Izzy learning to stand up on her ownShe kept on doing it over and over...she had a captive audience!

Mike and his father love to taunt Baxter. Poor Bully.

Sweet cheeks

This Thanksgiving holiday was a brief one for the three of us. We drove up to Ft. Wayne to visit Mike's dad on Wednesday afternoon and returned back to Carmel on Thursday evening. The meal was delicious and I made a recipe of Laura's (Mike's step mom) for a sweet potato casserole that I loved! Izzy wasn't so interested in food the last 4 days or so (is this normal...growth spurt?), so she didn't eat turkey or stuffing.

Izzy had an eventful Turkey Day: she learned how to stand UP on her own. Starting in the tri-pod and then up to standing. It was so much fun to witness her learning this new skill and keep practicing it over and over. She has been doing this ever since we got home. And today she even took a few steps on her own! She'll be walking by Christmas, we predict! Late bloomer, yes. But we're not worried. (Sorry the video below is sideways...I turned my camera to video her...guess I shouldn't do that anymore!)

Another Izzy first - she started using her very first sign: MORE. We have been teaching her signs and using them for many months at home. But just in the last 1.5 months since she started at Goddard School she has been exposed to many more signs. They sing and converse in sign and send home reports each day as to what signs they learned (and even the words and signs to songs they sing!). We try to incorporate the new signs she learns. However, her first sign she does on her own is the very first sign we taught her: MORE. She uses this sign when she wants more crackers or food, when she is hungry, and also when she wants us to read her more books. It's too cute. And encouraging to us to keep using the signs with her on a daily basis.

This year I'm thanful for my family, my friends, my husband, my miracle daughter and my health. What are you thankful for?

Izzy Rocks!!!!

Izzy girl LOVES her rocking chair...She plays peek-a-boo...
And climbs up and down it all day long

All bundled up and ready to run errands!!

Today Izzy and I had a play date with Jaime and Luke. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I was able to catch of the two peanuts, as we were busy the entire time!!! Jaime and I had hopes of crafting and baking....however, the baking took up most of the date! In between trying to make Buckeyes (YUMMY!) we were chasing crawling and walking babies, feeding snacks, picking up said snacks, getting Izzy down from standing on the rocking chair, making sure Katie dog wasn't peeing on Luke again, keeping Izzy out of the dog bowl AND trying to have some girl talk. Phew...it was a busy day, but SO MUCH FUN. I love me some Jaime and Luke. I'll let you know when we get those crafts done...

Reading time...

Isabelle LOVES reading..both on her own and on our laps. One of Izzy's favorite things to do is to pull her out her books (which we keep in the wooden box) and either hand them to us to read or sit alone and read out loud to herself. This is a nightly routine that she does just prior bedtime...her winding down. This evening while Izzy was doing the typical sorting and reading, she realized that once the books are out of the box - she could get IN the box. She was so happy with herself, she kept on climbing in and out, in and out. Mike got up and pulled her around the living room, which she thought was too fun. But she soon climbed out and retrieved her books and got back in. She read in there for a while...clapping at herself and thinking she was so funny. Which she was. I just love that she enjoys books and reading so much. She will read them in a box and with a fox and in a house and with a mouse. She will read them here and there. She will read them anywhere!

Early Thanksgiving Celebration...

Aunt Sharla, Uncle Scott and Aunt AndreaGrandma BergerUncle Scott reading to Izzy...which she loved!!! Trying out her first pickle...
And trying her first apple...which she LOVED (see carcass below)
Yesterday we drove up to Ft. Wayne to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with Mike's mom and step dad's family. The food was delicious and simply being with family was so much fun. We played cards until late hours and stayed up chatting even longer! Izzy experienced some new foods: mashed potatoes (which she did not care for-must be the texture), pickles (another one she didn't like), mandarin oranges (she devoured and we have seen remnants ALL DAY) and apples. Izzy loved the apple and would scream if you took it away from her. She also said a new word today: APPLE. I cried.

Go Colts!!!

GO COLTS!!!

The many faces of Isabelle...

Remember how Izzy won't push her stroller with the baby doll in it? It is still getting thrown to the side...Katie Monster keeps baby doll company :(

While Mike and I were away doing Funster activities, my good friend, Lori, came over and watched Izzy ALL DAY. What a sport. Lori has been looking forward to this day for a few weeks...and for good reason. She and Iz had a very fun-filled day, themselves! They went out for breakfast with Molly, played all day, and took a trip to the mall. Phew! Molly was able to capture some pictures of both Izzy Lou and Lori Lou :) They were just too cute NOT to post. A VERY BIG thank you to our favorite new babysitter, Lori. Izzy had a great day...she told me to tell you thank you and she loves you. Muah!

