Christmas and other Random Ramblings

I have not been a great blogger in 2010. I would say that i resolve to be better at this in 2011 but unfortunately with all that is going on, I can't promise that other than to say I will do my best!

We had a great Christmas this year. It was very fun to see Izzy get so into Santa and opening her presents. She was so funny on Christmas Eve, she told DH to be sure not to light a fire in the fire place because she wanted to make sure Santa did not burn his "tushie"!!!

As usual Izzy made out in the present department. She asked for Calico Critters, makeup and new Sunglasses and she of course got it all with many other things. Being that I am Jewish she got a few Hanukah presents as well which included the Just Dance game for Kids for Wii which I must admit is pretty fun and it is a great way for her to burn some energy in the cold winter months! Even DH gets up and does it a little with her and he HATES to dance :) The other Hannukah gift she got (and then got some games for it for X-mas) was teh Fisher Price iXL. This little game player has been PERFECT for her especially in the car. It was totally designed well for her age group, i didn't even have to show her how to use most of it, she figured it out on her own. Her favorite part is that it is part mp3 player so I can load her songs to it so she can sing along. Which seemed to be one of her favorite Christmas songs. She LOVES The Chipmunk Song and the Jackson 5 version of Santa Claus is coming to town. She sings at the top of her lungs! We have gotten some great video of her singing and dancing along to it as well.

I am in total denial that she will be 4 in 3 weeks! I can't believe it has been 4 years already. As always this time of year i always think about C, and wonder how she is doing. I did get a brief email from her just before Christmas which was nice. She of course wished us a very merry christmas and the best of wishes. I am working on getting together my packet of pictures and a letter together to send to teh agency for our 4 year update.

I am trying to decide what to do about Izzy's bday party. There is a part of me that really doesn't want to do ti at our house again, but can't come up with many fantastic venues to do it that don't cost a fortune. I better make a decision soon her Bday is fast approaching!

I promise to do a 4 year update with all of the things that Izzy is up to lately so that I document her as she is right now before she changes and I forget.

Izzy's Photos

Here are the rest of the AMAZING pictures Jen took! I am beyond happy with how all the pictures came out. Jen is so very very talented. Now i just have to figure out how to frame and where to hang all of these amazing shots.

Photo Shoot Sneak Peek

I have a very very very talented friend. My friend Jen is one of the best photographers I have ever seen. She not only takes amazing pictures but her eye for editing is incredible. I asked Jen if she would take a couple of pictures of Izzy that i could use for our holiday card. So Izzy and I headed over to her house after school today to take some shots in her backyard.

I was a little worried because izzy was having a bit of an off day that is for sure. Cried at school like she did the first week and was even a little off at Jen's. Here is where I know Jen is pure magic, in less than I would say 20 mins she had taken a bunch of pictures of izzy that came out amazing! I had tons of fun shopping for clothes just for this occasion and could not be more pleased with how the colors and outfits showed in the pictures.

Here is a sneak peak of Jen's favorite shot. My baby looks so grown up I almost can't stand it!

Happy Halloween

Halloween 2010 is officially over. It was a good time this year although I would say Izzy was definately nervous and scared about going trick or treating. This year she has been terrified of any decorations that move or talk.

She spent all day playing with the girls next store so she was exhausted come dinner time. There was a part of me that wondered if she was even going to make it out trick or treating. We had some friends and family over so she did perk up right before we went out. She started out fine but after about 10-12 houses she started getting scared. I think it was the combination of a house that was playng music of scary sounds and our friend's 7 year old had on a scream mask that had a pump and blood would run through it. She was fine with the mask until the blood...so needless to say she was done at that point.

We came back home and she watched tv with my parents before going to bed at about 7:45. Poor kid was exhausted. I did enjoy taking her out trick or treating for the first time ever, normally I stay home to hand out candy...hubby offered to do it this year so I could take her. My dad came with us too.

Hopefully next year she will get more excited about it :) She looked cute as Tinkerbell even with the extra layers because it was FREEZING! We handed out candy on the driveway with the firepit which was a big hit. The kids trick or treating would say thank you for the fire we are freezing! I would do that again next year.

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

Izzy this fall

I have realized lately that I have not posted much about my little beauty lately and what she is up to. She has only been in school for this is the 3rd week but I think she is changing a little already. The last 5 or 6 days I swear she has been in the BEST mood. So happy and chatty and some of the things she says I can't help but crack up!

