Potty!!

The other night I was babysitting my neighbor's dog so they could go to the ball. It was one of those weird special mixes but I totally forgot the name. Lucy and Isabella have a love/hate relationship and they climb all over each other and fight constantly, it is really cute.
One night Iz said potty and started pushing in the kitchen so we ran to the bathroom. She gets butt naked and sits on the toilet. Nothing. She proceeds to wipe herself and runs off.. I figure whatever I have two more dishes to load then its bathtime. She is running with the dogs and giggling in the other room. I love hearing her laugh, so I am just enjoying it all. She races in the kitchen, squats, lets a turd drop and I look over and scream noo!! I regretted it as soon as I did it because she doesn’t know.. I calm down and tell her next time go to the potty for that. So she takes off to the bathroom and sits down on her mini potty.. to wipe. Haha..I drop her in the tub and she is playing and having a lovely time and then the dog proceeds to head in with her.. haha.. Isabella loves it! Iz tells Lucy, the dog, to "sit down" and she dumps water on her head! haha. Special night with a special kid. :)

The latest news...

Hello from the Mardi's! We've been either busy, sick or teething so not a lot of down and blog time. So catch up time, I suppose! :) Almost two weeks ago the "white man" came home. I was expecting Iz not to want anything to do with him because it's been awhile since we've seen him, but boy was I wrong! She adores him and loves wrestling and tackling him. She tries so hard to say white man, but it comes out iite an. So we're getting there. She even took him trick or treating! She refused to hold my hand, but loved holding his. It's cute. It gives me great hope that she will remember daddy and play with him like that. (Oh White Man is my friend Jill's husband who is basically J's boss haha)


I aced my last course, though it was a tight squeeze. Somehow I missed that we write two papers back to back in every course. Well at least I have it figured out now. :) I am a dork, what can I say?
I am actually going to physical therapy for my back now, and its been a painful yet rewarding experience. They are figuring it out and showing me exercises to help. I am stoked that finally someone is helping me and I am not in constant pain!
Isabella is talking up a storm. I didn't believe that kids at their age could put sentences together, but she is starting! She is beginning to put two to three words together and every day learns or tries at least two new words. We finally mastered saying thank you after someone gives us something! That was def. a plus, that and I am working on teaching her help so we don't whine when something is rough! haha She is so much fun to be around, except with the teething. We're on a pretty good routine right now, and every morning she and PJ go play in her room so Mommy can have some me time! I love it! She reads her books to him and he eats her snacks, they are quite a pair. I couldn't imagine a better dog for her, well except when he decides to be scared and hide behind her!


She is getting in her four molars and also going through a growth spurt. I weighed her last night and she was about 25 pounds!! Where did my baby go? She even tells me sometimes when she needs to go night night. It's cute. Her daddy is going to die when he comes home! We finally received word on the rest of the guys coming home and not too much longer.. We will have leave starting on my bday!! I am excited to head to Texas, though not so much driving with her. It'll all work out.
Love you guys! Off to do homework!

Crazy Week!!

Hey guys.. so we've been pretty busy as of late, still! Haha.. One day things shall slow down. It's funny how a couple of months ago I was upset because I had nothing to do and thought I would be so lonely here without Jonathan and Jamaica. Granted I do miss the two of them very much, I have strangely been kept crazy occupied and now I have made some new great friends, as well as catch up with old ones. God always has a plan, I just happen to be impatient and forget that!

This weekend Iz and I went to Big Bear with Holly and it was so pretty! There is an actual fall up there! Even in Houston fall isn't really noticeable, but the trees were gorgeous! Iz and Kiera had so much fun and were soo good in the car. It was neat to get away from sand for awhile.



We also went to eat Mexican food, I was shockingly having a craving.. haha. Iz now of course prefers to use "real" utensils rather than her plastic ones.


We are now anxiously waiting for the White Man to return.. and Iz is working hard on saying white.. :) She is still talking up a storm and has learned new words lately, of course. She learned Go go at Blair's soccer game and now loves to shout it from the backseat.. while I am driving, mind you. She also loves to clean up, and picks up her trash (and mine of course) and throws it away. I have also designated a cupboard just for her cups and bowels and she helps me unload the dishwasher and puts everything away. She is the big helper!! I am so amazed at how much she has grown just in the past few months. She is def. a big girl now!!

Eeks... time to catch up!!

These days seem to be flying by and I suppose that is a good thing, I just never seem to be able to get everything done! It is already almost two o'clock and I have yet to shower or do much of anything productive other than work on my paper. Classes are going well, I made an A in my psych. class and so far so good in my anthropology class. My credits finally transfered in which is a major relief for me!

Isabella is doing great. She is growing like a weed and has plenty to say about it, though most of the time it is impossible to understand a word of it. Apparently she says si, and everything else is in Chinese. She can count to three, which is hilarious. Well- for Jeannie she only counts to two so I think they have some weird counting connection.

I am so behind on "events" this is just going to be one big catch up!

The girls at Jen's birthday party.. Bri and Iz are something else!


At the Kid's PFT eating Jenn's ice.. no hands, lazy kid!


