Child Study Center

Sorry this is out of order, but we went to the Child Study Center on Friday for Bella's 2 year check up. Bella was great! She "performed" well and was very out going so they were really able to see all that she is able to do like stack blocks, name body parts on a doll, do shape puzzles, run, kick a ball, point to pictures etc.

The one area that she is lacking in and they are concerned about is in her speech. So they have recommended putting her in speech therapy. Since Bella was a preemie she qualifies for some free services and then we are going to have her pediatrician order some therapy so we can get some private therapy as well. They didn't seem overly concerned about it, but said it was better to get a jump on it so it doesn't become a hindrance.

Grant and I feel that if this is all that we have to deal with considering her beginnings, then we are doing great! What a blessing!

Happy Birthday Lady Isabella Grace!

Bella's birthday party was on Saturday and we had a lot of fun!

 I posted last year that there is a tradition in my family that the children get a different figurine candle to display in honor of each birthday until their 18th birthday. This year's candle was an owl to represent the owl theme we did for her birthday.

 One of the favorite gifts was the backpack with the dolly holder on the back. As you can see this allows her to keep Bunny with her even easier. Now she still has her hands free to carry her books around.

 One of the crafts I had for the kids to make was sock puppets so we were entertained with a puppet show before everyone left.

 Here are our puppeteers.

Here is a picture of the cake I made with the party supplies and candles. I wished for my mother as I was making the cake. She made our cakes growing up and I was having trouble with the icing, but thankfully my Mother-in-Law, Ann and my niece Henley were there to help and give moral support. I have to say the cake turned out pretty well after all!

A few other neat things about the party were that my sister, Rebekah was able to be in town from Lubbock for the party and my dad and our friend Susan got home from a mission trip to India the night before and were able to be here as well.

Onion Ring

Last night we were eating at Olive Garden and Bella pointed to the onion in my salad. She's such a picky eater I thought why not give it a try if she was willing. I gave it to her and she immediately put it on her wrist like a bracelet. Thanks Gran, everything round must be a bracelet! :)

Oh my!

Yesterday Bella threw a temper tantrum all the way through Hobby Lobby because I made her ride in a cart.

Today I took away my scrapbooking adhesive so Bella went to the kitchen rug to lay down and cry. Then she started looking in the oven door at her reflection while she cried.

After that she was eating her applesauce with her finger. I told her several times that she needed to use her spoon when she wouldn't I went to take the bowl away and she stuck her whole hand in to try and scoop it out before I took it away.

My, my welcome to a 2 year old!

Playin' in the Pool

Bella had a ball in her new pool. I'm not sure what she likes better though. Falling back into the water or climbing back and forth over the side. Either way it is a big hit!

All By Myself

We may be a little late in starting this, but Bella ate a whole bowl of yogurt all by herself today! We've been working on it little by little, but this is the first time that I've given her the whole bowl to eat by herself. Her face was covered, but it wasn't on the floor or in her lap so I thought that was a good sign! :)

Little Things

Just a few little things that would be neat to remember.

1. You like to draw with both hands at the same time.

2. You were sharing your water with bunny today in the car.

3. Dora the Explorer and Disney's Tangled are your favorite things to watch.

4. You made a new friend on the playground today.

5. Cheese and animal crackers are your favorite foods.

6. You like to make faces in your reflection on the oven door.

7. You call Daddy "Dada" and you call Mommy "Da".

8. Your mommy and daddy love you very much!