If you're happy and you know it...

We've sang this song to Isla for many many months, so it's so much fun to see her recognizing the song and joining in with the clapping!

9 months old

Isla turned 9 months on November 22. She's made so many developmental changes these past few weeks. She now claps her hands. Says Mama, Dada, bye-bye and Papa...or noises that sound very similar to those words. She has done her first sign language for 'more' which ties in with her eating more and more table food. We try to give her whatever we eat, as often as possible. She loves chicken enchiladas, her morning oatmeal with banana and all the fruits and veg we've given her. She hasn't really turned her nose up to anything yet, so we'll just keep broadening her tastebuds. She's still a super sleeper putting in 12+ hours each night and taking 2 naps each day. She is so happy and smiley and loves being arounds people. She hasn't gotten any stranger anxiety as of yet, so long may that continue. At her 9 month appointment, she checked out healthy as can be and is in the 40th percentile for height and weight. She hasn't showed any true signs of crawling yet, though we set her up on all 4s, and she just collapses to her belly and rolls wherever she needs to get. She continues to bring more happiness and joy to our lives every day. We feel so blessed to have a happy and healthy baby in our lives!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for with little Isla, so it seemed fitting that we host Thanksgiving at our house. My Aunt Jane and John flew in from Wichita and my cousin Jenny flew in from Austin. My parents were here, along with Monica, Stacey and the boys. Isla loved having a full house, always having someone to play with and be the center of attention. Everyone left yesterday evening, and she's been looking around all morning for company to entertain her. We all ate too much, drank loads of fabulous wine and enjoyed quality family time together. Bring on Christmas!

Yes, the tree is up!

In preperation for hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year, I am trying to be on the ball and get as much done in advance as possible. Thus, last Wednesday, I put up and decorated our Christmas tree. And, it had to be pink for our little princess Isla this year. It's a good thing she's not able to crawl yet, though she did roll over to the tree and try to grab at the ornaments. She doesn't seem as intersted in it lately. Just wait until there are some presents under it!

Visit from the cousins

That's actually a happy face from Isla

Isla's cousins Rhett and Spencer stopped by for a bit yesterday. Isla just lights up when they are around and is thoroughly entertained by them. She gives them hugs and loves to pat their hair. She's going to love having the house full over Thanksgiving!

First snow

It's been an incredibly mild fall, but winter finally hit us this past Tuesday. I formally introduced Isla to the snow on Wednesday morning, bundled up in her snowsuit, hat and mittens. She wasn't sure what to think of it, especially when she took off one of her mittens and stuch her little hand straight into the snow. Brrrrrr!

Spencer's birthday weekend

Our nephew Spencer turned 4 yesterday and we headed to Eads for the weekend. We got to see Rhett's 5th & 6th grade team win their football league championship on a warm Saturday morning. Spence had a big party yesterday, and Isla loved all the action and time with her cousins!

Happy Halloween

Isla's first Halloween started out with a bash at our friend Stephanie's on Saturday evening. It was so fun and cute to see all the babies dressed up, though the costumes didn't last long. Sunday we dressed Isla up and sat on our front porch to greet our trick or treaters. She was a patient and tolerant little monkey!