Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Three is just around the corner...

On March 5th, Isabel will turn three!

It is so hard to believe that just three years ago she was the little baby in my belly we were waiting to meet. Now, she is turning into a beautiful little girl right before our very eyes. I like to do updates periodically and I have a sneaking suspicion that once Lucy comes it may be a while before I get to do another. So here is what Isabel is up to at (almost) age 3.

Sleeping: Still sleeping 7 to 7 for the most part. Sometimes we go to bed a bit later-- and during the week we have to wake up a bit earlier-- but overall, she gets a solid 11 or 12 hours per night. Can't complain! However, naps are another issue. Naps have gotten challenging during the past month or so to say the least. She is reluctant to go for her nap and almost NEVER naps at daycare anymore. At home and at YaYa's house she has begun to "explore" during her nap time... going into her closet to get books, playing with toys,and on one fateful day-- painting her entire body, dresser, bed, and sheets with nail polish. (Yes... you heard me correctly). I have a feeling that naps are going to disappear altogether this year.. but hopefully we can sill encourage "quiet, rest" time. Because her mommy needs it :)

Eating- Not much has changed here. Isabel is still a somewhat picky eater-- doesn't like any type of meat except for tacos, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. She will eat veggies and pasta, and LOVES any type of fruit, and adores ALL ice cream (like her momma).

Potty-trained- Yay! Thank you Goddard School for doing most of this for us. I tried off and on throughout the summer but we didn't have much luck. However, when school started and the positive peer pressure kicked in -- she learned pretty quickly. Occasionally, she waits too long to go and has an accident and of course at night and we still put pull-ups on her because she is not always dry in the am. Thankfully though, we won't have to buy diapers for two babies-- can you say expensive?!

Clothes- I have to make this its own category because although she is only three-- she already has a mind of her own when it comes to what she wants to wear and we get into DAILY battles about it. She REFUSES to wear any jeans (jeggings are the best we can do) and loves all "comfy" clothes (aka stretch pants, t-shirts, and pajamas). Matching is not a priority and lots of plastic beads and jewelry make every outfit extra splashy. She loves to wear dresses to church on Sunday and a tutu or princess costume to dinner or the grocery store. I almost always have to cut the tags out of her clothes (not comfy) and she is very hot-blooded so she always removes sweaters and sweatshirts even on the coldest days.


a style all her own..

Interests-- She has so many! What a fun, fun age! Bel is truly a little girl now with her own interests, opinions and lots to say. Her teachers at school always comment on how verbal she is (must come from her dad :) Her fave things include her books, my Kindle Fire, Disney princesses, singing, her weekly ballet class, any type of art project, stickers, lip gloss, stuffed animals, her cousin "Pay", wrestling with Daddy, going to Target, cooking with mom, seeing her grandparents, and riding her bike.



"Indoor S'mores" with mom

Isabel is looking forward to meeting her new little sister, (or so she says) and has helped me get things ready for her. She is very good with her younger cousin and really likes babies, so I am excited to see how she is when Lucy comes home to stay. This next year will be full of changes for Isabel and I am looking forward to all the ways she will continue grow and change. I love my little nugget more than anything-- she is kind and funny and loving and stubborn and so, so beautiful inside and out. I am lucky to be her mom. Happy (almost) birthday Isabel Grace!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Merry Christmas 2011!

Tomorrow is the last day of my WONDERFUL two week vacation from work and let me tell you I will be sad to go back. This last trimester has really slowed me down, and I truly enjoyed being home with Isabel and taking it easy. Okay.. we didn't exactly take it EASY but we had a lot of fun celebrating the holidays and spending time as a whole family (Jason was off for a good part of my vacation too.) Here are some of my favorite pictures from the past two weeks.

YaYa and I took the girls to "Kids Play World" one morning and they had a good time running around, trying out new toys and dressing up.
Princess Bel

Payton loved driving

Both girls liked the "dance party" room!

We all went out to dinner at Jurin for Jason's birthday-- princess Bel got dressed up for the occasion.
 Poor Jason--- his birthday is so close to Christmas. We always try to make sure that we have a separate celebration. He deserves it! What a great dad and husband :)

Ice cream cake--- yes please!
On Christmas Eve Eve we headed off to church with the Leppins and met my family there.
(Woo! Check out that bump... getting pretty big!)

