All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth...

And guess what....she got them! Yes, Friday morning as we were preparing to leave for Michigan, Michael was playing with Isabelle (which consists of hanging her every which way) and noticed that another one of her bottom teeth was coming in. Then, when taking a closer look, he noticed that there were two small white teeth just about to push through on the top!

What a wonderful and crazy whirlwind of a holiday it was for all of us! We had a nonstop flight to Cincinnati where Isabelle slept for 4 out of the 4 1/2 hours as Michael and I watched Super Bad (funny stuff) and Hot Rod (not so funny or really worth seeing). However, Isabelle did not sleep all that well the first two nights at the hotel in Ohio in the pack and play. She would be fine when we put her down but would wake up in the wee hours of the morning and wouldn't go back to sleep so reluctantly and after an hour of soothing her and even letting her crawl all over us (we got great infrared video footage of that), we broke down and put her in bed with us. At the other hotel in Michigan, she did fine. Besides unfamiliar territories, maybe it was the time change too? All we know is we were very happy when she finally slept through the night as she does at home.


On Saturday, we had a wonderful time visiting with the Gebhart crew (Mom/Grandmama's family)in Ohio. We got together with Mom's youngest sister, Sylvia, and her granddaughter Shelby (who is 14) and went to Ron's pizza (the best pizza I have ever had) and then went "malling" to pick up a few last minute, we didn't want to lug them across the states, gifts. As you know the mall is chaotic enough during the holidays, let alone the fact that we were there the last weekend before Christmas. Well the mall also just happened to be where our sleep deprived, always on the go, little darling had a complete meltdown on Grandmama. After 5 solid minutes of crying she finally fell asleep in her arms, while Tara and I were still shopping and Michael frantically calling for us to get back. She slept 2 1/2 hours that afternoon and boy did she need it! That night we had dinner at Bullwinkle's...a pub/restaurant donned with Ohio State everything! Michael was in heaven and said if he lived there, that would be his hangout :) We caught up with all of the family we hadn't seen since our wedding and some even longer. Reno, our cousin Kim's son, absolutely fell in love with Isabelle as she did him. Cant you tell?

First thing the next morning we were off to Michigan. Like we said, it was a non stop whirlwind! After a 4 hour drive to Grandma and Grandpa Owston's, and Isabelle did very good considering the long drive, we were ready for a beer or two (or 12 if your name is Michael). Grandma and Grandpa O couldn't believe how big she had gotten and how much she has changed. You know how everyone says Isabelle is the spitting image of her Father well that fact officially has changed. Grandpa Owston has a baby picture of himself up in the hallway and with no doubt in any one's mind, except for his picture being faded black and white, they look exactly the same (God forbid child, you don't want to look like your Grandpa Owston-LOL...just kidding Dickie). We had a great time catching up with all of Michael's buddies. Hoppe, Christina and their daughter Ella Marie who is 2, showed up and Ella had Isabelle laughing so hard and having such a great time that she didn't want to leave when Grandmama and Grandpa were ready to head back to the hotel! Michael and I had an "adult night" staying out till,get this....12:30! LOL!


Christmas Eve day, after we hit the mall one more time (courageous,we know), we all headed over to Uncle Don and Aunt Sue's house (about a 5 minute drive from the hotel) to feast, get caught up with everyone and most of all...listen to Michael tell the story "Twas the Night Before Christmas". This is a Christmas Eve tradition that started 9 years ago and whether Michael is at home in Cali or home in Michigan, he reads this book every Christmas Eve.


Christmas Day came all to quickly, hence the reason we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa O's house at 11 instead of 10 (we apologize again Dickie and Marebare. And although she didn't get the whole "present thing", once you started to tear the paper, in she came to tear it of and of course, trying to eat it. I have to tell you though, there was one gift that as soon as it was opened she started "talking" to it and I swear, I couldn't get it out of the packaging fast enough! Her Aunt Ashley bought her a baby doll and Isabelle LOVED it!! There was more family visiting throughout the day and her naps were sparse but, she was a trooper. She stayed awake and in great spirits, smiling at everyone and grabbing any one's hands/fingers that would let her walk with them as she blows raspberries (her newest thing) until their back hurt...thanks Uncle Ed :) After the family festivities, we went over to our friend Kremer's (who lives in Tahoe and got married earlier this year-under "She's Here blog entry)) Dad's house. She got to meet Michael's completely out to the world, nothing is going to wake her not even Isabelle, goddaughter, Trinity.

On the 26th, we took our time getting around in the morning, as Tara, Mom and Dad caught their flights home. We had to drop off 2 boxes of gifts at the UPS store after buying an extra piece of luggage and everything still not fitting! That night, we went over to our friends Jay and Felicia's house (who happen to be Trinity's parents) for some pizza, wine and a few games on Nintendo Wii. For those of you who have not tried playing it, we HIGHLY recommend it. The boxing game that comes with it, kicked my butt. I felt like I was at my kickboxing class working out my upper body! It sounds crazy but you really do get a work out from this thing! And you all know how Michael loathes video games and said there will never be one in his house...well, his house will be getting one and he is going to be the first to play it!

There is the long and not so short of our Christmas vacation. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Big Jolly Fat Man...no not Michael

Here is Isabelle's first visit with Santa...not a tear or a hesitation. We shall see about next year :)

Baptized!

We have the dress, we have the shoes, we have the bonnet and we have special earrings that she is going to wear given to her by her Godparents. We are all ready for Isabelle's baptism.

Today Isabelle was baptized at my church, Christ Lutheran here in Valencia. We did it at the 11 o'clock, "contemporary service" which is casual with upbeat music and the sermons, I feel are more enjoyable.

