More fun with Bella

We have been very busy adjusting to life with Bella. We are finally getting used to the lack of sleep and are having SO much fun enjoying our daughter! She was the best little Valentine we could have asked for. We have been home mostly just staring at her an dplaying with her but we finally made a few ventures out of the house (other than to the doctor). We had a Valentine's date outing to brunch with Bella and enjoyed the day together. We also took our first trip to church this past weekend. She was pretty cozy for most of it until towards the end of the sermon when Bella decided she was no longer interested in being there and went from completely asleep to crying in a split second. Of course as soon as I left the sanctuary she was completely happy again. Silly Bella! We also hung with some good friends (the Does and the Spires') and all the daughters played together. Maya and Bella finally got to meet and even though they are only 1 month apart there is quite the size difference :-) They are bound to be little best friends despite their size difference! Sophia will be the big girl they both look up to and she was such a good little caretaker. She was so cute with them! Here are some pictures from the last week or so. Enjoy!

Cutest little Valentine

Rowdy getting Bella ready to head to brunch

A little bit of smile, wonder what she is dreaming about....

Dressed in a fun little outfit for Valentine's brunch, her pants look a little big :-)

Mom and Bella, love it!

So cute!

He loves his daughter!

Maya and Bella, besties

Hopefully Bella will start catching up to Maya soon!

Sophia is going to be such a good big sister (very soon), she was so cute and gentle with the babies

Bella really enjoys laying on pillows, I think she would love it if we made her a big pillow bed

So cozy on her pillow

Loving the swing

Love that face!

She just kept staring at the control switch for the swing, what a goof ball

Isabella Grace's First Week

Isabella is 1 week old! Time is flying, maybe because we have lost track of what is day and what is night! We are having so much fun and loving every minute! She is such a blessing in our lives! So far in the first week.....her first car ride (home from the hospital), first doctor's appointment, first pretty pink bow worn, first stroll in the neighborhood...all bundled up of course, first bath. Sorry for all the photos below but we are proud parents and can't stop taking pictures!

She loved the warm bath water

Looking a little sleepy but had to capture the moment!

Dad, Bell and Oreo on a stroll in the neighborhood

Taking Bella out into the neighborhood for the first time! (Just for a short little stroll all bundled up of course!)

So cute in her pretty pink bow!

Heading out her first doctor's appointment

So pretty!

Doing what they do best, napping

Grandma Owens

Bella "seeing" her room for the first time, I think she was passed out actually

On the way home from the hospital

Getting into the car for the first time

About to leave the hospital

So cozy!

Adorable!

Isabella Grace Owens is here!

Isabella Grace Owens was born at on February 3rd, 2010 at 2:16pm. She weighed 5lbs 5.5 ounces and was 18 inches long. She is absolute perfection. We are so blessed to have her in our lives and could just stare at her for hours. We are soaking up every moment with her but wanted to give a quick update for anyone that reads the blog. There will be more updates and pictures soon but for now, here are some we have taken so far.

So darn cute!

Grandma Julia and Bella

Mom and Bella

Oh big yawn!

Happy family!

Dad and Bella fast asleep

Proud Daddy

Maternity Pictures

My wonderful friend Stephanie took maternity pictures of Rowdy and I at just about 38 weeks pregnant. She is such a spectacular friend and an AMAZING photographer. Check out her blog: stephaniefayblog.com. I have included some of the maternity pictures here and more can be seen on her blog plus more of her wonderful work that she does with her husband Stephen. I love how they turned out and they definitely show off my pregnant belly at (hopefully) it's largest. So glad we got to capture these last few moments of Rowdy and I as a couple before our family grows and our daughter arrives. I know these will be very special to us, especially since we didn't take very many pictures of us together throughout the pregnancy. Thank you to Stephanie for these pictures we will treasure forever!

