Amen, Isabelle

This year Isabelle started a pre pre-school at a local church.

She has learned so much and loves it so much.

We can not say enough positive enough things about this experience for her.

Every once in awhile she'll break out in a new song, sentence, or dance

that we are pretty sure she learned at school.

The latest is especially sweet.

Out of nowhere yesterday,

Isabelle told T and I,

"God is great, God is good.

Let us thank him for this food.

Amen."

Amen, Isabelle, Amen.

CreamPuff

How do I excuse my looonnngg absence?

In a single, sweet word - Creampuff

Nope not the yummy dessert treat, the yummy new addition to our family!

Our darling Juliette was born early this October.

(after 5 weeks of pre-term labor)

Yup, that's right!

5 weeks of daily contractions, bed rest, and stress.

((Thanks to my folks for staying 2 months to help us survive!!))

However Mother Nature agreed that 5 weeks of "labor" is just mean,

and I had an EASY delivery!

3 pushes and she was in our arms.

We are so much in love with her.

Isabelle has become the best sister ever!

And my recovery has been easy, peasy - so we've been doing lots of fun activities!

Our first trip outside the house.

We went to Daybreak to feed the ducks!

Lots of sleeping (well, Juliette has been..)

Our first visit with friends!

Our trip to the pumpkin patch at Wheeler Farm.

And a trip to the Zoo with Daddy & our playgroup.

I'm so in love and so happy being a mom to 2 beautiful girls

that I will probably put off re-opening my Etsy store till November.

Creative Friends Make Work Fun!

I met Viv earlier this year when she did Isabelle's 2nd year birthday photos.

She was so sweet and great with Isa!

I had known of her for awhile since we are both members of a local photography group.

(Since I've had Isa, my own photography has been shelved )

Well we just clicked and have been working together since.

She is an *awesome* photographer and has done a bunch of photo shoots lately

to help generate some new photos for my Etsy shop.

Here are the fruits of her labor - which can be purchased at my store.

And check out her site!

You will love her work!!

Zzzzzz

Isa must be having a growth spurt.

She's been doing a lot of new things this week,

and she's being such a *pain*.

I hate to say it, but when she goes through a little spurt,

it usually leaves me desperate to book a single, one way flight to Bora Bora..

I've spent way more time this week napping when she naps.

I know, I know..

I can hear you..

I need to nap - I'm in my 7 month of pregnancy..

It's just hard to be resting when I have so many new ideas,

and I know my life is only going to be all the more crazy in a few months.

Alas...

I'm going to take a nap.

Here are some photos from the shower of my wonderful mother and I!

Baby Shower For Miss Julie!

When we found out that we were having another bouncing bundle of pink,

I totally didn't expect to have a baby shower.

I figured if we had a boy then we would need some rough 'n tough items,

but I literally saved everything from Isa's babyhood.

Of course my family and friends

couldn't resist another pink baby shower though!

My mom and one of her best friends, the Original Martha truly outdid themselves.

The invites and boot favors were perfect for Julie's vintage cowgirl theme!

We had it at Dear Lizzie's in Alpine.

This place is every big girl's fantasy.

A frilly, sweet boutique with a quaint little tea room.

We spent the morning dining on tasty morsels and laughing over the trials and tribulations of motherhood. And then I was bombarded by the most thoughtful and adorable gifts!

I'm so lucky that my girls and I are surrounded by so much love and support!

((And no, I didn't get a single picture of myself or friends..

but I will be hopefully getting mom's photos soon and will post them!))