HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Today is Lexi's first halloween and I am super pumped up and excited to put her back into her little ladybug costume and take pictures by our vampire cat pumpkin that is guarding our front door.   This is the first time in a few days I have had the time to sit down and blog so lets update you on what has been going on in the Izzo household.

Last week my sister-in-law did a truley selfless and inspiring act of kindness when she donated her kidney to her ill father-in-law.  The procedure went well and she is at home recovering and we wish her a speedy and easy one.  I am so lucky and blessed to be able to call her family.

We finally got a security door installed and at the perfect time to use it too.  The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous, this is why I love living in the Valley.  While everyone else is suffering with the cold and snow we have sunny 80s! 

This weekend my mom and sister Jill came down to visit and help us carve our pumpkin.  Let's just say that Jill is a pro at the carving business, she took control and we have an awsome vampire cat to prove it.  Thanks Auntie Jill for making Lexi an awsome 1st pumpkin.  We also took a ton of pictures which I am excited to post for everyone to see.

Lexi is still being a bit of a pill when it comes to eating.  One day she likes something the next she doesn't or gives me a hard time about it.  I keep trying to sneak in more table foods but she refuses most everything, especially meats.  One day one day. 
Teeth update- NONE, still all gums my little one.  10 months in a week from yesterday and not a tooth to show for it.  However, I still get to see that beatiful huge gummy smile everyday which is so great.
She tries so hard to stand up on her own without any help from a stationary object.  She is so cute while she is doing thing, rocking onto her knees and hands in the air.  Then she gets frustrated and pouts.  Once standing she is balancing on her own for longer and longer, longest to date has been just about a minute!  Of course everytime I go for the camera to document this magical moment she sits back down.  She sits so gracefully, it's adorable.

Yesterday I got a chance to do mom things sans baby.  It was nice but at the same time I felt like i was missing something the whole time she wasn't with me.  After we got her down for a nap mom, jill, and I took the oppurtunity to go shopping.  After shopping I dropped them off at my house and drove up to Scottsdale Fashion Square to see my great friend Kim for a wonderful makeover!  Thanks again Kim for making me feel like I still have some women in me!  After the makeover we got to grab a little bite to eat and gossip, which is what we do best!

Today after our morning walk and breakfast of some peach yogurt Lexi and I headed out to the Skyline park just down the road from our house.  I have been dying to get her in one of those baby swings.  Luck would have it that they had 2 baby swings, my luck- Lexi did NOT enjoy being in the swing on her own.  I was able to get a couple pictures before she had had enough.  We spent a lot of time just playing in the grass and with her swinging in my lap.  We got home and she had her bottle and is napping peacefully in her crib as I snack on goldfish and update the world.

yuckin it up with daddy

my lil ham

everyone is enjoying the new door

airplane ride via auntie jill

first pumpkin experience

big helper

the seed baby

she's had about enough pumpkin for one day

napping with auntie jill after the big pumpkin carving

checkin out her lit up pumpin

finished

not so sure about this swinging stuff

awww much better on the ground in mommys lap

can't....let....knees....touch...the....grass

Prescott and the Phx Zoo!

Friday we had a very quiet and peaceful ride up to Prescott.  We were there for the weekend to celebrate with The Hibberd's and their friends for Jackson's first birthday.  Let me just say that it was so wonderful to get to be a part of such a momentous occasion, Tamara and Nate did such a great job on the party.  I was pleasantly surprised by how well Lexi did at the party.  She wasn't glued to me and she even just went about her own business playing with toys and visiting other people.  The sweetest moment was when she crawled over to grandma and fell asleep in her arms.  Aside from the birthday party we got to spend a lot of time with grandma and grandpa.  My mom was in heaven on Monday morning when she ran home from work in the early am and Lexi reached out for her to hold her!  THEN it happened again when we went and surprised her at the end of the day at the health department.  It is so great to see my little girl go willingly to those who love her.  She has changed so much in a just a matter of weeks.  It didn't take long at all for her to remember her grandma and grandpa and we didn't have to spend 3 or more days getting used to them again.  It was a much needed and appreciated break of bottle giving and getting her to bed.  It melts my heart to watch my parents enjoy their time with her. 

