Happy Groundhog's Day!

Nothing really to celebrate except a day at home and (according to the Punxsutawney groundhog) spring being just around the corner (probably due to global warming) and a happy healthy 15 month old:




Playing in the snow with Daddy





Sporting a new "do."



Eating a yogurt snack




Saying her favorite thing, "Uh-oh!" (Bella is big on enunciation.)




Getting ready for church.

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

Happy Christmas. . .



Papa and the Girls (Bella never cooperates and looks at the camera when everyone else is.)


Christmas Morning (a morning like every other to Bella)


Bella's first soccer ball!


We discovered Bella's appreciation for clothes this Christmas. Every clothing item was greeted with a big hug. She loved the clothes as much as the toys.


More hugs for clothes.

Another big hit this Christmas: SOCK MONKEY!


We are not sure what she is looking at, but what an adorable face!



A flash from the past: Bella is thrilled to be sporting the vintage look this winter.




The ever so popular and required "tree shots."

And a Merry New Year!


In only 7 days, Bella has mastered phonics and is starting her first novel thanks to her letter set.


Bringing in the New Year with Nonna.


Bella is practicing using utensils during meals. She is developing into a little neat-freak. We don't know where she gets that from, but her mom sure is happy about it!

Halloween Fun

Only days after the excitement of Bella's first birthday, it was time to have more excitement (and more opportunities to consume sugar!). Bella says that she'll need a year to recover from having a birthday & Halloween so close together...luckily for her, she doesn't have a choice.




Always brush your teeth after eating sweets.

One year older and one year wiser

Bella had a wonderful birthday. Of course, she has no other birthdays to compare them to, but she had a great time. She celebrated with lots of family and a couple of friends. She still has yet to take her first step, but she believes that we must celebrate one monumentous occasion at a time. To date, Bella can say about 15-20 words (not counting what she tries to repeat after a person) and she can do about 15 signs. She has learned so much in only one year's time.


The Party:


Bella is not too sure about being the center of attention.


"And just what exactly am I supposed to do with this thing?!?!?"



"So you call this sugar, huh?"



Meet my friend Caroline. She teaches me how to do things, like eating cake and taking care of baby dolls!

The after-party:



The first year pictures:

Go Tigers Go!

Bella's first Memphis football game didn't go how we wanted it, but she had a great time.

It started out waaaay early in the morning, since the game started at 11:00 am, there was a full stadium, and the fair going on at the same time.



By the time we left the house, Bella was fired up!


Bella stopped for a quick nap in the car before the game, but it was a very very brief nap since she was so excited with the new experience.


In the stadium:




She loved looking for Pouncer, so she could wave at him.