Dreams

We finally took that next leap and Justin has quit his day job to help take this business to the next level. I have felt a range of emotions in the last 24 hours. I've felt happy, relieved, yet worried and frightened. We've crunched numbers and it works but it's like I've jumped from a plane without a parachute and I'm falling.. yet it's so exciting! When I was working a regular job, I wasn't happy. The job was alright and I loved everyone I worked with. And yet I didn't want to spend the rest of my life there. But I did and I stayed there for 8 years. After I had Bella, I knew that I didn't want to be away from her that long doing something that I didn't love. I took that leap of faith and I feel so very blessed that it's working out the way I'd hoped.

Thanks to everyone for your support! I have the best family and friends to rely on for support and encouragement. We are excited for what this next chapter brings.

23 months

1 more month until Bella's 2nd birthday!

What Bella's been up to:
Favorite word: Wow! The world is amazing to this tiny tot.
She really understands the concept of off and on. She will say "hot on" in the car if she is cold. Same with lights, she knows the difference if the light is on or off. She covers her eyes and says "light off" and "dark in there". She's a nut!
She has been saying the word "cute" a lot. Dada cute. Mama cute. So sweet :)
We have been working on emotions and she knows the difference between happy, sad and mad. Her mad face is adorable!
Favorite book: Mommy's cookbooks. Why? I have no idea but she could look at them forever.
She is really nice about saying "sorry". "Thank you" is another story. Don't know why!
If she gets in trouble or is mad at you she will call you mean. Ty took the ball she was playing with the other day and she said "Ty Ty mean" for days and days.
She looovvveees the sun and the moon. Hi sun! Hi moon! You would think they were her best friends.
She knows some of her colors. Pink, orange, yellow, purple and blue. Sometimes she forgets or gets them mixed up but she does great with them.
She knows some of her shapes.
She can count to three!
She tries to sing the ABCs.

And our big update... Bella used the potty! It's a long story but we tried the Fast Track method to potty training one day and she just wasn't into it. She asked for her diaper to be put on so I did and decided to try again a different day. About a week later she kept asking to sit on the potty and eventually did her deed! I'm so proud! She's used it a couple of times but we are going to devote another day to the Fast Track method again and get this done.

My sweet princess

She may not be smiling but at least she is looking at the camera!

The little green bow

Minutes after Isabella was born, Justin got to go into the nursery to watch her get cleaned up, weighed and measured. 

My family watched through the nursery window trying to get a glimpse of our new little baby. 

They watched as the nurse walks over to Justin with a big bag of bows in every shade of pink imaginable. 

He carefully looks at each bow and to their dismay he picks a green one.

A green bow for the new princess! 

I'll never forget my sister's shock over it. I thought it was funny and thought it was the prettiest green ever, the same shade as one of our wedding colors. 

And honestly I loved it just because I knew it was so carefully chosen for her by her daddy. 

She's had him wrapped around her little finger since day one.

Growing too fast!

I'm having such a hard time adjusting to the fact that my little baby is turning into a little girl! She is learning new things each and everyday, I'm so proud of her. She did beyond amazing letting go of her binky. If I knew it was going to be that easy I would have done it months ago. Although, maybe she was just at the right age to let go. We had a couple of incidents where she found some that were hidden in that house but once they were gone again she didn't seem to mind it. I was mostly worried about how she would do at night without it but I seriously think she sleeps better with out it than waking up in the middle of the night looking for it. She's always been a good sleeper but that is really the only time that she would wake me up in the middle of the night.

Not the best picture but at least I can get her to look at the camera now (sometimes).

She has been having so much fun at dance. They are all a little bit wild and I'm worried about the girls all doing a recital in May but I have confidence that the dance studio knows what they are doing. Her teacher does amazing with the little ones. The last couples of times they have had the moms step out into the lobby for the last 10 minutes of class so that they can get used to not having us there all the time. It was way harder on us moms than the girls. :)

We all watch the girls on the little screen in the lobby.

We really haven't been up to much lately. Winter is boring. I'm still doing great with WW. I've kicked it up a notch going to Zumba classes (which I LOVE) but this week I didn't lose and I'm sure my body is just adjusting to it. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and I'm sure next week will be just fine. I am hiding my at home scale though because I get a bit too obsessed with what I weight everyday and I consider it unhealthy. Ha ha! Does anyone else do that?

I do have another exciting Bella update but I'll save that one for a new post, because it deserves it's very own. I'm sure it's really not that exciting to anyone but our household :)

Be happy anyway.

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

-Mother Teresa

Aquarium

Yesterday we enjoyed a day at the aquarium. 

Bella was so excited to go and see the fish, although I think the frog turned out to be her favorite.

A day at the aquarium!

I was excited to see the penguins. They didn't disappoint.

They were so fun to watch and I loved their viewing tank.

Justin was excited to see the Stingrays. 

I thought Bella would be afraid of them but she wasn't. 

Such a brave girl.

Part of the reason we went to the aquarium was to distract Bella so she could accomplish her New Years resolution (getting rid of the binky). So far, so good! She has found a couple that were hidden but I've quickly put them away. It's not going to be as bad as I thought.. knock on wood!

1.1.11

Happy New Year!

Here is a look at our 2010!

January: Tried to keep up with my busy girl who enjoyed climbing.

February: Celebrated Bella's 1st birthday!

March: Celebrated my 28th birthday and enjoyed the warmer weather outside.

April: Easter!

May: Quit my day job to pursue my dreams. 

June: Enjoyed lazy days at the park and watching my nephew Jaden play softball.

July: Went camping at Skye & AJ's property and had fun playing in the dirt!

August: Another day at the zoo with all the family.

September: Bella started dance. Celebrated Justin's 26th birthday!

October: Finished Bella's room and celebrated Halloween!

November: Rejoined WW for the last time! Thankful for all of our blessings!

December: Really enjoyed the spirit of Christmas and loved all the lights and music!

We are excited for what 2011 will bring us! It's going to be a great year!