At our favorite place in Prescott....Macayos patio

Today we meet with Becky and Hayden and spent the whole morning at the phoenix zoo.  It has been so long since I have been and there are so many neat new things there now.  I think Lexi really enjoyed it, even if she was people watching more then animal watching.  I love the zoo and am so glad that it is a place where Lexi and I can go together.  It was a great way to get some exercise and mommy time for Becky and I and I can't wait to go again!  Lexi is still sleeping and it is going on just about 3 hours now so it was also a good way to wear her out.  We are now members so if anyone wants to go, hit me up!!

First time at the zoo

best friends?!  i think so :)

Update on what Alexia is doing to this date:  sleeping is still more bad nights then good, but we are making it through.  I find her balancing on her own more and more especially when she is busy with something and doesn't realize she is no longer holding onto anything :)  I swear she is starting to teeth, she must be.  She gnaws hard core on anything she can get her little mouth around.  Last night it was my knew and elbow.  She has also started making a cute little clicking noise with her tongue and she finds it incredibly amusing when you do it back to her.  And last but not least and certainly the most adorable.  She has finally really found her feeties!!  She will sit in her stroller or carseat and just play with them forever.  They have found their way into her mouth and I think it is so cute!!

Fall in Prescott

someone loves her grandpa

Cheerios

Ah the joys of starting table food with Lexi.  I'm not sure who gets more, Lexi, the dogs, or the bottom of the highchair seat :)  Lexi is going to have these dogs wrapped around her little fingers soon enough now that she feeds them what she doesn't want from her highchair.  What a smart girl.  I can see her slipping them her green beans, peas, and broccoli under the table when she is a little older already.  Today Lexi had her first grilled cheese and I am happy to say that it went over well.  Trying to get her to eat the meats is a different story.  It seems like she only wants to eat stage 2 veggies and any fruit you put in front of her.  The jarred baby food stage 3 meats she was eating a few weeks ago make her turn away and clamp her lips shut.  Arg.  This meal time thing sure can get a little frustrating but its those times where she tries something for the first time and actually likes it that make it all worth it!

Mac and Cheese for the 1st time

Todays lunch of grilled cheese and fresh peach

who can resist the naked baby pic :)

and it continues....

The horrible nights that is.  Saturday was our best one, she woke up twice but was able to get herself back to sleep so I didn't have to actually get up outta bed but was awake non the less.  Last night was by far the worst.  She woke up at 230am and couldn't get herself back to sleep so I stumbled in there and we rocked and we swayed and we sang and we talked and over an hour later she was out.  In the crib she goes and she stays asleep, finally I think.  Nope, for 10 glorious minutes it was quiet.  Then the crying started again.  This time it took her a good 20 minutes of whining and light crying to get herself back to sleep, but she did do it alone.  Then probably an hour or so later she was up again and then another hour or so later it was repeated.  Finally she slept until 7am.  Needless to say I feel zombie like and it makes me wonder more and more how full time working moms do it.  There is no way I can accept a full time job working 10 hour days and then coming home and being up half the night with her.  Of course I am the only one who can calm her when she is totally out of control so even if Lew was to get up with her some of the time I would end up just laying there waiting for the moment when I would have to take my turn to try and get her settled to the point where she could fall back asleep.  Tomorrow is my interview and even though I want the job 40 hours in 4 days is probably just too much and something that isn't crucial to our well being at this point in time.  However, you never know what will happen.  Maybe they will decide that part time would be an option :) fingers crossed everyone.

What happened?!

Words can not even begin to express how sad I am that our almost 2 full weeks of sleeping through the night are over.  It started Wednesday night and it seems like we are back to waking up for an hour or 2 around 3-4 in the morning.  It wouldn't be so bad if it was like today where Lew was home to take her when she woke up for a second time so I could sleep an hour longer, but today was just a random day he had off.  I thought we had made some great progress.  She was sleeping all night, eating the food I had actually made for her, instead of just the jarred baby foods.  Now it's like a whole new Alexia, well lets just say the old Alexia is back.  So many things run through my head when she acts differently.  Is she FINALLY going to be teething?  Did she have a night terror?  Is she just super gassy?  and of course I get no answers.  On the bright side, we have been having some very good days.  We play, we eat, we nap, of course there is a little fussiness but not near as much as there used to be. 