Bel loves her Grandma and Grandpa Leppin

and after much waiting... Christmas Eve finally arrived! Do you think Isabel was excited?
Maybe Daddy was excited too?



Fun with some of my favorite people...

Aunt Mimi and Uncle Zack

Mom and Dad

Time for presents!

 We were very spoiled... even Lucy!!
Mandy's chocolate fountain---- DANGEROUS!


 Christmas is magical with little ones around!

These two cuties were off to bed fairly early so Santa could come.

And he was very good to us all this year!


Isabel with "Angelina Ballerina"

... and here she is taking a picture of ME taking a picture of HER

and my gift--- I love it. (Finished two books already :) Thanks Jason!


and then we were off to the Leppin's house for more food, presents and fun!

Grandma and Grandpa SPOILED our little ones....

Isabel's aunts from Arkansas sent her lots of gifts too-- she was one lucky girl!


and from Grandma and Grandpa--- an AWESOME train table!

Luckily, Dad had help putting it together.

And after the holidays.... we had more time to play with friends, do some organizational projects around the house, and get things ready for Lucy.

The girls having fun together
Dress up and tea party!



Jacqueline and Isabel taking time out for a snack.

So............ it has been a full two weeks of relaxing and fun with family and now it is coming to a close. It feels a little like the calm before the storm because I know as soon as I head back to work this week things are going to accelerate. I have a lot of work obligations and things to prepare before my maternity leave-- not to mention weekly doctor's appointments now.. and in just a few short weeks --Lucy arrives (and I'm guessing things won't slow down then  for quite a while :) So, I am thankful for the time I have had off and a little anxious about what is to come. We will keep you all posted-- Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Ready... set....

Lucy Leppin is set to arrive January 31st via C-section (unless she comes early on her own). So.... we decided it was finally time to get her room put together. We are pretty much just going to recycle Bel's old furniture for Lucy (hope she doesn't mind the pre-made teeth marks on her crib :) However, I didn't really want to use the same bedding and colors we used for Isabel. Maybe it is because she was the "queen of reflux" and puked on her old bedding 4 million times.. or maybe it is because Isabel's current room is the PINKEST thing you've ever seen-- but I decided to go with a totally different color scheme. No pink this time. Her walls are called "baby fawn" (a color I saw on Pottery Barn's website and fell in love with-- but that looks NOTHING like it did online) and her bedding was made for me by my VERY crafty Martha Stewart sister for Christmas. It is paisley and oh so pretty. We are accenting it with a green and cream color. Overall, it is a soft and muted room- but I love it!
I tried to take some pics of her room-- but I can't get the lighting right. With no flash it is too dark-- and with a flash everything is washed out and appears white. Too bad--you can't see just how cute it is. Here you can sort of get the idea though.





Monday, December 12, 2011

Tis the Season...

This has been such a fun holiday season so far. Isabel is finally old enough to be really excited about everything Christmas related. We have been reading her stories, watching Christmas movies, and singling carols---Here are some of my favorite pics from December so far...

At South Elgin's "An Almost Winter Day" with the grandmas :)

Payton and Belly

Decorating our tree


Decorating YaYa's tree too

This year we started the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition too. Isabel gets so excited every morning when she wakes up-- she can't wait to search the house for "Max". Here are some of the places we have found him.

Perched on the light fixture in the dining room

Having a tea party with dolly

On his way to school..... and several other places.


On Dec. 9th we got our first snow of the season. Isabel was excited so we took a few pics before school.

It wasn't much-- and it didn't last long (just the way mom likes it)

But it was fun, nonetheless

Isabel took a trip to the mall with Ya Ya and cousin Payton to see Santa. However, she would not even go NEAR him. So when her daycare said that they would have Santa visiting this past Saturday we were hesitant about going. Luckily, in this environment she was slightly more comfortable.
While she wouldn't sit on his lap-- she did give him a "high five" and a hug-- and shouted what she wanted from across the room (an Angelina Ballerina doll and band-aids-- who knew?!)


Hugs for Santa!

A quick pic with one of her boyfriends from school- Garrick


Our Christmas card picture...

Such a fun (and busy) time of year!! We are looking forward to celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ in just two short weeks. Merry Christmas friends and family :)