Bella Blog

Bella is 4!

2008-10-08T22:47:00.000-07:00

Don't believe me?

I have photos to prove it.

Bella's growing up so (too) fast. She loves her gymnastics class, legos, playmobil toys, jelly beans, and her baby doll.

She's fearless, and jumps from ledges (not too high mind you) without a second thought. She's becoming a daredevil on the swings. I made the mistake of jumping off in midair, instantly regretting it, as I could see the wheels turning in her head, trying to figure out how she could also do this trick. It's only a matter of time.

She's learning signs at school (ASL) and her best friends are Aidan, Leo, Jackson, Cassidy, Dylan, and Keira (among others).

Her favorite color is red, and her favorite music at the moment is the Barenaked Ladies' new CD "Snack Time".

She's eating more (and now weighs 32 pounds and is 38" tall!) Her favorite foods are Tofu, Salmon (raw and cooked), edamame, and frosted mini wheats.

She loves to play school, where I give her 'homework' to do, like copying letters and numbers. She's learning uppercase and lowercase letters in school and I can sometimes see the light going on when she sees familiar letters, especially her name. Her favorite author of late is Shel Silverstein.

Bella's favorite expression is "Actually Mom..."

Others: Bella has a bit of a lisp, hates going to sleep, and proclaims that school is "boring" every night. She likes to climb to the top of anything and say "I'm King of the World!".

I can't keep up with her at times, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Each night she tells me, "Mommy, you're my best friend." And I truthfully, gladly, hopelessly in love return the sentiment.

A Glimpse Into the Life of the Mighty B.

2008-09-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

A few photos to catch you up on the Mighty B's year so far. Enjoy!

Where Ya Been?

2008-01-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

Just a few photos to catch you up....Bella's growing up so fast - she's quite a little girl now!

Bella Metrics: October

2007-10-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

Bella loves Halloween. This year she's Little Red Riding Hood. Tonight we're heading to a friend's house for dinner and a little trick or treating in her small, cute, and less-traffic-than-ours neighborhood.

When I ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she says "Little Red Riding Hood!". I keep suggesting things like Doctor, or Lawyer, or Astronaut, but she's adamant about being Little Red Riding Hood. We'll keep working on her.

She loves tacos. The hard shell kind. And hard boiled eggs. And carrot sticks. She's discovering all sorts of new foods and is actually eating alot more. She's almost big enough for the volvo booster seat. Hallelujah!

She's also wearing big girl underpants all the time now. Yay!

We're going to Maui next week. We're looking forward to the beach, the sand, lots of fresh fruit, fish, and shrimp, and luaus. But she keeps telling me that "no, you can't buy me a coconut bra". We'll keep working on that too.

She's headstrong and beautiful and becoming her own person. We couldn't be happier! Hopefully our trip to Maui will result in a sibling for her. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Bella says she wants a brother, but I suspect she'll be happy with a sister as well.

Until next month. Stay safe and happy!

Bella Metrics: September

2007-09-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Bella sure is growing up. Here are some stats:

- She's over 36" tall now.
- She just passed the 30# mark (booster seat here we come). She's still petite, but she's really active so she needs to eat ALOT to gain weight.
- She's an adventurous eater. Today, we had bagels with lox (yes lox!) and she gobbled it up. At lunch she feasted on sushi (shrimp specifically) along with a bowlful of edamame.
- While she had a shrimp tail hanging out of her mouth, she started mumbling. 'what are you saying?' I asked her. Then she broke out with the months, in order, all correct.

what a kid. oh, and she wants to go rock climbing, horseback riding, and join a soccer team.

ROAR!

2007-08-19T21:55:00.001-07:00

Need I say more?

Howdy partner

2007-07-20T12:50:00.001-07:00

Howdy Y'all!

Bella got some new cowboy boots:

thanks Auntie Leigh Ann!

The TIVO Generation

2007-07-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today, Bella was getting ready for lunch. Her soup was on the table, but she was in the middle of an episode of the Wiggles.

Me: Bella, your lunch is ready.
Bella (slithering off the sofa): OK Mom. Can you pause this?
Me: stunned silence, mentally thinking "She's 2.5 and she wants me to pause something? damn you DVR!"

And then I paused it. It was a reasonable request.

sk8tr grrrlll

2007-05-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

Bella went to her cousin's 3rd birthday party on Saturday.
There was a bounce house! And cake! And skateboards! And best of all - exhaustion! Oh Lordy!

