Fun at the park

Not too much going on, just the way we like it. Isabel and I spent Saturday morning at Nottaway park with our mom/baby group and had a wonderful time. The weather was nice and cool and the babies seemed to enjoy the fresh air.

Isabel especially enjoyed the fresh air, and took a nice long nap on one of the blankets. Her little friend Ryan wasn't interested in napping, but interested in checking out the sleeping baby.

Isabel got to watch about 5 minutes of the women's gold medal volleyball match. She was quite intent on watching the big bright box!

Some random pictures of a very happy Isabel :)



And it seems that Isabel speaks pterodactyl, as can be heard in the video below.

Chipotle & Pugs

A couple weeks ago Isabel joined Uncle Kevin and Mommy at Chipotle. Although she was unable to enjoy the goodness of the burrito, she sported her Chipotle onesie and posed with Mommy's burrito. She also decided to have a minor blowout on Unc's couch. Luckily he didn't get mad and will allow her back...with the condition that she sit on a towel.


This past weekend Isabel really started discovering her tounge and realized she could poke it out. Its hard to capture, but I managed to get this picture.
We also moved Isabel into her "big girl" carseat, as it was just getting too heavy to carry her around in the infant carrier. She seems very happy in the new seat, which is good, as VA state law requires kids to stay in a carseat or booster seat until 8 years of age.
Isabel is perfecting her sitting up skills and can stay upright for longer periods of time. She definitely enjoys viewing the world and her toys from this new position.
And the pugs. I'm not sure if obsessed even describes Isabel's new love of the pugs. Sunday evening she could not keep her hands off of General. And when Dad decided she'd had enough pug time, she started to wimper, and when she was allowed to "pet" him she would become her happy self. On Monday she discovered that pugs have tails and General was again the lucky target. Both General and Gizmo are great with her, and when they've had enough they just jump away.

5 Months Old

Its hard to believe that our little one is turning into such a big girl! I can't believe that 5 months ago we were holding our tiny baby...and now she is so big.

Isabel really loves playing with her doorway jumper. Mommy loves it too as it is great entertainment while I cook dinner. I move the jumper to the doorway of the kitchen and tell Isabel what I am making, cutting etc and she jumps away.


Since I'm still working on getting some pictures from Carla & Jonathan's wedding, here is a picture of Isabel in the dress she wore. She wore this to church on Saturday as she chewed a giant drool mark into the first one I put on her. Silly Isabel.


This morning I went to check on Isabel and discovered her like this. Usually she is comlpetely on her stomach, so I found this pretty amusing and grabbed the camera. Although she woke up at the lovely hour of 4am, she did go back to sleep immediately after eating and didn't get up until almost 8.
Isabel LOVES bathtime, and especially loves getting toweled off post bath. Check out her crazy hair. People are always commenting on how much hair she has. None of it fell out and it has grown longer and gotten thicker. I think her first haircut is on the horizon, as her "bangs" almost reach her eyes.
MMm, feet. They are the first thing she goes for during diaper changes.

This past weekend I pulled out the Mega Saucer that Nicole is letting us borrow. Isabel just loved it and has a great time. Now I have 2 sources of entertainment for Isabel while cooking dinner.


Here's a video of our little frog (Geoffrey thinks she looks like a frog in this). Turn on the sound to hear some silly noises as well.

1500 Miles in 9 Days

If you couldn't tell from the title, we haven't been bloggin as we've been traveling. See vacations part I, II & III for full details. We traveled just over 1500 milesi n 9 days and Isabel was quite happy to get back home to her own bed and not have to spend countless hours in her carseat.

This past Sunday, we did make a quick trip to Springfield, VA to visit with my old roommate Dave, who moved to Kentucky a few years ago. Here's a sweet shot of Isabel and Dave.


