Celebrating with the Keel Clan

Family Photo
Izzy's patent leather shoes were tough to keep on!
Grandpa Keel snuggling
Izzy's great Aunt Celeste is an old pro at this baby thing...
Great Nana & Grandfather Keel

To round out our holiday travel we made a day trip to Michigan to visit with the Keel Clan. Mike, Izzy, my mom and I ventured up to meet my sister and her kids at my dad's house. My grandparents and aunt/uncle joined us in the celebration...this was their first meeting of Izzalicious! Izzy girl showed off by sitting up and holding her head up...something we have been practicing in her Bumbo for a while (and lots of tummy time)! It was great fun to visit and catch up, and we were sad it was such a quick visit.

On the drive home we had to make what we thought would be a quick stop to nurse and change a diaper. Turns out Izzy had a blowout and we had to do a diaper change/outfit change/cleanup in the backseat of the Hummer with a SHORTAGE of butt wipes. All of this was happening in our Hummer while my sister was in her car parked next to us while pumping up the volume to her music-dancing and singing "Oohaah Oohaah" that you hear in the clubs. It was all TOO funny.

My mom and sister/kids are visiting us in Indianapolis for the next few days (which means we have a babysitter for New Years!!!). We are going to celebrate NYE at Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel with 6 of our closest friends. Stay tuned for pictures!

The Inagural Run of the Jogger

Izzy in her new jogger and new bunting!

Last night Mike and I took our new jogging stroller out for a stroll. We didn't run with it...YET. Our training for the Mini Marathon starts in February...we just wanted to test run the new wheels. Izzy LOVED the ride...her eyes were wide awake and looking at the blue sky and trees the entire time. Thanks to Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Jesse for the new, warm bunting, Izzy stayed snug as a bug the entire time. We will be spending many hours on the Monon in the jogger this Spring, so we are glad she enjoyed the ride!

Christmas in Ft. Wayne

Santa filled Izzy's 1st Stocking...in the middle of the twins' stockings
Meeting Great Grandma Betty was scarrrry...
Izzy LOVES Uncle Steve and can't wait to see him again for the Mini Marathon in May
The McCulloch Family...bright and early in the morning!
Grandpa Bob had the magic touch...
Snuggling with Aunt Aimee
Where Izzy spent Christmas Eve...she LOVES being under the tree!
Katie Monster also spent some time under the tree!

We spent several days in Ft. Wayne at Mike's dad's house, where we visited with lots of family. The Jennings came down from Wisconsin...Izzy got to meet her Great Grandma Betty (who wanted us to name our daughter BETTY!), and aunts/uncles/cousins galore!

Christmas Eve brought the Roys to town, where the twins were anxiously waiting for Santa to visit the house. Grandpa Bob (Mike's dad) was supposed to be on lookout in the middle of the night so the boys didn't find "Santa" filling their stockings and delivering presents. Grandpa Bob fell asleep and the midnight church-goers came home to find the twins running around the house. Good thing Santa had already made his stop! Too funny. Izzy was showered with presents...thanks to all for your generosity. Next Christmas will be a lot of fun...when Izzy can open her own gifts!

Christmas in Columbia City

Snug time with mommy

Family picture (Izzy loved the fan above her)
Aunt Andrea spoiled Izzy...
Watching the Colts win with Aunt Sharla
Grandma Berger

We spent the Eve of Christmas Eve with Mike's mom and step-dad's family in Columbia City (i.e. the lake). Izzy had a great time....she did a lot of sleeping and missed out on most of the gift-opening! We discovered her love of laying under the Christmas tree (she loves it more than playing on her play gym) and staring at the lights and ornaments. It was too cute!

Chicago Girls in town...

This past weekend my girlfriends (Mary, Jenny & Erin) from Chicago drove down to meet their new girlfriend, Izzy! We had a great time visiting, as usual. We ordered take-out, had craft time (this seems to always happen when we get together-from iron on shirts to painting) and simply gossiped and caught up. Izzy was welcomed with open arms to our girls' club...they were excited to have the new addition! PS-Mary wanted to get Izzy's ears pierced & Jenny wanted to give her a makeover (with BENEFIT makeup, of course)! Izzy is so lucky to have so many people love on her...we have such great friends!

Izzy & Luke sittin' in a tree...

Jaime & Luke, Mike & Izzy
Izzy's first kiss...
Jaime & Luke

Last week our good friends Jaime & Jeremy Feller had us over for dinner (Jaime cooked baked potato soup!!!). We all enjoyed a delicious bottle of wine and compared baby stories. There was a forced first kiss between Luke & Izzy...it was too cute. We're all about arranged marriages :) Jaime and I have been leaning on each other a lot through the first weeks & months of motherhood. I don't know how I would have gotten through these last 9 weeks without her!

How big is Izzy? SO BIG!!!

Isabelle turned 8 weeks old yesterday...and she has reached several important milestones that we wanted to share (b/c we are so very excited to see all the changes in her)!

