HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE LOVE!!!!

Today Bella is a year old! I don't have much time to post, but I just had to put something on here for my little princess.


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To Bella:
Daddy and I can't believe how you've grown the past year. Did you know that you've been a strong and demanding girl from the start?

I hated leaving you in the hospital for your first week of life, but the doctors and nurses took care of you. When you finally came home you had so many people who wanted to see you that there wasn't enough time in the day to see everyone. But you instantly loved the attention.

In your first month, you only wanted your bottle, since that's the milk you recieved in the hospital. And what an eater you were!!! You would have had all the bottles at once if you could!

In your second month, you had your first Christmas. Never has there been a better girl for Santa. You got lots of toys and even more clothes (especially dresses). You were such a good girl that you only cried when you were hungry or needed something.

In your third month, you started to roll over from your tummy to your back on a regular basis. This meant that Daddy and I had to keep a closer watch on you when changing your diaper, or drawing your bath water. Your exploring days had begun!

In your fourth month, you began to smile and laugh when things were funny. Daddy and I tried so hard to get you to laugh before that, but it wasn't until now that you liked the silly stuff.

In your fifth month, you went to the park for the first time. Miss Nayeli and I took you to see and play with the little kids, and you wanted to join the fun, but couldn't do much other than go into the swing...but you were scared of the swing, so Mommie took you on the slide on her lap instead.

In your sixth month, you decided that anything within your reach was automaticly yours. We had to keep the area clear of things you might be interested in that could have hurt you.

In your seventh month, you began to crawl. First, you decided that you wanted to just push your right foot and "scoot" on your tummy towards what you wanted. And then eventually you got up on all fours and "rocked" back and fourth.

In your eighth month, you had figured it out. Now you were crawling at a good rate of speed. You started babbling a lot more, instead of just saying "da-da" like you had done earlier.

In your ninth month, you clapped your hands on command. It was so fun to say "yay Bella!" and see your little excited face light up. You also learned how to pull yourself up onto your feet in your bed with support.

In your 10th month you were impossible to walk away from. You had figured out how to climb onto your changer from inside your pack-n-play bed, and were able to stand up without help. You also began to dance to music by "squatting" up and down to the beat.

In your 11th month, you finally accomplished the task of walking. First you would only try and take a few steps on the bed, and would only try there. Eventually you decided that the ground was safe, and slowly added steps to your attempts. By the end of this month you have accomplished walking all over, and even walking really fast to the things you are most interested in. You have full out arguments with people when you don't get your way, and your list of words include "Oh-oh", "Da-da", "eeee---yah" (ewww) or (yeah when said fast), and the suprised inhale of "huoooh!!". Never has there been a more accomplished girl. We are so proud of you!

Today begins your 12th month and 2nd year of life. We can't wait to see what you will accomplish next. It was only yesterday, that you learned how to play "peek-a-boo" with your own hands. I'm so glad that entertains you!!! You are a very special little girl and Mommie and Daddy love you very, very much. Enjoy your "Elmo's World" today as usual, and your 1st birthday party on Saturday!!! What a little princess!!!

Love,
Mommie

The Countdown Has Begun!!!!

On Thursday our little Baber will be 1yr old. In one way, I can't believe time has gone by so quickly, and in another, it has been a LONG year. But...our little princess is growing up! *tear+sniffle!*

I'm so glad I have blogged over the past months, and it is easy now to go month by month and look at Bella's progress. I still remember when Dorian and I tried so hard to get her to even smile, and rolling over was a big acomplishment.

Well, for her birthday, Bella has completed the task of learning how to "toddle-walk", and is already a very demanding little girl(just like her mommie!). She may not be able to speak yet, but she has full-out arguments with me when she doesn't get her way. No doubt her birthday party will be the highlight of her week. So many people, so much attention!!!

The party, as most of you already know, is on Saturday the 15th. We are expecting a huge amount of people from (really) all over North America. Family and friends are scheduled to be coming in from up state, Illinois, Indiana, Mexico, and around town. Friday is going to be absolutely crazy, as we are starting already to prepare for the event. The plan so far is as follows:

Dorian goes to work on Friday and leaves early.
I go to class to take an exam (otherwise I totally would have skipped this time!)
I go to Dorian's mom's house to get some stuff ready.
I leave for LA with Dorian's brother to pick up Melissa at the airport!
Dorian comes back from work and buys everything (food,etc.) with his mom that was not already bought.

That's the nutshell of it all...somewhere we have to cook, get everything set up, and on top of it, Dorian wants to go see the new 007 movie that is to come out Friday!!! Hopefully we will get to.


I'm not sure what the plan is for Thursday, Bella's real birthday, but I think we're going to keep it low-key since Friday is going to be nuts.

Anyway, pre-happy birthday, my lil love!!!! I'm sure I won't blog again until the party is over!

Pics and Videos (part 1).

Yesterday I went out to play with Bella in the leaves and walk along the sidewalk with her. As you can see, the leaves are finally falling here in Cali.


Bella walked along the sidewalk, slowly but surely.


We were very attentive when cars passed every now and then on the street.


And had a fun time just exploring around the ground.


All in all it was a pretty fun outside experience!

(below are videos from the outing...)

Pics and Videos (part 2).

Here are the videos taken yesterday. The pictures are in the above post



You can't see it on her face very well (thanks to the horrible quality of my cell phone's video camera, but Bella is making an "Ooo" shape with her mouth in suprise. She gets very excited over little things, hehe!

I WANT PICTURES!!!!!

I admit it, I'm a demanding girl...

...but I want a digital camera/video camera of my own.

I'm tired of relying on other people's cameras!

Bella's halloween pictures are coming soon, and some other random ones too. I hope all of you got the cute ones from her party invitations...the beauty of those is that you can take out the picture from the slot in the invitation and do what you like with it (like put it on the fridge, or frame it! *wink!*)

For now, all I have is the following uploaded video of Bella's biggest achievement yet...walking!

Stay linked for the promised photos in the future.

*I decline to talk about the election...as I'm still unsure of how I feel about it. However, since at this point Prop 8 looks like it's passing, I am feeling better about it's outcome.*

Fall Photos!

Only with keys in her hand would she take her outside pictures!


Bella is unsure about sitting in the grass.


"I'm a big girl, mommie!"


Looking after a passing car.



Okay, so it doesn't look too much like fall yet, but it definitely has cooled off from the 100 degree weather it has been for the past 4 months. Bella has on long sleeves, as you can see. Enjoy!

Colder Weather Has Officially Arrived!!!!

Finally...some cooler weather has arrived in Bakersfield! Is it here to stay? I guess we shall see...

At last it feels like autumn. The 90's and 100's are gone, and now the highs are in the 70's and 80's on warm days. I never thought I'd say that 70 degree weather feels like "autumn", but I suprise even myself. In the morning it has been in the 40's, so Bella has to be all bundled up when we take Daddy to work. She looks so amazingly cute in her little coat. I can't wait until she walks!

Yesterday afternoon, we practiced walking outside in the nice weather. Bella picked a flower off of one of the bushes and brought it inside to Daddy. Ahh, it was so wonderful to play outside for the first time since all the heat! She wore her new little jacket, which I should have taken pictures of...maybe another outdoor adventure is soon to come, and thus produce a photo or two. Then later in the evening Bella and I made a pizza run, giving her the opertunity to show off her little coat again. She was such a good girl, and I'm starting to really enjoy having her with me as she becomes less of a physical hastle.

Today is another school day, and then it's off to the rink! Why, yes, didn't I mention that we have a rink here, and that morning ice for me is free? Oh the joys of teaching...