And now, a few random shots of Bellisima...
The boss, a few weeks ago, just after school:

And last but not least, here's a shot from Easter with her cousins Aidan and Natalie, just after they scored their loot from the Easter Bunny....Do they look happy or what?!?

Just Can't Get Enough

2007-04-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

Ever since Bella saw this ad on the telly, she has been requesting it over and over.

"Mama, I want to watch 'I can do better'".

Enjoy folks.

uh. happy new year?

2007-03-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted about little Bellaboo. The last few months have been a real time of growth for little Bella. Her verbal skills are just amazing, and she's limber and tough and definitely skating close to the terrible twos (or are we just skating into the terrible three's?).

That being said, here are a few shots of our little girl:

December....

January....

And February at Disneyland...

Ho Ho Ho

2006-12-24T14:44:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Bella and Santa:

Catch you all in 2007!

Tree Farm

2006-12-08T14:57:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we headed out to a tree farm to pick up our Christmas tree (I mentioned this in my last post, I know). I'm on a roll with posting lately so (drumroll please....), here are some photos!

Here's Bella looking so cute at the tree lot. Lately when you tell her to smile, this is what she does.

Bella with her cousins Natalie and Aidan before we left on our adventure....

The cousins getting ready to choose a tree:

We had a great time. That is until Mark realized he didn't bring anything to tie the tree onto our car. Thankfully Uncle Scott came to the rescue and it made it back with us. Our tree is up at home, the mantel is decorated, and we're all ready for Santa!

Oh Christmas Tree

2006-12-05T15:35:00.000-08:00

Sunday we took a trip over to Half Moon Bay to get a tree. We went to a cut your own place, which is MUCH more rewarding that just picking any ol' tree off a lot! I think Bella had more fun running around the tree farm than picking out the tree.

Here's little Bella posing in front of the fireplace...

And laughing at her Nana...

Happy Holidays! I'm going to try to be better about posting this month - I am hoping for a couple times a week. Wish me luck.

Gab

Oh Boy Oh Dough Boy....

2006-10-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Bella discovered the joy that is Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. She then proceeded to eat not one, not two, but THREE (with butter). On top of her regular dinner.

That's our girl!

Happy Birthday Bella!

2006-10-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

Bella is two!

Where to Start?

2006-09-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since our last post! Bella is growing into quite a little lady, and has had quite a summer. Here are the highlights -

1. She's a duckie now at school. That means even though she isn't 2 just yet, she's graduated from the infant program (the bunnies) and is in the 'duckie' program now. This includes naptime on her own mat (and going to sleep on her own - a big deal around this house), lots of crafts, visits from her favorite characters (I really feel for the staff member who draws the short straw and has to don a big Clifford suit), and best of all access to the big kids' playstructure and sandbox in the playground there.

2. Disneyland! - We met up with the family down in Anaheim and hit Disneyland. I don't know what karmic being was helping us out, but it was empty. EMPTY. Mark walked onto Space Mountain. Seriously.

Anyhoo, it was loads of fun. We went to a princess lunch:

And even tried out some rides. Bella was a little freaked out at first, but by the time we got to It's a Small World (thanks Amanda, for letting us sit up front for her first time), she was an old pro. Here she is with one of her favorite people, Julia Goolia:

3. And lastly, as of late, she's been helping us with our chores. Over the weekend, we were moving dirt around, getting ready for Bella's new swingset. She helped her daddy by giving him handfuls of dirt to 'move'. Here she is afterwards:

Dig that dirt goatee?!? BTW, those were NEW pajamas - oh well.

Her 2nd birthday is just around the corner. One of her favorite things to do of late is put quarters into her bank from Nana. It's an awfully cute bank, but she tends to pick it up and throw it a bit, so I've been searching for one that's a little easier to carry without so many sharp edges. And this is what I found at Sparkability:

It's nice looking and has a handle and all, but if you take the time to read the description, it comes with money in it - up to $100! Now if they only made them with college tuition included - should be about $100k by the time she's 18. Sigh....

Happy September Everyone!

Bella's Mom

PDX and back!

2006-07-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

We were up in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, OR to be exact) this week to visit friends and revisit old haunts of ours.

We stayed with our friends Cathy and Bill and also stayed in a swanky hotel downtown once it got a bit to hot for us to deal without air conditioning (I know, we are SO high maintenance). Bella had a ball though.

She played in the sprinklers (note Tata Cathy showing Bella the proper form when bending into the water):

Saw her friend Jane (and took Mama along so she could see her pal Kim):

Ate some watermelon:

Saw Emma, Anna, and Andrew (no photos though - rats!), and otherwise had a great time!
And once we got home, we indulged in some ribs. I think she enjoyed them - what do you think?

