To Mexico we go...to Grandma's house she goes.

We are leaving for Mexico Saturday and leaving Izzi with my mom. I am sick about leaving her. I am sure I am going to sob all the way home tomorrow. How will I survive without my sweet baby. However, it will be so nice to truly have a week vacation. I put Izzi in her Hawaiian swimsuit to get me in the sunny mindset. So cute!

A little about H to the Izzo

Sweet little Izzi is 9.5 months now. She is a super fast crawler. I chase around all day long. She has three teeth (two bottom, one top), she pulls herself up to everything, can stand on her own for a few seconds. Her newest thing she does is stick her finger up her nose...it's pretty funny. She holds her hands up or crawls to my legs and pulls herself up when she wants to be held. Opening drawer and cupboards are a new fun thing, I need to get them baby-proofed. She loves the cat and follows him around...he doesn't feel the same way about her I'm sure.

Growing baby girl

Isabelle is now officially crawling. Life is so much harder now. I often stick her in her walker so she is stuck and can't go too far. I will set her down with toys all around her and turn around and she is gone! The house is hers to explore and man is she fast! Now that she has mastered the ability to crawl, time for the next big thing. She is pulling herself up on things and is now starting to stand. Gosh...so much change so fast. Ahhh!

Kyle and I had a day all to ourselves yesterday. Great Grandma watched Izzi and we took off for CDA. We shopped till we dropped. There were alot of good sales and I got a new coat for a great deal! We went to Cabela's and I walked out with something but Kyle didn't...funny...isn't that backwards?

We are counting down until our Mexico vacation mid-March. So I have been pretty motivated to loose a few pounds in order to be in my swimsuit. Although, my calorie count was a bit high after eating out last night? Oh well, I will run longer on my elliptical tonight.

Sledding...

Lesli came over today and we hit the slopes for a few sledding runs. More then anything we sat on our sleds and talked. I am thankful for such a wonderful friend. She is someone who I can tell anything to and trust. She keeps me real and accountable. God has blessed me with her. I love ya Les!

Happy New Year

I have been reflecting on this past year. It has been a year of extreme change, extreme pain and extreme joy. 2008 has gone by so fast, yet I don't want it to go quite yet. I want to remember parts and forget others. This year I was pregnant...excited for a new life. Wondering what this baby would look like and what she would be like...and how my life would change and what would it look like as a mother. How different it is to view myself as a mother! Our mother, Roberta was diagnosed with cancer last January and lost her battle and went to see Jesus in February. She went ahead of us and is waiting for us, rooting us on to fight the fight of faith...so keep going, look to Jesus our Savior. I am so thrilled for her gain and sorry for our loss. How great it is to have hope in Jesus. This life is not the end...we were meant for so much more. We were not meant to loose our loved ones through death...we were meant to live forever. I can't wait to see Jesus one day...I can't wait to see Roberta. The holidays this year were so different this year without her. She did so much! Now I am trying to fill parts of her role and MAN! She did alot! I was beat by the end of the day.
Continuing with my reflecting...
We moved out of our home that we bought in 2003...and into my father-in-law's house. I quit my job of 4 years and then had a baby. So much change, so fast and all at once. I am not going to lie. It's been rough for me. Hard to adjust to so much thrown at me. But God is faithful...He has blessed us so much. I get to stay at home with Izzi. What a blessing that is and I am thankful.

My sister started dating a friend of ours last February. We were thrilled! I was praying that this would work! In August Nate proposed and I was bursting with joy! How good is God! December 20th they were married and now they are on a beach in the Carribean on their honeymoon. The wedding was gorgeous and a good turn out too, considering the roads were terrible as their was a snow-storm for a week. After a week of chaos with wedding running around and major stress...then Christmas planning and cooking...I am thankful it's all over and that it turned our beautifully. Now I can sit her and reflect without having to get a pen and paper for a list of-do's.

Christmas was nice...we had the family over to our house as we usually do. I wanted this Christmas to somewhat resemble what normally goes on. For Christmas morning, I made cinnamon rolls and an egg bake like we normally do and had Grandpa and Grandma over. Bill was Santa and did some major spoiling. Casey and Amy got Isabelle an adorable Seahawks beanie and stinken cute pink furry booties. Such a fashionable girl that baby is. Izzi was more interested in the ribbons and bows and what they would taste like. She loved all the activity...so much to see! She is army crawling everywhere. She can really move quickly. She is close to the real deal in crawling. I am wanting her to take her time...it's hard enough keeping up with her. She has two teeth, although she is working on the next one.

2009 - what will this year hold for us. Izzi will grow... I will learn how to adapt to life with a toddler. This year I want to be bold. I want to grow in my faith and reflect Jesus in everything I do. I want the people in my life to see God and crave a relationship with Him...too grow, to find Him for the first time and to come back and get their life where it needs to be. I pray that God will use me. Help me be bold Jesus, my God. .. to tell others about You.

I hope this year will be a year of change for you also...a year where we all look to God and grow in our walks with Him.

Merry Christmas!

Isabelle's first Christmas. Her favorite toys were ribbons and bows. Grandpa got her a toy phone that makes all sorts of racket and she is loving that.

Carrie got hitched...

Nathan and Carrie Lacy, as of December 20th. It was a beautiful wedding and alot of people came. I was suprised since the road conditions were less than desirable. Carrie was stunning and now they are laying on a beach in the Carribean. Lucky brats! Isabelle was an amazing little baby through the ceremony and reception. She was happy as a clam, such an easy child. I just love her temperment.