Wonderful

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had! Howard and Gloria came to visit and spent the week with Belle. We had a wonderful visit and can't wait to see them again in a month!

First Thanksgiving Dinner

Birthday hat from grandma.

Birthday Girl!!!!

Today is my baby's first birthday!!! I cannot believe that a year has already passed... I can't help but relive the whole experience one year ago and I miss it a little... I miss the whole experience of a brand new baby in my arms and who liked to snuggle... My little lady is growing into her own independent little self and is not so much into snuggling anymore and I just miss it! But, it's so much fun watching all the new stuff!!!! Belle is walking more and more each day and is starting to say words now... She said "no" for the first time at daycare yesterday. I think it's really quite hilarious! I'm sure I won't be saying the same thing in a couple months when she is saying no to everything!!!

Well, enough of the reminiscing... here are some pictures from today. I left work a little early to go to have a little party at daycare. Trevor's birthday is tomorrow, so we wanted to do a little party for both of them... anyway, I brought some cupcakes and party hats for the two of them. Then we came came and hung out till nick got home. We were going to do the birthday cake this evening, but the poor little hunny has quite a diaper rash and so I changed her diaper, she had a complete meltdown (SO SORE MOMMY!!!!) so we just went to the bath to let her soak her little bottom for a while, did some presents and off to bed. We'll do cake tomorrow or maybe just wait until Sunday's party... We'll see how the day goes! :)

Okay - really now - here are the photos...

hmmmm. what is this hat??
Belle and Trevor

Birthday girl!!!!

oooh! what's this?

and she stuffs the whole thing in her mouth!!! :)

not too messy...

but there's still crumbs!!!!

and now she LICKS the crumbs off!

a little messier now...

lounging in her new chair! i think she LIKES it! :)

opening up her present.

she loves her new toy! :)

We miss you all and hope to see you at Christmas! :)

DC for the Day

It was such a beautiful day today, we had to get out and do something... so we decided to go to DC for the day... here are many pictures for you to enjoy... (see how I am making use of my new camera with the Panorama on it??? I L-O-V-E it!!! Perhaps I will marry it!)

Isabelle strolling on the moon with the astronauts at the air and space museum.
Poking the new camera lens and about giving daddy a heart attack for doing so...

Vietnam memorial wall... It's so surreal and amazing. If you have never had a chance to go, you really need to. People leave photos, notes, flowers, flags, etc. there all the time. It's really amazing.

Someone else who was enjoying the nice weather!

Lincoln memorial

Nick, Isabelle and Abe

Washington monument and reflecting pool

Korean memorial

Korean memorial again... this wall is amazing - some absolutely amazing art. When you are up close, you can't even see the images carved in it - it is all just granite... amazing.

World War I memorial

I believe this is the Jefferson Memorial, but we didn't go up to it, so I'm not sure...

Washington Memorial and a pond (don't know what it's called...)

Well, that's it for now. :) Enjoy!

dancing for dinner

still sick

well, we went back to the doctor today for the second flu shot and i wanted doc to check her out because she still has this nasty cough and runny nose... good news is, the ear infection is cleared up. bad news is that she still has a sinus infection... ugh. on top of that, she is still teething (had another one break through saturday for number 8, but has 2 more coming in on the top that are hurting her). needless to say, our little munchkin hasn't been quite herself the last few days because she hasn't been feeling well. let's hope this round of antibiotics kick the crap out of this sinus infection! and we'll go back in about 20 days for a check up and the 12 MONTH well visit... 12 months... as in one year... how the hell did that happen????

17 more days and our girl will be one... yikes.

Happy Halloween!

Belle had her very first Halloween "Parade" Thursday... It really wasn't a parade by any stretch of the imagination - more like a bunch of kids walking next door to get candy... I took off from work early to watch and was somewhat disappointed, but it was great to see all the little ones dressed up! They are too cute! Here are a couple pics from Thursday...

Our little butterfly getting ready to "fly"
And she's off!!!

Isabelle and her buddy Trevor - neither one was too happy about us putting them down!!!

And the trouble starts here... trying to soummer sault down the stairs - she thought this was hilarious, by the way... I had a minor heart attack...

And all three "kids" on Belle's first Halloween!