Isabel Turns Five!

Happy birthday to Isabel, who celebrated for two days. Her birthday was on Sunday, so we just had our own little family time, and then a friend party on Monday. She is getting to know a lot of the kids here, from preschool and church. She is always asking to play with someone.

What can I say about Isabel? Well, I was thinking back over her birth this morning. Some of you may not know this story: Isabel had two due dates, one calendar date and one ultrasound. The dates were january 4th and 16th. This is quite a big amount of time when you are super pregnant. After we ended up passing the 16th, we decided to induce labor. That way we could take Abby to Grandma's and not worry about middle of the night drives in 45 min to the hospital. As we got the Pitocin started, I asked the doctor if he had any predictions on what time she might be born. It was January 17th, so he guess 1:17 pm. Well, we walked for a while, got the epidural, and when it was time to push, it was just after one. The doctor came racing back from the clinic, just in time for Isabel to arrive, and amazingly, he was able to mostly deliver her at 1:16, and held her foot in until the clock turned to 1:17 pm. It was funny and memorable, and that was how little Isabel arrived. She has always been a happy little thing, full of energy, and constantly talking. She is tough, but also can get her feelings hurt. Her attitude has always been, and I quote " but I want to do what I want to do!" She is funny and ticklish, gets along well with most people. She loves everyone she meets, including delivery men, painters (who she drew a picture for) and home teachers. A few months after we moved our home teacher came. Isabel was climbing all over him. By the end of the visit she kissed him on the cheek. After he left, she told me she wished I had married him, instead of Daddy, because she loved him. But don't be fooled, she loves her dad and follows him everywhere when he is home, working in the garage or wherever he is. She is smart and creative, loves to smile and laugh. She has always been our little climbing monkey, and fittingly had a monkey party this year. Everyone was so kind and she got some cute little presents. We got her a CD player and now she loves to rock out to her music, and I am hoping she will be respoinsible enough to take care of the player and the CDs. Isabel is also a great dancer, not shy at all and loves to wear dresses constantly. In Joy School last year she won the Fashion Diva award for her many beautiful outfits. She will find a way to wear a dress somehow, even if there are pants under it and a warm shirt over it.

She has been the most intersted in little Whitney, wishing she could hold and carry her all the time. She loves to talk to her and laugh with her. She even tells Whitney "You can pull my hair if you want to"

A few days ago I let the girls watch a bit of the news about Haiti and explained what had happened. We decided to give some money to the Red Cross, but Isabel also went and got some of her favorite stuffed animals, which she loves, and brought them to me to send to the children in Haiti who had no moms or dads.

So I just wish all our family and friends were closer to get to spend more time with our sweet little pixie with attitude, we love her and are so glad to have her in our family!