A Belated Birthday Letter

I remembered today that I had a blog once... well, technically I still "have" a blog but it sure hasn't seen much action in the last year or so. I went to the web address and promptly cringed when I saw that my last post was Isabelle's 2nd birthday letter. (She is now 3 1/2.) So I will post her 3rd birthday letter here, which was written back on 2/20/13 but has just been stored here in the privacy of my Macbook. Once again, I will attempt to post more regularly for those family members and friends who keep tabs on us from a distance. There is much to catch up on!

Dearest Isabelle,

Today you are three. You are so very, very three. In the past year I have seen you grow in so many ways, and you are still the same intelligent, kind, independent, and funny girl that you were a year ago, but each of these qualities has been amplified and deepened in the last twelve months. First, your empathy: you have a tender heart, Izzy. Yes, you are a spit-fire and an amazingly independent little girl, but at your core, you have such a wonderfully tender heart. I see it every day in the way you care for your friends (Foxy, Pinkbaby, Honey), the way you interact with Daddy and I (more hugs and “I love you”’s than we can count each day), the manners you use to other people, and now, the way you treat your baby brother, with such love and care. This year you have begun to develop empathy for others, and you earnestly desire to understand how others feel- your friends, family, and even characters in your books. The other night while reading the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, you said “I wish I could be in the story to tell the soldiers not to hurt Jesus.” I wish you could, too, Izzy. Your heart for justice and love for others is awesomely powerful. I love seeing this quality deepen in you with each day, sweet girl.

Right alongside this tenderness and kindness that is innate to you, Isabelle, is a fiery and passionate independence and, at times, stubbornness. This will serve you well in your life, Bean. Although you and I have our ‘moments,’ I so admire your independence. Even when something is difficult, you don’t let it stop you from trying all by yourself until you figure it out! Whether you are making a ‘craft’ for someone, doing a new puzzle, or choosing your outfit, there is rarely an instance where you can’t make up your mind, and woe to anybody who tries to get in your way! ☺ Day by day, you are learning how to use this quality to be a mover and a shaker in the best way, and it is awesome to watch. Never let go of your fervor for life and for learning, Iz. It is a wonderful quality that God has given you.

Your intelligence: WOW, have you learned a lot this last year! You now count to twenty instead of ten (and really, who needs thirteen and fifteen?), you ask intuitive and complex questions when we read books, both about vocabulary (“what does ‘in spite of’ mean, Mommy?”) and content, you notice so many details in your surroundings, and you have learned how to play games like CandyLand and Dr. Seuss Memory. The books you pick out at the library are no longer baby or even toddler books, but rather, storybooks with wonderful characters and plots such as Horton Hears a Who, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and The Berenstain Bears books. One of my favorite things about this year has been watching your imagination take off. This past weekend, when Neema, Bobby, and Uncle John were here for your birthday, you and Bobby played “firefighters” for a solid twenty minutes in their hotel room. With only a pillow as a ‘ladder,’ you and Bobby rescued about a dozen animals out of trees, and drove the fire truck (you were the horn-honker) all over the state of Colorado. I loved watching you pull up your pretend fire boots and put on your pretend fire helmet.

Isabelle- I can say without a doubt that you are the funniest two-year old that I have ever had the privilege of being around. You make Daddy and I laugh every day with your questions, stories, songs, and dances. You and Daddy have a lot of dance parties these days- your favorite dancing song is “Some Nights” by the band FUN, and the moves you come up with, well, let’s just say they rival Michael Jackson. Some of my favorites are your ‘potty dance’ (fast feet), your kicks, and your creeping dance. The things that come out of your mouth also have us rolling on the floor. Just last night you told me the bumblebee on your ‘night undies’ needs to go in the back so he won’t sting you.’ Hahaha. . . There is never a dull moment with you around, Izzy- whether you are striking a silly pose, singing verse two of Jingle Bells at breakneck speed, or giving us pokes ‘to keep us healfy,’ we have so much fun just spending time with you.

