A picture of Iz....

Just because :)

How do you like my teeth?

They're really coming in!  Two bottom ones!  

Wanna see???

How do you feel now?

Ice Excavation

I thought this would be a great idea in the early morning before our 100+ degree temperatures took over.  It took me a couple days to freeze different objects and colored ice cubes (froze them in layers) and today I brought it out for Isabel to excavate.  I got the idea from Counting Coconuts (just love her!).

I set out the ice block and gave Isabel some tools to use to melt the ice and extract the objects.  Salt, sugar, warm water, a rock, a hammer, eye dropper and paint brush, along with a scoop for the sugar.  Obviously I knew that not all these items would work, but she had to figure out which ones would!

This kept her engaged for well over an hour.

First she tried using sugar to melt the ice............

Then salt.  I didn't have a small salt shaker...so I made one out of an old spice jar with the holes.  I underestimated how fun shaking the salt out of the jar would be....she shook and shook!

Then she tried using warm water dispensed by an eye dropper.

And a brush to try to move the melting ice and water slush.

Then she asked if she could combine the sugar and salt and try to melt the ice that way.  She decided that that was the best way to melt the ice (second best really, to water).  I didn't object!  Just let her try it all out.

I really had to hold myself back because I was getting impatient (I wanted her to try my last device for getting the objects out) but she was so engaged I kept having to remind myself that she was discovering this all for herself and if she wanted to take an entire hour without getting bored using a salt shaker, salt and sugar combo and droppers full of water to melt this chunk, I was going to let her do it!  (Why would you rush an engaged child??)

But finally I let her have at it......

 

Surprisingly (to me) hammering was the least interesting for her!!!  Can you believe it??  So she went back to the other devices and was able to retrieve all her objects!  Tip for next time:  I would put many more colored ice cubes in for interest!  This time I did about 2 ice cube trays and it just didn't seem like quite enough color. 

Kee Song

Miss Me?

Apparently we've had a shortage of Isabel pictures lately!  So if you've been missing this sweet face, here you go!  She's been "into" playing dress up, building indoor forts, playing tea party with exotic foods (well, exotic for us...ie., raspberries and strawberry sorbet sundrop drinks out of shot glasses).  We've made several desserts together lately, but these blueberry muffins with blueberries from our own backyard really were a hit!

Lizzie the lizard is getting very big...for a gecko!  Isabel has not tired of doing the nightly routine to take care of her little reptile pet.  She now hand-feeds one cricket to Lizzie before setting 2-3 more crickets loose in the cage all by herself.  (Creepy).  She enjoys watching Lizzie eat and Lizzie knows when it is feeding time and stalks US until we feed her each night.

Isabel has remained exceptionally helpful with Ian and all of his needs.  She has been annoyed but not quite irritated yet when he cries and interrupts her morning tv show.  And she still wants to see or at the least, KNOW what his diaper looks like every time I change him.

It's still hard, but has been getting easier to get more Mommy-Isabel time in....although the things that I consider Mommy-Isabel time are not the same as what she does.  Isabel would wish for me to spend hours everyday playing dollhouse.  So the times when I do play dollhouse with her are very precious.  It's hard for me to sit down and play....because I like to be "accomplishing" things around the house, but sometimes I need to realize that I am "accomplishing" being a good mommy when I take the time to do the things with Iz that are important to her...regardless of how small or silly they might seem to me.

One more "talking" video

Because Bathtime is over........

I Smile!

What time is it??

Breakfast Time

Kee Time

Parrot Time

Arts and Crafts Time

Teething Time

Princess Jasmine Body Paint Time

Is it BEDTIME yet? ;)

Ian Finds His Voice

Today Ian realized that he can talk.  And we've all been enjoying that fact all morning long!  In the video he is talking to an octopus toy hanging above him. 

I Spy Bottles

The other night I made this I Spy bottle.  It was a total hit with Isabel.  I found the idea here at Counting Coconuts and thought it was a super cool idea!  Sure enough Isabel loved playing!  I took a picture of the objects before I put them in, laminated the picture and she used a dry-erase marker to circle each object as she found it!  We used leftover rainbow rice from one of our old sensory tubs.  I might have to make some more!

First tooth.

Did you say, "first tooth"??

Hmmm....let me think about this.....

I didn't think babies got the first tooth this early.

I'm only 3 months old!

What??? You say some babies are BORN with teeth??

Oh please, Dear God, don't let it hurt!  Don't let it hurt!

It hurts.

Pics from WS

This week we had a short overnight trip to our friend's house in Winston-Salem!  Here are a few pics:

Isabel, Ian and Landon.  Isabel was showing Landon the peppers and tomatoes on his own plants! LOL!  We had a fun trip visiting and went to the children's museum in Winston-Salem while we were there.  It had lots of neat little whimsical rooms, houses and small hiding places...Isabel just loved it! 

Check out my new diaper!

 Check out Ian's new diaper!!!  So this was the first cloth diaper we got for FREE through a special promotion.  For those of you who know me, you might think that cloth diapering would be the very last thing from my mind, but honestly I'm quite excited about it!  I have 12 more diapers coming in the mail, and then if I'm sold on them, I'll get some more.  This diaper made it about, oh, 5 minutes before it was filled up with a "present".  Looks pretty cute on him though!

And no, I didn't pick out Isabel's shirt today....she just happened to "match" Ian's diaper on her own!

 The diaper can be adjusted to different sizes; that's what all the little white snaps are for.

I think I'm gonna love all the money it's going to save us!

Snoozin'

Catching a snooze!  He was so peaceful after our shopping trip, I just couldn't wake him up!

Just smiles

Uncle Matt's Birthday Celebration

So Uncle Matt turned 27 on Wednesday.

Isabel and I made him a Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce....then we made him light his own candle.

We sang "Happy Birthday" and Isabel made him not one, but TWO homemade cards, complete with jewels.  He was impressed :)

Then we all took a picture together!  Happy Birthday Uncle Matt!