Izzy's First Christmas

We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Patty Lou's and feasted on turkey, shrimp, and pumpernickel and dip. Griffin had fun showing her the presents under the tree and how to play Nintendo the correct way. Then we watched Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, a family tradition since 1978. Izzy was most fascinated by a new jingle bell that matched her pj's a little too perfectly. (unfortunately I took those photos with Grandma's camera. oops!)

Izzy went to bed a little late but not too late and woke up a little early just like any good cherub on Christmas morning and joined Mommy and Daddy downstairs to open stockings. Santa Claus must have had Izzy Lou on his very nice list this year. She made out like a bandit. Of course, she was a bit slow at actually opening anything. On her first present she ripped the paper a little bit then smoothed it back down. Oh, Izzy! So we had to help her along a little bit.

Once she opened her Christmas Weebles, she was pretty much done. It was like she had gotten THE toy of the season. I missed catching the squeals on video. She was ready for a nap after all of that excitement and didn't even get to her main packages. She started to cover herself up with the stockings and sucking that thumb. Daddy had her open her Totoro doll which was the laziest display of present opening I had ever witnessed.

So we delayed package opening until after a nap. And then delayed it again to go over to Grandma Patty Lou's to celebrate Santa's visit there. Santa left a lot there, too. She got a train with a cool popping top and a big Little People playhouse. Griffin was good about showing her how to properly rip off the paper (with abandon, Izzy!) and showed her how to use her top. Then it was time to rush home to put the roast in the oven and a tired Izzy back into her crib for a nap.

At 5 o'clock, the roast was still too cold but Izzy was too hot. A 102.5 fever that Tylenol barely touched. A call to the doctor let us know to up the dose and try Motrin instead. It was most likely a virus. Fortunately, Izzy prefers to sleep through sickness and went back down to bed. Daddy still managed to pull together a Christmas feast with help from Grandma and Aunt Laura who made a fabulous cheese sauce to cover up the cauliflower. Dinner was served promptly at 9 o'clock. Griffin was quite the trooper and though he didn't eat much, he did appreciate the gravy and cheese sauce.

So Christmas is still going on and it is now New Year's Eve. It may really be twelve days of Christmas this year. Izzy is feeling much better after seeing the doctor Monday and having her Motrin dose upped to every 4 hrs. We've managed to open a present or two a day and she's got a couple left under the tree. We hear Griffin may be around tonight if the weather doesn't keep him away. Maybe he can help her with those last couple packages.

It's CHRISTMAS!!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

I think this one has my name on it. And that one... and that one....

A healthy breakfast of cookies. Thanks Santa!

Mom, check out these Weebles. Aren't they the coolest?

Laziest present opening ever.

Opening presents with a little help from the Master.

Griffin and Izzy play with her new top.

I'm beat. Time for some nog.

First Sick Visit and an Early Visit from Santa

Friday, Kris took Izzy to the doctor for her first sick visit. She had a fever earlier in the week and developed a bad cough and a stuffy nose. That all points to a cold but then Thursday she got inconsolably cranky and was unable to sleep at night. So, yes, she had a full blown ear infection in her left ear and developing one in her right. Poor kiddo. She got some yummy antibiotics and become more herself within a few hours. Wow, do antibiotics work fast! And today she was back to her antics. She got a nice cut on her face when she sneezed and fell over onto her stacking cups. Methinks she inherited her parents proneness to accidents. Santa delivered an early present since she was on his extra nice list for being such a good sport about being sick and getting a boo-boo. A blinky-beepy phone that sings. Far more exciting than that boring old Tivo remote (we hope).

Izzy chases down her prey: The Tivo Remote

Ooh, what is this brightly wrapped package?

Can I eat it?

Cool buttons! Finally something that blinks and makes noise!

9 Months Old!

Izzy Lou turned 9 months old on Thanksgiving Day. And wow, that was like 3 weeks ago. We still need to post about that, too. Sheez. Time flies when you're having so much fun! Before long we'll be posting about Christmas and Izzy turning 10 months. The photos featured are from the day after Thanksgiving when Izzy got reintroduced to snow. The first time around, she was a bit young to notice it. And of course with that Mainer blood in her, she loves it!

Izzy had her 9 month check up and the doctor is very happy with her progress and her sunny disposition. She had a good time ripping up the paper pad and laughing with the doctor. Izzy weighed in a whopping 17 lb 3 oz and is now 26 1/4" long. So she's now on the chart. Yay! We did get her a flu shot especially after the Thanksgiving debacle. Better safe than sorry. She didn't like that!

