creative movement

Isla is constantly hopping and spinning and saying "mommy, mommy, watch me" as she strikes a dance pose, leaning over with her one leg in the air, so I finally signed her up for a dance class. She started her "Creative Movement" class today and had a fantastic time. Watching all of the little girls in their little leotards, tights and ballet shoes was so incredibly adorable.

The only way to describe how I felt as I watched my sweet girl float around the dance floor is through this Brian Andreas "story":

"She laid on my chest & her breathing filled me almost to beyond what I could hold."

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the love and amazement I feel for my children.

(spinning)

And here are a few shots from class.

Happy Baby

Our Isabelle is such a happy girl. She loves watching her sister bounce and dance about and they already interact so sweetly together. It's funny how things change so much with the second child. With Isla, I didn't travel anywhere until 3 months. Isabelle has already been to Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and soon she'll dip her toes in the colder waters of the North Atlantic. She's a trooper and goes along merrily with our busy lives. And it doesn't get much better than that smile.

"There are lives I can imagine without children but none of them have the same laughter & noise."   - Brian Andreas

Isla and some of her little classmates formed their own little band and built their own drums. Oh that we adults could find such joy in such simple things, wood, cardboard and some wooden pencils. 

Isla's Shark

Just a little mini post to show off a picture of Isla's shark drawing. 

Welcome, Isabelle

Our sweet Isabelle joined us on March 13 and what a wild ride it has been. Two little ones! This lady was a bit overwhelmed, but over the past (almost) three months things have started to work themselves into a sort of routine. And I feel more today than I ever have that I'm exactly where I need to be.

Let's begin the new adventures of the Isla Bean and Isabelle...

Wedding season is upon us and Isla was asked to be a flower girl in two weddings. One of my best friends, Carma Leigh's, wedding in April:

My sister, Sarah's wedding in May: She walked all the way down the aisle, dumped the flowers on the floor and asked if it was time to dance. 

 the beginning of a dance-tastic night!

Isabelle snuggled with James.

While we were in Alabama (Al-La-BAMA!) for Sarah's wedding, we were able to do one of my favorite things, walk around my Great Uncle's Farm. I have wonderful childhood memories of riding horses, feeding piglets and calfs with a bottle, and jumping from the haystacks stacked high up in the barn. So, it is fun to see Isla enjoying some of the same things. She got to meet, Bennett, my Uncle's prize bull. He's huge.

I have started a new adventure in life, full-time Mommy, artist, gardener, cook and hopefully blog keeper upper :) So I should be "seeing" you more often.

Photo Montage Catch Up Time

Painting.

Carousel time at the zoo.

Hanging with her friend at the park. Watching a little flag football.

A napping princess and her toolbox

Figuring out the huge bubble ring at the science museum.

3 Years Old!  - Good Morning Birthday Girl!

About to open her birthday present...looks like she still may have a little dinner on her chin.

Assembling her first skateboard.

So very excited to have her own skateboard just like Daddy!

Birthday Party Time

Our little birthday fairy princess.

giraffe mask

Make a wish!

Fun with paint.

Add caption

Sitting with Grampy

Isla, Mommy and the belly aka Isabelle.

Big Girl Bed

We've had Isla in the converted crib for a while now, but just recently she has moved over into her very own twin-sized "big girl bed". Thanks to Aunt Carmie & Dyren who did a beautiful job refinishing an antique wrought iron for us.

I thought the transition might take a while so, we set up the bed and decided to let Isla sleep in it when she was ready. Well, she was ready - as soon as the bed was. The only thing she wasn't too keen on was using the new blankets. The conversation went like this:

As I put the new comforter on the bed...

Isla: Um..I don't think that's a good idea
Mommy: What's that?
Isla: I think we should use my blankets, this one is dirty.
Mommy: Okay, we can use your blankets, we'll just fold this new one and put it at the bottom of the bed, okay?
Isla: Okay, be-cause the new one is dirty.

So she jumped into her big girl bed for a goodnight story and it's been smooth sailing since. No transition necessary.

Now the crib waits for baby girl number two. Isla has been super sweet about her new little sister, she gives my belly hugs and kisses and tells me all the things she's going to do with her sister when she gets here. Let's hope that eagerness remains :)