What a wonderful holiday we had this year! It was so much fun to have all of the kids with us, including Tim and Josh. Surprisingly, Bella really got in to the gift opening and was ripping the paper off. I didn't expect that this year!

Gracie using the "You move, you lose" rule. Jen took Brella out of her seat and Gracie decided it looked pretty inviting.

Isabella turned 4 months old on December 21, 2009.

Isabella doesn't look particularly thrilled, but Precious wanted in on this picture with her. We thought it was sweet; notice the Scotties on Bella's jumper. Isabella is growing up so fast!

Bella has added "solid" foods to her diet!

A while back, Jen started Bella on rice cereal. She has since graduated to baby food - so far sweet potatoes and green beans. She loves it! She's really not a messy eater; I had to pretty much stage this messy face. (I think it's cute!) One of our friends gave Jen this neat high chair seat that is portable and just attaches to a dining room chair with straps. It's good for birth through 4 years old.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

We left Columbia Metropolitan Airport right on time (6:52 a.m.). Although the flight was a little bumpy, Isabella did very well and is a great little traveler. We didn't experience any delays and actually arrived in Green Bay ahead of our scheduled arrival time. After collecting Linda from Cindy's house, we were on our way to Egg Harbor. Mom had lunch waiting for us when we got there - Sloppy Joes and tuna salad. Yum! Not much in the way of leftovers. By evening, the whole gang was together and we enjoyed catching up.

It looks like Leann and Isabella are deep in conversation.

A new dolly from Great-grandma and Great-grandpa!

Cindy, Alex, Sadie and Isabella playing on the floor the day of our arrival.

Wisconsin, here we come!

Tomorrow morning, the girls and I leave at 6:52 a.m. for Green Bay. We are so excited and hope to catch up with everyone while we are there!

Isabella's baptism - November 29, 2009

Bella was baptized at the 11:00 am service yesterday at Whaley United Methodist Church, the same church where Jen and Tim got married. She has the distinction of being the first infant baptism in that church in 7 years (it is an older congregation). The church members are so excited to have little Bella in their midst! This is one of many pictures taken yesterday and was taken at the lunch that followed the service. Church members, family and friends enjoyed the spaghetti lunch that the 2 families prepared on Saturday and served on Sunday. Much thanks to 2 of Patti's (Tim's mom) church friends that made sure that the spaghetti was warmed and laid out in a lovely buffet which included salad, rolls and yummy desserts - ready for us all when the service ended. Stay tuned as many family and friends snapped pictures of the festivities. I am still waiting to see many of the pictures myself.

With the girls' blessing, I dismantled their bouquets from Jennifer and Tim's wedding to make 2 flower arrangements. These served as the altar flowers for Isabella's baptism.

Try as we might, we could not get another laugh out of her as a video.

Dinner was delayed due to a technical error on my part (a long story for another day). In the meantime, Bella snuggled with her grandpa in the kitchen. What you can't see is that she has one of her hands behind Ray's head holding on to the hair at the nape of his neck. Right after this picture was snapped, she burst into the cutest little giggle - the first time that we had heard her laugh! Needless to say, grandpa nearly melted into a puddle on the floor!

One big happy family!

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we were able to capture this sweet moment. While Jen nursed little Bella, Precious crawled up in right next to Jenny and rested her head against Isabella's butt and Jen's leg. That is a testament to how gentle our babies are with her baby. Jennifer has always allowed the dogs (hers and ours) to "investigate" the baby (calmly, of course), so that they have never been envious of the baby, but rather are comfortable around her.

November 21, 2009 - Isabella is 3 months old!

It is hard to believe, but Isabella is 3 months old already. It is so much fun to see the developmental strides that she makes week by week. She just smiles up a storm, she has found her hands, and talks and talks to you. She is also trying to sit up and loves to stand on your lap. How do you like the Scottie dress? It is amazing how many outfits either have a Scottie, Weinie dog or elephant on it! Bella has some of each, I think. Oh, and we found the ever elusive "I love Grandpa" shirt this weekend while out shopping at Kohls. (Actually, it is more difficult to find the Grandpa shirts than the Grandma shirts.) Ray and I have been babsitting on Saturdays while Jen works, so we having lots of quality time on the weekends with Bella.

Cute smile, but Grandpa cut off the top of her head and the 3 month sign. That's OK - we got lots of others!

November 17,2009 Little USC Cheerleader

Today, I found out through one of my collegues that Isabella came out to visit her daddy at the Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive yesterday dressed as a University of South Carolina cheerleader (grandpa and I, in a weak moment bought the outfit). Later yesterday, she visited Ang at work in the same outfit. In the second picture, she is emulating her Aunitie Angie, as a good little social worker! Thanks, Angie, for the cute pictures!

