The State Fair

There's something about seeing my child SO happy and excited that brings me such great joy, there's not much else that compares. We all had a great day. It was hot, but not unbearable, we spent a rediculous amount of money on food, and I had the best all fruit smoothie I've ever had (so now I'm searching the internet for smoothie recipes). Isabella LOVED her first carousel ride, she laughed the entire time! She also loved going in all the expo buildings and getting all the free junk that people hand out. She didn't get a nap all day (the first time she's ever not had a nap) so I was a little worried, but she didn't let that phase her, she was perfect. I thought she'd maybe fall asleep in the stroller, but there was just too much to see. She did, however, fall asleep about 2 minutes after we got in the car to come home this evening. We even ran into some friends that just moved back to the area that we haven't seen since our wedding 5 years ago. What a day, the perfect way to end the summer! Monte says it was his best day all summer, I think I agree.

Not something I would normally recommend . . .

but if you happen to not be paying attention to your child, and if she happens to find a bag of carrots and dump them on the floor, then let her keep playing with them and toss them when she's done. It will keep her busy for a long time!

I was trying to make supper and get ready for company, I'm still not quite sure how she ever got the bag of carrots. But she even loved tossing them all in the garbage one by one.

Ready or Not - 6th Grade, Here I Come

That's right, I'm going to be teaching - 6th grade religious education (formerly CCD) every Wednesday evening. Our church was very short on teachers, and I really felt like I was being called to do it. But tonight, after our first meeting, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I guess I didn't realize all there is to it. I didn't know I had to attend teacher inservices once a month, and I didn't know you actually have to be (or in the process of being) certified to teach religious education. In our parish, it is a THREE year certification process. But there's no turning back now, I'm sure it will be fine, but I am nervous about it. Our classes start in two weeks. And anyone have any ideas as to what the 6th grade set likes to do, do they still like to color? The teacher's manual has them coloring a picture of the Creation in the first chapter, I didn't know if they would still be into that.

And on a somewhat related note, I just love it when people volunteer me for things because I *just* stay home! That was an actual comment to me tonight, "So since you JUST stay home, you can come in next week and help get all the classrooms organized and ready." Um, can't we just each be responsible for our own classrooms. And maybe if it was put in the form of a nice question asking if I could possibly come in to help, I would have been a little more eager. But I guess now I have no choice, since I was told that's what I'm doing. And more than likely I wouldn't have said no anyway, because I CAN'T say no, and that is one thing that drives me crazy about myself. Sorry for the rant, I'm tired but I can't go to bed because I've got food in the oven for two different events tomorrow - because I couldn't say no. :)

Precious Girls

These two cousins are inseparable when we get together, they play so good together now. They can't keep their hands off each other, it's fun to watch.

A New Routine

I think Isabella is finally going to start taking just one nap a day. She tried it once before, but it didn't last long. She's still been wanting her morning nap, but not an afternoon one. So today I kept her up all morning, fed her an early lunch, and put her down. All morning she was saying, "tired, nap" but hopefully she'll get used to the new routine soon.

Not the best way to wake up

There must be something going around that makes us poor moms have pimple problems lately. You would have thought I was a hormonal teenager by the way my face looked when I got up this morning. After examining my face for quite some time, Isabella said, "Mommy, bad." I interpreted it as, Mommy, you look bad. She then proceeded to kiss every single zit on my face, followed by a, "nice Mommy" as she patted me to make me feel better.

Not the typical birthday cake!

Today, while at my niece's Elmo themed 2nd birthday party, I asked Isabella what she wanted on her birthday cake in a few months. (Thinking she would say Elmo, because she wants to be just like her cousin). She answered, "Jesus".

Random Pics of the Day

I bought Isabella her first little bows for her hair the other day. I am just having way too much fun now that I can actually do a few a things with her hair! She loves it too, she's always asking for "tails" in her hair. I think I've got quite the girly girl on my hands.

Canning Day

I spent the day on Tuesday canning salsa. Since I was occupied most of the day, I let Isabella try something new. I filled one container with water, and put an empty container beside it. Then I let her have at it. It was quite the mess when it was over, but it kept her busy for a while (not as long as I was hoping it would, though).

Feeling Guilty

I just had a college girl, selling educational children's books, stop at our house. She was asking all about what kinds of educational things we do with Isabella and what she is able to do. I was telling her how we read to her all the time (sometimes I feel bad because she ALWAYS wants to read, and I get a little annoyed), she also is counting to three and knows how many one, two, and three actually is. She can recognise a few letters and tell me what they are, and she knows a few colors and shapes. I think she's doing okay without these books the lady was selling. But why do I feel so guilty for not buying them (they were EXPENSIVE, and only came in sets). She was telling me all about the people in town that I knew that had already bought them, she implied that my child wouldn't know everything she needed to for school without these books, etc. I realize that's what a salesperson does, so why do I still feel guilty.

Always my baby

She may not be a baby anymore, but she'll always be my baby.

My once, "I'm too busy to sit still" little girl has become a total cuddle bug. I am so happy to comply to "Mommy hold" and "Mommy rock" throughout the day. And even more, I am so happy to be at home with her, enjoying all these precious moments that will pass by too quickly. Although, not always the easiest financially, it has been the greatest blessing.

(In the picture she is pretending to be a baby - her new thing, she likes to pretend she's either a baby or a dog)

First Parade

Technically, her second parade, but her first one was last summer when she was a baby. She didn't get much out of that one. We searched and searched to find a spot in the shade, but were too late to get the good shady spots. It was HOT! Of course she wouldn't sit in her stroller under the canopy, she wanted in on getting the candy. The only way we could get her to take a break from the sun every once in a while was to tell her she could only drink her juice if she sat in the stroller.

