October, November, December Oh My

Life for the last few months feels like I have the fast forward button on. I really want to be a better blogger in 2012, it helps me slow down, reflect and I love looking back on the stories of my little life. Let me catch up.

 October- Isabel was running down the hallway to her bath, tripped and knocked out one of her front teeth AGAIN, poor thing. I really need to wrap her in bubble wrap. She had to be put under for the procedure, which scares me half to death, but she did fine and remembers nothing except getting a shot.
Isabel enjoyed her 3rd Family birthday party...minus one tooth, but had tons of fun! Crafts, cupcakes, and cool presents.

A new pumpkin patch opened near our house and we had a great day enjoying all it had to offer. Petting zoo, playground made of straw bales, paint on tattoos, fresh pumpkin pie and a tracter ride to pick our own pumpkin,  Isabel is still talking about the jumping "pillow." 

Her face still puffy from surgery a few days prior, we donned her ballerina princess costume (all usable at a later date.) We went trick-or-treating at the mall for a special young children only night, and on Halloween we went from our house to Mimi's house with T Em and Rouge. Most of our neighborhood sits out in their yards or porches so it made it fun. By the third house Issy wanted to go up herself. * Josh made her leg warmers, so cute!

November: We had a Lasagna family dinner at my parents for my 31st birthday...luckily there are no pictures, but I did take a pic of what I got with my Crate and Barrel gift card. I love it and have never owned one, can you believe it!

Besides badly spraining my ankle the night before my all nighter setting the Black Friday Ad at work, Thanksgiving was extra fun this year. We did a breakfast and dinner, so everyone could attend. There was chit chat about the last minute decision Target made to open at midnight, which affected most of our schedules. Josh waited in line for a TV from 6pm to midnight, it rained and he had to do crowd control when people started to get out of hand. He was 2 people too late for the TV he wanted, so he got the next cheapest and it was returned within a week. Haha.  I caught these precious moments, my Grandma teaching Isabel how to line dance, and her and my Grandpa playing the piano together.

Oh and my Mom had wine on tap...maybe that is why it was so fun. I told you I took a pic mom!

I did get my most favoritist Black Friday deal this year, a Duraflame fireplace heater.

  In early December we had more than a few rainy days...luckily these Missoni rain boots went on clearance and we could enjoy the rain properly!

We did crafts... I also discovered Pinterst, which is where all these ideas came from.

Isabel had Observation Week at Gymnastics...they did a little snowman routine.

I made my own pumpkin for baking from scratch by baking pie pumpkins for an hour and then pureeing. It was so easy and I think, was more flavorful.

Hubby expanded my Pen for the chickens and they are in Hen Heaven!

We watched Elf 500 hundred times, made Hello Dollies, I got 50mm lens for my camera, Isabel learned to sing Silent Night, we went to Winterhaven to see lights, I redecorated a wall in the living room, I paid off my car, Isabel got her first hair cut, and we made Hello Dollies again. That is the rest of December in fast forward. Christmas will have to be a new post as I haven't uploaded those pictures yet. :)

Most Loved at 2yrs 11mo

Her ever growing shoe collection.

 

Her Tutu, homemade by grandma

And her current favorite books:

Last and certainly not the quietest... her instrument set, the drum being her favorite.

Fav Foods @ 2 1/2 years

Dinner: yep ...you guessed it Spaghetti!!

Breakfast: Mimi's shakes...don't ask whats in it, just drink it! 

Lunch: Hard-boiled egg, or chicken salad

Veggie: Broccoli  

Fruit: Any kind but loves watermelon, strawberries,  grapes and frozen blueberries

Snack: Goldfish, raisins and marshmallows...mixed together  

Drink: Simply Apple juice...she will stop EVERYTHING for a glass of this, also Papa's grape juice 

