Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

Happy New Year! What a blessed year we have had! I would have to say that 2009 has been the best year of my life. I don't cry often, actually my sisters nicknamed me "the tin man" for my lack of tears ( and heart?). Thinking about how much I love this beautiful little girl that God has given us makes me misty eyed. I feel like I have grown in different ways as well. My whole world revolves around Isabella. At first, it took a little getting used to- thinking of someone else over yourself all the time. Now, it is just way things are- and I love it! Motherhood definitely changes you- for the better. I love watching her explore this world and seeing things through her eyes in wonder. Simple things like chasing her around the room, clapping her hands for her and seeing her squeal in delight, and sleeping her on my chest give me the greatest joy. Being a mother gives me the slightest insight into how much God loves us. How He loves us to give us these blessings on earth like family, friends and so many fun memories. How He loves us to give His son to die for us. Watching Isabella bump her head and cry makes me hurt for her; how much more pain did God go through watching His son die a horrible death for us? What memory stands out for you for this past year? What do you have planned for the new year?

Random thoughts

Well I'm certainly not bored anymore! I have been going all day today and yesterday. I am in the middle of about four different projects. I'm trying to finish curtains for Bella's room, finish laundry, cook dinner and clean out the closet! All this while Isabella is getting a painful tooth up on top. So I've had to take some breaks just to cuddle. When this tooth comes in, I think she'll look like a Jack O'lantern;) Speaking of Jack O'lanterns and halloween, that has been an on going debate for Jacob and I the last few days. I'm for halloween in moderation- no scary things! Jacob doesn't see the point of celebrating a 'non-holiday'. We have been making some thoughtful decisions about how our family will celebrate upcoming holidays. We have found many Christ centered ideas to make part of our traditions. Maybe around Christmas time I'll tell you more about them, and how they are going. Actually I probably won't know tell Isabella is like 6 and we see if she is excited about doing these traditions..What are your thoughts about halloween and how to celebrate holidays in a Christian focused way?

Now it is Thursday- I was too busy on Tuesday to even finish this post! The weather this whole week has been absolutely perfect! Sunny but not too hot. Bella was a disaster this morning. Screaming and bumping her head in to everything! I was trying to get ready. I thought it would take me about 10 min. I should have known by now that everything takes longer. At one point Isabella was eating tissues out of the garbage! Lovely! I thought I was being good by bringing her in the bathroom with me while I put on my 3 min. worth of makeup. I almost gave up on going out at all. After we got there (she fell asleep on the way) then she was in a great mood. So I finally got to playgroup, it was at a nice park. Bella was walking around holding a short bench and had fun in the swing. Now she's sleeping again. I'm trying to be productive while she is napping. So far I got the prep work for dinner done and I'm in the middle of making some baby food. Tomorrow we are going out of town for a bridal shower that I am throwing for a good friend. I'm looking forward to that and most importantly seeing parts of my family!

This has been a fast week. Very busy and productive. I love it! But it also makes me sleepy! Speaking of sleeping.. this is kinda weird- last night I found 4 straight pins in my bed! Thankfully I didn't get stabbed with any of them. How did they get under the covers?! I cleaned out my sewing box on Tuesday when I was finishing the closet. But that was on top of the covers. Oh yeah, when I cleaned out my closet I made a box of stuff to try and sell. So far I've made $15. Doesn't sound like much, but I'm pretty excited. Little things like that, I see God in. We normally budget just enough for gas for Jacob to go to work and me once a month for errands. Since we are going out of town that $15 will get us half a tank of gas. That's what we need to get there. I think I might put a couple other things on craigslist and see what happens. Ok, I think that's enough random rambling for now.

An Isabella Update

I can't believe that Isabella is 6 months old! She has been teething for the last week or so. I thought it was just one tooth, but today I saw 2 little white bumps on her little gums! Oh she will look so cute with 2 little teeth! Might not be as cute to breastfeed her though!;) She's been a little more fussy, (ok sometimes downright screaming!) and clingy lately. We had a pretty good day today. We were out at playgroup and then went to visit a friend. It definately makes the day go faster when I'm out and about. Some days it is just nice to stay home- make that most days! She had a little laughing fit. I love when she does that! Other times I will do the same things that made her giggle uncontrollably and I'll get nothin' out of her. She just looks at me like I'm crazy! Us parents, we are pretty crazy- the things we say and do just to get a smile or a laugh out of our little ones! Today she pulled the cat's tail. I have to say that was pretty funny. (not to the cat, though!) She can sit by herself for much longer now. She's getting so big! We had her checkup last week. She weighs 17 lbs and is 26 inches! 75% still! She is eating some baby food at dinner time. Not a fan of the veggies so far..
I was looking at trying to reorder some of the very cute pictures that we got at JcPenney's. Now I wish I had gotten two different additional pictures...They are $15 a sheet! I was all proud of myself because I had a coupon when I got the pictures done and it was $40 total. It's a little overwhelming to order right after the photo shoot. Every picture looked great! But I was trying to stay in some sort of a budget. The lady had said to get them now while I had the coupon price.. Grr!! I have to tell myself that in a couple of months she'll look different again and I'll get more pictures! That's some sort of a consolation..