Some other random milestones from this past year: - potty training (many months ago. . .you are a champ!) - learning to say your S’s (with a lisp, but awfully cute!) - taking ballet for several months - learning how to cut with scissors - getting your first real haircut in January 2013

This year has been a busy one, with you completing the transition from toddler to little girl who is ready for preschool in a few short months, and, just one month ago, becoming a big sister. Our family dynamic is changing now with Daniel coming into the world, as well as our puppy Sasha who joined our home in December. We have a busy and full house, and you have taken the changes in stride. I expected the typical big-sibling jealousy to rear its head, Izzy- it almost always does when a new baby comes into a family- but from the moment you found out that “NewBaby” was going to join our family (at about 20 weeks of pregnancy), you have shown nothing but excitement and love for Daniel Miles Loewen. The role of big sister fits you perfectly, as you are by nature both a teacher and a caregiver. Treasure your brother, Isabelle- he will be your oldest and dearest friend, as Uncle John is to me. I think siblings are one of God’s greatest gifts to us. Daniel is beyond blessed to have you as his big sister and protector.

Oh, beautiful girl, you are more of a blessing to our family and to me than you will ever know. I love you and treasure you beyond words, and I thank God every single day that He put you in our family, and chose me to be your mom. I will always and forever cheer you on, Isabelle, as you continue to grow and find your way in this world, making it a better place as you go.

I love you beaucoup, Bean.

The Doughnut Store

An anecdote from this morning... Izzy: I'm going to some stores with baby in the stroller, Mommy. Mommy: Okay. What stores are you going to today? Izzy: Whole Foods, King Soopers, a new Safeway, and a doughnut store. Mommy: A doughnut store? Izzy: Yep. A doughnut store named Church.

Big news

It was a milestone weekend, one for which I can take no credit! Izzy decided on Saturday morning that it was time to potty-train herself. When she woke up, she pattered out of her room and into ours and declared "MommyIneedtogopottyrightnow!" Who am I to argue? After we whipped off her jammies and diaper, she sat right down on her potty seat and proceeded to pee a fairly impressive amount. Since that morning (5 days ago), she hasn't really had an "accident" to speak of. There have been a couple of pre-pee dribbles that have necessitated a change of undies, but for the most part, this girl is a CHAMP when it comes to doing pee and poopers on her potty. We have a portable, foldable potty seat that we bring along everywhere now, along with a ziplock of fresh pants and undies... just in case. So while it is a bit more inconvenient to find potties on the spot wherever we may be, she is doing an awesome job of telling me each time she needs to go, and holding it until we find a nearby bathroom. And the payoff of not having to change diapers is so worth it. So far, we have continued to put her in diapers for naptime and overnight, but I think her diaper has been dry when she woke up every time except for one morning. So who knows- maybe next week Mom will get up the guts to have her sleep in undies, too. What's the worst that can happen? More laundry? Bring it on. Anyhoo, we are so very proud of our girl. Growing up before our eyes, I tell ya. And before I get too mushy or nostalgic, let me say that one of the highlights of this milestone is NOT BUYING ANY MORE DIAPERS!!!! YESSSSSSSSS. Oh, and as a little post-script, I would like to note that Izzy's favorite game right now is making food for her stuffed friends and protecting them from cookie monsters. For example, I frequently overhear variations on the following conversation: "Would you yike an egg and pepperopi, Pancake? Here is a plate woh you. Don't worry, I will keep you safe wom a monster. I yah you (I love you). " I think it's safe to state that I could not be more charmed. -c

A Party to Remember!

We have had an amazing celebratory weekend for Izzy and Reg's birthday (Izzy on the 19th and Reg on the 20th)! On Friday, my mom, Bob, John, and Patrick ("Dodo") flew in from Michigan, and Wes and Lou rolled in about midnight from Kansas City. Yesterday (Saturday) we had Izzy's birthday party, which included about 15 of our closest friends and family. What a wonderful memory-- our girl is so very loved. These days we are all about Elmo and Big Bird, so we went with a Sesame Street theme, and I ventured into the land of (cup)cake decorating. It was a fun project and the cupcakes turned out way better than I expected. Izzy did fairly well with so many people here, but was a bit overwhelmed by it all. Thankfully she had her 2-year old buddy, Wrenna, to share in the joy of opening gifts and eating goldfish...

