Potty training take 2

I decided to take advantage of the long weekend and give potty training a shot. Bella is finally ready. She asks to change her diaper first thing every morning and has been telling us when she needs to poop. We've been doing it since 8:00 this morning. She had an accident at 9 and so far that's all she's had for the day! We are up to 40 mins between potty trips. She's doing great! I set a special alarm on my phone and every time it goes off she screams, "TIME TO GO TO THE POTTY." She just went down for a nap - I put a pull-up on over her panties so that she could still feel the wet but not make a mess of her bed. Let's hope it works.

WISH US LUCK!

Bella's Birthday Party

Bella is obsessed with Blue's Clues. When she's tired she wants to sit and relax to Blue's Clues - no other show, just Blue. When I asked her what kind of birthday she wanted she said Blue's Clues. You can't find any Blue's Clues in stores so I made a cake from a template we found online and the rest of the decorations were just blue. We tried to keep it small with just a few friends that had kids and that are Bella's favorite people. It's so nice that we have good friends around here, especially since we have no family. Stefanie and her cute family were sweet enough to drive down for the party. Bella was SO excited to see Mallory. She ran right up to her and gave her a big hug.





I love Bella's face. She was SO happy when we were singing to her!

Happy Birthday Bella

Happy Birthday, Isabella! It's a cliche that every parent says and some day you will understand, I can't believe you have been with us for 2 years already. You are such a happy little girl. You talk SO well in complete sentences. Every day you make Daddy and I laugh at the things that you come up with. You love to chase Smokey dog around the house (much to his chagrin). You chase after him yelling, "Smokey I'm coming, I'm coming."

You are understanding relationships and ask any two people how they are related. On the phone with Gramma you ask me, "Is that your Mommy? Is that my Gramma?" You ask if Daddy is my husband. Recently you are started calling me Momma instead of Mommy. I love it!

You love all animals and babies and want to hug them and love them, almost too much. You love to help me in the garden and always want to dig - sometimes digging up plants that shouldn't be dug up. You know every day that it's your job to feed the fish. You remind me and clap your hands so they will come to the surface.

You love to read and find anything that has "abc's" on it to have someone read to you. You LOVE to talk on the phone and will dial the phone any time you can get your hands on the phone. You also love to sing. "Pockorn" (Popcorn Popping) is your favorite song but you will sing anything. When I put you down at night you always want me to sing "Hush Little Baby." The other day you told me, "Mommy you have such a pretty voice." I think you need to get your ears checked!

You are definitely exerting your independence. We love having you in our family. You are such a blessing in our lives. Happy Birthday Baby!

Frog Catchin'

We have had tree frogs move into our pond. I wasn't sure what kind of frogs they were - based on their ribbits I thought that they were great big bull frogs. They start at 7:30 every night and it's so loud you can't sit next to the pond without yelling to each other. They are at least three of them, which ironically is more annoying than if there were a whole bunch of them!

I have been raising baby fish (that I got as eggs) in a separate stock tank. They are little tiny fish - less than 1/2" long - so we've had screens over the tank to keep the critters out. Well, the frogs would push their way past the screens and make a house in there. I'm sure he thought it was a free buffet. Every night we'd hear him in there, so we'd go out with a flash light - Bella tagging right along and we'd see him sitting there with his big throat all puffed out. We'd catch him and put him back in the big pond.

One night we actually got to hold him for a while. Bella thought it was the best thing ever. She kept saying, "I wanna hold the fwog." She'd hold it and then he'd jump and she'd squeal with delight! He jumped onto the glass on the french door and she thought that was the funniest thing - she laughed hysterically.

I love this picture - you can see how amazed she is by it all. Her eyes were SO big in wonderment!

cow or pig?

Tonight Bella and I were snuggling and watching Olivia (it's a cartoon about a pig family) and she said, "Momma is she a pig?"
"Yes, she's a pig."
"Oink, oink! You're a pig."
"What?! A pig!!??"
"NOOOOO, a cow."
"A cow??!!"
"Yep, MOOO you're a cow."

I think I will be at the gym first thing in the morning.

Easter

I've finally been able to get my camera to connect to the computer to download the pictures so I'm going to play catch up.
We had a quiet Easter morning. The Easter Bunny bought Bella a basket with lots of goodies. We don't think that Easter should be a holiday where you get a ton of presents so she just got whatever could fit in a basket. She was more than excited with her basket!
After she ate all the candy we colored Easter eggs. She had so much fun and created quite the mess.

In the afternoon we went to our friend Reinita's family party. It was a great time and Bella had quite the time having all the attention, she was the only baby there. They LOVED her!

didn't realize how much it'd hurt

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....