Baby Bits

Every day I am so fascinated with the intricacies of my daughter-those little hands, those precious feet....truly there is no other explanation than she is a miracle from God. I am amazed at how those 10 little fingers are so actively discovering her environment and I love that little reflexive grip they have on your hand. I love how when I kiss those feetsies she beams with a huge smile. I desperately need to the time to myself when she goes down for her naps but can't wait to pick her up again and kiss those incredible cheeks!

Easter 2010

David was on call this Easter so my parents came to pick me up and we headed South to spend time with my brothers, uncle, and their families.  Bella's Kiki bought her a beautiful Easter dress so I was so excited the weather was warm enough for her to wear it.  She had so much fun being outside, watching her cousins run around, and posing for pictures (or maybe that last part was forced upon her!).

Proud grandparents!

Bella is thinking "Grandma, enough pictures!!"

Enjoying time on the floor to stretch

Bella found a purple Easter egg to match her dress!

When we move to California I am so going to miss these family get togethers; thank goodness it is only for a year!

I am very thankful this Easter for the blessings in my life-especially my wonderful family.  But most important I am grateful for a Savior who died and rose again :)

Family Fun

Let me start by saying this will be an incomplete post since I am terrible at taking photos and am waiting on photos from Bella's Granny.  David's dad, Rick (Papa), and stepmom, Mary (Granny) came down to see Bella from the first time from Florida.  David's sister, Allison, and her cutie McKenzie also came down from Austin so we had a funfilled weekend with family. 

Allison, Bella (3 mos), David, and McKenzie (almost 2)

Bella chomping on her hands in the bumbo-I have discovered this is the BEST invention for allowing me to be able to have a hands free dinner with family.

Allison got Bella and McKenzie matching outfits-they looked so cute.  This is the second time McKenzie has seen Bella and now that Bella is more interactive she and McKenzie had a ball together.  McKenzie was so sweet and gentle.

Cutest thing ever-we told McKenzie to read Bella a story so McKenzie took it upon herself to cozy up to Bella, put her arm around her and proceed to read to her!!

Kisses for the cousins

Me and my girls!

The weather was spectacular on Saturday so we took a trip to the zoo.  Bella did great and enjoyed being in her carrier so she could look at all the animals.  We of course lathered her with sunscreen and gave her some shades and a nice wide sun hat.....she had everyone talking!  One lady even asked to take a picture of her....such a cutie.  Bella loves chillin' with her Aunt Alli!

Like I said, we have pictures missing of her Granny and Papa so I will post those as soon as I get them.  Also last week construction began on our condo (the exterior needs to be repaired due to faulty construction and water damage)-the damage was so bad they have proceeded to take down some of our interior walls so Bella and I went to stay with my parents in Conroe after all our company left on Sunday.  It was nice after a busy weekend to be taken care of by my mom-I don't have to worry about cooking, cleaning, etc.  Mom and I took Bella to get some Easter pictures taken at JC Penny's-they came out really cute so if you are a relative expect a copy in the mail shortly :)

Unfortunately on Wednesday Bella came down with a 101.4 degree fever-her first time to be really sick.  I took her to the pediatrician and she has a little upper respiratory infection and seems to be feeling better but it just breaks my heart to see her not feel good.  I need to quit worrying so much about her-she is only 3 months and if I keep it up I am sure to have a stomach ulcer by the time she is a year!

I can't believe we are in April already-Bella and I will be with some of my family for Easter but David will be at home on call (have a mentioned before how incredibly excited I am he is done with residency in 3 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).  

Stay tuned.......

Our "Spring Break"

Really this week for us was no different than any other (David still had to work) but we did do some fun outdoorsy activities that were good enough for me to consider it our "spring break".  The weather at the beginning of the week was phenomenal so me and the girls from play group met in Pearland for lunch and some shopping.  We looked hilarious...three young girls, carrying these massive baby seats with kids all the same age.  I think our poor male waiter was thinking, "I knew I should have called in sick today!".  All the kids did awesome except Bella who decided she wanted to be held in her sling and walked around....and you people wonder why I am so ridiculously underweight....it's because I hardly get a chance to eat! 

Happy St. Patrick's day...Only Hunt was completely decked out for the occasion....I totally forgot.  Ironically, the last time we took a picture with the three kiddos Bella was wearing the exact same outfit.  We must have taken a dozen photos and all three mommies were making ridiculous noises to try and get the kiddos to look. 