Gracie and Iz on the fire truck



Isabella thiefed the bottle outta Jill's birthday sack and later tried to eat the cap!

Isabella's Check Up

Isabella went today for her 15 month appointment. She is actually about to turn 16 months, but I prefer wait and get HER doctor rather than someone else. Of course she was talking away, pointing to the bubbles (or boobools as she says), fish and working on her colors until the doctor shows up. Then it was seriously like looking at Jonathan when he is in a bad mood. The faces!! She got so serious and then began to grimace and make horrid faces at the doctor. It was quite amusing, but as I suspected she didn't utter a single word. I would totally understand if the doctor didn't believe me when I said that she is speaking so much! I bet most moms go in thinking their child is the most marvelous thing ever and glam them up! Haha.

Anyhoo.. Isabella weighs 23.2 lbs, so she hasn't really gained anything since we've been back to the desert which amazed me because she is eating like the grocery store might collapse with the stock market! She is 32 inches tall, so she has gotten taller these past couple of weeks. Her head, sadly, is 47 cm. So weight she is between like the 50 and 60th percentile, height 90-95th percentile and head is 75th. Haha, my chunky monkey really isn't that chunky after all!

Random pictures from yesterday's Ice Cream social haha:

She truly is a girl..

We went down the hill on monday and of course had to go to Target. Isabella saw a Graco baby set on the shelf and her face was priceless! I wish I could have captured that squeal on camera while we were there! Of course I spoiled her and bought it for her and now I am glad I did! She plays with her doll all the time now!

Here she is feeding Baby.

Swinging Baby


.. and yeah apparently it isn't so neat that Baby uses the pack n play.. Isabella insists on being in it instead. What can I do??

Bug munching down

Meals always start out well.. her spoon or fork in hand but apparently it becomes too much work and we resort to our hands! So here is a video of Iz eating dinner the other night... something we take very seriously!
 

Busy busy busy!

It's funny because the other day I was complaining about being bored with nothing to do and yesterday was crazy! We went to church and Isabella got to play with her new friend Briana who is two months younger than her, but the exact size! They had a blast and it was fun to watch!



Later we went to the Kid's PFT (playtime for kids with Marines who have parents deployed) and at first she was a bit hesitant and then she decided that the balls and kids were irresistible!

Here she is, not sure where to go or what to do...


Playing with one of the Marines

She loved watching the Marine dog with his trainer! She thought it was PJ and though he was huge and loud, she was determined to go pet him. It was too cute!



So we had quite a day! It was nice to get out and see her play with other kids and also not be afraid of men. I was actually tearing up watching her play!

Back to crickets, sand, and home

We are officially back home.. well have been for a week and a day, I am just slow. Jamaica drove us back last monday and stayed with us through friday, which I am so glad she did. Our house seemed to be a hangout spot for tiny spiders and I freaked out. Thankfully Jamaica kept a calm head and killed the majority of them, while I went on cricket duty.

Isabella hasn't taken too well to the change, though it is her own home. As we all know now it is just the two of us and I am in school and can't play with her every minute of the day. She misses her attention. Sleeping has been rough, and we are just trying to get back into the swing of things with just the two of us for awhile, so hopefully that doesn't take too long.

I did finally get my new couch and I am so happy about that! Jill helped me rearrange furniture and now I feel like my house is becoming a place that I enjoy and not just somewhere to be. It is slowly becoming home. I have great plans for everything now that I have a beginning!

Isabella's First Beach Trip

Yesterday we ventured out to one of the many beaches here in San Diego. Isabella had yet to see the ocean, and had just been introduced to the sandbox a few days prior. I was a bit nervous as to her reaction to the cold water and prepared to carry her but I was shocked to see how much she loved the water! Isabella had a blast and it was such a joy to watch her play and see her take in the sights. I can't wait to take her back with Jonathan when the weather permits (and his schedule). I am sad that he missed this wonderful experience, but I am so pleased that we went!

Home (almost) sweet home...

Isabella and I made it safely to California from Texas last week. We are currently living it up with Team Peeps and enjoying the ocean breeze. I miss my family dearly, but we all knew that it was time for us to get back into the Cali swing. Our vacation was perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing and I have my wonderful family to thank for that.

Isabella has gotten so big! She is talking up a storm and imitating everything that I say or do. She is overall a joy to be around, though has her moods that can test me. I have no idea where that comes from, I believe that both her father and I are evenly tempered and always pleasant... She is having a blast being with Malaki and enjoys chasing him around trying to kiss him. I didn't think the two of them would get along so well so quick, but they have as you can see.

Jonathan is doing well. I spoke to him yesterday and he actually said he had a good day, which was a first for me to hear! Isabella and Malaki were yelling in the background so that was quite amusing for him. When he learned that his little girl already had her first kiss (yes a full on kiss!!) he didn't seem half as amused as Jamaica and I were.

I begin my classes next week and I am thrilled to finally start the beginning of the end. Jamaica, the babes and I will head back to the lovely Stumps early next week and I am sure the trip will be an adventure on its own with two babies and two rather interesting dogs.