Keeping the Little One Safe

We haven't started to baby proof our place yet since we still have one month left or so before we move. I found a baby play gym at Toys R Us and thought it would be great. Too bad we didn't have an electric pump and it took forever to blow up. Then she liked it for about ten minutes and it was over. It to FOREVER to get back into the box!

We devised a little play area in our living room surrounded by ottomans and so far she's been loving it and the cost was free!

P-Touch This

I've been wanting a label maker for awhile now and I finally got one on Friday. It's the coolest thing! Since Izzy is starting daycare next week, I've been going nuts labeling everything that she's bringing. On Saturday, I spent the afternoon organizing her room and putting her small clothes away, labeling every box of course! The P-touch is a dream machine.

A weight has been lifted off my shoulders and surprisingly, I'm really happy about it. We had been looking for homes in Pleasanton for awhile but a few weeks ago, after going to a few open houses, I decided that we should stay in San Jose for a bit longer. We both like the location of where we live now and it's convenient to everything: HP Pavilion, SJ Airport, and of course Valley Fair. Also, I like having access to all the restaurants and Asian plazas. Most of all, we wanted to feel financially free and not having to be tied down to a huge mortgage. I want to maintain our current lifestyle without giving up luxuries such as traveling and high end jeans! Moving to Pleasanton would force us into a position where being a stay at home mom would be out of the question. Since Izzy still has 4 years to go before we decide on school, we thought that we should take a breath and slow down. Being near my parents is a total plus and although Pleasanton would be only an hour away, being able to have my mom take Izzy at any time is such an advantage. I love the Pleasanton area and what it has to offer and that will always be a place we will consider but right now, I couldn't justify moving to a smaller home at a much higher price tag. Plus, at our current rate, private schools are still an option. I just feel so much better now that there is a plan in place!

More Milestones

Walking has always been something Isabel finds interesting. In the past couple of weeks, she has gotten stronger and now is able to hoist herself up into a standing position. She still hates to crawl and belly time is not something she enjoys.

She can pretty much get into the standing position from anything. She's using her toy chest here. She knocks it over because it has wheels and then uses it to stand up. It's totally scary because I don't want her falling but recently she has learned that she can fall onto her butt.

I don't know what to buy to help her with her new found independence. Any suggestions? I started to look for a new toy or jumper or something that can help her with her standing skills.

2 Little Teeth

One day as I was feeding her, I noticed two little white things in her mouth. They were teeth! Ben and I were getting a little concerned when we didn't find Izzy fussing over teeth. All of a sudden, she had them! They are so cute! She's definitely growing up. She knows how to crawl a bit but standing is still her favorite activity. It's so strange to see her grow up so quickly. Back in the day she was this tiny little infant and now she's a busy little girl who wants everything in her sight. In a few weeks Izzy is going to start daycare twice a week and actually I'm really excited for her. She's at the age where people really fascinate her and she'll get to play with babies her age. My work is super close by so it would only take me a couple of minutes to get to her if needed.

Pics of my Little Ones

Izzy and Ozzie had some time before lunch to play around outside on the grass. Izzy is super tired and Ozzie is just trying to get our attention by paying some to his sister.

Having a serious discussion about what to do.

Someone is a little grumpy...

Exploring grass... All the animals are hanging out.

My First Mother's Day

For my first Mother's Day, Ben planned a day at Hakone Gardens for the family. The gift was to reenact some of our wedding photos that were taken 4 years ago on May 8th but this time to include our new little one. The picture above was one spot that we had our wedding photos taken. It was a lovely surprise and a really fun day.

Taking pictures is an arduous process on a wedding day but even more so when you're trying to entertain an 8th month old and get her to look where you want her to. Izzy was pretty cooperative for the most part but she definetely had her moments. Cindy and Ben had some creative ways of getting her to look at the camera. This is one of my most favorite pictures taken and it totally reflects Izzy's personality.

A big thanks to Aunt Cindy who came to play camera woman on our day. Even though it was Mother's Day, Cindy's love for Izzy is totally incredible and we are so grateful to have her help us while she can. Happy Mother's Day to all moms (including loving aunties)!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Happy anniversary to us! It's been 4 years since we've made it official - almost 11 years total of having each other in our lives. Through the past four years we have accomplished a lot, more than we thought we would and with the addition of Isabel and Ozzie, our little family is growing.

I think back to our wedding day and even though friends have come and gone and even lost touch, for just one day, everything was perfect. The day where you didn't think about any negative thoughts, any horrible things or drama. That day, you feel as if the world was in its right place and everything in your life was together.

So for my anniversary, my single wish is to remember all the happy moments and cherish them dearly. Although many events have happened in the last 4 years both good and bad, for a single moment in time nothing could be more joyful.