Monday Isabel and I headed to the cardiologist for what we hope is her last checkup. Her EKG looked normal and her heart sounded good. As a final precaution the doctor prescribed another 24 holter monitor. Isabel definitely put up a fight this go around and expressed her displeasure with the wires during the day and night. She was much happier Tuesday morning, as I think she had grown used to the wires. Here is our little bionic baby...quite a change from the baby seen here https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oeA-sGH5hxk01CE2lZMm9ua2mdUmKJJzRmM242DTgwmaUBXeFwnSebIIJKCkKNpBf4px0NXxsy4KI59NVbh21CDnlwqGCoFTlQ4jbfSZXuG9VUJzDEeVanW4D0fHgoZpRavHguGSATQm/s1600-h/Bionic+baby_2175+(Large).JPG



And with that its back to life as usual. I promised Isabel we wouldnt' be taking any major car trips for a long time...though I'm not sure she believes me. Isabel had just started sleeping through the night before we left for vacation and I'm hopeful that being back at home (and without wires attached) that she will come to learn and love sleeping through the night.

Vacation Part III: Carla & Jonathan's Wedding

Stay tuned...pictures to come!

Vacation Part II: Hilton Head, SC

After a short 3 hour drive, we arrived in Hilton Head. Isabel had a great time visiting with her Grandma & Grandpa Buescher, Uncle Peter and the other relatives she got to meet.

On Monday Isabel made her beach debut. She got to sit in the Atlantic Ocean, but seemed pretty unimpressed. She did enjoy showing off her new beach attire, complete with sunglasses and sandals.


After a dip in the ocean it was bathtime, which was a lot more fun. She loved getting to watch the water faucet in the kitchen sink, where we bathed her, since our room only had a shower.
Cousin Laura (guess that makes her Isabel's second cousin) holding Isabel. She was smart and only told Geoffrey after Isabel was in her lap that "this is the second baby I've ever held."
Hanging out with Grandma & Grandpa Buescher.

Uncle Peter aka Uncle Pedro, seemed to have fun with Isabel. He got her to frown one time, which he dubbed "the lip" and kept trying to get her to "show me the lip" the rest of vacation. Usually though Isabel just smiled and made a pass at his glasses.


Isabel received her first purse...a pug purse from Great Aunt Chris and Uncle Med. I don't think she gets the purse concept quite yet and just thought it was a toy.

Grandpa Buescher decided that Isabel might like to take a taste of her first ice water, as she was very interested in an empty cup. Here is Isabel, still happy to be playing with the cup.
Grandpa giving her a taste of the ice water.
"I'm not sure I like this..."
"waaah! I definitely do not like this ice water stuff."

I'll be adding a group photo of all the cousins later, but didn't want to hold up the blogging. Stay tuned for Vacation Part III: Carla's Wedding.

Vacation Part I: Aiken, SC

On Friday, July 25th we headed south to Aiken, SC for part I of Isabel's first major road trip. We spent a great couple of days with Grandma & Grandpa Schaeffer before heading onto Hilton Head. Isabel did great on the 9 hour 45 minute drive, which included 5 stops, 4 for Isabel and one for gas. We thought this was pretty good since it usually takes about 8 hours 45 minutes.

Isabel was quite happy to arrive in Aiken and get out of her carseat. Here she is "sitting" on the sofa, enjoying her freedom.

Saturday morning we went fig picking at some friends of Mom and Dad. It was a lot of fun and the fresh figs were delicious.

Isabel hung out with Grandma, who made sure the bugs stayed away. They sang silly songs while we climbed the tree.

While in Aiken, we visited the latest Habitat house that Grandpa has been working on. This house is extra special, as Isabel "helped" to build it. Her grandparents made a donation for her baptism in her honor. Soon a mom and her 2 boys will be moving in.

Sunday morning we enjoyed a delicious brunch at the club. Our great plans to have a family picture taken fell through, as Isabel decided to be a perfect angel and sleep through brunch. We did get a few pictures of her afterwards before we left for Hilton Head.

Grandma was especially excited to rock her little one in the same rocking chair that she used to rock Mommy, Uncle Kevin and Uncle Eric in.

After pictures, we changed Isabel, finished packing the car and traveled east to beautiful Hilton Head, SC.