What we have been up to..

It's been crazy around here! Luckily things are starting to settle back down. I don't miss many things about having a traditional job but I do miss have sick leave, vacation time, bereavement time, etc. Overall, I work less than I did when I worked at Citi but if I'm not here to do my job.. then it doesn't get done. But luckily we are caught back up and everything is going great. I love what I do!

Bella is having lots of fun playing in the semi-warm weather. We've snuck over to the park a couple of times and she loves it. We've also done lots of baking lately, played with play-doh, colored, and shopped. We have been staying busy lately!

As of last night, my brother Ty is all finished with basketball and I'm sad to see the season come to an end. He is a fantastic ball player and it was really fun to see him and his team grow over this season. They made it all the way to the last game before the final game and they only lost by one! It was hard to see them lose, especially after some bad calls by the refs but I couldn't be more proud of him and his team!

I only have about 48 days until this baby will be here! This pregnancy is flying by and we are so excited to welcome our new little into the world soon. I wish I could fast forward the time!

Another angel in heaven

In the early hours of March 2nd, Justin's dad left us for a better place. Not everyone knows but for pretty much our entire relationship, Justin and I have stayed with his dad to help care for him because of his medical problems. Bella has never lived in this house without him. While his medical problems didn't make it easy for him to play with her, he always did his best to give her attention and she already misses him so much!  I'll miss "Papa Mike" call her "peaches".. I always thought it was the sweetest (of his many) nicknames.

I can't even tell you how proud I am of Justin. He has never had it easy with two sick parents and now he has lost both of them before hitting 30. He is an only child so the responsibility has always fell on his shoulders to make sure that they were taken care of. Did living with his dad make our marriage rocky at times? Heck yes it did. I won't pretend that it's always been easy for Justin's time to be divided between taking care of his family (and our business) and making sure that his dad was taken care of too. But he can go on with the rest of his life knowing that he kept his dad out of a nursing home and did his best to help him everyday. I love him more because of it and I know that his dad appreciated him and was so proud of the man that he has become.

The services were Tuesday, March 6th. Everything was planned and arranged by Justin. I supported his decisions and gave him my opinions but he did everything to what he thought his dad would have wanted and according to his dad's final wishes. Not an easy task but I know his dad was smiling that day. In the morning before the funeral, Bella asked if she could see grandpa's angel wings. I know he got a laugh out of that one.

It's not fair to think that between Justin and I, we have lost 3 parents in the 8 years that we have been together. But we know that everything happens for a reason and we are closer and more devoted to each other because of it. I can't even begin to tell you how loved we feel and we are so grateful to our family and friends and the support that they have given to us over the past week. Thank you all!

20 Questions with Isabella

I've been waiting to post this until I could take Bella outside to take some pictures but it has been soooo cold! I'll edit this post later on to add some pics once it warms up. Hopefully it's soon!

I saw this cute idea to ask 20 questions to your children on their birthday starting at 3. Perfect timing! I asked Bella the question the other day and she did great answering them.

Here are her answers word for word:

1. What is your favorite color? Pink & purple
2. What is your favorite toy? Uhh the pig toy
3. What is your favorite fruit? Apples and peaches
4. What is your favorite tv show? Wonderpets and Dora and Go Diego Go
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac & Cheese
6. What is your favorite outfit? My new birthday dress
7. What is your favorite game? The teapot stuff. It's in my room
8. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish crackers
9. What is your favorite animal? Crocodiles and elephants and tigers
10. What is your favorite song? The duck song
11. What is your favorite book? The cook book and the Dora one
12. Who is your best friend? Tayzhia and Emma
13. What is your favorite cereal? Crackers
14. What is your favorite thing to do? I don't know. Go to the mall and to the store
15. What is your favorite drink? Strawberry milk and water
16. What is your favorite holiday? I go to parades a lot (4th of July)
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Books
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Mac & Cheese
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cake
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a doctor