Slinky where are you going?



I will find you!!



GOTCHA!!!



Now here is a whole other set of dilemma's, that involve me.  I actually got a call back for a job I sent in my resume to months ago!  The bad news, it is full time 4 days a week for 40 hours.  Not what I'm looking for, especially considering I can't leave Lexi (can't probably isn't the right choice of words, WON'T is more like it).  Well I could but there is only one person I would feel entirely comfortably leaving her with for 10 hours a day.  Too bad Blaire already has a full time nanny job :(  I decided to go through with the interview, which is Tuesday, just to get back out there.  Mine as well see the office and meet the people.  Who knows what will happen. 

I mean really, could you leave that face with strangers?!



Glorious

Today was so wonderful, I'm kinda sad to see it coming to an end.  I had completely forgotten that Lew had today off and it was so great having that one extra day to spend with my family.  It started out with Daddy getting Lexi up and taking her on a walk so Mommy could sleep in just a little longer.  I don't think I even really slept, just being able to lay there in the quiet was good enough.  Then we had breakfast and I decided to give scrambled eggs another go with Lexi (the first time she wouldn't have it).  This morning she took to the scrambled eggs like they were going outta style!  It was fun watching her pick them up and get them into her mouth, she was really enjoying it.  Then we all got ready and took a family outing to Kohls.  I love Kohls, I could spend all day in that store if I had the chance.  Lexi did great on our trip, she sat in the seat for a little while and then just wanted to be held but quietly took in everything that was going on around her.  We spent a good amount of time, and $ of course :), at Kohls and then took a sleepy baby girl back home for her bottle and afternoon nap.  She was so worn out from our excursion that she slept for a good two and a half hours.  During this time we got some cleaning done.  The rest of the day we spent on the floor playing moving from room to room when she would get bored.  After dinner and bath time we went on our now routine night-time walk.  I got to try out my new sneakers and I must say I love them, Lew made fun of me, but I haven't worn sneakers since my last day at work and that was a while ago!  I have lived in flip flops.  The sneakers if you are wondering are the sketchers shape ups.  I have always wanted a pair but didn't want to spend over $100 on shoes that I wouldn't wear that often and when I saw them on sale for $44 at Kohls this morning I had to get them!!  They were worth it for sure.  The weather has been so glorious the last few days and even though it was a little warmer out today the night-time more then made up for it.  We took a longer then usual walk around the neighborhood then came home and played for a little while longer.  I just laid my little angel down in her crib and kissed her good night.  It brought tears to my eyes to think of how far she has come and how fast she is growing up ( I find this happening more and more often when rocking her to sleep).  Now it is time for me to say Good Night!

Slo-Mo

Okay, so I know that this is my second post today but I need to just vent a little.  Tonight has been a little rough, probably more so on me then on Lexi even though she was the one that took a few hits to the noggin.  First let me just say today was wonderful.  Going to the farm and getting pumpkins, then relaxing outside on a blanket in the grass in our backyard.  It's the evening when things started to go a little downhill.  While playing out in the living room Lexi decided to stand up on the side table and then somehow fell on her butt with force I don't think she was expecting because she took a turn and landed a little on her head, not so bad, but she screamed pretty good.  This was nothing a mum mum couldn't fix.  Then came dinner.  We tried some turkey burger (the doctor said to start more table food) and she did not like it.  I even tried sneaking it into her squash.  OH NO!! she knew every time it was in there. It was rather humorous.  Then it was bath time.  This is where all hell broke lose.  Bath started out fine.  Then it was like slo-mo and I still couldn't stop it from happening.  She fell forward right into the tub faucet!  OH BOY.  I was so upset, she was upset, we were both soaking wet.  She calmed down and we played.  I however, am still upset!!!  I feel so awful, as her mother I am here to protect her, but it is the awful falls and spills that I can never seem to rescue her from!  Why is that!  I can always get to her when she looks likes she is gonna go but then nothing happens!  Anyways.  She has a nice little red mark on her poor adorable face and every time I looked at it I wanted to cry.  She is now sleeping sweetly in her crib and I am sure doesn't remember any of this, but I know that all night I will wonder if she will wake up with that mark, or even worse, a black eye! 


