A little comparison...

Look how much my baby has grown!

This was Izzy's first Thanksgiving in 2011 and then this past one in 2013.  From beautiful baby to a beautiful little girl.  I would say slow down but to be honest... I am slow proud of the huge milestones she has hit.  Even though she has been our baby for a lot longer than the boys were, I am glad Sister is walking and beginning to have a speech explosion. 
She is so independant!  She now sits at the table like a big girl- no more high chair.  Her choice... not ours.  Most of the time she won't eat if we try to feed her.  This makes for messy dinner times but don't worry- Milo is always near by.  She is walking everywhere and by the expression on her face, she thinks she is running but her legs aren't moving quite as fast yet.  Izzy loves to dress herself in whatever clothes she finds near by.  Sometimes this isn't a good thing as I am still working with the boys on getting them to put their dirty clothes away.  What is it with removing every article of clothing right when you enter the house and drop it where ever you are standing at the moment?!? 
Our baby is growing up so fast!!  I love watching her learn and experience new things every day. 

Awesome shirt created by Angie!

Oh sweet Isabelle

But Mommy... I just want to pet him and squeeze him and love him. 
These two have a special relationship.  Izzy wasn't sold on him at first but now they are besties.  Milo lets her pull his ears and tail anytime but don't mess with him when he is eating or napping.  That sounds like someone else I know...

Oyster time...

Insert a picture of me doing the happy dance!!  Or not... that might not be pretty.  But I was very happy about some oysters!

Papa searched around the area for some oysters and he was able to find some at our local seafood market.  We had to say an extra prayer over these slimy delights since the rule is - you only eat oysters in months that end in R.  But... these came from another state and that combined with prayer -we felt we would all be ok.
The boys tried them and then wasted them by immediately spitting them in the sink.  But hey, at least they tried them.  The other cousins tried them as well but I don't think we have any new fans just yet.

Papa, Chad and I ate until we were about to bust and then we stuffed a few more in just to tide us over.  Yummy!!  Thanks again Papa!!

Better late than never...

Sometimes with winter comes the winter blues- and I live in Florida so I can't imagine what everyone up north is feeling.  I am a Florida girl through and through.  This last week has been just too cold for my blood.  So I have been hiding out as much as possible.

Bundled up in my footie pj's

Rewinding back to December... we enjoyed the Holidays and of course, they went by way too quickly.
There was the Christmas parade.  We didn't check the weather and we froze our biscuits off- note to self for next year.  I also think Ethan ate too many donuts or candy before we even left the house.

Their goal at the parade... collect as many beads and stuffed animals as possible.  This requires Izzy to stand in the front because everyone knows they throw stuffed animals to the babies in the crowd.

Then, we ended up at the Sasser family Christmas party. 
The boys attended a sleepover the night before and I don't think much sleeping happened.  We couldn't get him to wake up until half way through the party.

Sasser tradition... everyone signs their name on the Christmas sheet.  I think this has been happening since 2009.  We love to look back and find out names for the years before.

Papa and Izzy kissing under the mistletoe.  She is sure a Papa's girl!

Even Santa arrived at the party. 

Izzy was giving someone the evil eye because she thought she was going to take her baby from her.  We just found out that her MO at daycare is to take all the babies in the class and hide them in a cabinet so only she can play with them.  We questioned her on this behavior and she quickly admitted "Yeah".  At least she is honest.

My Aunt's sister made Izzy a blanket.  She now carries this blanket around the house to cover all her babies.

We did a little decorating around the house and then a few days after Christmas... I was ready for it to all be gone.  This year, I couldn't imagine our decorations staying up to New Year's so I packed things up and tried to get the house in order.  Now I am on a mission to de-clutter.  If it is laying on the floor, it might get thrown away- watch out kids.

                          
Izzy loved all the decorations.  She stood around saying "Ohhh".  In the picture above, I initially thought she was fascinated with the fireplace but then I found out she had found my soda and she was getting her first taste of a coke.  I think Sister liked it!
The kids went with Nana and Papa to the Barfield Christmas party so no pictures.  I was too sick to go this year. Boo!
We spent Christmas with both sides of the family so everything was perfect!!
Christmas Eve was spent with the Holt's then off to the Candlelight service.  As you can see... Aiden wasn't too impressed.  Just kidding!  He just need to rest his eyes.

