Fun Times in Peoria

On April 30th, Isabella and I flew to Peoria with Grandma H. We were lucky enough to spend 2 weeks there after having my Mom (Grandma H.) with us for 10 days before. Isabella really enjoyed her time with her as I'm sure Mom loved seeing Isabella everyday! Luckily we had some nice days to play outside. Isabella loved playing and riding in the wagons at Grandma's house. She especially liked to pull "Puppy"and "Polly" around the driveway.

We also got to spend time visiting my Dad (Grandpa H.) and all of Isabella's aunt, uncles, and cousins. Unfortunately, Isabella is at the stage where she is acting very shy around all of new people and didn't want to leave my side. If she was around them long enough, she would eventually warm to them.

It has been fun to see how much Isabella is learning over the past month. Children really do learn so much so quickly! She can now count to 10 and the words in her vocabulary are always expanding. Just when you think she wouldn't or doesn't understand something....she somehow shows us that she did in fact get it!! I still don't think that she understands a new little baby will be joining us in a couple of more months though.

It is still hard to get a good picture of Isabella. She is always on the move and doesn't like getting her picture taken. So, here are some that I took while in Peoria.


Mother's Day!

Taking a ride in the big wagon.

Sitting in the little wagon.

Taking "Polly" and "puppy" for a ride.

Isabella loves to get the mail!

Springtime and Grandma Hohulin's Visit

Isabella has really been enjoying spending time with Grandma Hohulin. Grandma arrived in town last Tuesday and we have been having fun ever since. We just wish the Colorado springtime weather would be a bit more cooperative. Since she has been here it has been a little chilly, rainy and it even snowed!! Today though, has been beautiful and tomorrow is to be even better. We have had a chance to play outside a few times, so I have included those pictures below. Isabella really loves to play outside and she loves pushing "Polly dolly" in her toy stroller. She also loves to blow bubbles and today she stopped to smell the flowers. :)

We are looking forward to our trip to Peoria with Grandma on Friday. Isabella is excited to see her Grandpa and her aunts, uncles and cousins!


MMMM....smells good!

She loves to have that tongue of hers out.

Pushing Polly dolly.

Isabella and Grandma

Just Another Day

Just wanted to share some more pictures of things Isabella may do throughout the day. It becomes a challenge some days, to think of new and fun things to do. This is what we do when we can't play outside.





Isabella likes to read....but can sometimes make a messy pile to clean up.

Showing her how to paint with water. Unfornunately, it didn't last very long before she just wanted to play with the water in the bowl.

Martini Baby #2 Is......

Yesterday was our 20 week check-up at the doctor. At this visit, they do an ultrasound to check the baby's heart, brain, kidneys, leg and arm length, pinkie finger length, and spine/spinal cord. They can also usually tell the sex of the baby too. We had promised that we would let you know what we are having once we found out. We are having baby GIRL # 2!! Anthony will be severely out numbered in our house, but he is OK with that. We just continue to pray that this baby stays healthy. Oh, and all of the other things they were checking look great! I will be monitored a little more closely this time, just to make sure that this baby girl doesn't have the growth restriction problem that Isabella had. So, time will tell.

We are lucky that this baby will get to use Isabella's clothes, accessories, etc, since the birthday's are the same time of year. On the other hand, we will have 2 weddings to pay for some day. :)

This picture shows the girls parts. It's as if she is sitting down above you with her legs stretched out.

Another cute profile picture.

The ABC's and Easter Weekend

Isabella has started to try to sing along with some of her music and also when we sing the ABC's. It is very cute. She doesn't always get every word or every letter, but you can tell she is trying. At the end of this blog, I posted a video of her singing the ABC's.

Easter has just passed and we had a busy weekend. Anthony took a couple of days off, so it was fun to do things as a family. On Friday we took Isabella to the Butterfly Pavilion. I think she enjoyed herself. She liked seeing all of the butterflies flying around and she especially liked the fish they had in a pond. On Saturday we went to our friends Patti and Bill's to color Easter eggs. Isabella didn't quite get that whole process, but we had a lot of fun! On Sunday, we went to the Easter service that is held in an outside amphitheater and then went to brunch with the Martini family. Later we went back to Gammy and Gampy's house for a little egg hunt and then naps! After her nap, Isabella got to ride on Gampy's tractor with him. I think she liked it. Jackson, of course, loves the tractor and he too took a ride! I posted some pictures from the weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good family Easter photo with all of us in our Easter outfits. Isabella is at the stage where she won't sit still long enough to get a good photo. So, hence some of the walking pictures of Isabella in her pretty dress. We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!!


Isabella pointing to the fish.

A quick shot while she was still near the plants.

Riding on Gampy's tractor!

I think she was looking for some eggs.

Checking out the Easter basket from the Easter bunny.


The ABC's video.

Our days are filled with.....

I will start off by showing you what our house was like last weekend with the start of March Madness. So, our days & night's were filled with basketball.....thanks to DIRECTV!




Now, on to cuter things......

Since Mother Nature can't make her mind about Spring, we are spending our days snacking, making messes, cleaning up messes, you get the picture. Now, if our days were consistantly warm and sunny, we would definitely be playing outside with bubbles or going on walks or go to the park. In the mean time, Isabella gets to have all of the fun, while me (mommy) gets to go behind her and clean-up. So is the life of a toddler.....

Enjoying her snack in the middle of the kitchen floor.

She has decided to help clean out our pantry. Notice her poor little puppy has been buried alive!

She did put a couple of things back when I asked her to help clean up. :)

I Scream For Ice Cream

It was an exciting week! Isabella went for her weight check at the doctor this week. She gained 10oz in 6 weeks! That is pretty good, since in 3 months before, she had only gained a pound. The doctor was pleased and told us to keep on doing what we are doing. The nice thing is, is that Isabella has started eating more at one meal. She is loving hot dogs, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, pancakes and of course, cookies, cake or ice cream! We do throw in fruits and some veggies in there too....do not worry. A funny thing about ice cream though.....(Grandpa Vern would be proud).....she LOVES ice cream time in the evenings. When you tell her that we are getting some for her to eat she literally screams a high pitched scream!

It has also been fun to hear some of the new words she is trying to say almost everyday! She has become clear with book, apple, Elmo, Abby (both of those are on Sesame Street), milk, up, read, more, please, bath, bubble and hot.

As far as our other little Martini, it is continuing to grow as expected. We will find out if it is a boy or girl a month from today. So, we will update you all at that time!


Isabella sitting at the craft table at her friends 3rd birthday party. She can almost see over the table!! ;)

She is doing a little light reading on a cold winter day.

Eating her ice cream with Daddy!!