"You will not love your firstborn better, but you will always love him differently"

Isabelle, our firstborn.
When I found out that I was expecting Isaac, I was warned that being a mother of two would be a huge step, one that would present me with many challenges. Although I was scared, I was also excited to see what life had in store for me. Isaac is finally here and I see now that I was not fully prepared for what was to come... but how could I have been? The funny part about it is that Isaac himself is not the challenge. Isaac is my calm baby. He is loving and cuddly but he also needs his space. He sleeps better when he is in his swing and wakes up in a good mood to get a snack or a change. God knew what he was doing when he gave me this calm baby... I needed an Isaac because I already have an Isabelle.
Oh Isabelle, my baby girl. When Isabelle was born she gave David and I a sharp slap of reality. She was the most adorable thing we had ever seen but boy was she thick-headed!! She was colicky for the two months of life and would only quiet down if we bounced her. Even after she got older she still had some colicky symptoms and my nursing moms diet was slowly whittled away. She slept in short bursts, only when she wanted to and only if I was there with her. If a pin dropped she would be sitting up, awake and ready to go. She always wanted to be held, my little koala bear, God help me if I walked across the room without her. She hated the car seat and would scream until blue in the face when I put her in there. It took me a long time to voluntarily leave the house. I was so happy to be her mom but everyday was a constant challenge to stay calm and patient and not end the night in hopeless tears.
Isabelle is almost 2 now and David and I have learned during that time that we must look at her in a different light. This little girl has spunk!! She has molded my heart into a mothers heart. I can't think of one day where she hasn't taught me a lesson in patience and love. Before, we just wanted to survive the day, but as she has grown we have begun to see the gravity of the situation. God has entrusted us with this vibrant young soul, hungry for life and waiting to be guided and loved. I am a better person because she is here. Daily I am challenged to "put on Christ" as I respond to her and it is through Him that I find peace in the chaos.
Isabelle has been particularly "spunky" lately as she deals with the new experiences and feelings of being a big sister and I am beginning to understand why having two children is challenging. I know that I have much more to learn from my children, Isaac will have his own lessons to teach me, but I also know that my heart will continue to expand as my love grows.

I love you Isabelle... I love you Isaac. Love, your Mom

Baby Isaac David - Our New Addition

I didn't know it then but when I last blogged in January little Isaac David was already in my belly, growing safely inside of his mama. Now, nine months later, Isaac has decided to join us, and a proud mother is excited to blog about her new baby boy!!
Although unflattering, I knew that I would have to show a pregnancy shot. Here I am just a few days before the birth...
The last few weeks of the pregnancy were hard. I managed to catch the flu just one week before the delivery and was absolutely miserable for four long days. David took good care of me though and by day five I felt much better. On Saturday the 26th of September, my mom flew into town to be there with us during our last few weeks. Isabelle really loves hanging out with her grandma and will be sad when she leaves this Saturday.
Isaac was due on October 1st and at 4:15 p.m. on his due date my contractions began. Isaac was born shortly after at 7:09p.m.. He weighed in at 7lbs. 5oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.
He is perfectly healthy with all of his fingers and toes ... and boy is he handsome!! I think I'm in love!!
Isabelle is in love too...
And can't stop kissing her new little brother on his "coco"...
Although she has her moments, she seems to be handling all the changes well...
Her new smile includes the cutest little wink ever... see above...and below...
Daddy is in love too and is enjoying the addition of a son after living with two women in the house for a year and a half. They already like to chill together and enjoy the calm of guy time...
Welcome Isaac David to our family!! We love you more than we could have ever imagined and have enjoyed every day that you have been with us so far.

Thank you, Lord, for such a beautiful blessing!!

Missing Daddy...

I know, so many excuses!! I haven't blogged in forever and all I have to say for myself is that I am loving being a mother and have been putting all of my time and energy into Isabelle. It may also be that I have been a little too lazy to blog...
There were so many amazing pictures and stories from over the holidays that I got really overwhelmed and decided to skip those weeks and start fresh beginning with today. Thanks for caring about our lives here in Florida, it means a lot.
Me and Isabelle are missing the man in our lives. When our favorite guy isn't here it makes life a little empty. Needless to say, we can't wait for him to get home to his girls.
While David has been gone, Isabelle and I have been keeping busy. We've been spending a lot of time with some amazing friends who have been and continue to be our support system.
Here is my friend Jan and her son Isaac posing with Isabelle and I after having lunch on the back porch. Jan has been a life-saver!!
This is my friend Lisa, one of the funnest girls in Florida!! I can't lie, we've had some shopping therapy and some ice cream therapy to get us through the lonelier days.
So where are the pictures of Isabelle?? Here she is chillin' with her friend, Isaac.
Here are Isaac and Isabelle playing in the sand.
Look at those adorable faces...
Isaac is wondering why there is a girl in his tub.
I don't know what was going on here but I thought it was cute...
Because of their complicated love/hate relationship, they decided to pose for the camera after pushing each other around.
Until tomorrow!! Love y'all!!