IT'S A BOY

Cameron Ryan Rady

Tonight we went to visit our friends Ryan and Danelle Rady and meet their new little boy Cameron! He is just perfect! He was a good little boy when we were there just sleept and ate. He has beautiful blue eyes and red hair!

Bella had her eyes on him since there are very few boys in our group she was checking him out already!

Fun Day...

Today we were up and going early...poor Bella Raye didn't even have a chance to wake up before I scooped her up and put her in her seat. We took daddy to work and then I fed her and got her dressed in the car. One plus for the mini van you have lots of room to maneuver around in!

Then we went to Target, Hallmark, Old Navy and Teeter Totter all before 10:30am. Notice the bow in Bella Raye's hair... we discovered from Molli that there were bows she could wear and would stay in her hair even though she still has very little of it!

Anyways then we were off to our 2nd mommy/baby play group this one hosted by Amber and Fallyn Ranek! I forgot my camera so I couldn't get any cute pictures of the kids playing today! It is so much fun to watch them all interact with each other! We met a new friend today and a BOY...Hayden Stuck, he is just adorable!

Bella was so tired from playing with all her friends she took a big nap this afternoon before we went to see daddy's softball game! They lost 7-4 but daddy was good on the mound and had a few good hits that we got to see!

Wonderful Wednesday

Yesterday Bella and I both slept in...still only 5 hours of sleep for me but I was excited that I didn't have anything scheduled but to just spend the day with Bella! We ran a couple errands and then hit the YMCA...I got a workout in while she played in the nursery and then we hit the pool! I was a little nervous to maneuver the pool thing without Tim especially since the baby pool was closed! I also didn't know what she would think of the cold water knowing she LOVED the pool in FL but it was heated. I slowly eased her in the water and there was no turning back between all the kids to watch and splashing she was in 7th heaven. I think we were in the pool for over an hour and she wasn't happy to get out although her lips were a little purple! She then fell fast asleep on me so I took advantage of getting a little sun even though it was 3 in the afternoon!
When we got home... you all know what the sun does to you so we both went down for a nap...daddy couldn't find us at first when he go home from work because we were still snoozing!
The rest of the evening we didn't do much but play, get pizza and watch a movie!
It was a great and well needed day and night with my family!!!

Race Day Party Girl...

Bella Raye in her Pillowcase Race Day party dress that great Aunt Beth got her!

It is still a little big so will be perfect for next year!

Both Tim and I had to work race day so Bella was off with Aunt Suzi, Uncle Ernie and Wyatt to Tim's cousin Angie's house! Angie and her husband just recently moved back home from Chicago and were hosting a Race Day Party! Aunt Suzi said the party was a lot of fun, they have a beautiful home and Bella was a very good girl.

When Tim got off work he picked her up and they were off to another party... College Graduation party for Adam Thomas, a neighbor, family friend and kid I use to babysit all the time! Doesn't make me feel old or anything!

Bella is getting very use to the "go, go, go" pace our lives seem to run!
She and daddy did get to enjoy a day at home today of napping, cuddling and playing when I had to work!

Our Pre-Race Party !!!

The Maines Family!!!
The Big Girls entertaining Bella before bed time.

Olivia McCall, Lucy Saulter and Olivia Kirk


Saturday we hosted our annual Race party!
We took a few years off but hope to make this an annual tradition again!
When Tim first moved in the house he hosted a pre-race party with Aaron and Joe his roomies at the time....they would have a cookout at the house Saturday night, rock the Ripple until 3am...everyone would find a spot to sleep(one favorite spot was under the kitchen table)... then up early Sunday morning to go to the race and then Monday we would all camp out in our pj's all day!
Ohh...how times have change but we love the new fun... a house full of kids and laughter!
Luckily the rain held off and we got to enjoy a night with lots of friends on our deck...good food, fun games and great company!
Perfect Party!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

DOUG is 30!!!!

We think he is escaping out of the country to Canada to go hunting for a week as he is in denial!!!

We can't wait to celebrate with you when you return home!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Favorite Moments...

One of my favorite times with Bella is night time...I love the smell of a freshly bathed baby! I always think that she is just too cute in her pj's! She is so cuddly and sweet at night! Bella can and probably most of the time would prefer to be laid down in her crib to fall asleep but selfishly Tim and I majority of the time rock her to sleep! Holding her on our chest once she is asleep is the best!

Blossoms Continue.....

My peony is now in blossom so I just had to take a few shots of my little beauty in front of them!

Oooops....

This is what happens when you walk away from your baby for a second...

A BIG MESS!!!Bella Raye thought it was quite funny!!!

When I was feeding Bella Raye her lunch today I walked away from her for a second to grab something and thought her food was out of reach! NO, I turn around and she had dumped it on her and in her high chair. She was just giggling and having lots of fun!
It was straight to the tub!

Couples Baby Shower for Brian & Cortne

The Guest of Honor....

Mommy and Daddy McCall

Cortne Showing off all her new goods for Gavin's room!

The ladies checking out the new stroller...oh what excites us NOW!!!

Saturday night Jason & Sarah Gray hosted a couples shower for Brian and Cortne McCall that was full of lots of fun! I great cookout and no cheesy baby shower game but a corn hole tournament!

Gavin got lots of goodies!

We can't wait to meet him sometime around the first of July!!! Bella's got first dibs on little

Mr Gavin McCall!!!

