Winter: Part I

I LOVED having time in December and January with just my girls! With the not so lovely weather outside, and our attempts to keep Sophia healthy, we spent much of our time at home!

Isabelle likes to read to her little sister. She also likes to just take her little sister's books. I just hope that she remembers this when Sophia's able to borrow her books!

Sophia and her "lamb-bunny", as Isabelle calls it. Isabelle got a little bunny blanket like this when she was a baby and she still sleeps with it to this day. So, when Grandma Nina got Sophia a lamb one, Isabelle insisted it was a lamb-bunny. :)

Our little princesses!

December 21: Sophia's actual due date ~ Weight: 5 lbs. 11 oz.

3 weeks later, on her due date, she had gained a pound! We were so proud of her!!

This is a baby scale that we rented from the hospital to watch her weight gain since I was nursing. With her small size, we were concerned about her weight gain and didn't want to wait until her appointments at 2 weeks and a month to make sure she was taking enough! Yes, I do know that I am an obsessive worrier... always have been about my babies! Apparently, that will never change?!

Isabelle LOVES the snow and wanted to play in it everytime there was even a dusting of the white stuff!

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful holiday! Blessed with two beautiful little girls, Jason and I received all that we had been wishing for! I just LOVE Christmas time! Isabelle had fun making sugar cookies. She mostly liked frosting them and licking her fingers ;)

Santa was here!! What a truly magical time for children-- I loved every minute of it!

This is one of my favorite pics! Tools and a tutu... love it! There's another one where she's all dolled up in her dress up clothes and playing with tractors. Priceless!

Isabelle was very proud of her gingerbread house! I finally convinced her to toss it in January with the promise to make another next Christmas.

Mommy and Sophia ~ Christmas Eve

Sophia and Isabelle under the Christmas tree :)

Sophia fit snug in the Santa hat... I think she may have been questioning what Grandma Deb was up to. :)

Sophia posing with her Christmas "loot".

Happy Birthday Isabelle!

My birthday princess turned 3 on December 9!

Isabelle started planning her 3rd birthday party in August. One of her favorite things to do this past summer was to go with me to the farmer's market. So, all on her own, she decided she wanted to have a "farmer's market" birthday party. It became quite the challenge for Jason and me to pinpoint exactly what she was looking for in a farmer's market party. When all was said and done, she loved her party and we all got quite a few laughs as she sold items from her stand at the "farmer's market" to all of her party guests. :) Fortunately for us, she doesn't completely have the concept of dates down. Her party was originally planned for December 5. Since Sophia arrived early on Decmeber 1 and we came home from the hospital on December 4, we decided to postpone the party until the following weekend. She was just as happy when we told her that Sophia decided to come early so that she could be at her party! :)

She's a big girl now!

Opening presents with Mommy, Daddy and Sophia- her favorite gift was this band set. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I purchased it ;)

Jason and Isabelle reading one of her new books. This girl LOVES to read!

Our beautiful girls

Grandma Deb enjoys photography and so I don't object to the girls being her cutest subjects! The photos below are all ones that she took in the first few weeks after Sophia was born.

Already playing dress-up together :)

Isabelle's Christmas dress ... she loved playing with the gold snowflakes!

This is a familiar face as of late... she's always up to (or into) something! One of her latest sayings: "Oh my child!" Not really sure where she came up with that one, but I often think I should borrow it from her!

This is a quick family photo taken just before Christmas. It's rare that we get Jason to pose for a picture so we have to take it when we can get it!

My sweet little baby ~ 2 1/2 weeks old

Isabelle LOVES being a big sister! She does a great job being gentle with Sophia... something I may have stressed just slightly ;)

Our little angel ... I love this picture because I think my hand gives perspective to how tiny she was. She'll always be my little peanut! In fact, when I first saw her, Dr. Brink said, "Here's your little peanut!"

Heading Home

Our family... the day before we went home from the hospital.

I thought it would be cute to have Sophia wear the same "The best gifts come in small packages" onesie that Isabelle wore home from the hospital. It was a little big on Isabelle, but Sophia was swimming in it. :)

Sophia had to do a "test drive" in her carseat since she was so small. The nurses had to monitor her vitals while they simulated a car ride for an hour in the nursery. She did pretty well, but did not pass due to her weight ~ 4 lbs. 12 oz. when we were discharged. We had to rent a special carseat from Blank Children's Hospital that she used for the first 6 weeks.

Arriving home!!

Isabelle (and apparently Chloe) were very excited to show Sophia her new house and especially her bedroom. She even decorated the door with welcome home signs!

So much love!

Finally here with us! It was very surreal to finally meet our little miracle. After so many scares and an earlier than expected arrival at 37 weeks, she was a bit on the tiny side at 5 lbs. but HEALTHY! So many prayers answered! My precious baby girl!

So tiny...

Grandma Linda with Sophia

Grandma Deb with Sophia

Sophia was the same size as Isabelle's baby doll :)

First Moments

Just moments after she is born, Jason gets to hold Sophia for the first time.

Once out of surgery, I get to hold my baby for the first time!

Pure and simple joy!

Our Family ~ Isabelle meets her sister!

Big sister Isabelle holds Sophia for the first time :)

She has done so well with her from the beginning. Of course, there are moments of jealousy as we expected, but overall, she has taken on the role of big sister happily and shows her much love each and everyday.