” . . . every perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17

Dr Ziegler baptising Izabella

At the open house

What a wonderful day we had celebrating Izabella's baptism! It was very special to share the service surrounded by our closest family and friends. Bella was so cute as she was being baptized...each time Dr Ziegler put the holy water on her head she squealed. Then she fell asleep in my arms for the remainder of the service.

The celebration continued at our house. We got to visit with our family and friends who will help guide us through this journey of parenthood and raising Izabella in a Christian home! We hope she grows up knowing how truly blessed she is to have so many family members and friends who care and love her! Also knowing with God's guidance she can do anything she dreams of!

We thank God daily for our perfect gift, Izabella! We never dreamed she could bring this much joy, love and happiness to our lives!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

Margaret Molly Wilkinson!!!

Our good friends, Ann and Warren, had a precious baby girl this morning at 8:41am.

Margaret Molly weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 21 inches long! She is such a sweet and beautiful baby girl!

We couldn't be happier for Ann and Warren!

Enjoy every moment...they change and grow so

quickly!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Checking In

There is no love like a grandparents love!

Grandma and Grandpa Stafford came to check in on their Bella Raye and give her some extra "sugar"in hopes that it would help her feel better! She did have a better evening and I think we are on our way to having a healthy baby again! She still wasn't interested in her baby food but she did take a couple bottles!

Bella showing Grandma how the book works! Izabella really enjoys being read too!All the Maines kids were worn out after their visit. Peyton was the only one that could manage to hold his head up for the picture. As you can tell both Zoe and Peyton love to be right next to Bella Raye. She has started to pay a lot more attention to them. Tonight when Zoe was next to her she was touching Zoe's face...it was very cute!

Monkey Business

Still smiling even though she is not feeling well!

Today has been a rough day for our little Bella! Tim told me last night while I was at work she did not eat very well which made me wonder if she was coming down with something. She also has teeth that are about to break through so I thought it might be that.

When she woke up this morning she didn't quite have that sparkle in her eyes that she normally has. After only taking 5 oz of her morning bottle when she usually downs 8oz in no time flat I figured something was up. I decided to pull out the thermometer and confirm what I had already thought.....she did have a low grade temp. I am just pushing the fluids (what she will drink)and Tylenol. She has been sleeping a lot today and when she is awake just wants to cuddle. I did call the Dr just to confirm I was doing everything needed with the weekend coming up. She said that she thought she might have a little virus and to continue to do what we were. Hopefully it is just a 24 hour bug! We'll keep you posted!

Our visit to Riley!

Daddy and Bella giggling in the office after her hearing test.


Today we went to Riley hospital to meet with Dr Miyamoto to learn more about Izabella's little ear. Microtia is the medical term of her ear. We started with 2 different hearing test for her left "good"ear and she passed both with flying colors. Basically our appointment with the doctor was just a consultation and he told us we would be waiting awhile before we do any procedures. At 3 or 4 years old she we will have a CT-scan to see what the inside of the ear looks like. Dr Miyamoto is 90% confident that all the necessary parts are inside the ear and hearing could be possible! If we choose to do constructive surgery we would start around age 6 and it would take 3 or 4 surgeries over a years times.

In the meantime he told us to make sure her "good" ear stays good and we will have a follow-up hearing test in 6 months.

Bella patiently waiting for the Dr to arrive. She was a very good baby especially since we were there during her nice long nap!

Mommy and Bella happy that we are all done and have a clean bill of health!!!

I know I have said numerous times but just can't reiterate enough how blessed we feel to have a healthy and happy baby! The minute you walk in Riley you realize how truly blessed you are and to count your lucky stars each night!

We appreciate every ones care and concern for our little blessing!

Single White Female

Is this not the cutest onesis?

One of my best friends, Jessica, got this for Izabella for Christmas!

We love it!

Bella's Taste Test Continues

Bella had carrots for the first time at Grandma and Papaw Maines on Saturday! Carrots stain everything orange that is for sure!

On Monday she had bananas and guess what...she liked those too!

We have a little girl on our hands who likes to eat and we are thrilled!

Thursday we will try another fruit as long as everything continues to go well, maybe peaches...we will see!

Happy Birthday Papaw Maines! (and Grandma Too)

Today is Papaw's actual birthday Grandma's was on February 2nd. I was just going to write about it when we are celebrating with them together in Florida.... but I changed my mind!

We wish you both a very happy birthday with many more to come!

Sending lots of love your way and can't wait to celebrate with you both when we go to Florida!

We all love you!

Happy 13th!!!!

Abby Kirk is 13 today!

We hope you have a wonderful 13th birthday! We wish you much fun and many more birthdays to come!