Any Suggestions!?!

Bella thought it was funny when I was trying to carry her and the laundry at the same time!


No matter how hard I try I can't ever keep up with the laundry, Black Dog Fun or Baby bottles! I will have the house all clean, laundry done and sure enough the laundry baskets already has stuff in it, there is dog fur somewhere and time for Bella to have a bottle!
A moms job is NEVER done!
O well...Just laugh and have fun doing it!

Would Zoe and Peyton look funny if I shaved them bald???

YUMMY!!!

Showing off for Great Grandma
"Don't take that spoon out of my mouth...I LOVE this stuff called Ice Cream"
"More, PLEASE!"

Bella Raye and Great Aunt Beth!!!

Last Friday we started our Mother's Day celebrating a little early and went to visit Grandma Ballard. Grandma enjoys watching Bella's every move!

We don't get to visit enough but it was a fun evening full of a good dinner and lots of laughter!

Mommy & Baby Play Date

The Play Group Band

Bella on maracas 8 months, Fallyn on drums 9 months, & Ella on maracas5 1/2 months
Beth & Jillian, 4 months
Her other kids: Layne 4 and Fishers almost 2 were at preschool so she enjoyed a morning just with her little one!
Abby & Ella

Amy & Claire 2 1/2months

Emily was sleeping

What fun!!! Bella and I hosted the first(of many hopefully) mommy/baby play groups at our house this morning! It was a house full of girls!
I think right now it is more for the moms enjoyment of other adult interactions and sharing ideas but the older girls were definitely interacting with each other too!

Bella was thrilled when she woke up from her morning nap that she had a house full of friends!

Can't wait to do it again in two weeks!

All Clear!!!

This was another outfit I bought while I was pregnant and Bella was just "Baby M"....didn't know she was a girl yet! Maybe it was Mothers intuition!?
Anyways it was a great deal and I still love it!
We tried another new treat for Bella tonight...veggie wheels!
She loved them!


We went to see Dr Layman today to check Izabella's ear again and it was all clear this time...no fluid or infection! YEAH! When she walked in she said, " didn't you just have her....she is so big!"
My thoughts EXACTLY, where has my little infant gone!?!
She weighed 18lbs 4 oz with her clothes on so in 3 weeks she has gained almost a pound! All her eating is paying off!

A Beautiful First Mother's Day for me!!!!

Izabella loves trying new foods and sitting up like a big girl! She is doing a great job at picking things up with her finger tips and feeding herself! Tonight she tried and liked green beans, corn, mash potatoes and chicken! That was after I had already fed her one container of peas baby food and a full container of Yo-Baby yogurt! We have a little piggy on our hands!

Today was such a beautiful day! We started out meeting my family for lunch at Rick's Boatyard for brunch...this is a tradition we have done for along time now! Unfortunately their head cook quit Thursday so our wait was long. Luckily we were sitting outside where we could enjoy the beautiful weather and watch the boats comes in and out.
Then we headed home for a few hours; Bella got her nap in and Tim and I finished putting stuff out on the deck and watching movies together!
For dinner we met Tim's family for dinner at Hollyhock Hill also a tradition we have done for a long time now! We missed Aunt Suzi though who is in Toronto Canada for an IRA (International Reading Association) conference all week! Izabella loved watching everything Wyatt did!
I was spoiled with many wonderful gifts! Everyone is too sweet to me! I am most thankful that I was able to spend the day with my family and my sweet little girl!
I couldn't have asked for a better day!

Happy Mother's Day

The best thing that has happened to me this year has been the birth of our daughter Izabella Raye, which allowed me to become a mother! A title or love that I didn't truly comprehend until I became one!

I wish you all ....moms, sisters, aunts and friends a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

BELLA RAYE BLOOMING AT 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!

Never Say Never!!!!

Our friendly salesman who found us an amazing deal...

Papaw...Ray Stafford

He too can get you a great deal if you are ever on the search for a used or new car.

He works at Ed Martin on Michigan Rd

317-872-9896

YES, we bought a mini van!!!!

I was always one of those girls that always said, " I will NEVER own a mini van!!!"

Then we had a baby and started weighing convenience and price factor over "coolness" factor (because we were so cool before we had a mini van)

Obviously convenience factor and a great deal won! It has all the bells and whistles we could want or need and even a DVD for Bella down the road.

The verdict is still out on who will drive it majority of the time and who gets the somewhat cool Trailblazer! Tim is all about the mini van!!!

Lesson learned: Never Say Never and Don't Knock Something Until you Try it OR Get Older!!!

Bath Fun

Yeah!!! I love being a big girl and sitting up in the bath tub all by myself!!!
My disco duck doesn't light up anymore but it still makes s great chew toy!

Splish, Splash...I am taking a bath!!!
Look at the pretty girl in the mirror!
I LOOOVE looking at her!
My mom gave me a mohawk but my hair is not long enough and too blonde for you to really see it!

I have been looking for one of those circle tub seats for weeks because Bella Raye out grew her infant tub months ago but we have been making it work! Today I decided she was strong enough to just put her in the tub and she did great! She loved it actually because she could splash more and get her toys!

She is getting sooooo Big!!!

PS Stay tune for our next blog...Never Say Never....something I thought we would never do and we are tonight!!!

Hint: We not cool anymore!