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It gets busy around here with a soon-to-be 4 year old who is always dancing, hopping, imagining, and chatting and a 8 month old who's on the move. Isabelle has been crawling for about a month now and forming a few words, "mama!", "i-ah!", "bye-bye" (accompanied with a wave) and "Da-Da!". I add exclamation points because she says all of these things loudly and full of expression. 

Isla is doing great. She finished her first block of dance class and is eager to start the next in January. She's enjoying preschool and is doing very well learning to write and recognize words. She loves to make up stories, dress up and put on puppet shows. It's been fun watching her grow, sometimes I can hardly believe how big she's getting.

Here are some photos from the days of Isla and Isabelle to get you up-to-date on what's been going on. 

Playing at our pumpkin carving party in October.

Excited for her first piece of candy on our trick-or-treating adventure.

"Oh, hi there!"

Which piece of candy should I have today?

Sister <3 td="">

Isla's drawing of robots.

Isabelle swinging for the first time. She loved it.

All dressed up and ready to go to... an aquatic tea party? 

Morning snuggles.

Isla's last dance class of the session. The parents were able to observe.

Isabelle 6 Months Old!

Isabelle is six months old today. Friday the 13th! My sister-in-law, Melissa, sent a onesie with a quote on it that I think describes our Isabelle perfectly.

“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” 

(which also happens to be from my favorite Shakespearean play- A Midsummer's Night Dream)

She is a happy little bundle, forcing a smile from most most of the time. But watch out when she is not happy with what's going on. She kicks and scoots and does everything in her power to let you know that she is not pleased.

It's amazing watching her grow. How quickly I forgot the wonder of a baby. She and Isla get along just great and I can't wait to see how that relationship blossoms. My beautiful girls!

I feel Isabelle hasn't quite gotten the documentation so far that Isla received as a babe. I had a daily journal and I calendar where I recorded every move she made. For Isabelle, it hasn't been that way. Oh the woes of the second child. 

To list a few things about her: she seems to enjoy the book "The Very Busy Spider" the most right now, laughing and squealing as I read it. She loves to hold on to her blankets or her little bunny lovie. Her first baby foods over the past week have been avocado, sweet potatoes, & zucchini. And most of all I think her favorite thing is watching her big sister.  

Quick Pic

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.