This is the happy girl before bed.  You probably can't even see the mark on that smiling face, but I KNOW it is there!!

 GOOD NIGHT!!  sleep tight!!

Pumpkin picking!!

This morning we all got ready and headed out to Vertuccio Farms to pick out Alexia's first pumpkin for Halloween.  This was the perfect place for her first pumpkin outing.  We got there nice and early so there wasn't a whole lot of people around yet so we were able to mosey around and look at all the animals and fun things they have there, without Lexi getting too overwhelmed.  Granted Lexi was a little too young to do a lot of the stuff, but it was fun watching her stare and wave to all the animals.  I can't wait til next year when she can experience more of what they have to offer for the kids.  We picked out a few pumpkins.  1 big one, a medium sized one, and 3 little bitty pumpkins.  It sure will be interesting to carve them.  I can't remember the last time I carved and decorated a pumpkin!! It was so fun being able to spend this time with my family and I realized that from here on out we will get to participate in all the holidays.  Before Alexia we just breezed through the holidays without doing anything special.  I am so excited to start decorating and going all out for the big holidays.  Halloween will be Lexi's first real holiday and I have already got her an adorable little lady bug costume and I can't wait to see her in it. 

Lexi waving to the donkey

LOVED this sign, lol

1st time on a swing! she was a fan!

Lexi experiencing her first contact with a pumpkin :)

loving it!

my little family <3

9 months have past so quickly

As I sit here this afternoon enjoying my moment of quiet, I find myself reflecting on home far my daughter has come and how far I have come as a mother.  Today Lexi is 9 months old.  I look at her and I can't even see that dark brown haired little baby that arrived at 7:41 in the morning.  She has completely changed and is already developing into her own person.  Lexi is amazing, it seems like everyday she gets a little bigger and starts doing something new.  She crawls around the house like a little machine, blink and she is gone.  How can this be, how can she not still be that little infant who could only move her arms and legs back and forth?! Gone are the days of severe reflex, sleeping in the recliner, holding her 24/7, and the extreme exhaustion.  Granted the exhaustion appears every once in a while and she still would rather be held then be in her stroller, but I am treasuring these while they last.  While rocking her to sleep this afternoon I am reminded that these moments will not last forever.  Watching her sweet face give in to sleep melts my heart everytime.  Tomorrow we go to the doctor for her 9 month well check visit.  I am excited to see how much she has grown, but not so excited for the shots that will follow.  Until next time!!

Wonderful Weekend of Family Fun

waiting for our guests to arrive

This weekend has been so jam packed full of fun, Lexi has slept through the night both Saturday and Sunday!!! Aunt Doris and John got into town Saturday afternoon and as soon as they arrived at our house the adventures never stopped until this afternoon.  Lets first start with Saturday morning, I got to have 3 hours all to myself, granted half of them were spent at the eye doctor, but the other half I was able to get my hair cut and colored.  Trust me when I say it was badly needed.  Lexi got to spend that time with her grandpa and then grandma arrived a little later.  The whole time I was gone Lexi didn't cry or give them a hard time, it made it so much easier for me to relax while I was out of the house without her. 

with her grandma and great grandma

Great grandma Adrian was also down for some family fun time.  It was so great to have so many arms that were more then eager and willing to hold on to Lexi. 



sleeping with great aunt Doris

 They gave her bottles and rocked her to sleep and played with her so much that she slept wonderfully for 2 nights.  Sunday afternoon we went to a wonderful place for lunch out in Gilbert.  It was a place that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives called Joe's Farmhouse Grill.  The food was great and the atmosphere was beautiful, I highly recommend it if you live in or are visiting the area. 

Doris and John were staying at a house out in Gold Canyon and let me tell you it is awfully beautiful out there and super quiet!!  The house was lovely and so was the pool.  We spent both nights wearing Lexi out at the house.  She loved being chased by everyone and crawling around all over the living room.  This morning we met everyone for breakfast at Village Inn and then spent the afternoon by the pool (which was a little cold for Lexi and I's comfort). 

Today Doris and John are off to spend a few days in Greer and then off to NM for the hot air balloon show!!  I hope they have tons of fun and we can't wait to see them one last time on Saturday!!