Izzy Kisses

Isabelle's kisses are sweet... but they are also very wet. She does not quite understand the idea of kissing with her mouth closed... or with her tongue in her mouth. Isabelle kisses with her tongue out. Mommy still thinks they're sweet... even though I need a towel afterwards. In this video Isabelle is displaying her slobbery affection onto the characters in her books.

Cooking with Daddy :)

Isabelle loves cooking with her Daddy :)

ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!

Isabelle loves making animal sounds.... this one is my favorite :)

Where Shopping is a Pleasure

On a recent shopping trip, Daddy let Isabelle bring her shopping cart.

It's a bird... it's a plane... it's...

When enjoying the beautiful Florida weather (end of Nov. and we're in the 80's) Isabelle constantly scans the sky for birds or airplanes. As soon as she sees something, it's a really big deal... as seen in the following video :)

Florida Fun: playing with the hose outside in the middle of November....

You can't do this in Wyoming!!!!

Mommy's Big Helper

I'll feel like the luckiest Mom in the world if she keeps this hobby up for the next 18 years :)

TOUCHDOWN!!!

Isabelle LOVES watching Jets football with Mommy and Daddy! She's starting to learn the lingo too! Now, whenever we say "TOUCHDOWN," she throws her hands up in the air and jumps around :) Sundays are very entertaining at the Loscalzo household :)

Blanket Diving!

When Isabelle gets a little sleepy, she loves diving into pillows and blankets. Here is what is becoming a nightly game before bed time :) So much fun!

First Performance

At Westfield Shopping Town in Brandon this weekend, women from all over the Bay came together to receive free style consultations. Professional stylists were on hand to give free consultations and shop with women. Needless to say, this was a popular event. But, the star of the show was Izzy! While passing this hugely successful event, Isabelle decided to give her first performance in front of hundreds of adoring fans :) Hearing her favorite song, Isabelle busted out her best dance moves to entertain the crowd. HUGE SUCCESS - the ladies loved her (but not nearly as much as we love her!)

Finally Fall

Isabelle loves going for long walks :) Recently, our neighbors have put up all kinds of fall decorations. She LOVES the scarecrows!

Brushin three little teeth :)

Isabelle LOVES to brush her teeth. When she was younger, we made the toothbrush a fun game... and it really helped her to enjoy brushing her teeth. She RUNS to the bathroom to sit on the toilet and let us brush her teeth. She has to hold the toothpaste herself once we've put it on the brush. She is SO freaking cute. LOVE all of the weird facial expressions she makes here...

P.S. Crazy hair is from the pig tails she had in her hair :)

Slidin :)

One of our new favorite things to do is go to the park. It is really close to where Mommy works, so Daddy and Isabelle meet Mommy up there for lunch :) Isabelle had her first solo-ride on the slide the other day :D

Big Girl Talking

Isabelle is starting to talk more, but she definitely has a favorite word. I'm not really sure why she is microwaving her golf ball at the end, but maybe it helps it fly farther, I don't know



She also learned GO GO GO for the Jets big W against the Patriots-- here she is trying it out the day after

She's Special

Isabelle LOVES spending time on the backporch. Actually, Isabelle just loves to be outside, and Mommy likes the porch b/c she can't get into too much trouble out there :) Here she is experimenting with the sliding glass door... she sure is a special girl!

Fun with Daddy

Isabelle has tons of new toys from her birthday party that she loves-- but this girl can have fun with anything, including some phonebook pages

I'm Out Mom!

Now that Isabelle is an accomplished walker, she just LOVES to carry stuff around with her while she walks. She likes to fill a large basket with various toys and joyfully walk around with it. Here she is leaving Mommy and Daddy behind in her room while she goes to explore the hallway :)

Starting to Wean.....

off of Isabelle's heart medicine tomorrow! I'm excited and a bit apprehensive. It is VERY unlikely that she will have a repeat SVT episode until she is a teenager... but it's still nerve racking. Here is Isabelle wearing her "holter" heart monitor. She wears these every so often to make sure that her heart beats are normal and that she isn't going into a SVT rhythm. She will wear them more often after she is weaned off the medicine so we know for sure that she isn't having episodes without us knowing. This condition will be easier once she is older and able to tell us if something doesn't feel right. Keep us in your prayers that all goes well and Isabelle is weaned off of her medicine without incident!

Family Vacation

We just got home from an amazing vacation in Missouri :) We met our friends, the Melin's, halfway across the country. Since they were coming from Wyoming - MO was about half way. We rented a beautiful lake house on Pomme De Terre Lake! The kids had so much fun playing together :D Here is video of Isabelle's first boating experience. She was bouncing and talking when Justin pulled the boat out onto the lake. I'm telling you, this girl is FEARLESS!

Stumbles and success - Isabelle's first attempts at walking :)

Taking her first steps about a week ago, Isabelle is desperate to perfect her stride. Check her out this morning at the park:
Building on her previous momentum, Isabelle took about 6 steps and successfully moved from the foot of Mommy and Daddy's bed to the computer desk without falling :) Please excuse the mess in our bedroom ;D SHE IS GETTING SO BIG!!!! Can someone please tell me how to press the pause button?????