Hope your week is shaping up just as nicely!

June!

2006-07-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Bella's having a heck of a summer already. Here are a few shots to tide everyone over:

We're off to Portland in a few days - I promise more of an update then.

Take care everyone!

G

Pure Genius

2006-05-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

If Mark and I decide to have another, or another of my friends/family, has a baby, dad is definitely getting one of these.

Pure Genius, I tell you!

Two Thumbs Up!

2006-05-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

Stickers:

Egg Cup:

Spaghetti. Enough said:

April....Into May

2006-05-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

Visiting Grandma and Grandma (and Morgan):

Mimming! That's 'swimming' for the rest of you out there.

A first 'real' haircut (and so serious - no, just focused -
read more to learn why):

And it included blowdrying! What a BIG girl!

Could it be that she sat still because The Incredibles was playing right
in front of her? Hmmmmm?

And last but not least - a new sandbox! Of course sand is everywhere,
but she just loves this thing! Mark and I figured we could just brush the
sand into the pavers every so often. So really, it's helping us out :) No
photos yet (large, cumbersome movies I don't know how to edit or compress
I really need to figure that out!), but next time, I promise.

Happy May Everyone!

April...So Far

2006-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sharing a meal with cousin Colin:

Wearing a new dress from Tita Nadja:

Dinner with the family:

Waiting for Yack

2006-03-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Our neighbors, Paul and Beke, who incidentally could be crowned the BEST neighbors of all time, have a beautiful white poofy dog named Zack. We've been reworking some of the fence along our property line, so Zack comes over for a sniff (and more likely a wee) in our yard. Sometimes, Bella even GETS TO PET HIM! Yay, Zack!

Bella likes to watch out for him, saying "Yack? Yack?". Here she is, being awfully patient, waiting for him to make a special appearance at casa peterson:

March

2006-03-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Enjoying her first ever Thin Mint GSC!

Multitasking

Riding the sheep at the Burberry store at Santana Row...

And the month is barely started!

Mwah!

2006-02-12T17:55:00.000-08:00

Big Valentine's Hugs and Kisses to Everyone!

Guess Who's Back???

2006-02-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas

January

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Big hugs and kisses for the holiday season!

November

2005-11-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

Taking a bath:

Falling asleep during dinner:

Helping Grandpa open his 70th Birthday presents:

Discovering the Tupperware cabinet:

Posing in her swimwear in Arizona last weekend:

Happy Halloween (a week and a bit early)....

2005-10-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

Bella's daycare had a Halloween Party today. It was alot of fun!

Bella was a fairy:

Here she is casting a spell:

Her cousin Aidan was a chicken (bock bock):

and cousin Natalie was Mulan:

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Gab

I'm One!!!

2005-10-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

Bella's party went really well yesterday. It continues to amaze us how adaptable and social our little girl is. She let everyone hold her and she was happy the whole day - she even said 'happy girl' a few times when she finally got her birthday cupcake!

Here are a few shots from the day...

Bella with Momma...

Presents??? For me????

In the Ball Room...

Wearing her Tiara...

Getting My Hands on that Cupcake!

Gimme that Frosting!

Is there any more?

Cake for the Adults....

Hope your weekend was just as fun!

wah!

2005-10-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Bella's got a nice sharp tooth coming in up top. She's not a happy camper and refuses to go to sleep. Just gave her some baby orajel (via these nifty little things) - it seems to be doing something.

Mommy is sick too, so daddy is taking on alot tonight. As long as we make it to the weekend - Bella's 1st birthday party is Saturday!

Headphones...

2005-09-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Bella loves getting into her Daddy's electronic equipment. Before I wrassled his headphones away from her, I managed to get a few shots in...click each for a larger version...

Spaghetti!

2005-09-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

These boots were made for walking...

2005-09-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well, not so much walking as stumbling a bit, but it wont be long before Bella is tearing up the joint!

Here's a shot of her with her Daddy in Napa last week - check out her new Stride Rite shoes! Mark looks a little goofy, but I love this shot. Bella's turning into quite a little girlie girl!

Fish Face!

2005-08-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Bella's discovering all sorts of things. She is starting to wave, and say goodbye, although it comes out as 'bobbay!' We kept saying to eachother 'who the heck is bobby?' - then we realized what she was trying to say. Too cute!

This week she's been trying (unsuccessfully) to grab her own tongue, and squeals with delight if you stick yours out for her to grab.

