Merry Christmas...from Florida

Wow, do we feel like bad parents!?! I think this is the longest we have gone without posting. The weeks since Isabella's birthday have been so busy getting ready for the holidays. We are in Florida visiting Nana, Papi and Mama (Chris's parents and grandmother). The weather is gorgeous, the wine has been plenty, the food is delicious and everyone is spoiling the princess rotten. Thank you to all of Rick and Linda's (papi and nana) friends that have dropped by to visit and/or sent gifts for Isabella. It was great to see you and capture how much you love our little girl.

Well, a year ago today, Chris, Isabella and I were having a much different Christmas. Isabella was in the midst of recovering from a major surgery as the result of a bowel perforation that could have easily taken her life. Chris and I were leaning on the birth of our Savior more than we ever have in our lives. During this Christmas season we turn back to Christ with a bounty of thankfulness and love. Without His strength, love and teachings our journey would have been and would be much different. Praise God for all His blessings and continued uplifting.

And for the moment everyone is waiting for, pictures of Isabella hamming up the camera:

First BBQ, courtesy of Uncle Frankie


Sharing Chinese food with Daddy



Waiting in the airport to take my first plane ride


Sitting on my great-grandmothers lap


Enjoying the Florida sun


Opening presents




Celebrating my birthday with Nana, Papi and Mama



Cuddling with Nana


Christmas Eve present



Christmas Morning

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBY!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY ANGEL!!!

First off, thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes for Princess Bella! Our little diva definitely knows she's loved.

Today has been a wonderful family day. Bella is teething very bad, so we got to say happy FIRST birthday at 2:45am. She slept on and off till 6:30 and then it was play time. After a quick, much needed nap, we took off to see SANTA.

We were so surprised that she didn't cry while sitting in his lap. She has been so irritable the last few days. Along with the teething, she battled with trying not to get a stomach bug Chris had this past week. Luckily it only came down to her running a high fever...none of that other icky stuff.

After Santa, she was so wiped out she took a 2 hour nap. This did her so much good and she was her normal bubbly self the majority of the day. In the moment of being fresh from her nap, she opened a couple of presents from Mommy & Daddy that I wrapped. Amazingly she took to it pretty well, maybe her OT will be pleased.

We all played with the new toys after Chris got them together. She really likes her table toy she got last weekend (thanks to the Koepps and Hobergs). We threw her a small party at Granmommy's house since we were in town for Thanksgiving.

At her actual birth time (5:30pm CT), we sang her happy birthday. Later in the evening we sang to her again, after unveiling her birthday cake; so yummy, Sweet Potato cake with Butter Cream icing (who would have thought).

Now the Princess is winding down from her big day watching her favorite Disney princess, Cinderella. The girl totally mellows out everytime this movie is on and she will NOT watch any other Disney movie. But once Cinderella's stepsisters tear up her mouse crafted dress you better be paying attention because she is DONE with the movie. Without fail she screams each time the movie gets to this point and she will not watch anymore, it is so adorable. I pray that she is relaxed enough to have a good nights sleep so we can make it to church in the morning.

Well, the past year has flown by and been full of so much emotion. Praise the Lord that emotion has mostly been happy. Thanks to everyone for all the support and prayers over the last year. Our journey would have been so much harder without you. Much love, peace and God Bless!

SANTA!!!


Opening Presents is fun!!





Last Week at Granmommy's



Today with Mom and Dad


Did we forget to mention that it snowed in West Texas this week??

Thanksgiving day of Firsts

Helping Daddy fry his turkey...



Eating mashed potatoes...


My first sippy cup...



Too much turkey...


My first ice cream (BLUE BELL)...



Hanging with my cousins...

Our First Thanksgiving!

Isabella's FIRST Thanksgiving Morning!


Goodness how things change in a year! At this time a year ago I was still pregnant...a week later I wasn't. Our miracle was born on Dec 5, 2008, had a trying NICU course, came home with little maintenance and has thrived ever since. She truly is a blessing and gives us a hundred reasons a day to be thankful. Our wish for all our family, friends and blog readers we've never met is that you have a blessed day and you have many things to be thankful for.

Psalm 26:7
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Here are some pictures from last week!




We will post more pics tonight after our Thanksgiving festivities and the chunky monkey has gotten her gobble gobble on...Love and God Bless!