Last week's portrait: 41/52 -first ponytail

For a while now Isabella would remove my headband from my head when I'm wearing one and wear it around her neck. Last week that wasn't enough and she asked to have my hair tie too. I gave it to her and she kept putting it on her head. She allowed me to put it in her hair and I only just managed to snap this quick picture before she pulled it out again.

A Portrait a Week: 40/52 -Autumn

I love Autumn over here, it's as though the Autumn colours are so much more noticeable. I've been showing Isabella the different coloured leaves when we're outside. This week she's also discovered that she can pull them apart. The weather has still been really nice, warm and sunny t-shirt weather just about every day. We had rain today for the first time in quite a while and it seems as though tonight will be getting a bit colder as it's already only 7C outside now at 9pm. I plan to fill a big tub with leaves for Isabella to play in soon.

Last week's portrait of the week: 39/52 -Bubba and her hats

I struggled to decide on a photo for last week which is part of the reason I never got around to posting it sooner. The other reason is that Isabella absolutely won't sleep in her cot in the daytime anymore. She also won't sleep anywhere else in the house so it means I've been out driving or walking her to sleep. Which means no me-time during the day.

So here she is last week, 11 months and 3 days old. It's now the countdown to her first birthday and our first full year as parents! I think we've done a pretty good job so far, besides not getting her to sleep during the day.

She's had a thing about hats for a while now. Until now it's just been her two sun hats which are always lying around the house ready to grab whenever we go outside. Recently she's started wearing Andre's hats too. She now knows where he keeps them hanging on a hook by the garage door and she will ask for them pointing to the hats and then touching her head. Also don't come near her wearing a hat if you're not going to let her try it on! There was a boy at the children's centre this week wearing a cap and she desperately wanted to get a hold of it. She gave up and instead took another baby's muslin cloth, another one of her favourites. She believes every single muslin in sight belongs to her and there's no convincing her to give it back. Twice this week I've had to ask the mummy of the muslin cloth if they minded that Isabella held onto their muslin for a while. Once she lets go I give it back and they hide it. At least we don't run the risk of loosing a favourite comforter! And if a musy isn't available as a comforter a hat will do as well.

I don't want her to grow up!

Isabella is 11 months old today and sometimes I feel a little like this about her growing up so fast:



She gets cuter in different ways and some things a lot of things get easier with her. But sometimes I miss that teeny tiny baby. She'll never stay lying still in one place ever again. Or have several naps during the day (all of a sudden she's down to one nap a day and sometimes not even a very long one). But she does sleep ALL night now and that's better than day time naps.

11 months ago

today!

So I don't have a small cuddly baby but I do have a big cuddly baby with a first birthday coming up soon!

Just for fun I put her under her play gym yesterday. Above she was 1 month old and below a day short of 11 months. She wasn't really interested in playing with it!

A Portrait a Week: 38/52 -Sunday walk at Dinton Pastures

This past weeks' portrait: Loving life!

We went for a walk on Sunday. Andre wanted to go check out some bird hides for a possible photography morning. Isabella hadn't been in the back carrier for quite a while and she was very very excited to be so high on her daddy's back for a walk outside. She was laughing and shrieking at everyone and everything we passed! She excitedly pointed out dogs and observed the ducks, geese and swans seriously with a "quack quack" to also let us know what they are.

We stopped  at this jetty for some photos and Isabella headed straight to the water. She would have waded in knee deep if we let her!

A lovely afternoon out in the fresh air.

Inside the bird hide.

Enjoying the ride.

The photo right at the top reminds me - I keep forgetting to tell the grandparents - Isabella has another two teeth! Her top right is quite a clear little white bit of tooth and if you look carefully the top left is also on its way out. Probably neither of them visible on the photo though.

Portrait of the week: 37/52 - A Poorly Baby

This picture sums up our week.

Isabella had a high fever all day Tuesday and ended up with tonsillitis. It seems the high temperature led to her eczema getting much much worse than it's ever been and even worse than I ever thought eczema could get. Her arms and legs got covered in blisters which are now peeling leaving her with new red/pink skin underneath so doesn't look too good.  But at least it doesn't seem to bother her. She's on two antibiotics and a cream for her skin and is back to her usual happy self now with a few whinges when I'm not giving her all my attention of course. She sat on my lap in front of the tv all day tuesday sleeping on and off. I enjoyed the cuddles and quiet time!

Now it's Andre's turn it seems... He had a fever yesterday and today is still sleepy with a sore throat. Too many kisses from Isabella!

A Portrait a Week: 36/52 -Afternoon at the park

A little late with last week's portrait again but here it is now and I'll make up for it with some extra photos. (Most photos taken by Andre.)

Isabella has been a bit demanding lately, sleeping very little during the day and then wanting all my attention all the time when she's awake. If I only try to move slightly she scrambles to get on my lap in case I was trying to leave the room. When I do manage to escape she'll come whining after me so at the moment I'm not doing anything but playing with her for which I'm also grateful. I know how fortunate I am to be able to be at home with her.

But today I get some computer time! Poor Isabella is not feeling well at all. She's had a temperature all day and just wants to sit on my lap either sleeping or staring at the tv. She's not even interested in my cellphone or laptop. Not herself at all but I'm enjoying the cuddles.

These photos were taken on Saturday when we took her to the park behind our house.

Still loves swinging!

Love those little feet!

Daddy helped her down the slide.

Back up again!

Cute wobbly steps.

And after we tried out just about everything in the park we had a picnic on the field.