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!!!

"I am the Luckiest..."

Our friends, Courtney & Zach, came over two weeks ago to shoot Izzy's newborn pictures. Izzy was asleep until we stripped her down, then she remained wide-eyed for almost 30 minutes for the camera...and peed twice (thankfully no other accidents occurred)! The pictures turned out beautifully and I am so thankful for the memories. The link below is just a sampling of all the pics Zach took. I'd HIGHLY recommend him! Make sure you have your volume turned up on your computer, as the song is one of my most favorites by Ben Folds. Enjoy...

http://www.zachdobson.com/mcculloch.htm

Happy Halloween!!!

Today was Izzy's first Halloween...she celebrated by sleeping ALL DAY. Seriously, there was little, if any, wake time. Mom was able to shower, do laundry, nap, and shop at the mall all in one day! When dad got home from work, she helped him pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters!

Izzy cannot wait for next Halloween, she has a cheerleader costume from her Aunt Gail that she is just dying to wear! Until then...the pumpkin will do just fine (thanks Grand Roo!).

Happy Halloween!

Week Three...

A closeup of Miss Izzy

Naptime...Katie Monster squeezed in between!
Pammy & Marjan stopped by for a visit!
Izzy loved staring at Pam & Marjan...very alert!
Daddy's nighttime routine...
Izzy holding tight to daddy's hand!

The third week of Isabelle's life has been a transitional one in the McCulloch household! A friend of ours gave us a book called "The Baby Whisperer" that has changed our lives! Mike and I read how to "calm, connect and communicate" with Izzy through her nonverbal cues and cries. Izzy is now out of our bed and into her crib 100% of the time. Wanted to start this habit early...getting her to fall asleep in her own bed for both naptimes and nighttimes. Also, we have learned to catch her tiredness early and put her down at her first cues, so as not to overtire or overstimulate her. We have also started the nightly ritual/routine of bathtime before bed. Izzy LOVES the warm water her daddy splashes her with and her massage afterwards. All of these things have made her a much happier baby (and Mike and I are more rested, as well)! Oh, and Izzy had her longest sleep stretch yet...she only woke up ONCE in the middle of the night on Friday. She never fusses at night...always goes right back to sleep after her feedings. Hopefully we are on our way to more sleep in the upcoming days and weeks!

This past week 4 of our friends had babies. All are healthy and happy...2 boys and 2 girls to join Izzy's circle of friends! I will post pictures soon!

Week Two...

How sweet...Saying goodbye to mom was difficult...
Grandma Berger (Mike's mom)
Izzy snoozing in her crib...
Bundled up for her walk on the Monon...


Week Two of Isabelle's life was another successful one! We feel we need to make it through the first 8 weeks and then we're golden!

-Izzy is on a routine 3 hour feeding schedule...and most times we are waking her to feed her (changing diapers, stripping down, tickling, wet washcloth, et al to keep her awake!).

-Nights are not sleepless...she maintains her 3 hour cycle we have her on during the day.

-She has finally taken to a pacifier, which helps her self-soothe.

-I took her on her first power walk on the Monon Trail, which she slept through!

-She had several visitors this week: Grandma Berger, Molly, Katie, the Fellers, Grandma & Grandpa McCulloch and our photographer friends Zach and Courtney (I will post pics from their session soon!)

-Izzy's 2 week Pediatrician appointment was a major success! Dr. wanted Izzy to gain 1/2 ounce to an ounce a day (meaning, ideally gaining 7 oz. max)...she actually gained 18 ounces!!! Guess she is making up for a low birth rate...and guess she is getting enough milk at each feeding! This really helped my confidence in nursing, to say the least.




I believe that's all the updates for now. Mike and I are happy to say we are surviving and THRIVING in our newly adjusted life. Each day is completely different from the previous...and it is all trial and error. But we are loving every minute of it!