Josh as Bella's stylist

april 22nd:  Found Josh "fixing" Bella's hair.  He was super proud and she was thrilled.  

April 21 and 22:  Every morning before I give Bella a  bath I put cotton in her ears with a little vaseline to protect her ear tubes.  Well, on this evening, I was giving her a nebulizer treatment with Asea and she decided to take her health into her own hands.  She wanted a cotton ball and then she HAD to hold the nebulizer.  She thought it was so funny to see the mist.  She would reach and grab for it, then laugh and talk.  It was 15 minutes of pure laughter

shaken the booty

More dancin!

Rockin out

April 22nd:  While I was getting ready for church, Josh decided to change our Sunday music to something with a little more beat.  I found him and Bella rocking out at the computer.  She definitely can shake her booty.

tongue

April 22nd:  She is so funny.  She is always playing with her tongue.  It is adorable.

April 22:  Sunday morning...Bella saw me putting on my jewelry and wanted some too.  I found this pearl necklace in my stash and put it on her.  She loved it.  She loves to feel pretty.  We also love having Aunt Tia hang out with us.  I think Bella may want a cell phone for her 2nd birthday-she picks up the phone and says hello.  At my parents house we had her call her cousin who was in the same room and put it on speaker phone.  She just smiled and laughed and jibber jabbered.  This has to be the funnest age.

Ball

April 7th: Went to wal mart to get a few items and Bella started screaming and wanted everything. I found this green ball and it kept her entertained and of course we had to buy it and bring it home. Her whole personality has taken another leap. She is now super silly, laughs a lot, and loves to play chase. Enjoy. She can also say the word ball.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday Lucy. Everyone had fun.

The Hunt

Mot and Brady took Bella to my parents yard where her cousins had hid easter eggs. After collecting a few, she decided to sit and open them up to eat candy. As you can see, she doesn't want just one in her mouth, she wants all the tasty jelly beans at once.

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's

April 8th: After church we went to my parents house for dinner and a birthday party. We got there early so Bella played with her chick and both she and Josh read stories with Grandpa. Bella also wanted to help Grandma clean the floors.

An Amazing Easter Basket

Kevin and Jelly met us at the church holding this basket and gifts. Josh and Bella wanted to devour everything at once even if it still had a wrapper on it. They have raced their chicks across the wood floor, and Bella enjoyed an evening bath with her bath toy(it is SO cool). Josh has been coloring toy story pictures and loving it. They both adore the Pez dispensers.

I wanted to thank you for the card and the words written. That meant a lot to me.

A big thank you to Kevin's mom for helping put it together. We are very thankful!

Happy Easter

My Favorite Pics: The sweetness of Adoption

I absolutely love these pictures. I am not one who is eloquent with words like Brien is, but I will try.

I am so grateful for Annibella. I love her so much and enjoy every moment with her. She is the most wonderful daughter a mother could have:) Every time I look at her I remember with how much love she was brought to our family with. I am sure that had to be the hardest decision that a soon to be mother would ever have to make, to place her baby for adoption. It is also the most selfless decision a mother can make.

This visit and time spent together I just kept thinking how wonderful it is to see the continued love that Kevin and Jelly have for Bella and our family. We love the both of you and you always have a place in our hearts.

Thank you for loving our family and for the opportunity to have a daughter. We love her, and we love you.

Dandelions

This picture has a story. Kevin had picked a dandelion and left it on the path. Bella walk right by and did not notice it. She was then given a dandelion and as soon as it was put it her hand she turned back and went back to the dandelion that Kevin and put on the path. That is why she has 2. It was cute.

My Favorite Pics

More Sweetness

Bella discovered Rocks. She would walk for a little bit then stop to pick some up and then give them to Kevin and Jelly. She would then brush the dirt off her hands and then get more. I love it when children learn to give and share. It was really sweet.

Happiness

April 7th: Met up with Kevin and Jelly for an easter egg hunt in Arlington. After seeing the traffic and crowds we decided to go to the park where we first took pictures. I was so happy. Bella warmed up so quickly and loved the time. It was nice to walk and talk together and see Bella totally being herself and watch her discover all sorts of nature and interaction and love with Kevin and Jelly. We had a wonderful time and both Brien and I left feeling peace and happiness. It was such a wonderful time. Enjoyed every moment! Thank you:)

Hot cereal is messy, but tasty

April 6th, Josh and Bella carried their drum ideas to the table for breakfast. Josh used his drumming spoon to eat with and Bella to a cap and used it as a spoon. They were just so funny in everything they did. Clean up was a chore, but the fun of watching them was well worth it.

The Band has increased in drums

April 6th: Yep, that is right. The few drums in the kitchen just wasn't enough noise...Glad someone is putting the kitchen stuff to good use! They had a blast all morning.

Pure Sweetness

April 5th: I arrived home at 9:30pm and the kids were in bed. When I looked on the table I saw these 3 hair clips I had made. (Josh finds joy in taking the clips I make and giving them away to people to be nice) When I moved the flowers off the paper, I noticed there was a note. I asked Brien if he knew anything about this and he said no. That mean Josh did this on his own! A proud to be Mom moment. For those who need translation for kindergarten writing the note says, "I love you Bella kus you are the best sister ever I love you Bella. Love Josh" Bella loved waking up to this note.

Also this morning (easter) Josh was sitting on the floor in the living room and Bella comes up behind him and puts her arm around him. It had to be the most wonderful moment to see the two of them so happy together and really care and love each other.

Our obsession with Smoothies

April 3rd: Our family LOVES jamba juice smoothies. We have one almost everyday. When the smoothies come to and end, we all get rid of the straws and drink the last few drops. Gotta love the smoothie mustache. I think Bella could live off these.

The cleaning crew

April 2nd: Every time a start to clean both Josh and Bella insist on having their own rag and scrub down the counters. They also love cleaning floors. I love the help:)