Earlier this week Mom/Grandmama and I went down to San Fernando Valley (over the hill) to look at baptismal gowns. We were originally going to have her in a Christmas dress but since we will be having another baptism for her in Jordan this February, we decided she needs a traditional white one that can be worn both times and hopefully passed down to her daugher. Grandmama and Grandpa Ilich were looking for one in Equador however, thier dresses were at a maximum of 18" long and Isabelle was 21'5" long when she was born and is now over 27" so, that didnt quite work out.

Michael and I had to attend a mandatory Baptism Class yesterday that lasted 20-30 minutes and spent this morning getting the house ready for the small lunch reception to follow the service.

The service was short and sweet and Isabelle was a little superstar. She didnt cry and had everyone laughing when Pastor Joe put his hand on her head to bless her and she kept grabbing his hand and pushing it away from her. I have to see if I can upload that clip from the video that Uncle Mikee took for us. April and JP, her Godparents, stood up with us along with Grandmama and Grandpa Ilich. I couldnt help but tear up when Pastor Joe took her from Michael and "introduced her" to the church. He walked around with her in his arms as the congregation applauded her. She took it so well, actually a little too well, that we had the "little actress" comments flying around afterwards. But her Papa set that straight and let everyone know that she will never act but can direct, do lighting or stage manage all she wants...that is where the money is, not acting. All I say is, we shall see about that :)

Izzy's Photo Shoot

The holidays are approaching quickly so what better way to get a few gifts off of our list than going to get pictures done of the daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and every other relation Isabelle may be to someone.


At the 11th hour last Friday I decided to make an appointment at the Picture People for 6:20pm to get Isabelle's Christmas photographs done. Not knowing how this was going to go we planned the evening accordingly. I got home from work with Isabelle around 3:30, went for a walk hoping she would take a little nap but to no avail so when we got home I took her into her room and rocked her to sleep. We wanted to make sure we did not have a crab apple on our hands for her first "photo shoot". An hour later we actually had to wake her up so she could take a quick shower with Dad and then get her all gussied up in her new Christmas dress, tights and shiny black patent shoes, which she wanted to play with instead of wear :) Since she had eaten before going down for a nap, and since she has a tendency to spit up even a hour after she eats, we took her into the mall in a onesie with a bib and the little black velvet underpants that go with her dress. No puke was going to find its way onto that dress of hers come you know what or high water!


So we get to the mall and into the shop and as you are looking around you sit and think...ok, we are not going to spend a fortune, they are NOT going to sucker us like wedding dress shops do playing on your emotions, I don't really care for those props or backdrops, that pose looks stupid and she will not do that and then, her name is called. We were whisked away into Critter 2 staging area with a photographer (all of 20 maybe 21 years old) named Kristen. She was asking us what are these pictures for, what backdrop(s) we liked and if there were any props we wanted to use. Michael and I had spotted 2 large red, green and white felt boxes up in the front of the store that we thought would be cute so Kristen brought those back. Then the real fun began! I tell you...what a parent won't do to get a good shot of their 8 month old! The three of us were making absolute fools of ourselves. All kinds of noises, waving and shaking things, bringing out other props to hopefully tantalize her into a smile which instead, she wanted to eat (EVERYTHING goes in their mouth at this stage) and then, low and behold, Dad did his judo chop move that had her in stitches a few nights before in the mall, and voile, we had smiles! It was so much fun! We then wandered around the mall for the second time that week until the pictures were ready to be viewed. When we got back, there she was in all her glory in two frames that we could take home that night and hang up plus a 48" plasma up on the wall of thumbnails of all the photos that were taken of her not even 30 minutes prior to then! Then came the hard part, widdling our choices down to a few. We are actually really proud of ourselves and although we did not get a full length shot of her to show off her shiny shoes, we did get a few that we hope you all will enjoy.


By the way...Michael got suckered, he fell hook line and sinker, and we did walk out with an $86, 10 x 13 framed photo of the one above. What can we say, we are suckas :)

Happy Holidays To One And All!

Make a slideshow!

The "ma-ma" syndrome

Isabelle has been up to her crazy antics once again. We have blocked off the living room and named it her playpen. We bought a basket for our CD's and DVD's that she was pulling off one of our shelves (I know, we are no fun), we put a trunk against the couch and wall to keep her in the living room and out of Bear's food and water bowls and from crawling right up the stairs (with or without our help) and of course, we have outlet covers in all of the outlets and yet she still finds ways to get into mischief. Just when we think we have her beat, she surprises us once again. She has mastered crawling on all fours and really can move! Her new thing is to crawl towards you, grab your pant leg, pull herself up, look at you and make any of her noises that gets your attention which also lets you know that she wants to be picked up. She loves to bang any of her toys...at least its not her head...on the tile or hardwood floor, making all kinds of fun sounds that she just finds hilarious. And still, best of all, she loves to be tickled! Her feet, chest, armpits, you name it! And that laugh of hers is so contagious! Anyone in earshot can't help but to laugh right along with her.

And now onto the "ma-ma" syndrome. Last Monday, I received a call from Michael who sounded kind of depressed. I asked him what was wrong and he replied that his daughter was not cooperating and immediately I asked what is she doing? He said that although he keeps saying "papa" to her, all she is saying to him is "mama". I on the other hand was ecstatic! Even though I know that she does not correlate me with "mama", not yet :), that she is actually saying what I have been telling her since she was born. The score-Mom 1, Dad 0!!

OK...so its not as cute as Ellie's "elephant" (http://eliselmolloy.blogspot.com) but we had to share it anyway :) Here is a little clip of Isabelle's "hi, I am here" talking taken this past Saturday night.



Thanks for the inspiration, Marty and Mere! We love and miss you guys!