 We also threw in a few dance parties.  This are a must in our house!

 Will you hold my baby?!?

Covering her baby with another blanket given to her my another Aunt.  I have a lot of Aunts- no joke!  She is stocked with babies and blankets now.  She is one happy little girl!

No shirt.. no problem!

 Izzy holding a light at the Candlelight service.

What is Christmas without a meltdown or two?!?  She might have just been scared of the big gorilla foot next to her.

meltdown= nap time.

Another holiday season full of memories.  So thankful for our little family.  We sure are blessed!

Winter brings....

...sickness in the Holt household.  Anyone else have the same problem??
Florida's weather can't make up it's mind this year.  One day, it is in the 70s and then the next day it drops to the 40s.
We got a good report for Aiden this past visit to his allergist and his lungs are back up to almost normal functioning range.  It only took us most of spring and all of summer to get them back to normal but hey... we got there.

He likes to find all of the different inhalers he has used.  I find this kind of sad.

Izzy on the other hand, has been sick for over a month and is now on her 2nd round of antibiotics.  She just can't seem to kick the germs out of her system.  She was so kind to share her germs with me so I just finished up my round of antibiotics.

Doesn't she look pitiful?!?

Talking a selfie while waiting to see the doctor.

Since Izzy got me sick, she delivered my dinner to the couch.  Some cuties from my cutie.

Brother... did I get you sick too??

These two love each other so much!

When Daddy leaves for work, Izzy is not happy.  One Saturday, she stood at her gate and cried until she was worn out.  So sad!

My litle Rudolph...

Snoring for the Lord in church.

One last treatment before bed.

Izzy is feeling much better now and I think -fingers crossed- that we are all feeling well right now.  Just in time for the holidays.

He's back...

Ollie the Elf has come back for a visit this year during the holiday season.  Last year, Mommy was lazy so Ollie stayed at the North Pole to help Santa prepare for Christmas.  This year, I thought about doing the same but again I was lazy and didn't pack Ollie away properly 2 years ago so the boys found him in my nightstand.  I will be the first to admit that I won't be winning the Mommy of the year award any time soon.
Sometimes I wonder how/why I got sucked into the Elf on the Shelf but I did and the boys love trying to find him each morning.  Izzy... not so much but give her some time and Sister will be sucked in as well.  The boys are starting to question Santa and his existence (thank you nice friends who like to spoil it for my kids and tell them Santa is really your parents...) but for some reason... Ollie- they believe.  We don't follow all the rules for the elf on the shelf but mainly just wake up to find what Ollie might have gotten himself into.
A few years ago, we traded the original Elf in for a new, creepier looking elf.  Did you think that was even possible? 
Ollie arrived at the house on Saturday while the boys were at a sleepover.  He tried to block them out of the house and ate some of the parade candy.  That will teach them to leave on the night that he arrives.  I would have loved to get their reaction but let's be honest... I wasn't getting out of the bed that early.

Next, Ollie wanted to measure himself on their board to see if he might have a growth spurt during the holiday season.  I ended up hanging him from the top of the board for the night for safe keeping.  Milo might get hungry and think Ollie is his snack.  He does like the taste of cotton and everything else for that matter.

Where will Ollie end up next?? 

Potty time

It is time to get this "Potty" started.
Izzy goes back and forth on whether or not she is ready to start potty training.  A few Saturdays ago, we decided to stay home and give it a try.  Nope... she wasn't ready that day.  The whole thing turned into a big game.  First, she kicked me out.  I guess Sister needed her privacy.  Then, she started playing with the door.  She is totally a door girl-  if one is open, she will close it (but not before you goes in and destroys whatever is behind said door).

 Next, she would open the door and yell out - " Potty, Da".  Yep, she is still not calling me Mom/Mommy/Mama.  I am not bitter or anything. 

 Last, she finally opened the door and said some gibberish I couldn't understand and then yelled for Papa. 

So... Papa, we need you to come over to the house and potty train Izzy.  It was her request!