Growing so fast!

Dear Isabella,

You are growing into a little person with a distinct personality so quickly! You're "talking" more, and your little voice is so charming. Hilo Grandpa calls you several times a week to hear your voice and to talk to you - maybe by the time he visits in a couple weeks you'll know his voice.

Just this morning I saw you reaching out towards the things you were looking at - you're still uncoordinated and can't quite aim your hand correctly, but it's still a sign you're learning all about your world!

You've been getting into more of a routine, too. In the mornings, we get up right around when Daddy goes to work and have a bottle, and then we have a little time in the swing. Then you have a short nap, about an hour, until we play some more or have a bath. Then after you have a snack we go out, either to Daddy's office or the mall or to run errands. In the afternoon, after you have a bottle, you have some tummy time and usually you fall asleep for another nap. When you wake up, you have another bottle and about an hour or two later you're asleep again. Sometime in the middle of the night you wake up and have another bottle, and usually you go back to sleep pretty quickly. Depending on the timing, you wake up somewhere around six and Daddy and I struggle to put you back to sleep just one more time to get a couple more hours rest. And then we do it all again!

We finally ordered your announcements yesterday. Not that Facebook and email haven't told the world you're here yet! The photos came out great - Uncle Kevin and Uncle Dean took the pictures for us for free. Thanks Shot55 Photography! We took the pictures on Mother's Day, and then went to Grandma's house for a nice lunch and to spend some time together as a family. It was pretty relaxing for our first Mother's Day. Next year we'll try and go out for an actual Mother's Day brunch!

You're smiling so often, now too! You have a great big smile, and sometimes you even look a little mischievous. Are you going to be a sneaky trouble maker? Your smile actually reminds me of my cousin Carly - when she was a baby she would smile with her whole face, and a wide open mouth!

You are also very serious sometimes, just quietly looking around, studying your surroundings. I think you'll probably be a very smart person, and very curious about everything. There are still times when you struggle to stay awake - as if you just don't want to miss out on anything!

Uhoh! You're awake from your nap - time to play!

Love,
Mommy