Corn Festival, Soccer and Sasser Reunion= Busy weekend

The kids and I started Friday night with the Corn Festival at their school.  We had a good time but only one picture to prove it (actually taken by Aunt Steph). 

Right when we got to the school, we saw Izzy's PT.  She is wonderful and loves Izzy so!  I was thankful that Izzy didn't sign "all done" as soon as she saw her.  That is her new thing when Mrs. T walks around the corner before therapy starts.  Silly girl!  Then it was off to the bouncy houses and games.  We got there a little too late for hair painting but Ian is sporting a cool new look.
Saturday, of course, we began our morning with soccer.  The weather was beautiful so this is the first game we didn't sweat to death.

Izzy is getting attacked by the tickle monster.  Sister is ticklish!

Saturday afternoon, we hopped in the car and headed to Chipley for the Annual Sasser reunion.  The boys love Chipley so all I heard on the way was "are we there yet".   This was Izzy's first Sasser reunion since she had just had her Open Heart Surgery last year around the same time.  So a lot of extended family had yet to meet our beautiful Izzy in person.  Needless to say, I didn't see her much until bedtime.
When it was time to call it a night, we headed to Aunt Gloria and Uncle Marvin's house and the kids played a while before bedtime.

Izzy loves playing with the big boys.

                           

Then she tried to lug around Alea's doll that was the same size as her.

Then before bed, she had to get a little exercising in.  

 Look at Izzy stand!!  She is doing so good and actually wants to put weight on her legs now.  I think she is realizing she can see so much more when she stands up.
Even though there were plenty of beds, all the kids wanted to sleep in my room.  None were allowed in my bed so we made pallets for them on the floor.  All three of these kids are crazy sleepers and I have learned my lesson that if I want to get any sleep at all, my bed is off limits for them.

Izzy began her morning with some exercising.  We mean business in the Barfield/Holt family.

At least she had a great view!

 Sunday, we went back to the home place for the big lunch. We all ate some great food and enjoyed seeing family. It had been way too long between visits with some.
(These pictures were taken by Steph)

Deep in conversation!  These littles are 10 months apart but you wouldn't know by looking at them. 

                       


Enjoying her view



. 

 By the time we got home Sunday afternoon, we were all worn out and ready for a nap. 

We had a great but busy weekend full of family and good food. 

Showing a little love

These two sure do love each other!

Ok... I did it

I signed up to run a 1/2 marathon with Stephanie (SIL).  It is still sinking in but there is no turning back now.  I will do this!  I might be crawling by the time I get to the finish line but I will get to the finish line.
This is the one thing that I have always said I can't do... run. I admire those that run marathons but I always knew I would never be one of them. So to prove myself wrong and to show my kids that they can do anything they put their mind to... I am going to do it. 

I have 5 months to prepare and I have a lot of preparing to do.  It is time I get myself back into shape and also do something for myself. 
Wish me luck as I start preparing!!

Time out

Just kidding!  We were trying her out in the community kid's chair at Nana and Papa's and as you can see... Isabelle isn't too sure about it.  Oh well... maybe next time!

Isabelle's 15 month appointment

at 16 months old... don't judge!  This Mama is having a hard time keeping all the appointments straight.

Well... we were a month late for this appointment but we made it in before she got kicked out of daycare.  So all is well!

*Izzy is weighing in at 20 lbs 8.5ozs, 30 3/4 in. tall and head size 43 cm. (16 month stats).  On the DS charts that breaks down to approx 80% in height and 50% in weight.  So far she takes after her brothers in the height and weight department.   
*She is eating everything we are and loves politely throwing her food onto the floor.  Politely = throwing each individual piece on the floor and waiting for a reaction after each piece hits the floor.  How nice of her!  We are also beginning to work on table manners.  As you can see... we have a long way to go!

*Her doctor is very impressed with her muscle tone which we always love to hear!
*She finally has 2 teeth coming in.  Both are her molars on the top.  Yep, surprised her doctor as well.  The molars are not usually the first teeth to arrive but Isabelle plays her own way.
*She is scooting all over the place and nothing is off limits.  She will empty every bag and pull out every toy in the blink of an eye.  It is also time for us to invest in a baby gate for the stairs.  Sister has discovered the hallway and she is out of here!

Even though Isabelle prefers scooting as her main form of transportation, we are still working on crawling.  This past therapy session she stayed in a 4 point crawl for approximately 6 minutes while grabbing for objects and turning pages in her book (this improves balance).  Her longest time ever!  We are also working on Isabelle pulling up to a knee position to grab toys off our ottoman.  While this comes natural for most babies, Isabelle has to work long and hard to master these techniques.  It will take some time, but she will do it. 
Isabelle loves snuggling with her brother early in the mornings.  Normally he loves snuggling as well but this particular morning... he just wanted to play his DS.  A sweet moment quickly ended.

Isabelle goes back to the doctor at the end of this month for her 2nd flu shot and then returns again for her 18 month shots. 
Izzy- I promise to stay on top of the shot appointments next time so they are spread out a little more. 

A night out

The kids and I spent an evening at Destin Commons playing on the new playground and then we made a visit to Build a Bear.  The whole idea of let's just look/browse and not buy concept didn't go over so well with the kids.  Note to self for next time... kids are not good window shoppers!

Isabelle grabbing a little shut eye before the fun begins.

No pictures please!

I will take one of each please!

Trying a little begging.  Cute face but it still didn't work.

Since the begging didn't work, he thought maybe coming straight home and cleaning and starting his homework without being asked might help.  Good try!

Heart day- One year ago today

Isabelle, today is your heart day. One year ago today, I placed you in the arms of a nurse and watched as she walked you through the double doors and into the operating room. That was one of the hardest Mommy moments for me. I had to trust God like never before and trust that the doctor would take care of you and bring you back to me safe and healthy. I am so thankful for your Doctor and his team that they were able to repair your heart and now you are a new little baby. You no longer sleep most of the day due to lack of oxygen or from being overly tired. You can drink all the milk you want and need in one sitting without taking a break to rest. You are getting stronger each and every day. These are the little things that I took for granted when your brothers were babies.
The moment I was allowed into your room after your surgery was tough.  I wasn't prepared for what I saw.  Yes, I read blogs and looked at pictures but you are my baby and I wasn't prepared to see my baby like this.  I had to stay strong though because you needed me now more than ever.   

Recently, I told someone that your heart surgery was just this past September and just a few days ago I realized that “just this past September” was actually a year ago. It still feels like it was yesterday or just a few months ago. If I stop and think about it, all of the feelings/emotions come flooding back in. I am so thankful for this day - because you are healthier- but to be honest, I try not to think about it too much. That day and the days that followed are ones that a Mommy doesn’t forget but it is a part of us and the journey we are on. 

But Sister… you are such a strong girl. You amazed me, your entire family and the hospital staff. Everyone grew to love you in that short stay. Towards the end of your hospital stay, I would come in for the day and you would be chilling at the nurses’ station and that made me smile inside. I knew you were getting a little extra love and you so deserved it.

You are perfect and you’re Mommy, Daddy and brothers (along with many others) love you to the moon and back. It has taken me a while but I now know that God knew we needed you- just the way you are- in our lives. We couldn’t have asked for a better baby girl to complete our family.