Things have changed

I can't sleep, I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the migraine medication I had to take today, or maybe my mind is still recovering from Lost, or maybe it was the glass of water/baking soda my husband dared me to drink AFTER we had already gone to bed for the night. (I know, we're strange) I guess I'll never know! So I was just laying in bed, not sleeping, and thinking about how so much has changed since Isabella was born. When I first started working at the bank, almost everyone I worked with was a childless, recent college graduate like me. There was only one person that had children. Every morning we would all talk about what we did the night before. So and so went to a movie, this person went out to eat, that person went to the gym, etc. But the girl that had kids always said, "I just hung out with my kiddos and played." (The poor girl - she probably felt how I do now when people ask me what I do. My response - I just stay at home with my daughter. Why do I say "just", it just comes out. Like I'm not doing anything at home between keeping up my home, laundry, ironing, cooking and baking for the husband who is allergic to EVERYTHING and oh yeah, spending lots of quality time with my daughter) I'm sure I was not the only one who on more than one occasion thought, "how boring". Due to Monte's medical problems and the drugs he was on, we were married for four years before we could have any children. So we got used to lots of movies, eating out, basicly doing whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted (how selfish was I?!). And now my days are filled to the brim with "just hanging out and playing"! I realize my life was so empty before, and I know my true vocation is to be a wife and mother. What I once considered to be boring is now my life, everyday, and I LOVE it!

The Book Nook

A few days ago I posted about Montessori. I finished my first project, Isabella now has a little reading nook right in the living room. We don't have a bookcase yet, so for now her books are just in the basket.

It didn't cost anything to do this! I made my own pattern for the bean bag chair, then sewed it from some curtains that I didn't need. I stuffed it with packing peanuts that I got free from the post office. And this is the picture I framed for her, which I just printed off and put in one of the 12,000 frames we got as wedding gifts.

No Nap = No Fun

This is not working out too well for us. She still needs to take two naps a day, but insists on only taking one. She wants her morning nap, and wants nothing to do with an afternoon nap. This has turned our day from happy all day to a complete whine fest from about 4:00 until Daddy gets home about 5:30, right when I'm trying to get supper ready. Then instead of staying up until 7:00 she's in bed at 6:20 every night. Monte only gets to see her for less than an hour! Today I kept her up all morning even though she was tired, then she clonked after lunch. Hopefully this will get a new routine going.

My Rosy Cheeked Gal

Isabella will be 15 months in a few days, so I decided to take some pictures this morning.

Here she is

Here's a very short clip of Isabella walking yesterday. This was only the third time she tried, she is getting better every time

She Walks

Isabella finally took off walking yesterday! She was quite proud of herself. She's getting too big.

Long Day

It has been almost three months since I started staying home full time with Isabella, and since Monte started his new job. So far, I can't believe how fast the days go. Isabella and I have quite the routine going. Our days are filled with playing, sleeping (Isabella sleeping that is), reading, cooking, baking, cleaning, laundry, and recently I have become addicted to sewing (I go in cycles with my crafty type things I'm interested in). But today I had my first - "This is the longest day ever, when is your father going to be home?" kind of day. Not that I don't LOVE being home, because I absolutely do. I'm sure I'll have these days from time to time, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like this once in a while. It could be that I'm not quite feeling up to par (just a sore throat and tired) or that our schedule is changing with Isabella not taking a morning nap, or that we're not getting out much because of the cold weather. I'm ready for spring, but unfortunately I think I'll be waiting quite a while!