She has also learned to make the following face:

Once she composed herself, she made time to give me a cute smile as well:

In front of her you can see her favorite meal of late: mac-n-cheese (organic) and peas.

Last but not least, we've been reading Pat the Bunny and she can do all the things on each page. Quite an accomplishment! Harvard here she comes!

G

For Dad...

2005-08-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

Hey daddy, it's me - your doppleganger!

To Catch Up...

2005-07-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

I've been lax about posting shots. Bella is growing up so fast that sometimes I forget to take pictures.

Here are some to catch you all up. This one is called 'Grapes and Cheerios - A Still Life'.

This one is called 'Butternut Squash Up Nose'.

I call this 'Duck Walker'.

And finally, 'Who, me?'

It never ceases to amaze us how happy (and fearless) this child is. I hope she never loses either trait.

Just Because...

2005-07-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted a photo of Bella for a whole week (at least), and I know Aunt Liz comes to visit, so here's Bella with her Grandma Jacquie:

Patience

2005-07-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

Getting three kids (including 2 babies)
to sit still is hard. Our efforts paid
off though.

Here's Bella, Julia, and Colin posing in their holiday outfits for July 4th.

And Here Too (in color):

Hey - it's the best we could do :-)

The Fourth!

2005-07-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

We were down south in Marina Del Rey for the 4th and we had a blast. It was soooo good to see Nana and Grandpa and hang out with the cousins.

Here's Bella with her cousin Julia, getting ready to go for a walk on the 4th...

Festivus for the rest of us...

2005-06-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

We got all gussied up on Father's Day and hightailed it to the city to church. Mark and I were godparents to my brother's son Colin.

Bella was very well behaved too and looked awfully cute. Do you like the barrette? If only momma would remember to take color pictures some times!

Ready, Set, Go!

2005-06-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

So much for putting Bella on the floor so I can do chores.

Soon she'll be walking!

Oooh, that hair!

2005-06-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

It's out of control! See?

For Daddy...

2005-06-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

Daddy took some photos of me out on the grass in the backyard.

Don't I look cute?

Hot Fun in the Summertime

2005-05-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

Bella's cousin Aidan had his first birthday party today and we were there to celebrate with him. The weather was gorgeous, and Isabella wore a pretty pink dress for the special occasion:

And we have the whole day to play together tomorrow - woo hoo!

Bella and her daddy...

2005-05-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

A sleepy Sunday afternoon...

Our Gift...

2005-05-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

Now I understand why most parents never care if their kids get them gifts. They ARE gifts. Case in point:

Happy Mother's Day to me.

G

On the Go!

2005-05-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

Isabella officially crawled today! Just 3 days shy of turning 7 months old. We are having some folks over for Cinco De Mayo tomorrow - this is definitely a reason to have a Margarita!

Blueberries and a Big Day with Momma!

2005-04-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

Isabella started her day with a hearty breakfast of rice cereal, applesauce and homemade blueberry puree:

Then we went and played on the floor for a while with a toy that Daddy got her:

Later in the day we went over to Babies R Us and got a big girl seat so she could sit right at the table with us each night. I think she likes it!

We just read a couple of great books (this one and this one) and Isabella started her afternoon nap.

All in all, a very good day, and a great start to the weekend.

What a Weekend!

2005-04-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Bella's had a good weekend.

First we decided that it was time to get up on our hands and knees in preparation for crawling. The bed is a safe place to start:

Then we hung out on Saturday in our PJ's for a while:

Happy Sunday Everyone.

G

Yum!

2005-04-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

Isabella loves to eat and isn't too messy. Tonight she had rice cereal and guess what? Sweet Potatoes!

Sometimes Isabella gets distracted when her Dad sits next to her, especially when he's holding a camera, but she finished every last bite!

G

A New Hat!

2005-04-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

A New Hat!
Originally uploaded by Gab & Mark.

Momma knitted this for Bella even before she came out of her tummy. She's too young to know that it's a tad silly.

Almost Sitting Up

2005-04-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

Almost Sitting Up
Originally uploaded by Gab & Mark.

Bella is at the point where she is almost sitting up unassisted. She just needs a leeeeetle support from the Boppy. Go Bella!

Big Daddy

2005-04-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Daddy is allowed to post here too!

Creation!

2005-04-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

This is the first post on the Bella Blog.

This is Isabella Archer Peterson.

She's 6 months old. She loves sweet potatoes and her mommy and daddy.

We hope to keep our family and friends up to date on all the happenings in Bella's world. Come back often for the latest news and photos of our little angel.

Enjoy!