Dad and Daughter Night!

I totally forgot to post a quick comment about the first ever "Dad and Daughter Night" which was held at our place two weekends ago that included Michael, Isabelle, Travis and Mackenzie.

It started off with Michael staying home with Isabelle, since he had been at one theatre or the other for the past 3 months, while I had an adult night out at a fundraiser that my friend Courtney invited me to (thank you again, Papabear). Amy and Travis were also invited and brought Mackenzie along with them (who is two months old and luckily, is still sleeping a lot). We had the baby table that night with Courtney and Mike's newest little one, Cavanaugh, and The Wiese's and Mac! And yes, I missed my Isabelle!

As the night progressed, it was apparent that Amy and I did not want to leave when others began to take off. There was still plenty of dancing and wine to be had! Plus, the lead singer from Foreigner was there and what a performance he put on (LOL!). With Mackenzie asleep and Amy and I off gallivanting, Travis decided that he and Mackie would go and hang out with Michael at our house...thus the very first "Dad and Daughter Night". They were playing with the girls, hanging our by the firepit and doing "Dad" things while Amy and I hung out at the fundraiser until the second encore finished. At that time, we decided that our night was still not over and headed over to the Greens (a putting green/bar where Amy's brother, Matt, works) in our formal wear and finished our night off there.

When we got home, the girls were out! We all smiled and thought that this is just the beginning...there are many more nights like this to come :)

Pic: Travis taking a cat nap with Mackenzie!

Look Out!!

Get the outlet covers out and baby proof the house...today is the day that our little one is not only sitting up on her own but is now mastering the "army crawl"! We cannot believe it! Grandmama Ilich was watching her this morning (while Michael is trying to get rid of this horrendous cold/flu he has-at least his 103.7 degree fever broke yesterday) at her house and was so pleased on how good she was sitting up on her own. She got her back to the office, where we do the "hand off" and as I came down the stairs, there was Isabelle, army crawling towards a toy that Grandmama had given her! I couldn't believe it. I called her name and asked her what she was doing and she just looked at me and smiled her two teeth grin. So I proceeded to rattle my keys (her new found toy) and placed them just out of her reach and sure enough...there she went until she got them! I was so excited to get her home to show Michael, thinking that this would cheer him up for sure and boy did it! She starts with a roll to get onto her tummy and forearms then she digs those little monkey feet of hers into the carpet and pushes off towards victory!

What's new in Izzy's world?

Like we had previously mentioned, Isabelle's pediatrician wanted her to start on rice cereal at 4 months, green veggies at 5 months, fruits and sweet veggies (sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, etc.) at 6 months and meats at 7 months. Well, you saw how the rice cereal went and truth be told, she loves it! It has to be Cream of Wheat style though, not too runny or else nothing doing.

So the week before her 5 month birthday, Dad decides he wanted to try out peas with Isabelle to no avail...she doesn't care for them one bit (just like her mother)! But a week later on her 5 month birthday he tried green beans (aka: her birfday beans-yes, that is the way it is said-hehe) and boy oh boy, what a difference that was compared to the peas! She loves them! Grandmama was so excited to break out the highchair at her house to feed her. It is a whole new "food world" for everyone.

Also as of August 23rd, exactly one week after she cut tooth #1, we had a sighting of tooth #2! Yes, our little one now has two chompers in that little mouth of hers which Mom has felt on several occasions...no making her smile or laugh when I am nursing her :) She became a little irritable but not at all like what we thought she would become after reading about teething. Maybe she will be a monster child when the others, especially her molars, come in. Thank goodness we have awhile to wait for those.

As part of her teething process we have noticed some new "things" she likes to do, besides putting EVERYTHING she gets her hands on into her mouth. While sitting with someone or at the table in her carrier, she grabs for a glass with whatever it may be in it; beer, wine, water, it doesn't matter, and she chews on the rim. It must feel really good on those gums! Michael found out the hard way not to let her do this shortly after she has eaten. Imagine this...Michael holding Isabelle who just ate maybe 20 minutes before, chewing on the rim of Dad's glass of Cabernet Franc...and blau...ruined!

Here is another new thing...

The nurses said from the minute Isabelle was born, that they couldn't believe how alert she was. When she would finally go to sleep, they would whisk her away to the nursery for her hearing test, but the moment they got her in there, there Isabelle was, eyes open and checking out the world. Needless to say, after 5 attempts she had her hearing test done while she was awake. Well now, this "alertness" that we have been so proud of is posing a problem. For the past week and a half, she is fighting teeth :) and nail to stay awake because we believe she thinks she is going to miss something. She gets completely cranky and starts crying and fussing and fighting the fact that she is tired. Just today when I came home from work, there she was pitching a fit, rubbing her eyes and fighting going to sleep; Dad and her were not friends when I walked in. She hates to be cradled but I have found that this is the only way to get her to calm down and go to sleep when she gets into these tizzies. I give her her pacifier, cradle her in my arms, sway back and forth while lightly patting her back and after a few minutes, off to la-la land she goes. Dad and everyone else will learn their own technique or hopefully won't have too because our fingers are crossed, that this growing pain won't last too long.

She is rolling around all over the place as well; front to back and back to front...maybe she has ADD? LOL! We have to keep our eyes on her all the time. We have her on her gym mat on the floor and then, no kidding, a few minutes later, she has rolled of it and is about a foot away, sitting up on her elbows looking at you. She is a wiggle worm!

We shall see what next week has in store for us. Perhaps she will like another green veggie like spinach or sit up on her own (she is getting there) or maybe she will figure out the mysteries of the unknown...you never know whats next with our little Isabelle.

By the way....we want to welcome to the world our friends Courtney and Mike's new son, Cavenaugh Henn. He was born on Labor Day :) at 10:50pm weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 21.5 inches long!! He is the first boy of the group and we have his party dress all picked out for the first tea party :) We love you guys!