We laid low for dinner last night, hanging here at the house with family and Abby from Denver-- who definitely qualifies as family. :) This morning we went to church and enjoyed a birthday lunch to celebrate Reg and Izzy's birthday, as well as Mom and Bob's first anniversary! Goodbyes always stink, but it's been an unbelievable super weekend and we feel so blessed. I'll keep it short and sweet so I don't get overly sentimental or teary, but I can't say enough about the last 48 hours, and the beloved people with whom we got to celebrate.

Happy birthday to you...

Dearest Isabelle Grace,

Two years ago, I was staring into the most beautiful eyes I have seen. The most perfect fit in the crook of my arm. The softest skin I have ever felt. The smallest toenails I have witnessed. The strongest love I have experienced. Oh, dear girl, you came into our life and we had no idea just how amazing this thing called parenting would be.



Today you are two. You still have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, but now they take in everything that happens around you, and look upon others with love. You are 35 inches tall, but you are still the most perfect fit in my arms. Your skin is still the softest, but now it boasts a few little scars that tell of your adventures thus far.



Your toenails are getting bigger. You have glorious curly, golden hair that, when wet, reaches down past your shoulder blades. You give hugs and kisses without reservation. You sing the ABC's (the "AB's") all by yourself and say words like stegosaurus (tay-go-do-dah) and guacamole (gah-co-mo-wee). You make up songs about your world. You pray for your family, friends, and animals. You speak in sentences. You say "I love you" to people, in words and sign language. You know your numbers up to ten. You go nowhere without your beloved BoKitty and PancakeDoggy.



Your favorite foods are grapes, broccoli, and chocolate chips. You compare things (i.e. "Wolfie is black like Pancake"). You are so very spirited. You tell us your whole name ("Idee-bay-oh Day Do-Dah"). Your smile can light up the cloudiest, darkest day. Your giggles sound like angels. You bring us more joy than we knew was possible, and to us, it is a glimpse of heaven. And the love-- oh the love-- without a doubt, is still the strongest I have experienced.



Thank you for the joy you bring, Sweet girl. God's love is reflected in your eyes and your spirit every day, and we cannot imagine a moment without you. We love you so very much, Izzy, and could not be prouder to be your parents.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Michiganders in FoCo

It's been a big week for the Loewens! G-Ma and Baba (that would be my mom and her husband, Bob) came to visit! We had a great time during the 4 days they were here, even though I had to work 2 of the days. They were good sports and met up with us during our work day on two different field trips! And with three kids under three, I appreciated the extra sets of hands! We spent our evenings at the hotel swimming and eating, and then on Saturday, we all (including Reg!) headed up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a wonderful trip, and included live music, picnics, swimming, hiking, shopping, playing, reading, and of course, plenty-o-eating. Hooray!


G-Ma and Izzy watching as Bob mysteriously disappeared into the indoor part of the swimming pool! Where did he GO?!


Kicking, kicking...


Isabelle's first experience with a french fry and ketchup was a raving success.... like mother, like daughter.


The girl was equally delighted with her first taste of blackberry frozen yogurt!


Hiking in RMNP... nice view from up there!


Throwing rocks into the lake with Daddy!


Finding letters in the store names on the main drag in Estes Park.


Silliness at the Cherry Store on the way back from Estes Park.

We all had a great time and hope G-Ma and Baba will come visit again soon!

Bappa, Lulu, and Uncle Ethan

We had a wonderfully full house over Memorial Day Weekend! Reg's family, Wes, Lou & Ethan came to visit, and Reg's cousin Kyle also spent two nights here, as he had a weekend class here in Ft. Collins. We were pretty cozy, but had a grand time all together! Here are some highlights:

Showing Grandma Lou ("Lulu") and Grandpa Wes ("Bappa") all of the family pics on the fridge:



Snuggling with Uncle Ethan:



Exploring with Grandma Lou:



Going for an exhausting hike on Daddy's back:



And just generally delighting in the warmth that comes from being with family:



Hooray for long weekends! (And relatives who don't mind long roadtrips that shorten the long weekends!)

