Getting our feet wet...

As you can see I have the death grip on Bella as she tests the water

Bella in her life jacket.

Jason and Bella

Grandma and Grandpa Bartell came up to visit us at the cabin. Bella was on their team for Polish horseshoes!

Bella thinks Grandpa is funny, smart girl!

We had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend up at the cabin. Isabella tested the waters, good thing I was holding on tight or she would have left me at the shore for sure! We've had a great breakthrough recently...Isabella has learned how to safely descend stairs. She'll still walk right off the step if we are there to hold her hand, but otherwise she'll turn around and go down backwards on her stomach/knees. This is a milestone at least 6-months in the making, we're proud! Bella's vocabulary continues to increase and now includes: hi, bye bye, water and buckle.

Long time, no post!

Happy Mother's Day!

Bella & Grandpa (Grandpa made this bench just for Bella - she loves it!)

Bella in her sun hat!

Bella wearing daddy's boots!

Bella loves to climb into her toy basket and bask in the toy glory!

In the day-to-day routine our life seems a little boring, hence nothing new to post. But take a couple weeks off from the blog and all of a sudden there seems to be a multitude of news to post. I hope you have time to take it all in...

• Isabella has really started to increase her vocabulary...here is the list of words she says: mama, dada, Rocco, Bella, sit, shoe, cracker, hot, hat, juice, rocking.


• Bella is getting her incisors in...those darn teeth have been taking forever. I've been freezing wash rags for her to chew on, they work great.


• After months of attempts, Bella finally created music on the harmonica, she loves music. She also loves to dance and does the cutest little twirl move.


• Bella has a facination with shoes, she loves them. It doesn't matter who the shoes belong to, any shoes will work. She try to put them on and walk in them.


• Isabella loves to be outside, our new swingset will be delivered in a couple weeks...probably just in time for mosquito season. Any tips out there for safe bug-repellent for the little ones?


• Bella continues to be into everything, and climbing, or trying to climb on everything.


• Exciting news for me! I bought a new car over the weekend. Common sense prevailed a I bought a new Toyota Camry Hybrid. Well maybe that isn't common sense, but certainly is good sense compared to any SUV.


• Not much new with Jason. He is training at Camp Ripley this week. Overall he's very busy with work, school, yard maintenance, working out...he just keeps going and going.


• Last but not least, I finally completed a website for my dad...check it out and let me know what you think, I'm still fine tuning: http://www.wildironimages.com/

Puddin Pie

Life has been busy at our house. Jason has returned from his extensive traveling, at least for the time being. I am happy to have him home. He has been keeping busy between State Patrol work, Amtrak work, school work and yard work. He manages to do all this AND help out with Bella. It wears me out just thinking about it.

The weekend was good, Bella and I had a playdate with the Stang's and Crandall's on Saturday. Grandma B. watched Bella for a few hours on Saturday afternoon while I did some much needed shopping and Jason finished some school work. Jason and I met up for an early dinner - a treat to have a relaxing dining out experience. (life certainly changes when a 1-year old is in tow)

Sunday I spent the afternoon with my neighbor working on Bella's scrapbook - I'm now up to when she was 2-months old..WOOHOO! Progress!

Bella has been insistent lately on feeding herself...even when the food isn't designed to be "finger food". The picture above is from her attempt at feeding herself pudding. Silly girl!