This week Bella not only has continued to suck her hands but now knows they are there and will stare at her fingers as if they are the most fascinating thing ever.  She'll bring them right up to her eyes and go crossed eyed!  She also has embarked on the impossible task of trying to get her WHOLE fist in her mouth.  Here she thought she could get the paci and her fist in there.  Oh, she cracks me up!

Saturday morning some friends were nice enough to let us borrow some garage space to get rid of some of our junk in a garage sale.  They have a beautiful tree in their front yard that Bella really liked.  Aw, daddy and daughter.

Um, who's watching who here?!!!!  David tuckered out after the garage sale.

Saturday evening Bella got to go to her first crawfish boil.  Go figure that the temperature dropped to the low 40's and the wind was so gusty.  But that didn't stop us from getting her bundled up and venturing out.....she was our little eskimo.....sooooo cute!!!

Bella and her Kiki after indulging in crawfish.....a funfilled weekend!

To the Rodeo We Will Go (and other cute pics!)

Houston is well known for it's annual rodeo every spring.  We have gone almost every year for the 7 years we have lived here and I really wanted to go this year since we are moving to California in just 3 1/2 months.  It just didn't seem to work out-all our weekends in March were quickly booked up and I never know what time David is going to get home during the week so we decided not to get tickets.  Well.......David was at an ENT conference and as part of their evening activities the program had reserved a box at the rodeo....and there were extra tickets!!!!!  So we had two $125 tickets for free :)   I was so excited to get to go one last time and to get to take Bella.  So we threw on some jeans and were off!

Bella did AWESOME-she just looked around and seemed intrigued by all the loud noise.  We packed her bedtime bottle which daddy gave her and then as you can see she passed out!

So, I have always loved the rodeo (although I do kind of feel sorry for the animals) but this new event tops anything I have ever seen....it's called Mutton Bustin'....oh my gosh, only in Texas....you wouldn't believe this but it is 4 and 5 year old kids, who basically bear hug the back of a sheep and then they are let loose to see how long they can hold on for dear life!!! Are you kidding me?!!!! I didn't know if I should laugh or cry for these kids but they LOVE it....they of course all fall off and get up smiling.  The picture is blurry but that is a 4 year old gripping his sheep!!!!

The entertainment for the night was Brad Paisley who put on a very good show.

Since I had these new pictures I thought I would throw them in-Bella at 11 weeks.

Bella is 10 weeks

My sweet little girl is really no longer a newborn....she truly has a personality and is so alert and interactive.  She successfully has slept ALL the way through the night 3 times (8pm to 7am) but usually just wakes up once around 3am.  She is on a consistent daytime schedule of eating, playing, then napping.  During our play times she loves to bear weight on her legs, bat and now grab at objects, and gaze into mirrors.  The things she can do amaze me-we have a touch and feel book I have read to her since she was born.  I have always taken her hands and rubbed them along the textured part of the book and now when we read it she feels the textures all by herself!  This stage of her development is so rewarding because I can just see her absorbing the world around her....it makes those grueling first 6 weeks of life so worth it.  David was holding her last night and I almost cried at how big she looked in his arms....she used to be so tiny....if only I could slow down time just a little bit!

This picture is a little old (Valentines day) but David went to a conference in Arizona for 5 days so I went to stay with my parents....although I missed David, I was loving being taken care of by mom!

Bella and her cousin Emily staring at each other.....uh oh, Bella's about to cry! (Bella at 9 weeks)

Bella really enjoys watching her finger puppets. (Bella at 10 weeks)

Reaching out to touch the puppet

Goofy girl!

Smiling at the toys on her play mat

Tuckered out after playing hard

Loving her reflection in the mirror

Bella also really likes bathtime-maybe it's because she is looking in the mirror again!

This past weekend my parents came down to babysit-David and I had a wedding to go to so it was officially our first night out alone together since Bella was born.  When Bella was younger she used to choke everytime she was given a bottle so I was kind of nervous about leaving her with my mom.  Also she tends to be fussy from 6 to 8 pm so I hate to leave a crying kid.  But according to mom bella did great, she played and then took a nap in her sling and then successfully drank her bottle and went to bed without a fuss....thanks mom!!  Now I feel much more comfortable about going out again in the future....my lack of ability to give up control should not suprise any of you!!