**Also, pics are courtesy of my awesome father-in-law, as I went camera-less for the weekend. Thanks Wes!**

Rocky Mountain High

Well, we have officially been here three weeks now. Crazy. Slowly but surely, boxes are getting emptied, items are finding homes, and Isabelle is beginning to sleep on a schedule again. Thank goodness. :)

One item we have been saving up for is a decent kid-carrier to transport our beloved into the mountains regularly. Reg ordered one a couple of weeks ago, and we had the chance to try it out last week on a short hike up in the foothills, called Horsetooth. The bad news- we kept it short due to lightning and thunder in the distance, and due to mom's post-pregnancy lack of fitness (yes, we'll call it post-pregnancy even though it's been a year and a half, shh....). The good news- she loved it!! Hooray!

We went about a mile up, and although we went through about two cups of cheerios and twenty-seven verses of Old MacDonald, we all made it without shedding a tear! It was wonderful to be in the mountains, with our baby on our back (and by 'our' I mean Reg's) and our puppy by our side. We look forward to many, many more hikes in the years to come!

Breathe.

Well, this morning at 6:03 a.m. my wonderful in-laws pulled out of our driveway, FIL driving the U-Haul trailer, and MIL following in my little Chevy Tracker. Yesterday was a crazy day full of lifting, taping, grunting, sweating, feeding toddlers (and by toddlers I mean Izzy), more lifting, more sweating, well, you get the picture....

We all fell into bed (aka a couch and two cots) at 11 p.m. utterly exhausted. Thankfully all three adults were slightly more peppy when the alarm went off at 5. After the 'rents left, with "COLORADO OR BUST!" written on the windows (ok, not really, but that was the sentiment!), I got busy scrubbing baseboards, filling trashbags, and moving the Goodwill items into the sunroom. I got close to an hour of work done before the bean starting wailing. So we did a quick diaper change/cup of milk, and then continued our work, literally attached at the hip.

7:45 a.m: Enter G-Mama (hooray for G-Ma's!!!!). With an extra set of hands to feed the baby- I mean toddler- breakfast and help me throw away odds and ends, we pounded out most of the rest of the cleaning by about 11:30. Oh, and I should mention that during that time, G-Ma and Isabelle took two loads of crap- er, stuff- to Goodwill and a load of luggage to her house for the evening, giving me some blessedly productive bonding time with the baseboards and cobwebs here in our humble abode.

Once I almost passed out from hunger (literally!) at 11:45, we went to G-Ma's house, grabbed some lunch, then headed to the pediatrician's office for Izzy's ear infection follow-up. Once home, Busybelle promptly sacked out, hopefully for a good long last nap at the Hamilton House. G-Mama just left to take a load of baby stuff to a shelter in Lansing, and I am taking ten minutes to sit and breathe on the couch before reuniting with my beloved baseboards.

It's sort of surreal that 24 hours from now we will be through Detroit airport security, and 30 hours from now we will once again be residents of The Centennial State. Seeing that in print makes my heart start racing with excitement to see Reg/sadness about moving away from family/stress of the next 24 hours, but I read some wisdom on a poster the other day. Keep calm and carry on. So calm I will keep, and on I will carry. Okay, it's go time.

Worth two thousand?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth.... two thousand? At least. I'll let it speak for itself. As an unbiased mother, however, I have to say I am completely charmed by this toddler. :)

Siren Prayers

A highlight of motherhood thus far:

Tuesday afternoon when we got home, we settled onto the living room rug to play, as usual. Living around the corner from the fire department definitely has its perks (I never have to worry about our house burning to the ground!) but it also means that we get several sirens every day-- or night, as the case may be.

Predictably, just before dinner we heard the sirens start. Predictably, Isabelle started sirening right along with the ambulance. However, unpredictably, and before I even had a chance to mention it, she simultaneously folded her hands, ready to pray for those people with owies. So we prayed- me with words, Iz with howling, but we prayed and prayed as those fire trucks and ambulances zoomed off to take care of the people who needed it.

After we finished howling- er, praying, I thanked God for this chance to be a mother. My one-year old prompting me to pray for the people in the ambulance was one of the most poignant experiences I've had so far, and I am humbled and amazed by this child, and who God has made her to be. What an honor, to be entrusted with such a treasure, and to help guide her on her journey in faith and in life. I have a feeling I have much to learn about childlike faith in the coming years and I cannot WAIT.

