The Transformation Has Officially Begun.... Painting!!

This is Isabella's room looking in ~ the wall with the window on it will soon be yellow with her sweet valance and white wood blinds hanging... and the main "star" wall will be the wall to the right.
OH- and her new fan! Sooo much better than the last one; Casey installed it last weekend!

The soon to be "star wall!"

BuT First ~ We must eat super yummy eggs, swiss & hot sauce sandwiches on beyond delicious seeded sourdough!! Mmmmmm!!

The master painter/daddy at work.

The coolest blue color ever!!!! This color turned out SO perfect!! Can't wait to put this wall together... it's going to be so A*MAZING!! :)

More pictures soon... the first coat of yellow is on the three remaining walls- needs another coat or two, hang the curtains, blinds and decorations... then get started on the main event- the star wall!! Soooo exciting! And how cool is it to have the world's best painter as your daddy?! Isabella is such a lucky girl!! :)

The Sweetest Sound

My favorite part about my doctor appointments are getting to hear Isabella's heartbeat.  Well, that is when we don't have an ultrasound, of course.  Last night Casey and I were laying together on the couch catching up on some shows and he layed his head on my belly and started tapping his finger at a steady rate on my leg... He could hear her heartbeat, which is much faster than mine!!!  It was so sweet to see the huge grin on his face as he just layed there listening to her.  ThEn she had had enough (she hates when I have anything on my belly!) and gave poor Casey a swift punch to the face!! Hahaha- we both died laughing because we both felt it; but that didn't stop him! :)  She'll be here in less than 12 weeks- as of yesterday we were officially at the 28 week mark.  Can't wait to see her!!

27 Weeks & Paint

Isabella's hand... upside down!  It's showing it's right side up, then I upload it and it isn't?!  Sorry!! :(

This is Izzy's foot... upside down- again? 

Left- Color or three walls. Top Center- Stars for main wall.  Right- Awesome dusty blue for the main star wall.  Bottom Center- Royal purple for writing on main wall

Yesterday I had my follow up ultrasound to remeasure my cervix, and Casey got to go!  We had the same radiology tech as last time- and she was sooo amazing to show Casey everything ~ all her bones, eyes, perfect heart, everything down to her kidneys and gallbladder... It was so great to see her and to see Casey's HUGE grin!! :)  Everything is measuring right on for her due date, except her head is a week ahead.  Thanks to Casey!  She said if the dad has a large head the baby will, too.  He said, "Sorry babe!" She weighs 2.6 lbs and everything is looking perfect with her.  I go in next Tuesday (the 19th) to meet with my Ob to get the measurement results from this apt and figure out where we go from here.  27 weeks is such a huge landmark to reach- her lungs are completely developed and the survival rate in preemies is great from here on out!! We are so bless! Praise God!!

26 Weeks

We can't wait to tell Izzy about all the cool places she has gone... The Space Needle and now a Sounder's game; to name a few..... We can't wait to actually take her in person, though!

While at the Sounder's game Casey went on a food run and came back with these for Izzy! I told him it was hard not to buy everything I saw for her... he fell into the trap day ONE!

This is one of CASEY'S shirts... tight on me! Ahhh!!

Less than 3 months to go!!

It's so incredible to have Casey home. He kisses my belly and talks to Isabella all the time. He got to feel her kick the first night he was home; although he says she was giving him a high-five. His exact words were, "Wow, that's so awesome!" (Which is also what he said when he first touched my belly on the pier for homecoming.) We can't thank you all enough for all of your love and support through this extremely hard patrol. XoXo

Wreaths

As some of your know, I have a slight obsession with wreaths. It's true. We have two in our house that I made about a year ago, that stay up year round. I made them after reading this blog entry from our pastor's wife. Practically everyone who comes over compliments them and talks about how cool they are. The one I have hanging in our living room looks exactly like this one. The one in our bedroom (that people seem to like more) is rolled. So much fun!!
ThEn I found this one, and couldn't wait to share! I haven't made it yet, but will be creating it asap. I just LoVe craft projects; especially ones that are cheap, and involve wreaths!

Playing Catch Up

So much has happened since I last got to post- and it has all been exciting and fun!! What a life I am blessed to live!!

First-- while my amazing momma was still here my sweet cousins through a baby shower for me and Isabella! To our surprise, they sent out invitations to everyone-- Isabella received loved from all our family across the entire US- I was blown away!! She is going to be the best dressed, most loved girl ever!! My amazing Aunt took pictures of everything at the shower, but when she went to copy them onto a CD for me they were all lost. So, here are a few pictures my cousin Melissa, the host of the shower, snapped.

'Three Generations' picture frame for Grammy. (Bottom left is the diaper cake my beyond sweet cousin Kerra made.)

My cousin Robin Mitchell is the most creative person I know-- this is the lid to the box full of amazing goodies she got/made for Isabella... It says "Isabella Jo." Too Cute!!

I'm taking bets that Casey will dress Isabella in this every chance he gets.... :) Don't worry- there are even matching shoes!! So much fun!!

This picture says it all. Can't wait to put her cute diaper butt in these pants!!

Frog Pod for all of Isabella's bath toys! So cool!!

Aunt Martha made the cake- it says, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Do You Know How Loved You Are?" just like it will say on her wall. Loveeee it!

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Then.... My best friend Kirstie Lou came to visit me for the week!!! We had so much fun just hanging out and catching up ~ lots of girl time. Instead of using the same pictures and probably writing the same sort of thing- I am just going to link to her post about our week. I am so thankful for her friendship, even after all these years. It's so great to hang out- it's like we never missed a beat!! Love that girl!

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I am 25 weeks pregnant (well, as of yesterday, technically), but will post a 25 week picture after Casey is home. Can't wait for him to see my belly and see and feel her move!!!!!! He refers to her as Izzy and Iz is all of his e-mails, telling me how much he loves her... it melts my heart into itty bitty pieces every single time. Love him. Love her. Can't wait till we are all together!! Finally!! But for now, here is a 24 week photo (which is also in Kirstie's post) taken on top of the Space Needle. Too Cool!!

It's Official.....

Casey is officially a submariner, and has earned his Dolphins, which is a very big deal in the Navy world... it's more bragging rights than anything. (Tons of hard work, too, of course!!) The guys that have their dolphins rag on the guys that don't, so once you have them you can rag on the guys below you that don't. Yes, it might sound silly, but it's true! He e-mailed me about getting them last month, but I received the 'official' letter from the CO this week; who also thanked me for my commitment to Casey and his hard work. We have so much to celebrate once he gets home!!


Also, today is my momma's birthday. She is beyond amazing!! I've always loved and appreciated her, but now that I'm going to be a mommy myself, I can only wish to be half the mom she is and has been. Happy Birthday Momma!!!!! XoXo