Happy Halloween!

Halloween actually started last year for us when we went over to our friends Steph and George's house (Auntie Hottie and Uncle George) to hang out and help pass out candy to all of the trick or treaters that came by. It was when we walked in that we knew what Halloween 2008 would hold for us. As we walked in, Steph gave us a Baby Gap bag and told us that she found Isabelle's costume and as soon as we pulled it out of the bag we knew that was it, no doubt in our minds...she was going to be a BEAR! It was the cutest, softest little costume ever and we couldn't wait to get her in it! As Halloween approached this year we knew two things; one was that Izzy was going to be cubby bear and second, that we were going to get as many of the "NKOTB" (new kids on the block-LOL!) into their costumes and over to the hospital to pay Aunt April a surprise trick or treat visit.

Halloween day, I worked a half day since I knew we would be schlepping our little bear all over town. We, the Magin's with daughter Mia (who was a pea in a pod), Courtney and Grandma Jackie with Courtney's son Cavenaugh (who was a chickHENN-Henn is their last name) and the three of us, met over at our friend Amy's house (who's daughter Mackenzie was a monkey) for some pre Halloween pictures and to finalize the game plan on going to see April. It was hilarious!! First it was trying to get all of the kids into their costumes, mind you it was in the 80's outside, then it was trying to organize who was going to sit where. We decided the two that could sit up on their own or almost on their own (Isabelle and Mia-who is a month younger than Izzy) would be the "bookends". Then it was paparazzi time and all the cameras started flashing and then came the hands butting into pictures to get someone to sit up or getting someones hand out of someones face or eyes and the list goes on. It was the biggest laugh of the day, as I am sure you can imagine. So after that, it was off to the hospital to pay a surprise visit to April with a little nap for all the kids on the ride over.

As some of you know, April (Isabelle's Godmother) is due with twin girls in December however, she was put on bed rest at home in mid-August which then turned into an admission to the hospital until she delivers. Now April is in the maternity ward that does not allow children under 16 unless they are siblings so, we came up with a creative solution the last time we were there and that was to have her come out to the waiting room in a wheelchair to visit us. So I called her to say that the three of us, the Owston's , were on our way and when we all got there, Michael went to her room to get her and as she came out of the ward, there all the kids were in their costumes and us Moms yelling "Happy Halloween". We were thinking of turning April's belly into a pumpkin but decided to pass :) Needless to say, she was happily surprised.

That night we paid visits to Nana, Grandmama and Grandpa's and spent the rest of the evening at Steph and George's helping out with the trick or treaters and plotting out Isabelle's costume for next year :)

We hope you all had a safe and Happy Halloween!

What to do?

For the last 2 months Isabelle has been sleeping through the night going to bed between 7pm and 10pm, which we are so grateful for. However, we cannot figure out why is it that when she goes to bed as early as 7pm she wakes up at 7:30am and when she goes to bed later on the weekends say at 10pm, she still wakes up at 7:30 am! We put her down later on the weekends in hopes that we will be able to sleep in but that has yet to happen. We know that beggars can't be choosers so we are just very thankful that she started sleeping through the night as early on as she did.

On that same note, we do have a bad habit on occasion, of letting her nod off downstairs with us and on sometimes letting her fall completely asleep before we put her to bed. We have read that this, in the long run, is not a good thing since she needs to know that when she is in her crib it is time to sleep. To us, that rule stinks :) It is so much easier to plop her into bed when she is on her way to la-la land or is already completely out but know that this needs to be enforced now otherwise we may be doomed! We will be trying harder starting this week to stick with a better routine and put her to bed while she is still awake or somewhat awake and will let you know how that goes :)

Bath time has become a lot of fun since Isabelle has been able to sit up on her own. Forget the baby tubs, we have moved onto the kitchen sink! She loves it and so do we. I have been bathing her in the sink for a little over a month now but being that it was just her and I when I did it, there was no way to get any pictures of her so here are some from the other night when Dad and I both got to have some bath time fun with her :)

This is a good routine to start every night before bedtime but from the looks of it, wouldn't you think it would get her wound up vs. winding down?

Happy Friday!

Sending goobery, sweet potato smiles your way for a very happy Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Isabelle Anessa

What a weekend!

I didn't have a chance last week to tell you about last weekend! With Michael helping with the Wine Festival, that we have assisted with the past three years, and me at home watching Isabelle, I thought it would be a great time to post another post-is that the right verbiage? :)

Anywho....the weekend started off with my birthday on Friday (9/28), turning ummmmmm 29 again and Isabelle turning 6 months, a half a year old! That is going to be a lot of fun to celebrate with me as she gets older. First of all, I woke up and went downstairs to find a BEAUTIFUL large jewelry box, that I have been wanting forever, with a bow on it sitting on my sink counter top from Michael, Isabelle and Bear. What a great surprise to wake up to that morning!

That evening, we attended the Canyon Theatre Guild's, the community theatre down the street from ours, annual Fall Gala/Fundraiser. While browsing the silent auction stuff, a pair of hands covered my eyes...not having a clue on who it could be, I asked for a hint. I heard a girl start singing "My Little Buttercup" from the Three Amigos and I instantaneously knew who it was...my sister! She came out here from San Francisco to celebrate my birthday with me. We had a wonderful time with the whole family, except for Isabelle, there that night!

As for Izzy, she was being babysat by some good friends of ours, Danielle, Troy and Jessica (who will be one of her babysitters when Isabelle is 1 and Grandmama and Grandpa Ilich can't watch her). She did really well for them...they were fighting over who was going to feed her and who was feeding her right. But, as it happened again, when it came to bedtime Isabelle fought it tooth and nail! She cried and fussed for about 20 minutes and finally Jessica got her to sleep. When we picked her up, she was asleep in the pack and play but by the time we got home, she was awake and ready to play! We knew she needed to get some more sleep before the Street Arts Festival the following day.

Before heading over to the Street Arts Festival Saturday morning, which was held in downtown Newhall (where our theatre is), we went over to Grandmama and Grandpa Ilich's for breakfast with Tia Tara and Nana. This was the first time Tara has seen Isabelle (Yogi-Tara's new nickname for her-a yoga baby) and Isabelle just smiled and hammed it up for her. It was, once again, a great surprise to wake up too!

At the Street Arts Festival they had vendors, chalk drawings (that were unbelievable), games and craft booths for kids and airbrush tattoos :) As most of you know, Michael and I have small bear paw tattoos in the middle of our backs (for Mamabear and Papabear) and I couldn't resist getting one for our little one (as well as her new "bling shoes"-hehe). We had a great time walking around with Laura and Nathan and Amy and Mackenzie. Next year will be even more fun, as we chase all the kids around....they will be walking by then! Oh No!! :)