"Love is the greatest gift one can give" Sandra Magamen

Izabella has filled our heart with more love than we could of ever imagined... we can't get enough of her! To be a parent is the best gift of all!

Love and Goodies

Izabella and I had a pretty normal routine Valentines day...eating, playing and napping! While she took her afternoon nap I finished cleaning out my closet and then started into hers. Seems like I as soon as I get it organized how I like it she has a growth spurt and I have to start all over again. This time I dug through all her clothes....and found lots of things I forgot we had...remember as soon as we found out she was a girl Tim says, her closet "puked pink!" Our child needs no more clothes for the next year! She is just perfect in length for her 6 month clothes yet can't hold them up in the waist! Unfortunately I didn't run into that same problem when I was cleaning out my closet!

Around 5pm Grandma Stafford and Aunt Rachel came to visit and spoil me for my 1st Valentines!

What goodies are in that bag?I love my new Tigger that Grandma got me!

Mommy can you see me with all this loot around me? Not only did Grandma and Aunt Rachel spoil...so did Grandma and Grandpa M and Uncle Ernie and Aunt Suzi did too!

Ann even came out in the snow being 2 weeks from her due date to bring Valentine cookies!

Thank you everyone!Once Tim got home after 7pm...we had to dig his car out of the driveway and then we did enjoy a nice dinner together. Izabella also enjoyed a nice green bean dinner for the first time! We hope everyone had a wonderful 2007 Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Our Sweet Little Valentine!!!

To be snowed in with our little Valentine is the best Valentine's Day gift for me! Luckily I already bought Bella and Tim's cards! We had hoped to make some visits in our cute outfit...her shirt says "Be Mine" and she has pinks tights with red hearts on....maybe we'll get out tomorrow!


Yesterday it started snowing and didn't stop until late last night! We got over 10' of snow! I went out yesterday around 4pm and shoveled a path for the dogs on the deck and the walk which was quite a workout! (or that is just how out of shape I am) By the time Tim got home 3 hours later he couldn't tell I had done anything because of the continued snow and drifts!

Safe Return!

Tim made it home safely around 7pm! It took him about 10 hours to drive from Nashville but besides a slow trip he ran into no problems until he pulled into our driveway and got stuck! ooops!

Safe Travels Daddy!

Tim went to Nashville, TN today for business and is planning to come back tomorrow! I worry that he will be driving into the ice storm that Kentucky is suppose to get so if everyone can just put him in your thoughts for safe travels I would feel a little better! THANKS!

Tim~I know Mark and you will travel smart and safely.... just worry because we love you!

Calm Before the Storm

Bella all dolled up in her Valentine's outfit Great Aunt Shelly sent from Texas!

I felt as I had to be out and about doing errands since we are planning to hibernate in our house the next couple of days with the Snow Storm that the meteorologist are predicting for Indiana. Luckily I don't have to work again until Friday so we can just stay home!

When I nannied for the Kirks kids they could sleep anywhere on the fly and I always hoped my child would be the same way....luckily so far she has been! I hope I just didn't jinks us! We continued to be blessed with the easy going and happy baby!

Izabella has always been a busy girl with her hands but the last couple of days Tim and I have both notice how she has become more aware of how they work and that they are apart of her! She is always bringing them together and today moved her rattle back and forth from them!

"I am amazed by my hands and how they work!"

Yep....Bella likes it!

She had sweet potatoes for lunch and liked them as she has everything else so far!!! Although now she is starting to prefer her veggies over the cereal!

PS I am glad Angie showed me how easy it is to blog beacuse I will have to print this out when I go to do her baby book that I have yet to even write her name in! It will get done sometime!

Double the Love

I remember the exact moment Amy called to say they were having twin girls, Bella was sleeping on me and I squealed so loud that it woke her up! I couldn't get the twins off my mind for days!
Tonight we hosted a couples shower with the Reusser's for Scott and Amy. It is hard to believe that the girls will be here in just a little over a month! We are full of excitement and anticipation to meet the little ones!

Little did Addie and Bella know what their mommies had signed them up for ...a fun game for Scott...called reality check....he had to undress them, change their diaper, and put their pj's on...his goal was to do it in 5 minutes he did it in a little over 12! Still did a great job, no accidents or injuries!

See they are both still smiling and happy with fresh diapers and their pj's on! Great job Scott!

They got many goodies and necessities that they will get lots of use! Scott's girls will even have their Colt jersey for the Superbowl Champs! Scott and Amy have a lot of fun in front of them and double the love!

Addie's Grandma Newton got the girls, Addie, Bella and Fallyn (she was with her Grandma and Grandpa for the night...we missed you Fallyn)sweet Valentine's bibs!