Izzy has been On-the-GO! She finally learned to crawl army style which has proved more effective than rolling. Ziggy, her sitter, is always finding her under the preschool table or into the bookshelves and now, under the Christmas tree they have up at the daycare. She hasn't attacked ours...yet. Izzy has a best friend at day care Gwennie who is often her partner in crime. And that one can walk! So it's only a matter of time before Izzy really knows how to get into mischief.

Izzy finally has cut some teeth. She's got the two front ones on the bottom and then a fang up top on her left. Only three teeth and she already knows how to grind them. Ugh! Worst sound EVER! We did get her a cute blinky toothbrush that she's actually allowed us to use on her. So hopefully her pearlies stay healthy and clean.

Milestones:
Creeping (army crawl)
1st tooth (and 2nd and 3rd)
Rocks on all fours
Drinking from a sippy cup all by herself

Izzy likes:
Snow!
TMBG Here Come the 123's
Ravioli & PIZZA!
Chewing everything
Her Animal Hide and Seek book
Her Monkey and Knuffle Bunny dolls
Being outside (even when it's freezing rain!)
Daddy's Laptop
Twisting out of laps
Her Stack of Rainbow Donuts toy & Tiger Piano
The TV stand (wires and remotes and dvd's oh my!)

Izzy dislikes:
Being put in her carrier
Losing sight of Mommy
Not eating what everyone else is eating
Any music other than TMBG

Mommy and Daddy dislikes:
Izzy grinding her new teeth
Izzy trying to knock over the floor lamp
Izzy trying to chew on wires

Words in progress:
Mommom
Daddad
Daw (dog)
Bobble (bottle)
Hi

What is this wonderful stuff?!

Izzy tries to catch a few flakes.

Holly steals a lick.

Trouble

Izzy's learning how to get into trouble with her newfound mobility and intense curiosity. One of her favorite targets is the TV stand. So many wires and colorful game cases to get into. Guitar Hero is yummiest!

Jolly Jaunt 2008

This morning Izzy Lou and I walked in the Jolly Jaunt. We walked a whole mile (whew!) from Union Station up to Eat Park and back. We had a good time hanging out with Mrs. T and the Christmas Trees from South High. Grandma and Ben were there as well as Aunt Laura and Cousin Griffin. After the walk, Izzy had a yummy breakfast of hash browns, blueberry muffin and shared a bagel with cream cheese with Griffin. We personally didn't raise much money since we'll be doing the Passion Plunge but Special Olympics managed to raise $27,000 with this event this year. Wow! So maybe the Winter Games can be better than planned thus far.

Grandma and Mommy are Christmas Trees. See the stars?

Izzy's ready to go!

Merrily jaunting down Shrewsbury Street

Izzy's wiped out after that walk

Laura and Griffin enjoyed the yummy hash browns.

Chocolate!

Sunday, I had Izzy help me make pudding for dinner. She got to lick the spatula and the whisk and made quite a happy mess.

Yum!

Now how do I get the chocolate out of this thing?

Time for a bath!

A Visit from Aunt Mitta

Saturday, Great Aunt Mitta came up to visit Isabel. After hanging out at the house for a little while, we went out to eat at Sapporo. Izzy ended up having two big lunches back to back since she had some mac n' cheese and apples before Martha arrived and then she feasted on tofu and rice at the restaurant. And of course, she still had room for a huge dessert of bananas and ginger ice cream. It was still icky out so we stopped in the toy store next door where Izzy got a new blinking toothbrush and Griffin a cool little something (not telling! it's a surprise, Cousin Griffin.)

Cool hood Aunt Mitta

Happy campers after a good meal

Izzy tries out her new toothbrush

A Quick Visit

Last Wednesday, Aunt Laura, Cousin Griffin, Grandma H. and Uncle Ben stopped by for a quick visit after they came back from a trip out west to Yankee Candle. Sadly, Santa was a no-show for Griffin. He must be spending the work week up at the North Pole making toys for Christmas. Play with Izzy's tiger piano and Uncle Kris's laptop cheered Griffin up though. He must be used to push buttons since Izzy had to show him how to hit the piano keys to make noise.

Hard at work on Kris's laptop

Griffin tries out Izzy's piano

Road Trip to Deerfield

This weekend, we wanted a little Christmas so we took a road trip out to Deerfield. There we had some good truck diner cuisine and got to hang out at Yankee Candle. Izzy got to see a painted cow, fishies, a roomful of snowglobes, life-size stuffed animals, and of course the man, himself, Santa Claus!

