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.