Baby Jenny ( 4 and 13 months). Especially the one from 4 months - look like anyone we know? Except for the nose, Bella looks just like Jen as a baby. (Isabella gets her nose from her daddy!) Too cute!

November 13, 2009

Twice now, Precious has jumped up into the cradle. Tonight was the first time that I was quick enough to snap a picture!

The girls are set to head to Wisconsin in December!

On 11/3, I made our reservations to fly to Wisconsin so that Isabella can meet her family there. The girls, Isabella and I will be flying out of Columbia on 12/12, heading for Green Bay and will fly back home on 12/15. We are so excited to see every one!

November 1, 2009 - Isabella sleeps in her cradle

The fair has come and gone, and the cradle now resides at our house. Sunday evening, while all of the kids were over for Sunday dinner, Isabella fell asleep. She took a short cat nap in the cradle. Here, Gracie and Lovey stand guard while she sleeps. The rest of us were snapping pictures with cameras and phones like paparazzi. You would have thought we'd never seen a baby sleeping before. So silly...

Pumpkin carving party - October 25, 2009

On Sunday, Jen and Tim had both families over for a pumpkin carving party and supper. Jenny cooked up a big pot of chili which was just delicious. Ron was able to join the festivities before heading back home to Chesterfield. The evening was cool, the food was delicious, and some pretty creative pumpkins were carved.

Isabella is 2 months old already - October 21, 2009!

What a happy little girl! Isabella is 2 months old and such a smiley baby. You simply can't help but smile back at her - she's just too stinkin' cute!

Isabella is trying out 2 different styles for Halloween. She has some cute little onsie's ("I love my mummy") and an adorable costume for Halloween!

Napping with grandpa - 10/20/2009

This evening, we took a nice long walk with Isabella and the dogs. Later, after supper, grandpa and Isabella took a little nap together on the couch. Too cute!

October 19, 2009 2 month well baby check up for Isabella

Today, Isabella went to visit Dr. Dodds for her 2 month well baby check up. She got a glowing report from her doctor. She is 23 1/2 inches long now and 10 lb 14 oz. She was very alert and seemed to be taking in all that Dr. Dodds had to say. She also was a little trooper as she received 3 shots (2 in 1 thigh and 1 in the other) and an oral immunization. Little ones these days get an arsenal of immunizations that our kids didn't. In addition to the DPT and polio that my girls got "back in the day", kids these days get immunized for meningitis, Hepatitis B, and more. Poor little things. All in all, Isabella has done wonderfully. No swelling, pain or crankiness.

This picture was taken later yesterday evening. Isabella likes to kick off her covers, so Jen has found some baby leggings to keep her little legs warm at night.

"Let's get physical, physical. I want to get physical, let me hear your body talk, body talk..." (For those that don't recognize the lyrics, it's Olivia Newton John from the very early '90's.)

The end of pool season 2009 :(

On 10/18/2009, we officially ended the pool season by covering the pool. Temperatures are in the low 60s and it's time to "close shop" 'til spring. Precious, our almost 9 year old Scottie, marked the occasion by taking a "header" in to the deep end (mind you, the water temperature is probably in the high 60s or low 70s). She was pursuing a bee that had landed in the pool. Ray yanked her out and all is well. (The funny thing is that Precious has only gone into the pool twice in a year and a half - the first time was in March 2008 and second time was this weekend. I can't quite figure out why she doesn't try to jump in during warm weather!) I'm looking forward to warmer temps and the next pool season. I can't complain; winter in South Carlina is a cake walk compared to winter up north!

October 17, 2009

Life is good...Isabella is growing like a weed and is such a lovely, happy child. We really could not be more blessed. What more can you ask for but a loving and close family?

Ride 'em Cowgirl! October 17, 2009

Give me a horsey ride, Gracie!

Something stinks!

What a big girl!

Snuggling Isabella!

Prize winning cradle - October 14, 2009

The State Fair judging is completed! Ron's cradle won not 1, but two 1st place ribbons - 1st in Baby/Child Furniture and 1st in Sweepstakes-Furniture (overall furniture, from what I understand)! How blessed we are to have a friend that would give our family such a very special gift and how honored we are to have his prize winning cradle as our family heirloom.

Drum roll, please! October 13, 2009

The State Fair judging is completed! Ron's cradle won not 1, but 2 1st place ribbons - 1st place in Baby/Child Furniture and 1st place in Sweepstakes-Furniture (overall furniture, from what I understand)! How blessed we are to have a friend that would think to give our family such a very special gift and how honored we are to have his prize winning cradle as our family heirloom.

The Poole Family cradle

Our dear friend, Ron Johnson, crafted this lovely cradle for our family. Isabella will be the first to use the Poole family cradle. Hopefully, many more babies over the coming generations will rest in this cradle.