Funsters at IU

Watching the Marching 100 come through with the cheerleaders
A little Flippy Cup never hurt anyoneCornhole
The Funsters
The girls
Warming Up in the car

Ending the day at Nick's English Hut with Sink the Bismark

Yesterday the Funsters reunited for a day of tailgating at Indiana University. We arrived bright and early at 9am to gain a spectacular tailgate spot right next to Assembly Hall (we were able to go inside to use the warm bathrooms!). The day was a chilly 45 degrees, but that didn't stop us from playing Flippy Cup, Cornhole and grilling our lunch. We never did make it inside of the game...we were having far too much fun outside to go see IU get beat (badly) Wisconsin. Don't worry, we did follow the game on everyones' Blackberries :) After a full day of tailgating, we ventured over to Nick's, as what's a trip to Bloomington without playing Sink the Biz? It was a fun-filled Funster day...looking forward to the next one!!!

Visiting new baby Moose...

Izzy trying to get her hands on JudeSharing her legoTouching the babySnug as a bug in a rug (aka: swaddled) Couldn't leave the boys out...Eric and his buddy, Oscar

Last Sunday we packed it up and went to Broadripple to visit the Mooses. Little Jude is 4 weeks old and I just had to get my hands on him! Isabelle wasn't initially interested in Jude, as there were tons of new toys in a new house. When Iz finally discovered mommy holding another baby, she came crawling over and tried to get her hands on Jude. She was very curious and wanted to share her toys and touch Jude...she is quite the inquisitive explorer.

Meg and her boys are doing very well adjusting to a new life in their home. I just couldn't get over how just 13 months ago I was swaddling & nursing. Felt like a lifetime ago!

Fall is here...

Last weekend was in the mid-70's...in November! Mike took advantage of the last warm weekend by raking leaves and giving the yard one final mow. After Izzy woke up from a THREE hour nap, we joined daddy in the leaves. Girl wasn't too sure what to think of all the crunching...but she loved the warm weather!!! All week it has been in the 70's, which is soon ending. This weekend's high is 43 degrees. No more bare feet for Izzy Lou....

Happy Halloween...

This year Izzy dressed as a cheerleader for Halloween. We did not trick-or-treat, as she is too young to 1. Eat candy and 2. Get to the door on her own to ask for said candy. Instead, we spent an hour over at Katie & Rick's house while they passed out candy. Katie gave Izzy a Kit Kat and in the first pic you can see that she attempted to eat it, wrapper and all. They even had a real tractor driving through their neighborhood giving tractor rides...now THAT's the way to roll on Halloween!!!

"I run because I can"

Kel, Jaim & Sandi before the race

**Update: Results were posted...I ran my personal best time: 2:03:42 !!!!

This morning I ran my 10th 1/2 marathon: the inaugural Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. That makes me old. At least older than I was when I did my first one, which was in 1999 - I was 22 and living in Minneapolis. I had run in 5k races all throughout my young adulthood with my dad or with friends in college. But for some reason I got the bug to run longer distances post-college. Every year I train and every year I finish. Every year I get stronger. And every year I am reminded why I run these races:

Friendship.

Strength.

Health.

I can.

Jaime and I trained for 12 weeks for this race. During the week we'd do our runs on our own and on Saturday mornings we'd meet on the Monon Trail for our long runs. It was our time together. Away from husbands and kids and everyday monotony. We focused on the road ahead and hugged each other afterwards and headed on our way. I run for friendship.

I know I am stronger today than I was yesterday. Heck, I am stronger today than I was when I was 16. I run for strength.

Because I eat my fair share of junk food, the running allows me to indulge. I burn those calories with each step and know my bones are getting stronger and the calories are melting. I run for my health.

Finally, Jaime and I saw a woman running with all her might this morning...her running gate a bit skewed from what only I could gather was from a disability. She carried her crutches on her back, in case she needed them. I choked up at this sight. And the gal in front of her wore a t-shirt....it said, "I run because I can." Enough said. We crazy runners run, if for nothing else, because we can.

This woman inspired me today to keep going when I was in pain....because I can. What inspired you today?