provided by my own body..... I made my house a home and a welcome place for my family to seek refuge from the world....

So, in response to my husband's inquiry, yes, I did do something today. In fact, I am one step closer to one of life's greatest accomplishments. No, I did not cure cancer or figure out how to fix the economy, but I did hold a miracle in my arms. Two, in fact. My children are my great accomplishment, and the opportunity to raise them is my greatest challenge. I don't know if my children will grow up to be great leaders or world-class brain surgeons. Quite honestly, I don't care, as long as they grow up to be happy, well rounded (and of course polite). They are my greatest joys, even though I sometimes cry myself to sleep at night in frustration. The point is, that today I got to watch my children take another step on the great journey of Life, and I even got to point out some of the sites along the way. What an honor to be part of shaping these two beautiful human beings. So, what did I do today?



Not much sweetheart, how was your day? :)