Poor Bella

We like to play all kinds of games with Bella. We found Abbi's old play wig while doing some cleaning and decided that Bella would look pretty cool in it. As you can see, she was not nearly as amused as we all were.

Play Time

I like to come over to mom's house in the mornings so that Laura and I can play with the babies. One morning we spent a long time playing with Bella and a blue bandana. Bella thought it was the greatest thing ever. She chewed on it and we pulled on it. We played dress up with it. It turned out to be an exciting toy. We try to get Dawson and Bella to play together, but really they just dont' have any interest in each other.

Playing with Bella

What exciting lives we have now.... Saturday night and what have we been up to? Playing with the babies ofcourse. Bella has discovered her feet and enjoys spending time chewing on them as well as talking to them. She is working very hard on sitting up. She loves to be up on everything so she can see what everyone is doing.

I love my hand!

Don't get in my way!

Look at her go. Bella sure loves to play in her walker. Her little toes can barely touch the ground but she can still manage to go across the floor (backwards ofcoarse). The little toys on the top of the walker spin and she can spin them round and round and round. What a joy the walker is to Bella..... and to mommy (I get 20 minutes most days to work on stuff around the house thanks to this fabulous invention.

Two peas in a pod

...or two sleepy babies in carriers

Aunt Abbi

Look everyone.....I have two!

Veronica and Bella

My friend Veronica came to visit. We had a wonderful time. It was nice to get to have someone my age to hang out with. Bella took right to Veronica, but then again who wouldn't.

The blue sucker

So, maybe I give in occasionally. I let Abbi give Bella a blue sucker. You can just see how much fun that was!

shake rattle and ROLL

boy oh boy.... Bella has most definitley figured out how to get from point A to point B. Her method of travel however can be quite amusing. She has a very sophisticated method of scoot, scoot, roll, scoot, roll, squirm etc. She is so fun to watch. She will be peacefully playing on a blanket when out of now where she sees something across the way that she just has to have. She does her combination of rolls and scoots until she gets to where she wants to go.

She has figured out how to get her knees slightly up under her, but crawling will still take a bit to figure out. What a joy she is to watch. She discovers new things all the time and I discover them right along side her. She talks up a storm now. We spend so much of our time visiting and playing on the floor. I am in the process of childproofing my house as well as getting her bedroom all ready for the upcoming adventures she will have.

Bella's great-grandma Harke is coming to see us tomorrow and we are so excited. Cousin Dawson is getting so big! I can't wait for the two to get to play.

Growing Up

Bella has filled out so much. She is such a joy to watch. Everyday holds some new discovery for her. At this exact moment she is in the other room talking to some sheep that are hanging from the pack and play. She squeels and gurgles and makes all sorts of fun noises constantly now. She is such a beautiful little girl ( not that I am biased or anything). She loves to sit up and stand up all the time. She is very active now. I am so amazed at how much she has changed in such a short time. I am anxious for visitors that we have coming soon to see how much she has changed. My friend Veronica and Bella's Great Grandma are both coming soon!

I'm an Aunt

I guess I hadn't really given it much thought. I knew that I was a mommy and Laura was going to be a mommy.... I forgot all about the fact that I get to be an Aunt! I get to have a very special role in Dawson's life. I get to buy all of loud annoying toys for Dawson that I would never buy Bella.

I had to work Friday night and didn't make it to the hopsital until about an hour and a half after Dawson was here. Thankfully I was escorted right in and got hold my special nephew.

Cereal for Me

Bella had her four month doctors appointment a little over a week ago. She is doing wonderfully. She weighed 11 pounds 10 ounces. Her pediatrician and I have decided to be cautious and keep her on the monitor until she is sixth months. But really for Bella six months is 7 and a half months because of her being premature. The monitor can be a hastle sometimes, but it is all worth it in the end.


It's finally time. Last night Bella had her first taste of cereal. She did quite well with it. She is definitely growing up quick. Seeing Dawson reminds me of just how far we have come in four short months.

I have a cousin!

Bella and Dawson...Best Friends Already!

Dawson Michael Rees was born Friday July 22nd at 10:56 p.m. Weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces he is exactly double what my petite princess Bella weighed. Bella decided to properly welcome Dawson into the world by chewing on his hand. Dawson wasn't very impressed.

Playing House

Wake up and have breakfast, then play with the baby, make lunch, do some laundry, do dishes, go to work, come home, go to bed, wake up and do it all over again.