School Update

She has adjusted to school. She cried at drop off the first two weeks but ever since last week she said "i am not going to cry" and she didn't. This monday she even stayed an extra hour to have lunch with her friends. (which was a beautiful thing for mommy!) She still doesn't seem to have a favorite friend...there are only 7 kids in her class and she is still talking about a girl that was in it last year that is now in kindergarden. If i ask her who her favorite friend is she will say "there is no Alexis" Poor girl, i hope she finds a buddy soon. I have been impressed so far at the school adn all that they do in 2.5 hrs. They focus on a letter a week and do all kinds of things for that letter. She also swims in the zero entry pool every wednesday. I think she really likes it which makes me very happy

Potty Update

While she has finally stopped pooping in pull ups for a couple months now, we still CANNOT get her to poop anywhere but at home on the little potty. If we are away from home she will just hold it, will not go on a regular potty..even though she will pee no problem on a big potty! It is so frustrating! We are so sick of cleaning the little potty , that i want to put it away but i am afraid you will then stop pooping. Just in the last week we have gotten you to stop peeing on it and pee on the regular toilet but so far no luck on the pooping. Oh well baby steps i guess...it took her forever to stop doign it in teh pull up so hopefully soon she will feel comfortable on the regular potty. Speaking of regular we haven't had to use the miralax regularly for over a month, her body seems to be regulating on its own ( probably the fact that she isn't holding it helps)

Nap Update

I think she has finally given up her nap. For the last 4-5 months she would nap a couple times a week but not everyday..now she pretty much doesn't nap ever. She is handling it okay although there are times by 5-6 you can tell she is pretty tired and she falls asleep pretty quick by 8 everynight.

General Updates

She is VERY into puzzles right now and can do them quite well. She has moved past the babyish ones where it is just an object to fit into a space and can do up to 25 piece puzzles pretty well on her own. She needs a little help but does quite well. She is also into riding her bike now that she has mastered peddling. She loves to listen to "my music" meaning her music when in the car with me. Right now her favorite is the sound track from the movies Mulan and Lion King. She likes a few popular hits but for the most part will request her music. She is very excited for Halloween, she is goign to be Tinkerbell..although she is still pretty fearful of any decoration that moves or makes sounds...totally freaks her out. Good think she saw the witch that moved at walmart just before we left because she was totally spooked and asking to go home as soon as she saw it.

She has got to be the sweetest most affectiate girl around (yes i am biased) she more times than i can count in a day will tell me that she loves me, give me a kiss or a hug or the best is when she asks me if we are best friends!!! TOO SWEET!!!

I am the luckiest mommy in the whole world to have the sweet girl as my daughter! So very blessed.

Wisdom Teeth

I am happy to report that I finally conquered my fear of having my wisdom teeth removed! I had all 4 taken out last friday and it went very well. Better than I thought. I am still a bit stiff today and can't quite chew crunchy food yet but it is getting better..not really in any pain anymore so that is a bonus.

I had put it off for over a year and a half so I am very happy to check it off my list!!!

Izzy 1st Day of Preschool!

Well today was Izzy's first day of official preschool. She is going to the same place (our local YMCA) that she did "Fun Day Friday" last winter and spring but this time she is going for official preschool. She will go M, W, Fri 9:30-12 (or 1 if she wants to stay for lunch bunch). The regular preschool has a different teacher than the Fun Day Friday although she has seen her before because the teachers daughter used to go to Fun Day friday. Plus Izzy's favorite friend from Fridays is now in Kingergarten so she is no longer there.

She did pretty well. She was very nervous and as we were walking in kept saying how she was going to miss me and I kept telling her that I would be back etc. So when we got in the room the teacher showed her the cubbie for her backpack and then took her to the puzzle table to play. I gave her a kiss and a hug and she didn't cry but you could tell she was very nervous.

I then worked out, went grocery shopping and came back to pick her up. When she first saw me come in she got all teary eyed and started getting ready to cry. I asked her why she was crying and she told me because she missed me. I asked the teacher assistant how she did and she said that izzy had a few minutes of sadness off and on but for the most part did very well. Hopefully she will do well on Wednesday when she gets back. She has been pretty clingy the last month or 2...even not wanting sleepovers at her grandparents and sometimes crying at night at their house saying that she misses mommy and daddy. So i think she is going through a bit of a phase with it. I have no doubt she will do great and learn to love it. Wednesday they get to go swimming at school so I am sure she will enjoy that.