Dessert: Anything with frosting
 

Sweet Dreams

 We love our nighttime routine and I hope she will remember it when she is older, if not I will remind her how much she loved to cuddle with momma when she is 14 and wants nothing to do with me.
 Her night usually goes like this: Bath, where I fight to rinse the shampoo out of her hair, where she doctors her bath-time Dora doll or puts her to bed with a washcloth. Afterwords, she sits on the counter and makes butt prints on the mirror with the lotion I just put on her, then she brushes her teeth/eats the toothpaste.
Next, we read a few stories on the couch, then she says "Daddy can I have a glass of wader",after one tiny gulp she gives Daddy kisses and hugs then we head down the hallway as she says "but we still need to do Rock a bye", so we pile up on the cozy recliner in her room with the lights off her moon projector on, cover up with Blankie, cuddle and sing Rock a bye, Twinkle Twinkle...which she has an alternative ending to, then we sing or say as many nursery rhymes as we can remember that particular day. Her favorites; Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Yankee Doodle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Mary had a Little Lamb. After 3 more, "just one mores",  she gets cozy in her bed with all her "friends" which include the following.: Most importantly, Dollie then Bun Bun, Little Puppy, Mr. Measles, Teddy and the newest member, Polar Bear. Then she asks "what are we going to do Saturday"...which usually means tomorrow, then we tell each other sweet dreams and blow kisses and she is quickly off to dreamland.
Such sweet memories...

Another Milestone

2 Years and 5 months and potty trained...still having a few hiccups in the # 2 department, but all in all I am very impressed with her achievement! I took a few days off in preparation for this event, I had the the panties washed, the M&M jar filled, lots of drinks and all her favorite sitting spots covered with towels.
 By 11am (5 tinkles)on the first day she understood she had the power to control and was done with getting wet.

My tips:
1. PottyWise by Gary Ezzo was very helpful
2.Start verbally prepping 2 weeks before, role play with a doll/animal so she can teach
3.It was easier to go straight to the potty seat that fits on the toilet
4. Buy at least 14 pairs of panties to start
5. Praise for staying dry too, not just going(M&Ms and Dollar Store prizes worked well)

Isabel & Daddy

They share many similarities already
From happily humming songs around the house
to their knack for getting hurt,
a desire to make people happy and comfortable,
the way they express frustration,
their shoe obsession...
right on down to their very unique matching toes.

HOP...was a flop

2 weeks ago... (I am way behind on my blogging) we went with Rach and the kids to Isabel's first movie. HOP. It was cute, not a buyer...or a renter. I mistakenly thought it may be the ELF of Easter movies, but no. She sat on my lap for most of it, munching on licorice and gummi bears and then made her way down the row visiting everyone during the second half.

Will water for snacks

Isabel loves being outdoors and is especially proud of her ability to use the hose...just don't stand in her way!

bye bye paci,hello potty!

Last week Isabel misplaced her paci at bedtime(the only time she was allowed to have it.) She only has one...it is the only kind she likes and they don't make them anymore...luckily! It actually worked out well, because she knew I just didn't take it away from her...we really couldn't find it. She whimpered for a bit but that was it, she didn't wake up during the night or anything! I have been attempting...well contemplating, removing the paci since January!
The next day Mom suggested that I let her pick a "cuddly" to replace paci with. So we drove on down to Big Lots just in time to see them unload all the Easter product. I explained that she could pick something because she was such a big girl and didn't need her paci anymore. I pointed out a cute 15inch lop ear bunny to which Isabel said "that's too big to cuddle mommy" and then she found a little 4inch purple bunny and squeezed it tight and said "this is perrrfect."
The next few nights she asked for paci, and I just told her "remember we went and got Bun Bun because you are such a big girl and don't need your paci anymore." After that she started telling me the story at night.
I did find the pacifier ...but I snapped a picture and then tossed it! Now on to the potty training challenge! Excellent book by the way...I highly recommend it.

Hip Hip Huzzah!

My child makes friends wherever she goes. She picked up this buddy at the Birds of Prey show at the Renaissance Festival. So sweet.

 She rode the Giant Swan Swing with T Em and cousin Jada...

 Had a picnic lunch...

 While listening to this girl play...can't remember what the instrument is called but it was awesome.

Then she got an umbrella to stay cool...

Walked around the Midevil? petting zoo...all though, there was a huge shaggy cow with horns curved back into it's head!

 

 Watched Daddy play the Strong Man game...twice.

 Went exploring amongst the commoners ...

 Chit chatted and compared princess wands...

Overall, a fun filled day with some of her favorite people!