Coloring!!

We know, we know - she's still a baby... but we decided to break out the crayons anyways! We were too cheep to buy those round baby crayons - so we bought just regular fat crayons... Now, she's no Picasso, but I can see some real artistic merit in her colorings :) I'll have to restrain myself from wallpapering our house with her creations!

Applause please :)

Isabelle learned how to clap a few weeks ago. Mommy and Daddy showed her how to put her little hands together... and it didn't take long. However, Isabelle has been learning to clap for MONTHS! Mommy (an old woman at heart) LOVES watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy at night. So, Isabelle has always reacted to audience applause. This video was shot a couple days after Isabelle learned to clap... Now she claps with the audience on the show :) SOOOO funny!

Running

We got Isabelle a new toy that changes from a little push car to a shopping cart like walker. The first time she used it she didn't walk with it... she RAN. Feeling all of the freedom this walker would give, Isabelle jumped in head first and ran down the hallway to Mommy :) (Sorry the video was shot in the wrong direction)

Spider Girl!

Isabelle is going to walk any day now! Her newest accomplishment on the way to walking is a weird spider-like crawl. She gets up on her toes and crawls without her knees touching the ground. What can I say... she's.... Special ;)

Mommy's Girl

Sorry it's been so long since we've posted! Mommy's been busy finishing up the school year :) Isabelle did something today that made Mommy SOOOOO proud! Completely unprovoked, Isabelle picked up her brush and started styling Mommy's hair :) We tried to recreate the moment on this video... but it doesn't beat the first time! She's a Mommy's girl - it's all about the hair :)

New Discoveries

Izzy loves helping with the laundry! Recently, as she was helping Mommy sort and fold, she found the little button that turns the light on and off! She loves it!!! She is so curious about her world :D

The Stair Master!!

Isabelle loves new challenges! Lately, her goal has been the stairs :) With very careful supervision, Isabelle climed the entire staircase on her own!!!! She's such a big girl!!!

In honor of Mommy's birthday, Isabelle tried out dancing to her new Neil Sedaka cd from her great grandma Loscalzo :)She also did some crawling and crusing :) Life is good!

Missing Daddy - and Skype

Daddy's laptop computer is broken :( This is really sad for Daddy - and for us! We've gotten really used to Skyping (is that a word?) with Daddy while he's at work for 24 or more hours. Speaker phone doesn't quite compare to real live video - but Isabelle got her Daddy fix on the phone today...

Mommy's Helper

A Day in the life of

Isabelle Grace and Mommy (on a day that Daddy is working!)

5:30 am: Isabelle wakes crying - Mommy changes, nurses, and rocks her back to sleep! (successfully - sometimes she is up for the day at this point)

6:20 am: Mommy back in bed :)

7:00 am: Daddy leaves for work

8:30 am: Isabelle wakes giggling and scooting around her crib - Mommy nurses and changes her.

9:00 am: Isabelle plays in her exersaucer in the kitchen while Mommy makes and eats breakfast.

9:30 am: Upstairs in Isabelle's room. Isabelle practices crawling and plays while Mommy grades two papers :)

10:00 am: Mommy checks email and responds to work emails - Isabelle is very good on Mommy's lap.

10:30 am: Isabelle eats solids (applesauce today) she seems to like it! Mommy washes dishes while Isabelle scoots around in her walker.



11:00 am: Isabelle is cranky - Mommy rocks her for 15 minutes and she is down for a nap at 11.

11:30 am: Isabelle wakes from her nap due to a dirty diaper!

11:45 am: Mommy nurses Isabelle

12:00 pm: Mommy makes lunch for herself (turkey hot dogs) and she eats on the back porch while Isabelle enjoys the sun in her exersaucer.

12:30 pm: Isabelle and Mommy go upstairs and read a couple books - Isabelle eats half of a banana.

1:00 pm: Isabelle is cranky - Mommy gives her independent play time in her room - she calms some.

1:30 pm: Isabelle takes her medicine - and she is down for a nap.

3:30 pm: Isabelle wakes happily and nurses.

4:00 pm: Mommy and Isabelle skype Daddy at work :D

4:30 pm: We go on a walk to get the mail - short walk today b/c the wind is cold

5:00 pm: Isabelle plays in her bouncer while Mommy reads the mail.

5:30 pm: Mommy eats dinner - Isabelle is acting tired.

5:45 pm: Isabelle and Mommy play with Isabelle activity table. Isabelle is able to "cruise" to the different sides of the table. Mommy is VERY proud!

6:00 pm: Mommy nurses Isabelle early b/c she seems cranky and tired.

6:30 pm: Mommy wakes up Isabelle from nursing - and Isabelle is not happy about it!! But, Mommy wants Isabelle to sleep through the night! Start Isabelle's laundry.

7:00 pm: Mommy washes dishes - clothes in the dryer - Isabelle playing in her room.