14 months

Our Iz has become so very toddlerish lately, in her words ("nonononononoNO!"), her actions (picture mashed potatoes being flung at the wall), and her facial expressions! She is growing up, and it is simultaneously amazing and nostalgic- mostly just amazing though. Here are a few lovely moments from the other day, for your viewing pleasure. She and I were discussing various farm animals and objects out the windows. The bottom teeth kill me.

Knock Knock, Who's There?

We have had a wonderful weekend! My stepmom, Michelle ("Mimi") came up Friday evening for an evening of wine, sushi, and movies, followed by a slumber party and a Saturday full of crafting, playing with Busybelle, and drinking coffee! Needless to say, Saturday night when I went to bed it felt awfully quiet around here! So imagine, to my dismay, when I awoke at 3:40 to the sound of rustling in our driveway. I peeked out, but saw no one. Whew.

A minute later, though, the front door to the sunroom started ratting. Definitely NOT okay. So, I quickly flipped on the front light to scare away any would-be prowlers. Once again it fell quiet. The next 3 minutes or so were some of the longer of my life, sitting there on the couch and ready to claw someone's eyes out if they tried to hurt my girl! Thankfully, I think the porchlight scared him off, and I was getting ready to doze some more when all of a sudden, the prowler was around on the east side of the house trying to get in the window to the sunroom! It was definitely loud, and definitely scary! So I whipped out the cell and promptly dialed 9-1-1. The conversation that ensued:

Dispatcher: 9-1-1, how may I help you?

Me: Someone is trying to break into my house and my husband isn't home!

D: What's your location?

Me: Hamilton Road!

D: Okay, an officer is right in the area pulling out of Meijer; I'll stay on the line until he's ready to make contact.

Me: Okay! Oh he's trying to get in the window on the side of my house!

D: Which side?

Me: The east side where my baby daughter sleeps!

D: Okay, two officers are pulling up right now. Stay on the line with me while they search the premises.

Me: (heart POUNDING) Okay.

About 3 minutes later (meanwhile, 2 other cop cars are circling the block looking for the bad man who has run off by now with all the commotion....

D: Okay, an officer is ready to make contact. You can disconnect now.

Soooo, cautiously I tiptoed out into the sunroom, unbolted the front door, and let Officer Slack in.

"Ma'am, we found who was making noise at your house. You've got a raccoon. But if you hear any other suspicious activity and think it might be a real person, don't hesitate to call. Have a good night."

Oops. Well, I'll say this much. Any raccoon who dares to scratch his way into my girl's side of the house better hope he doesn't meet ME in a dark alley.

da-DA!

Well, the bean is getting braver. Her walking is quickly improving and she now ventures onto the hardwood floors and around corners (see below). Mommy's getting a workout chasing the Busybelle and keeping her off the furniture! We can't wait to get to Colorado so Daddy can chase and Mommy can cheer (feet propped up, of course, and lemonade in hand)...

Other adorably newsworthy anecdotes of late include:

* When Izzy looks up (no less than 5x/day) from playing and blurts out "da-DA!" while sticking her finger westward as far as it'll reach. It's pretty much the cutest. Ever. Yep, Izzy, Daddy's still in Colorado... we get to see him SOON!
* Walking into her classroom to find her at the sink, by herself, scrubbing scrubbing scrubbing her hands in the sink. SO CUTE!
* Sweeping after food fights- uh, I mean meals- now that Wolfie doesn't act as the resident vacuum cleaner. Oh wait, this is NOT an exceptionally adorable anecdote.
* Isabelle "dancing" to any and all music with her huge (relatively speaking) cloth diapered bottom bopping up and down...

Those are a few highlights of the week. Now for some eye candy...

Scholastic Happenings

I've decided that x22022 is my lifeline. I call Izzy's classroom no less than 3 times daily to check in. Her teachers are probably pulling their hair out from my persistent mommyness, but they sure act nice about it! Today is her best day so far (3rd day's a charm?). Even though she wails for a few minutes at drop off, her primary teachers- Ms. Jenna ("Nennah!") and Ms. Mandi- tell me that she does really well after about 5-10 minutes- hooray!

Isabelle's "quiet spot" is in the book corner- shocking- our little bookworm! I guess she likes to read when she's sad, and that couldn't make me happier! Let's see... what else?