-Izzy moves her eyes and her head to listen to us talk and watch us enter/leaving rooms

-She can hold her head up while on her tummy and sitting up

-She has discovered her hands and constantly has a fist in her mouth (we are trying to get her thumb in there)

-Lots of kicking and arm movements...that are purposefull and not reflexes

-The smiling has ensued and has not stopped...she loves to mimic our smiles

-Izzy has been in size 1 diapers for several weeks now, as she weighs in at 11 pounds now!!

-Finally, girl is now wearing her 3-6 month clothes...the 0-3 month size was getting very tight

It's so much fun watching her grow and develop...she surprises us with something new each day!

Lazy weekend...

Izzy enjoying playtime...

Tummy Time!

Snuggling with Dad...

This past week has been non-eventful in the McCulloch house. Izzy has been struggling a bit with nursing...so we went to the Pediatrician to learn that she has acid reflux. She now gets liquid Zantac and she is back to her normal nursing self! No more spitting up, no more screaming when she burped...our sweet girl is back. But now her sleeping patterns have changed. All my girlfriends have told me that JUST when you get used to a routine, the little boogers will switch it up on you. And that is the truth with Izzy! At one time we had 6 hour stretches of sleep at night...now we're back to 3 hour stretches. Mike and I are READY for some longer sleep at night. We are finding the past two weeks to be more difficult than the first two at home!


We spent all day Saturday in our jammies...watching movies and playing with Izzy. She is staying awake MUCH more these days, with lots of smiling and watching everything that is around her. She loves to stare at her xmas tree! We're now watching the Colts game...Mike is at the game and we are (once again) lazing around in our jammers!

Thanksgiving Weekend...

Grandma Laura and Izzy
Izzy still isn't a huge fan of her swing, but we're trying
Baxter was pooped after our first run in over a year!

The McCulloch Tree!!

Thanksgiving week/weekend was filled with lots of family and food. Thursday Mike, Izzy and I drove up to Ft. Wayne to spend time with Mike's dad and Laura's family. Izzy was able to meet her aunts and uncles, cousins and great grandpa! Friday we put up our tree and my sister and her family arrived. Saturday Mike cooked a full turkey meal and we had Mike's mom, step dad, and step-brother & sister over for dinner. Izzy enjoyed being held by so many people...she must be going through withdrawl now that she is put down in her bouncy and crib again :) Unfortunately, we didn't take many pictures of Izzy all dressed up...sorry!

Tynans Visit Indy...

Luke in his cool balloon car...
Maggie holding baby Izzy
Bridget finally meets Isabelle
This is an old hat for Sam...

Last week the Tynans (Sam, Bridget, Luke & Maggie) were driving through Indy on their way to Lake Tippy and stayed the night with us! We hit up our old favorite restaurant, El Rodeo, and spent some quality time watching the Bachelor and gossiping (just like old times). Sam & Bridget are expecting their third child this Spring and I'm continually amazed how they run such a well-oiled operation they call their family! I can only watch and learn and hope that Mike & myself raise a family as loving as theirs. We have been lucky enough to see them 3 or 4 times this year...but unfortunately won't see them again until the summer :( We miss them!!!

Visit from the Keels...

Grandpa Keel & Grandma Anna got quality time with Izzy before the gang showed up...
Cousin Dylan, Aunt Kimmy & Cousin Taylor were very hands on & helpful!
A little project from Pottery Barn...
Turned out very cute!
Bathtime & Buddha Belly!!!
Staring off in the distance before her bedtime bath...

And a hint of a smile...

This past weekend Mike went up to Notre Dame with some buddies to watch a football game (among other things!). While daddy was away Izzy had some visitors: Grandpa Keel, Grandma Anna, Aunt Kimmy, and cousins Taylor & Dylan. We had lots of meals out (which Izzy slept through) and lots of fun times snuggling with Izzy. She is one loved little girl...

Starting to Smile...

Yesterday Izzy turned 6 weeks old...and in the last week Izzy has started to give us social smiles (meaning smiling at us, rather than in her sleep)! She's getting very alert and following people and lights with her eyes. The interaction we are getting from her keeps us on our toes and excited for what will be coming next! This is the closest we could get to a smile in a picture...and she's sporting a new winter hat her Aunt Kimmy's friend gave her :)
This is how Izzy sleeps...too precious! We swaddle her and then lay her on the wedge/positioner, then wrap her snuggly. Such a big girl in her crib...she is snug as a bug in a rug!

Izzy is now a little over 6 weeks old...she had a pediatrician appointment last week and weighed in at 9 lbs 11 oz...we knew she was close to 10lbs as she is becoming a CHUNK! Love it...

New Friends for Izzy...

Sandi & baby EllanaDeanna & baby Connor

Cheryl & babies Preston & Holly
Rachel & baby Ella
Jaime & baby Luke

The months of September & October were busy ones in the baby department: we had 8 friends that had babies within 6 weeks!!! Other friends not pictured: Suzanne & baby Max, Angela & baby Jackson, Debbie & baby Max.

It's been fun visiting the hospital and homes of my new mom friends...and Izzy meeting all her new play pals! Watching my friends become moms has been a joy and I am looking forward to raising our kids together! Here's to Fall birthday parties!!!