Oh Smiley Fry, how I love you so!

All filled up!

Can we paint Holly up like this?

Check out the tiny people

MY snowglobe!

I am blinded by their beauty!

Here fishy, fishy, fishy!

Ok. I am sitting in a chair. Now what?

Um, let's give these guys some privacy.

Mr. Knight, sir, could you tell us where to find Santa?

Here's one of his deer. We must be close!

This guy rocks! I love his tailor!

Ooh, those are pretty cool, Santa!

Merry Christmas! (only 7 more weeks ;) )

Someone's a little ticklish

Spooky Plymouth

On the day after Halloween, we joined Laura, Fred and Griffin in Plymouth to see the sights and have some dinner. Grandma H and Ben were there along with Auntie Gail and Cousin Sarah. It was quite the gathering! Izzy got to show off her sitting-in-a-highchair skill at dinner and ate almost an entire dinner roll all by herself. Afterwards, we went on a haunted tour of the town and graveyard. Izzy slept through most of it until the end. She had a nice look on her face that said she was getting away with being out past bedtime. Griffin, on the other hand, had gone home before the tour. We didn't see any spooks but we did have a fun time!

Bundled up against the coastal breeze

The gang's all here!

Ooh! A spooooky balloon!

Get it, Griffin!

Izzy gets a turn with Grandma and Aunt Laura

Tooth!!!!!

Izzy had a great day until dinner time. Cran-ky. And then a screaming fit at the end which I could distract her only with a bath. And lo, there was a sharp edge in her lower gum. Well about time! She had fun rubbing her tongue over it once she got over the initial shock. Wow, I never expected to actual witness the cutting. Ow! One down. 27 more to go.

Eight Months!

Izzy Lou is now two-thirds of a year old (and a week). Izzy has been a busy little cherub and has a banner month for milestone achievement. It was a month of few naps as she was distracted by her new skills and by the daycare kiddos doing so much cool stuff around her. Izzy has definitely grown a lot. How much exactly, we won't know until December when she has her 9 month check-up. But my back tells me that she's at least 15 pounds. She's now into 9 month clothing for Carter's though she still wears their 6 month onesies. She's also graduated to size 3 diapers. So whatever that all means, it does mean she is growing and fast. Still a peanut, though :)

Izzy has greatly expanded her menu. One of her big achievements this month was the pincer grip. So now she can eat Cheerios and cut up bits of any soft food we're willing to give her including tofu, carrots, potato, peas, yogurt melts (thank you, Griffy!), cheesy puffs, sticky rice. She has started to resist spoon feeding and has tried to feed herself off the spoon with messy results. So any suggestions for finger food for a toothless child is appreciated :) Yeah, still no teeth and no signs of them. Maybe next month.

Another huge milestone met is sitting on her own. Izzy mastered it in about a week after finally figuring out that she can compensate when tipping to hold herself up. Of course, sometimes she'll forget or get distracted and do a head plant, but for the most part, she's pretty steady. It's been a huge help in going out to eat since she can now sit in a high chair. She's also been working on crawling but hasn't figured that one out while awake yet. She's gotten up on all fours and while asleep in her crib she's traveled some. So for now, rolling by leading with her head is still her preferred method of travel. I think the next thing she'll do is to pull herself up to standing since she has a friend at daycare who's been teaching her tricks. Like waving! Oh yeah, that, too. Izzy can wave hello and good bye :) We'll have to catch that on camera.

Izzy has become quite the social butterfly. It's like paparazzi at the supermarket. She is very engaging and now with her new waving ability, has been getting a lot of attention from passers-by. I'm not sure how Kris and I got such a happy and outgoing kid but we're not complaining. We've been having a grand ol' time :)

Milestones:
Sitting unassisted
Pincer Grip
Waving Hello and Goodbye
"Thbbbt" with the tongue out
Drinking from a sippy cup (assisted)
Eating meat and solid dairy
Eating small finger foods

Izzy likes:
Being outside
Real people food!
Her Christmas bell
Rolling under things
They Might Be Giants music
The TMBG John and John puppets
(I need to learn to knit a pair)
Going to bed with her dolly and bunny

Izzy dislikes:
Green beans
Formula (trying Next-Step)
Getting her face washed
Waking up before she's ready

Hey Macarena!



Maybe?

Nope.

What a fine Cheerio.

Mighty fine, indeed.