Our friendly little one

Isabella used to be afraid of this toy that she now finds so entertaining. It shoots balls out of where her left hand is. I've neglected to replace the batteries, because at full speed, it shoots balls beyond where it's supposed to go, and I end up chasing balls I don't want to chase. Nowadays, if I hand her the balls, she'll put them back on to the machine.

2007-11-29

Since she figured out how to get into a sitting position on her own, from laying on her belly or from standing, she loves to practice sitting. By the way, this is one of her standard greetings. People are quick to label her as polite, since she oftentimes waves at people and says "hi."

Also taken earlier today, I think I was making sounds with her, "ha boo," which she can clearly emulate and which she finds amusing.

Our Thanksgiving at the Sheese's

Pam & Kevin Sheese were kind enough to invite us over for Thanksgiving. We were the only non-family members in attendance. Pam's parents and Justin (Pam & Kevin's son) were there. Oh my goodness, Pam must have spent more than one day preparing all that scrumptuous food. Kevin and Justin smoked the turkey, which was absolutely delicious, so good that Isabella couldn't have enough! Pam prepared SO many dishes - sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, four different desserts (yup, she didn't buy them; she made them from scratch) . . . I can't remember what else. As a preggers person, I can't eat too much in one sitting. Pre-pregnancy, I can have seconds without any problems. However, pregnancy has limited how much I can consume at once. I did go back for seconds about an hour and a half later. When the guys, Kevin and Joe, saw me eating a second, full plate, their eyes got really big. The food was THAT good folks. On top of that, Pam sent leftovers home with us. YES! We - all three of us - fought over the stuff.

What else was fantastic? Friendly company to help take care of Isabella. Pam totally loves on Isabella, which is both endearing and helpful.

Here are a few pictures:

Isabella was laughing at Casey, Heather's dog. Yup, she continues to LOVE dogs!

How it is that Isabella isn't scared, but totally entertained, even when Casey attempted to bark ferociously at some animal outside, is beyond me. I hear stories of how scared Naomi (who's three months older than Isabella) is of dogs, even when they're not barking.

Perhaps she got used to the good old buddies of Manda & Johnny - Henry & - early on in her life.

Wow, Isabella got to do what she doesn't have the opportunity to do at home.

What surprised Pam was that Isabella started putting the lids back in the basket, when I asked her to, in Chinese. Good girl.

Isabella's first time in a swing

Katia, Naomi, Isabella, and I met for lunch today at Chick-fil-a, and then we went to a park not too far from church, where Isabella experienced her first ride on a swing. LOVED it, as you'll see in these pictures.

2007-11-13

How Isabella spends her time at church

For a month or so now, I've been leaving Isabella in the nursery during Sunday School and service. That's an amazing feat, considering she used to be with me the whole time at church. Yup, very exhausting, especially since I teach an adult Sunday school class and I sing in the music praise & worship team. Well, back then, I'd pass Isabella off during the time I was on stage singing, but she was with me at other times. Now she's used to certain people at church: Maxine, Mimi, Aggi (sp.?), Diana, Pam. She knows Maxine quite well, because she does everything at church, including watching the little ones.

These days, they tell me that she loves to sit at the little table, watch the other little ones run around, and, of course, she loves to snack. I prefer not to let her snack the entire time she's in the nursery and I prefer her not to watch television a majority of the time, but hey, what can you do? At least she's not screaming the whole time, like she used to in the past. That's why I'd go and rescue her. Could hear her loud and clear.

Anyways, I brought my camera with me to church yesterday (Sun., Nov. 11), so we could all see documentation of Isabella enjoying herself at the table. Usually she says "bao" ("hold me") as soon as she sees me, but she let me take pictures first.

These days, Isabella's looking more and more like Daddy and less and less like me. But, in this picture, she looks like me in one of my baby pictures, I think.


Diana & Isabella were have a grand ole time after church. She was squealing with delight as Diana talked and entertained her.

Veteran's Day

A tribute to the soldiers who are fighting to defend our countries, present, past, and future. I have seen plenty of protests against war. Protest or not, we have soldiers who are honoring our country to remember.

I saw some photographs of President George Bush, visiting badly wounded American soldiers. Very sobering. War is not nice and clean; it is dirty, dangerous, and destructive. President Bush visits wounded troops . . . but British leaders dare not follow his lead. Thank you soldiers for risking your lives, changing your lives, and working so hard or defend us.

How cute is she?!

2007-11-4

This is a traditional southern dress that one of my best friends, Christine Poston, gave Isabella for her birthday. See the smocking on the top portion of her dress? I'm acting like I know what smocking is when I really don't. She's also sporting white bloomers that say her name on the bottom. Awww, she's growing up so fast!