I can remember playing house as a girl and immitating all of the daily activities I saw Momma doing. I can remember thinking how wonderful it would be to have my own little home and make cookies all day long. Well I suppose that I finally have that all, ofcoarse it's not quite as simple as it seemed. I am enjoying having my own space. Bella and I are getting along quite well in our cozy little home. There are still a few boxes hiding in corners, and pictures get moved around all the time, but it's coming together nicely. We are getting into a routine and getting organized; both of which make me extremely happy. I think that I work much more efficiently with my own little system and organization. I still visit mom's house every day (well in fact I am here right now getting ready to eat dinner with them) I can't believe how much life has changed. Some days I still feel like a little girl just playing house. But now I have an actual little baby that I am responsible for raising...what an amazing gift and responsibility. Although most days I don't really feel as though I know what I am doing, I think that things are going pretty well for us.

Each day I think Bella and I both grow in our new life. She learns and experiences something new, and so do I. I've always loved being a student and constantly learning. My friend Jennifer and I used to joke that we would be content being lifelong students and always experiencing new things. I think I've stumbled into the most natural and advanced method of achieving that, being a mommy!

I'm the Mascot!

At one of Laura's baby showers, Bella got to dress up like a little duck and be the mascot! Doesn't she look cute!

Bella and Bradon

Bradon just loves Bella. He is always wanting her to play with him and sit with him. He brings her candy when he sees her. What fun it will be when Dawson gets here and there are two babies for Bradon to love on.

I'm a Happy Girl!

Playtime...Bella loves to play by herself every morning. She talks to herself in the mirror. Stares at the colorful wall hangings in her room. Tells all her secrets to Best Friend. It's so fun to peek in and to see her enjoying her world. Each new discovery is truly amazing.

Brandon and Bella

Bradon and Bella like to hang out together. This particular evening they were having a heart to heart discussion about life.

My Butterfly Outfit

Momma and Laura surprised me by dressing Bella up in her wonderful butterfly outfit and bringing her to Chilis to see me. I was so excited to see her! Everyone at Chilis was naturally impressed with her (I mean who wouldn't be)

Look, It's Me In The Mirror!

The Froggy Song

Bella has a favorite song. We sing her a little tune I learned at church camp when I was younger. It involves sticking your tongue out and making silly noises. Bella loves it! When we first started singing it, she smiled and laughed. She now joins with us by sticking out her own tongue and attempting to make the same silly noises. It is an amazing site to see this little bitty girl sticking her tongue out. My smart beautiful daughter never fails to impress me. I thought I was supposed to be teaching her, but really I think she is the one teaching us. She makes my life easier by being such a self content and smart baby.

The frog song is complimented by one of Bella's stuff animals. After my good friend Amber's shower gift of frog items, we purchased several more. One of which we named Best Friend. Best Friend is an adorable little frog that goes everywhere with us. Bella likes to chew on him. Best friend, Bella and I sing the frog song over and over again each day.

It's You Again!

I think my favorite time of day would have to be mornings. This is a strange sentence to be typing considering I have spent the past four years of college hating morning classes. I have changed my mind because of the wonderful greeting I have each and every morning. It is amazing to watch Bella wake up and see this sense of wonder and excitement on her face. She looks confused at first but then starts looking around at things with a huge grin on her face. It is almost as if she forgot about everything overnight and is seeing everything for the first time. She looks around at everything and then focuses in on me. Her face lights up and she gives me the most wonderful smile. Her arms tighten up and she kicks faster than I would have ever thought possible. She and I lay together and talk for the first 10 minutes of every day. I can't imagine a better spent morning. Bella stares at me as if she spent all night wondering where I went and then suddenly I appear and everything is all better. Bella is now cooing and immitating my movements. We lay there and as I talk to her, she opens and closes her mouth, talking back to me. What a reason to get up!

Mommy's Day Out

Well after three months of officially being a mom, I decided that it was time for a day out. I never leave Bella except when I go to work, so a little break has been sounding pretty good to me. The Chilis training team in Bartlesville had their annual float trip planned and invited me to go along. I was thrilled to go and had a fabulous time. I felt pretty anxious leaving Bella all day, but Laura is amazing with her so that put me at ease (atleast as much as possible for my first full day away). The trip was just what I needed. It was a strange experience for me. I was kicked back having a good time, but I still felt this partial feeling of anxiousness and responsibility. I guess that is a feeling I should get used to. My carefree playtime days have been replaced with a new type of playtime. I wouldn't trade it for anything though. I am now home, red-faced, rested, and content. What an amazing trip!

Pickles Please

We have discovered that Bella absolutely loves to lick and suck on pickles. She gets very intent and serious and just goes to town. What a joy it is to see her discover new things and decide what she likes and does not like. We let her try a little bit of lemon..... She didn't care too much for that. Her first taste was sauces from our Chinese meal. She likes sweet and sour as well as the sauce on sesame chicken.

She is changing everyday it seems like. Mornings are her favorite time of day, so it would seem. She is always full of smiles and excitement. It is almost as if she forgot everything overnight and suddenly sees her surroundings and is thrilled to be there. She looks at Laura and I as if she hasn't seen us in forever and has missed us bunches. I wish I could feel the same way in the mornings!