She looks sunburned, but she's not, just red from the heat.

One of the floats was throwing out beads, she was SO excited.

Still loving the beads.

All worn out on the way home.

Parent Worries

I admit, I am a worrier, and maybe (probably) I worry too much. There are so many things in the news like whether or not to vaccinate, BPA in plastics, etc. I feel, as a parent, it's my job to do lots of research so we can make well informed decisions. This weekend I read an article in Parenting magazine, I couldn't find the article online but it's kind of like this one, it's about chemicals in baby products (lotions, soap, shampoos) and products we all use, actually. It's really scary to think that there are all these chemicals in products I put on my child's and my skin everyday. Chemicals that are known to cause cancer, allergies, skin problems, and neurological problems. The article referenced this site. You can look up any product and it gives it a number from 0-10, 0 being completely safe. This is what we've been using on Isabella, how scary! I did find some baby wash and lotion that is listed as completely safe, so that's what we'll use from now on. I haven't had time to look up the products that I use, and I don't know if I want to!

What's been going on

A whole lot of nothing - at least nothing too blogworthy. Playing outside, playdates at the park, Mass tonight, and endless garden produce growing riper by the day, just waiting for me to can. So far I've been too unmotivated to can, though. And on a somewhat related note, Isabella is obsessed with our garden tomatoes! I've never seen a kid like tomatoes so much, she can't get enough! Oh yeah, and the OLYMPICS! Monte and I are a little obsessed, it's getting rediculous. I'm not a huge TV watcher, but the Olympics, well that's a different story. I find myself running to try to take a shower during a commercial. Once Isabella's in bed, that's about all we've been doing. And my health might be suffering from it shortly, as I've been staying up way too late watching the gymnastics. The swimming is my favorite so far, though. Go Michael Phelps!

Playing in the cute, new truck at the park.

We hung out at the lake this morning with a group of friends. Isabella was quite taken with this handsome little guy. I held him for quite a while, and she didn't even mind.

My Little Angel

I had to write this down for the "virtual baby book", I don't want to forget it!

Yesterday, while grocery shopping, Isabella greeted every single person she saw by saying "Bless you".

Random Things Meme

I recently read this meme on someone else's blog, here's 25 totally random things you may or may not know about me.

1. I stay up too late at night.

2. When I was pregnant I always craved beer mixed with mustard! Of course I never tried it, but I always said after I had the baby I would try it, because it sounded SO unbelievably good to me! I don't even really like beer, and I haven't tried it.

3. I love spicy food.

4. My favorite TV show of all time is Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Between my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and me we have all the seasons on DVD. Every so often we rotate our collections.

5. I don't like clutter, it makes me nervous.

6. I'm terrified of clowns, escalators, and public restrooms.

7. I waste too much of Isabella's precious nap times on the computer.

8. Ever since I was in elementary I've had a goal of running a marathon. I just started running again for the first time in two years. Though I don't have much interest in an actual marathon anymore, I'd like to do something like a 5K someday.

9. I love to play piano, I hope to own one some day.

10. I had a sheep named Bob when I was growing up, another sheep named Betty, and a pig named Fluffy.

11. My middle name is Ann (after my grandma), Isabella's middle name is Ann, and her two cousins the same age as her have the middle name of Ann. (My grandma was a special lady) :)

12. My dad has never called me Angela, only Ann.

13. Monte and I mostly call Isabella "Annie" and now she calls herself that too.

14. I enjoy learning about alternative medicine and natural health.

15. I've had Shingles twice - once in college and once while I was pregnant.

16. Also, when I was pregnant, I had to go to the jewelers and get my wedding ring cut off! They cut an entire section out, then pried it off my finger with a needle nose pliers. They accidentally cut my finger, and I was bleeding all over their counter. Due to that unfortunate accident they didn't charge me anything. Despite the sorry state of my ring after that, it was repaired as good as new.

17. When I was little I had two imaginary friends - John and Sally.

18. I have a lot of unfinished projects.

19. I shared a room with my sister when I was growing up. We did not get along! Now we are best friends.

20. My brother is the nicest, most caring person I've ever known.

21. I didn't know how much love my heart could hold until I had a child.

22. We STILL get a random medical bill/insurance settlement every now and then from my pregnancy, and when Isabella was born.

23. I've been eating too unhealthy this summer.

24. When I was growing up I always begged my parents for one of those big, above ground pools. I don't even like to swim.

25. I'm so behind on Isabella's scrapbook that I don't even have her baptism pictures in it yet. That was when she was 7 weeks old!

I'm tagging anyone who wants to play along.

Merry Christmas to Me

I have been wanting to upgrade and get a new camera for about a year. So I was so excited when my parents told me they would get me one for Christmas. It turns out that my brother and sister-in-law's camera broke, so I gave them mine and I got my Christmas present early (a lot early!) I did A LOT of research on-line trying to figure out the best camera to buy, and that got overwhelming. I wasn't happy with the first one I got last week, but after exchanging that one I am loving my new camera. Of course, I had to try it out today on my favorite subject!

Still Here

With the two moms here last week, a trip to my sister's for the weekend, and a family get together for my nephew's birthday, I haven't had much time left for blogging. Here's what we've been up to . . .

Hanging out with cousin Rachel.

Loving cousin Rachel.

Swinging at the park.

The three cousins, all born within a span of five months. (Oldest to youngest in the photo.)

Hugs (aka choking) from cousin Marie. :)

More love from Rachel.

Fun with Daddy.

And finally . . . this picture cracks me up!! Our best attempt at getting a picture of my parents with all the grandkids.