It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Finally! A wonderful day outside! Isn't it funny how 41 degrees in the fall feels SO cold, but in March you think it's so warm you don't even wear a coat. Don't worry, Isabella still had her winter gear on. :) Our neighbors have a swing set that they don't use because their kids are grown, they were going to take it down, but decided after Isabella was born that they would leave it up for us to use. How nice! So she and I went swinging today for the first time since this past fall. We don't have her baby swing up yet, so she sat on my lap in the big swing. It was so much fun, she just giggled the whole time. Then she had her first experience blowing bubbles, I wish I had a video. Every time I would blow bubbles she would gasp, like it was the greatest thing she had ever seen in her life! And the best news of all - it's supposed to be even nicer out tomorrow!

Check out the new blog

located here.

More Indoor Fun

First of all, I can't believe we actually did this. I'm not exactly fond of anything that I know is going to make a huge mess. But things change when you have kids, and I'm getting much better about "letting things go", or maybe I should say I'm getting more relaxed about this whole parenting thing, messes can always be cleaned up, right? While I do love this age, I also find it a little hard to come up with things to do. She's not into really baby things anymore, yet still too little for a lot of activities. I can't wait to do "crafty" things with her as she gets older. This was our first attempt at finger painting. Since I knew she would try to eat it, I made a package of instant vanilla pudding and used food coloring to tint it. I taped construction paper to her high chair tray, and away she went. The pudding worked great, it dried nicely overnight, and is now proudly displayed on the fridge. (The first of many to come, I'm sure) :)

What?! I can put my hands in this stuff!

Mmmm, delicious!

Thanks Mom, this was fun!

Ready for Spring

The last couple of weekends have been beautiful, temperatures in the upper thirties. Almost all our snow melted this past weekend, and we got to take Isabella outside to play. Now this morning we woke up to this scene out our living room windows. I do think that falling snow is beautiful, but to me it's a little bit more beautiful around Christmas, and not as much in March.

I was trying to think of some activities I could do with Isabella, since we have been stuck inside so much. She loves to go for stroller rides, and I was seriously considering going "mall walking" today, but that's an almost 30 minute drive and I already have to go to town tomorrow, so it would be a waste of expensive gas! So I came up with plan B. I know, it's weird, but hey I'm desperate and Isabella loved it, and I still got a little excercise out of the deal.

One vehicle was gone and I moved the other one outside, and Isabella went for a stroller ride in the "dirty, needs spring cleaning" garage. We did several "laps" around, and she and I both enjoyed it!

Staying Home

I was flipping through the stations tonight trying to find something to watch while working out (unfortunately a rare occurrence these days) when I came across this show. I was intrigued, and decided to watch it. I realize this is a bit of a hot topic, but after watching this it's no wonder some people look down on stay at home moms. Let me just say I am not criticising working moms, I was one and know some wonderful moms that have to.

The point of the show, in their own words, is that women give up their dreams and put their life on hold to have children. According to the show, these women get to see what they missed out on by having kids. They let the women have their dream job for a week, and at the end of the week they decide if they want to continue working or stay at home. In tonight's episode, the woman ended up taking the job to become a fashion designer. She kept saying how now she finally felt fulfilled, also her husband said he knew there was something missing in her life, something he couldn't ever give her. I think this must be how the majority of society thinks. Why does society make women feel inadequate for staying home? And what about the women like myself whose dream is to stay home with their children and don't feel their lives are being put on hold? I think I'm in the best time of my life right now, I don't want it to end!

Annoyed

Seriously Mom, do you have to take my picture again !

She's all girl

Since Isabella doesn't need this anymore to get around, but she still likes trying to carry all her trinkets, I made her a little purse/tote last night. She even brought it to Church with her this morning with her rosary and some books in it.

Monte and I were talking yesterday about how different it's going to be if we ever have a boy (and I hope we do). Isabella loves to watch me get ready, do my hair, put makeup on, and then I pretend to put a little blush on her. She loves having her hair brushed (the little that she's got :). And she spends a good portion of her day playing with her baby dolls, feeding them, patting them, hugging and kissing them, making sure they are covered up with blankets, etc. Like I said, hopefully we'll add at least one boy to our family someday, but if that's not in store for us, I will gladly take more girls as well! And for now we'll just keep on playing babies and doing our hair! :)