Oh, this morning was the first time it was warm enough to play outside. Mandi said she liked being outdoors, but got sad when it was time to come in, so she trotted off to her book corner for a few minutes to collect herself. Today is also the first day she didn't take a morning nap... might've had something to do with the fact that she slept 11 1/2 hrs straight through last night... :)

In any case, life is good for Miss Izzy, and it will be even better once her molars are fully in, her congestion dissipates, and her Amoxycillin is all finished. Woohoo!

We love you, Daddy!

We'll let the video speak for itself. This post is dedicated to Daddy, who is in CO right now. We miss and love you, Daddy! xoxoxo

Off To School

Day one of day care: 6.5 hours down, 1.75 hours to go. Whew. The umbilical cord is officially stretched.

7:35 a.m. Drop off went remarkably well-- the little bean toddled her way right over to the huge blue bunny on the floor and gave it a good, tight squeeze. Then she made her way over to a new friend, Addie, and introduced herself by patting Addie on the head (pics to come). Good start, Iz!

8:30 a.m: Call #1 (What?! It had been almost a whole hour!) I could hear her wailing in the background, but Ms. Kalynn assured me it was only because she got up to get the phone that Izzy was "a little bit sad." Fair enough.

10:05 a.m: Call #2. Ms. Kalynn reported that she was sleeping peacefully in the nap room. Apparently at 9:30 she decided she'd had enough, and crawled into the lap of Ms. Kathy, curled up, and went to sleep. That's our girl.

1:01 p.m: LUNCH! Picture me at a full sprint across the parking lot to my car. Yep, it's true.

1:08 p.m: Peeked around the corner of Izzy's classroom, where she was being cuddled next to her cot by her teacher. Her eyes were getting sleepy, and I got to just stand there and spy on my sweet girl for a good ten minutes while she drifted off to piano lullabies. Like mashed potatoes for my soul, I tell ya. Once I looked at the time and abruptly came back to reality, I hustled out of there and zoomed back down the highway, to arrive at my desk only 2 minutes late. SWEET!

2:17 p.m: I am one proud mama. Our girl is being so brave and so big at her new school! My heart is bursting, my eyes are watering, and only 103 more minutes til I get to pick her up. Not that I'm counting, or anything...

Sunshine On My Shoulders....

Ahhhhhh. The first taste of spring is always SO refreshing- the tulip bulbs, the GREEN blades of grass, and even the mudpuddles (better than ice patches!). We have taken every opportunity to soak up the glorious sun this week-- in the evenings after I get home from work, in the front yard exploring tree bark with Daddy, on a walk-run Saturday morning, at the playground this weekend... It's been a long winter, weather-ly and emotionally speaking, and we are more than ready to delight in the sunshine and new life that accompanies spring. Also, perhaps it's coincidental, but Isabelle seems spunkier than ever recently... she now struts down the sidewalk with glee, exploring each blade of grass, tree trunk, and twig. She still insists on holding on to somebody's finger while walking, but I have a feeling that, with all the new things to explore outdoors, she'll be on her own any day. Craziness.

Speaking of change, we've had an abrupt shift, well, acceleration in our plans this weekend. Reg got a call last night asking if he could come interview for a management position in Fort Collins this week. After some thought, prayer, and a lot of discussion, we decided it would make sense for him to drive out there this week, and spend some time interviewing and networking. Isabelle and I look forward to joining him as soon as possible... In the meantime, I will continue to work, and Izzy will make her entrance into the world of preschool. Again, CRAZINESS. How is our little girl ready to march off to school by herself every day? (Okay okay, it's just the one-year-old room at daycare, but it feels like she's getting on the school bus with her lunchbox, or- GULP- walking into her freshman dorm. I need to go get a tissue!).

Thankfully, it won't be EVERY day, as Saint- I mean Uncle- John has volunteered to spend 1-2 days a week with his niece here at our house. Hopefully this will ease the transition for her, although it will still be a HUGE change, as she's been with her dad almost every week day for the last 10 months. Hopefully she'll be more adaptable than her mother. My Grandma Shirley says the Norwegian in us hates change. I have found this to be comically and painfully true in my own life... Norwegian though I may be, it's one trait I am not proud of! But, I read a quote recently that said, “Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely." So onward we march, and I will try to pry my heels up out of the dirt and put one foot in front of the other as we enter this new phase. And I know that no matter what time zone we are in, tomorrow the sun will rise just like it did today, and we will be blessed with love, and emerging tulips, and God's grace.

