It has been a while!!!

Pictures (open link and view as "slideshow") :
http://picasaweb.google.com/TTLKurtis/2007Easter?pli=1

I'm sooooo sorry I haven't posted any pics sooner! We've been extremely busy over the last few months with visits from friends and family. Let's see, Abi and Titi, Cousin Stephen, David Allen (Kurt's brother), G-ma and Papa Joe, and Aunt Terry and Uncle Fred...phew! At least Isabella has been able to spend a lot of time with her family and she has truly enjoyed it.

Bella is looking more and more like a little, young lady everyday and less like a toddler. She spent New Year's Even in New Jersey with her grandparents and great-grandparents and then spent several days in NYC with Titi Yamila, Tio Dennis, Camila and DJ. Then we went back to NJ for a few days to visit Titi Emma and her other "cousins". Abi and Titi then came to visit in San Antonio and spoiled her rotten! Isabella loved going to the rodeo, true cowgirl that she is. However, her favorite holiday by far has been Easter...so many chocolate eggs she didn't know what to do with herself! Papa Joe and G-ma came to visit for a few days and Bella was thrilled with them.

Isabella is growing up far too quickly, but we're truly enjoying her "pig-latin conversations" and her silly behavior. She is getting her 2 year molars right now, so she is also a little cranky/fussy, but nothing too terrible. Well...Kurtis calls her "the little monster" once in a while, but the cuteness still outweighs the fussiness.

We've been experiencing some problems uploading pics to this blog, so please click on the link below for a web album. Please view as a "slideshow". We promise to continue posting pics on a more frequent basis!

Christmas Day!

Here's a quick note before we leave for New Jersey/New York in a couple of days to visit with family. We had a beautiful Christmas, despite Isabella being under the weather with a bout of "walking pneumonia"! Apparently Isabella was a little angel this year, since Santa brought her more gifts that we could fit under the tree. She was quite surprised when she walked downstairs and immediately took her baby for a ride around the house in her new stroller. She then proceeded to cook us breakfast with her brand new kitchen (a gift from Abi). She spent the rest of the morning playing with her new toys and taking some daring trips on her new rollercoaster. On Christmas afternoon mami and dada took her to the doctor for a nagging cough that turned out to be "walking pneumonia". After some breathing therapy and antibiotics, we're happy to report she is doing much better and getting ready for her big trip to New Jersey/New York. We'll post some more pics when we get back. Happy New Year's!

Christmas Eve...all the presents wrapped and "under" the tree!


Hmmm...a few gifts for us and many, many gifts for Bella!


Isabella was a VERY good girl this year!


Bella's rollercoaster...weeeee!


Christmas morning in my new jammies!


I still look cute...even with pneumonia!


Taking my baby for a stroll.


Hmmm...what should we cook for breakfast, Mathilda?


Fried eggs and bacon...coming up!


Over easy? Sorry...I only know how to scramble!


I'm Dada's present! (Much better than an I-Pod, if you ask me.)

The year is almost over!

Wow, I can't believe Christmas is already here. It seems like we were just dressing up Isabella for Halloween. In the past couple of months Isabella has had her second haircut since her hair grows very fast and mami can't keep up with it! She finally met Santa at the Artisan's Village and she didn't seem to mind him very much. Of course, when we went to take her "formal" picture with Santa at the mall she screamed bloody murder! Oh well, at least we got some good pics with the "good Santa". Kurtis insists that he knows how to put Bella at ease and the mall photographer simply sucks.

Now that the weather has cooled down some (i.e., no longer 105 degrees) we've been spending more time at the park. Isabella looooves the big kids' slides and climbing equipment, even though mami swears one of these days she is going to have a heart attack. She enjoys kicking her little ball and running after it. Future rugby player, of course! Her personality is simply blooming and everyday she comes up with a new trick. Even though she is also developing a bit of a temper, she is so funny that we quickly forget her silly tantrums. She is learning a bunch of words and it is so much easier to communicate with her. She still ignores us when Elmo is on the tv, but who are we to compete with Elmo! Enjoy the pics...

(Click on the pics to view them larger)


My second haircut in 4 months!


I'm such a big girl!


Wow...someone tell this dude we're in San Antonio!


What's with the "Ho, ho, ho", buddy? My mami has some great cough drops...


The Perry's and Santa.


Bella striking a pose...


Isabella loves the big kids' slides.


Weeeeee!


Hiding from Kurtis and his camera.


Already playing soccer!


Alright, if I go for the knees, I'm sure I can tackle mami!


Chilling with Mathilda.


Do you mind! This is a PRIVATE phone call!


Helping Corey wash his car.


Bubbles, this is sooo much fun!


Dada told me I have to clean the entire driveway by myself!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We all had so much fun on Halloween night. Isabella dressed up as a little butterfly for her second Halloween. She actually enjoyed her costume and is now convinced that everytime she wears a hood people will hand her candy! We went down our street knocking on our neighbors' doors and Isabella carried her pumpkin the entire time (although sometimes she was carried by Dada). She did not get scared by the many zombies and scary decorations, nor by Kurtis' annoyingly bright flash. The best part was watching Isabella eating her candy at home. It took her a while to figure out what to do with those lollipops, but once she got the hang of it...she was eating two at the same time (and sharing them with her doggies). After getting all sticky, I had to throw her in the bathtub for a good scrubbing. Isabella has proclaimed that this was, BY FAR, the best Halloween EVER!

(Click on pics to view them bigger)

Wee little butterfly among Mami's flowers!


My dinosaur friend, Jojo.


Trick-or-treating with Mami and Dada.


It is good to have a BIG Daddy to protect me from all the zombies!


Give me candy or I'll bite your ankle! (Mami, can butterflies bite?)


You're lucky I like M&M's, Mister...


My friends Alejandro, Diego and Alina.


Mmmm...two lollipops...I'm NEVER taking this butterfly outfit off!


Maybe if I hide under this hat Mami won't notice me eating all the candy..tee-hee!


What are you looking at?! Can't a baby drool while she eats candy?


What do you mean I only get one basket of candy? But Dada already ate half of it!

My First Pumpkin Patch

Last week we took Isabella to her first pumpkin patch! She had a blast running in between hundreds of pumpkins, posing for pictures and riding on her first tractor-pulled hayride.
It was a special weekend as well since Papa Joe came to visit from New Jersey (he went to the coast to fish with Daddy), and later on Godfather Steven stopped by for a couple of days. Bella looooved all the attention and had fun showing them all her new "tricks" (like spinning in circles, giving a bottle to her dolls, signing up a storm, dancing like a maniac, etc.). Isabella has grown soooo much these past couple of months. She looks like a three year old - all 28 lbs of her. We can't wait for Halloween...she'll be a cute butterfly!

I looove Fall...so much orange!


Mami and me next to some weird-looking guy.


Can we stop posing...I want to pick my pumpkin NOW!


White, orange, small, big...so many choices - I better think this one through!


I want to be the BIG INDIAN!!! Why do I have to be "Baby Long Feather"!!! This sucks!!!


I am going to pick the bestest, little punkin!


Alright...these ones are damaged...I'll take all those.


Dunno why Mami is sooo excited. It is just a tractor-ride! (She is easily amused!)


This is pretty cozy...i'll take this too, and the peep-peep behind me also!