Bella's Room *Updated*

Today we put some of the finishing touches on Bella's room. I was so excited to do this! My dad painstakingly painted and got the wonderful plaque ready (it might be his new hobby) and made sure it looked perfect. I ordered a wall decal that I liked on Etsy and my mom and I applied it to the plaque and I think it turned out pretty darn cute! We also hung the very cute "I" plaque that Auntie Ashley made for Bella. When I say "we" I pretty much mean I sit in the rocking chair and direct so to clarify, my mom measured and hung everything. Thank goodness for my mom who has basically come over and cleaned our whole house and re-organized every room. And Rowdy has taken care of pretty much all the house chores since I am supposed to try to be off my feet. It all looks so cute hanging in the nursery now and now all that the nursery needs is a baby. We are in the 1 week countdown and hopefully she will be here sooner (or at least not late but I am trying to be patient). On the labor front I have had lots of strong contractions but so far nothing I can really "time" so no labor yet but I know that no matter what, she will be here VERY soon so we are just trying to soak up some last minutes as just a couple before we become a family of 3!

38 Weeks

We are 38 weeks now and just waiting for Isabella to arrive! It could be any time now and we are hoping sooner rather than later. We are seeing my doctor Tuesday to hopefully get some things going (I will spare you all of the details) and possibly discuss induction. My dialation and everything is progressing so we are excited for our little girl to just get here and as excited as we are, it's hard as we sit here watching tv (we are really living up one of our last child free Saturday nights) that she will actually be here, like REALLY here, it's so hard to wrap our minds around! We will hopefully have some more exciting details to share after the doctor on Tuesday but for now, our first daughter Oreo got bathed and groomed for Bella's arrival so we had to take a picture together and you can see how low and big my belly is getting in the second picture!

Me and my bed rest buddy Oreo

Soooooo fully cooked, no more growing please!

35 Weeks: So Many New Things....

I am officially 35 weeks now....soooooo close! And SO ready to be not pregnant any more :-) I have loved so many moments of this pregnancy and the very unique experience that it is but I can't wait for our little Bella to just be here and for me to not get winded putting socks on! It was a very eventful December and it really did fly by. I cannot believe that it is 2010 now and that Bella will be here in about a month. There are still so many little things to do and get ready around the house and errands to run! I have had some not so fun headaches and after 2 different doctor ordered trips to labor and delivery this week the nurse told me last night that I am now officially on bed rest. It will be interesting figuring out how to sit still and not do things when there are so many things to be done! I will get more clarification on what my bed rest means from my doctor this week but the nurse told me I can get up to go to the bathroom and to make a sandwich but that is about it. Something tells me I will be doing a lot of crocheting baby blankets and organizing in small doses from a seated position and ordering my visitors around :-). I'm sure Rowdy is so excited (ha!). Maybe Bella will make her entrance a little early and relieve her mother from this bed rest! I'm so excited for what this year holds and am looking forward to enjoying every moment with friends and family (and getting back out of the house will be great too!). I will update with a new belly picture soon I am sure, once I don't look like I spent a few hours in the hospital!

Here is adorable Rowdy putting together the glider, he has become quite handy with all the assembly required!

He may have gotten a little distracted by the movie we were watching :-)

Here is a peek into Bella's room, it is really coming along! It is basically done (we have a few more things to hang but that is about it!

Here are my GORGEOUS curtains hanging in the room that the fabulous Shelagh made, I absolutely love them!

There is a plaque that is going above the crib, that will be a project in the next few days/weeks while I am home and I love the little rocking horse that my mom got for Bella. Of course Rowdy (the big grown up that he is) put one of Bella's stuffed animals on the horse like it is riding it.

Here is a view into Bella's very full closet! She has so many adorable outfits and I am now addicted to the smell of Dreft, baby clothes are the best (I'm sure I will be eating those words once the laundry really starts to pile up)

Here are the super cute letters that my friend Christy made, we have been so blessed to have such sweet friends (and creative ones) make so many special things for Bella that really make her room unique. I love going in there, it is so relaxing!

On the left is a list of things to pray for your child that Christy wrote for me, it is so special and makes me cry when I read it! On the right is an adorable cross that Rowdy bought for his baby girl's room, it is so special!

More to come soon!