Taking Bella for a Walk in the Park

Enjoying the Day

Today was such a beautiful day here we had to do something outdoors before the forecast horrible weather starts tomorrow and throughout next week : ( We went to the park by the lake and Lizzy played and ran around the park and playground.

Happy Three Kings Day!

The twelve days of Christmas end with epiphany or three kings day. This is the day the three kings following the bright star in the east, arrived bearing gifts to baby Jesus. In Mexico this is a big celebration as big as Christmas is to us here in America. Growing up my mom always had a king cake for us on this day and occasionally a small gift.

We celebrated with a king cake and coffee. I had made Lizzy a simple felt crown for her 1st birthday and today she got to play with it and wear it in honor of the three kings. The three kings brought Lizzy some shrimp forks (she loves these because they are pointy and she can actually use them to eat), a juice box holder (so that her juice boxes don't squirt if she squeezes them), a light switch extender (so she can turn the light in her room on and off), and some wooden play dough tools (she loves play dough right now). Happy three kings day to you and peace for the coming year!

Boxes

A big box came in the mail today for Lizzy with all the Christmas gifts she received in Indiana from her grandparents. They had to be shipped because we didn't have any room in our luggage to bring them back. Lizzy had lots of fun taking everything out of the box and then playing in it.
I'm working on organizing Lizzy's 2nd year scrapbook and memories for her 2nd birthday. Last year I made Lizzy a 1st year scrapbook, a memory box with items from that year, and wrote her a letter of what she accomplished and did that year. I plan to do the same for her 2nd birthday and so on. If she ever wants to see what she did that year or look back she will have a scrapbook and memory box for each year she's been alive.

While sorting through things I saved I found Lizzy's 1st dress that she wore for her newborn pictures. My mom (Lizzy's grandma), got her this dress before she was born. I remember when my mom gave it to me I looked at it and thought it was a doll's dress. I remember telling my mom that it was way too small and wouldn't ever fit Lizzy. It was size preemie...and I never planned I would have a preemie. Well, Lizzy wasn't a preemie she was full term but she was preemie size at 4lbs, 11oz. This little dress will always remind me of how small she was. To preserve it I put it in a shadow box with a photo of her in it outside her room.

When I volunteered at the nursing home each resident there had a shadow box outside their room with a photo of them when they were young and whatever else memory scraps or photos were important to them. I thought that was nice so I placed the shadow box outside Lizzy's room to see as you walk in.

Lunch with Grandma

We had a late night last night and Lizzy slept in until almost noon...so we missed going to the gym in time for tumbling. So...instead we went to lunch with grandma and did a few errands. Here's a few pictures of Lizzy at the play area of the restaurant.

Day at the Park

Today we took Lizzy to her favorite park with intentions to take her on a long nature trail walk but it was still muddy from the rains a couple days back so we played in the playground instead. It was such a nice day! Lizzy went down the slide (many times), her favorite thing to do and she didn't want to leave.

WeEeEeeee!

We walked in the woods

It was such a nice day we just sat in the swing and relaxed for quite a while.

Lizzy has sooo much energy now she has started to stay up much later at night and can go the day without a nap! Everyday we have to do high energy activities with her to tire her out so she will go to bed on time and stay on schedule. Tomorrow I plan to take her to the gym for tumbling she has so much fun there and it's a lot of physical activity. I can already tell she is a daredevil and loves sports. I have to nurture that in her.

New Year's Day

New Year's Day

Lizzy stayed up until 11:45pm and fell asleep watching Dick Clark on New Year's Eve

2010 Year in Review

What a great year! I made a slide show of our year in review like last year's end of year slide show. This is the day that New Year's Resolutions are made but this year our resolution is to keep it simple and live in the moment. Last year we made resolutions and for once we actually accomplished all of them! Personally I would like to get to my pre pregnancy weight and eat better, and hopefully once we know about Mike's job...start looking for a home. Tonight for New Year's Eve we plan to stay in, watch a new movie, eats some new treats, play with balloons and get Lizzy to bed on time. Last year she went to bed on time and woke up at midnight for a New Year's kiss. See ya in 2011 and Happy New Year!

Christmas 2010

Our Christmas in Indiana went really well. Lizzy had a lot of "firsts" and lots of changes but she did better than I expected her to. This was her first time flying, first time at anyone else's house other than her grandparents in Houston, first time in the snow, first time meeting new family in Indiana.

Here she is at the airport

Here she is riding her trunki carry on case. This thing is great, she loves riding it.

On both the flight there and back she slept the whole time...as soon as the plane got on the runway she was out the entire time!

We went to the Children's Museum in Indiana

At the Children's Museum

Lizzy met her great granny for the first time

Fun with new toys

Christmas Morning

Snow!

Lizzy loved the "puppies"

We had a great time! It's also nice to be back at home and back in our usual routine. Lizzy got right back into her routine at home and mommy and daddy got some much needed rest. Arriving home to 70 degree weather after being in Indiana sure made it feel like Christmas was over. Goodbye Christmas! Hello New Year!

First Time in the Snow!

This Christmas we spent time with family in Indianapolis where Lizzy got to play in the snow for the first time! She was a little unsure at first but after some time outside she didn't want to come back in! These are some pics of her first time in the snow. I'm still sorting through pictures of our Christmas in Indianapolis and will post more pics soon from our visit.

Lizzy with her Grandpa

Packing Lizzy's Carry-on

In a couple days we will be attempting air travel with a toddler who usually cannot sit still longer than 10 seconds so...I have put some thought into ways to keep her entertained while sitting on this upcoming flight. Included in Lizzy's carry on bag are:

For munching on:

• Mash ups (fruit puree in a pouch with straw)
• Fruit leathers to chew on
• Crunchy cheese puffs
• Oreos
• Goldfish and Pretzels
• Grammy Sammy (Graham cracker sandwich)
• Bottle
• Yogurt Puffs

Lizzy's backpack which is now her bag (what use to be in her diaper bag) has diapers, wipes, sippy cup, paci, bib, and change of clothes. Her favorite blanket will come on board as well.

To prepare Lizzy for flying we got her some airplane books and airplane toy.

For entertainment:

• Yo Gabba Gabba coloring book and crayons
• Play doh
• Lots of stickers and double sided tape to play with
• Travel size magnadoodle type board
• Lots of small books, touch and feel, lift a flap ect.
• Finger puppets
• DVD player with Yo Gabba Gabba shows
• Small boxes filled with surprises

Lizzy's Carry on is all packed!

Lizzy helping me pack

Wish us luck or pray for us! (we're going to need it, looks like our little family is getting sick)

Solar Eclipse and Winter Solstice

A Solar Eclipse and Winter Solstice for the first time in 400 years! What a powerful day! I was lucky to experience such an event as I left work last night! There's so much beauty in this world.

Little Artist

Lizzy loves drawing with chalk and crayons. Not too long ago she didn't have much interest in it but now she's becoming a creative little artist. She mostly scribbles and draws lines in different colors. Daddy is teaching her how to draws circles!

The Christmas Train

The Christmas Train is an old fashioned train that goes through Christmas light displays and the Nativity scene. We took Lizzy to ride the train. Uncle Christian, Briana, and Stephanie came with us.

Here we are with Stephanie (Lizzy's godmother) riding the train

One of the lights displays

Daddy and Lizzy

Mommy and Lizzy

Uncle Christian and Briana with Lizzy

Walking with Daddy