Museum fun!

Last weekend we had a playdate with our friend Kean from church, and Kean's momma, Anna. We decided to check out Impression 5 Science Museum, which has a baby area called First Impressions. SO FUN!!!! The babes got their first experience at a water table, where we spent over half of our time! We all left fairly damp, but it was so worth it! They also had some pretty cool manipulative toys, and a fun book area. We had a blast exploring!! Our friend Kean is 7 months, so for the first time, Izzy was the "big kid" and it was so strange/awesome to see her in that role! It was seriously cute to watch her get toys off the shelf to "share" with Kean, and watch her do laps around him on the floor. She has also taken to giving all sorts of smooches, pats, and rubs, namely on Kean's bald little head.
It was during those blessedly work-free days I took off while Reg was away, and I got so spoiled- not only by being with Busybelle every day, but by getting some awesome fellowship and quality time with other mommas. Spending time with some new friends and their kiddos definitely made me realize how much I need to stay connected with other moms. The support and connectedness I felt last week was AMAZING! And don't get me wrong, I have a great husband and great family, but gosh, to have contact with other moms was beyond wonderful. I am making an April resolution to seek out more time with friends... Anyway, a short post, but just wanted to document the fun we had checking out one of the 'hot spots' in the hot spot that is Lansing, Michigan. Hooray for play dates!

Less Clutter + More Time = Happy Mama

Last week, Reg flew out to CO to spend a few days job hunting, and a few days skiing with his bro, Ethan. Isabelle and I were left to our own antics, and I had the delight of taking a few days off work to accompany Busybelle on activities such as Storytime at the library, Mom2Mom group at church, a playdate at a local science museum, and lots of time to just BE, here at our humble abode. The quiet, computerless evenings prompted me to deep clean and organize our house, and led me on a mission to make our lives simpler, less cluttered, more financially responsible, and hopefully more ecofriendly. Enter cloth diapers and no more paper towels. Huh? That's right, we've

gone paperless (except in the TP department, in case you were worried), thanks to these cuties I found at Ikea, 10 for $3.99. A pack of these babies + a $1.49 Command Hook = an endless supply of hand towels for less than a $8.99 value pack of paper towels (and we go through at least 10 a year, making a savings of roughly $90-100 a year)... waHOO! Who would've thought that putting a little loop of ribbon on a simple white washcloth could be so novel? Needless to say, I'm relatively, well, thrilled with the discovery. We also switched over to cloth diapers, which should save us somewhere between $800-$1000 in the next year or so until we move on to the big girl potty. Think of all the money that can go toward other things now- groceries, paying off debt, date nights, the 529 fund, etc. Hooray!

The other big accomplishment of the week started as an attempt to create some order (read: SANITY) out of a cleaning routine, or lack thereof. I came up with a master schedule that I can easily tweak each month. Basically, each day has the same 5 basic tasks: wiping counters, doing dishes, sanitizing toys that get flung out of the Pack-n-Play, doing one load of laundry, and general decluttering of surfaces. Then each day of the week is also assigned a weekly task (i.e. Monday-dusting, Tuesday- trash, Wednesday-refridgerator, Thursday-vacuum, Friday- weekly menu, Saturday-bathroom, Sunday-groceries).

Finally, each day also has a once-a-month "deep cleaning" task such as cleaning the freezer, disinfecting light switches & doorknobs, or cleaning out the car. The list is taking about 30-40 minutes of each day, which is doable so far, and SO worth it just to know that it WILL all get done. I don't have to flip out today that the microwave has grease spatters on its walls, because I know they'll be gone on Thursday. Whew. The moral of the story, and the reason I'm doing a whole post about this on a blog devoted to Isabelle Grace, is that these simple changes have made vast improvements in my stress level, time management, and general demeanor, meaning I have more mental/emotional capacity and time to spend with my sweet girl (and, as an added bonus, less waste and a cleaner house). And now that Reg is home to assist with The List, it means even more time for family time... Yesssss!