Thanks!

5 months!

I can't believe a year ago I gave my sister this onesis when I told her I was pregnant! Time sure does fly when you are having fun and a mom!
Bella has finally had to bundle up a little this month with all the snow and cold! We have tried to keep her home as much as possible so she isn't in the Indy cold!
It is amazing how much more she does and changes within each new week! She is much more aware and active with her toys! Bella has many stories to tell these days too! This morning she woke and "talked" for 2 hours straight! She makes a new funny growling noise when she is not quite upset yet or we aren't feeding her quick enough! She is also giggling lots and becoming very ticklish like her mommy!
Our little princess...this was the first outfit I bought for her once she was born! My mom and Aunt Rachel took us to Macy's when she was 8 days old...gotta get a girl trained early!

Reunited!!!

Cousin Wyatt is healthy and himself again! YEAH! He was getting breathing treatments with steroids in them and Suzi said she lost her sweet little boy but he is back! We are so thankful he has healthy again too!
We finally got to see Wyatt again! He was sick with RSV so just to be safe we all steered clear of each other for a little bit! He is such a great kid and is vocabulary is amazing! Bella will have a lot to live up too!!!

How Friday nights change....Grandma and Grandpa Stafford, Uncle Ernie, Aunt Suzi and Cousin Wyatt came over for pizza and the movie selection for the night was Baby Einstein Beethoven...Bella can't keep her eyes off Wyatt she follows him all around the room! It will be so much fun when they can run around a play...although we will enjoy Bella not running around quite yet! We enjoy the new Friday nights just as much...it would be perfect if Tim wasn't working!

Happy 31st Birthday Sarah!!!

Izabella and I started out our day celebrating Sarah's (it was yesterday)birthday with her over breakfast!!! It seems like no matter how much time we have to chat...it isn't enough! Next year Sarah will have another little one to add to the celebrating! We can't wait! Alex is already adorable and so sweet! She will be a great big sister to Baby Gray because she is so wonderful with Bella!
Then we swung into the salon to say "hi" to the girls and a quick diaper change then off to my favorite store! (Target for those of you who didn't know) We had to get the normal.... wipes, formula, baby food, diapers and then a new vacuum because my gave up of course 2 days before I am suppose to host a party at my house! Perfect timing! I do really like my new vacuum though! Anyways... we also ran in to Ann there as she was shopping for last minute things before the arrival of Baby Jelly Bean....only a few weeks now!! :) We all joined daddy for lunch. A busy morning but then we headed home to nap! Grandma Stafford came over after work so Bella could finish napping and I could run to the store! It was a great day because we got to spend time with so many of our favorite people!!!

Squash Face

Yes, Izabella added squash to her variety of food she is eating and once again didn't even flinch at the new taste!

Snowed In!!!

Our little snow bunny!
Peyton loving he snow!

Zoe like it too!

I remember as kids waiting and waiting for the TV to read Carmel Clay School System had a snow day! Then we would play outside until we were frozen and soaking wet! The way our Cul-de-sac was plowed we could make the best snow forts! Our neighborhood was always full of kids so it was lots of fun! Mom would make hot chocolate for us and we would warm up only to go do it again! Great childhood memories!
Today we had our on little personal snow day! I had a long list of errands to do since I have to work the next couple of days! Did I get one of them done you ask? NO!
O Well....nothing that was urgent anyways!
Izabella and I were snugly bugs until about 1:30pm....ate breakfast, hung out on the couch most of the morning: talked, sang and read books, our new favorite, Snuggle Puppy! Then I did get her a bath, lunch and off for her 2 1/2- 3 hour nap for the afternoon! She is such a good little sleeper!
When she was sleeping I did get some laundry done, and cabinets cleaned out. I took Zoe and Peyton out to play in the snow while I shoveled (so Tim doesn't have to worry about it when he gets home) and they loved it too! I had thought about running out when Tim gets home but I think we will have a nice dinner and we will all snuggle back up on the couch tonight! Since I am still in my pajama bottoms probably a good idea! Huh?
I love snow days!!!!

We are the Champions!

The gals never worried....we knew the Colts would pull it off

The Boys were very nervous most of the game but near the end were able to smile!!!

THE COLTS WERE VICTORIES OVER THE BEARS!!!!!

What a great game... we had lots of fun watching and celebrating the game with family and friends!!!

What an exciting time for our city! As I drove to work today at 3pm there were tons of families packed in their cars with all their Colts gear on going to the Dome for the Rally!

We are so proud of Coach Dungy, Peyton, and the entire Colts team...way to lead a classy team on becoming Superbowl Champions!

WAY TO GO BLUE!!!!!