7:30 pm: Mommy feeds Isabelle solids (chicken and sweet potatoes) then plays with Isabelle on the couch while watching Jeopardy :)

8:00 pm: Isabelle and Mommy go upstairs for quiet play before bed.

8:30 pm: Bath time - Isabelle VERY happy!

9:00 pm: Mommy gives Isabelle a bottle - nurses her a little and she's asleep in her crib!

10:00-11:00 pm: A little Mommy time in front of the TV!

11:00 pm: Mommy in bed :)

6:00 am: Mommy wakes Isabelle to nurse - and puts her back to bed.

9:00 am: DADDY HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Relaxing day with Daddy :)

Rug Rat on the loose!!!

She's getting so fast!!!

Swinging :)

Isabelle loves the big girl swing. Mimi and Mommy took Isabelle to the beach - and she laughed and laughed on the swing! She also loved to dig her fat little fingers into the sand. We went to E.G. Simmons Park in Apollo Beach. It's so close to our house! It's so good for her to get out and see new things!

Finally tall enough for her walker!

Isabelle has had an awesome walker since Christmas time. However, for some strange reason, she has not been tall enough to use her walker. This is strange since the walker is for babies greater than 4 months, and Isabelle is in the 90th percentile for her height! Well, it was worth the wait. Isabelle LOVES her walker.

Crawling

Here's quick video for Isabelle to show off her crawling skills :) We have some friends who haven't been able to see her crawl (namely our long lost buddies who live in Wyoming!!!) She's been doing this for about 3 weeks now - but she's getting quicker!! Time to lock down the house!!!

Boppin

Isabelle went to her first concert at the Strawberry Festival this weekend. Here she is looking intently at all the interesting people (come on, we're in Plant City) and boppin to the music :)

Already Best Buds!

Isabelle and Bentley have really bonded these last couple weeks. With Mommy or Daddy's help, Isabelle pets Bentley and lets him lick her hands. We say with our help because Isabelle would love nothing more than to dig her little fists into his thick white fur and PULLLL as hard as she could! Bentley is really smart though (at least when it comes to Isabelle). He gets close enough where he can lick her, but he knows not to stay still too long so she can't grab his fur.

Here she is learning how to play tug with Bentley. He is so good and gentle with her.

Crusin

Isabelle has loved to "stand" for a few months now. However, she is starting to do it on her own! She loves to pull herself up using her crib, Mommy's hands, or her activity table. These videos were shot the wrong way (Sorry!) but you get the idea :)

Ceamie

For those of you who don't know, "ceamie" is Brian's nickname for his favorite treat: icecream :) Isabelle got a little taste of her Daddy's keemey at Coldstone this week!
And after that first glorious taste - here she is fighting for more! Watch out Daddy!!!

One of the last times in her little tub :(

Isabelle is SOOOO long now that her feet have to rest outside of her little tub when we give her a bath. This next week she will graduate to the BIG tub! EEEKKKKK! Can't believe she's getting so big. Here she is splishin and splashin...

Balloon Fun

It turns out the Izzy loves balloons :) Daddy got her a very special balloon for Valentines Day and Isabelle loves making it bounce up and down! We (of course) always have her under good supervision with the balloon b/c of the long string! She is getting so big, and she is SO MUCH fun!

Carrots - YUCKY!!!

Isabelle tried carrots for her 6 month birthday. She DID NOT like them ONE BIT. This video is sooo funny...

SOOOOO SWEEEEPPPYYYY

Life is always full at laughs at the Loscalzo house. For example, yesterday Isabelle fell asleep on Mommy after she was done eating. Fighting her sweeeppyy head, she wanted so badly to smile and laugh with Daddy. Alas,her head proved to be too heavy :) Such a funny little girl. Ignore Mommy's appearance in this video - I just got home from work and was VERY SWWWEEEPPPYYY myself :)

Isabelle LOVES her bouncer. Here she is bouncing to the beat of a very fitting song for her. Watch her lips - her new favorite sound is a wet raspberry noise :) WE LOVE HER!!!

Stepping Out

Isabelle loves to walk - with assistance from Mommy or Daddy of course. I'm starting to think she may walk before she crawls :)

Twinkle Toes

Check out this fancy footwork! Izzy LOVES to dance :)

Ice cream and cake and cake :)

Mommy LOVES cake - so, fittingly, Mommy always sings the Baskin Robbins icecream and cake song with Izzy. While vising the Loscalzos in Spring Hill this weekend, Isabelle decided she wanted to dance the icecream and cake! So cute, enjoy!!

She's a Squeeler!

Isabelle loves practicing all of her sounds late at night and early in the morning. She loves to listen to the noises she knows how to make, and she always watches for our reactions! One morning, we listened to Isabelle wake up and practice all of her noises before the day began :) She's getting SO BIG!!!

5 Months :)

Can't believe our baby girl is 5 months old. Here are some pictures of our growing girl. She is 13 lbs 6 oz... and very tall :) She's in the 75th percentile for her height!! We think she'll be crawling before the month is over... What a little angel :)