ISABELLA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

We can't believe it!! Isabella is one year old!! It is crazy to think that she's already been with us that long.

We wanted her to have some fun on her birthday so we made sure to do two of her favorite things: 1) go the Gymboree and 2) go swimming. We went to Gymboree in the morning and she had as much fun as she always does--plus all of the other kids (ok, their parents) sang to her, which she thought was funny. She loves Gymboree because it gives her the opportunity to run free among tons of big toys and other kids. As we were leaving after her class, she was being really funny--she had to say goodbye to EVERYONE in her class. She would walk to them (or yell at them across the room) and say bye, waving of course, until she got a response. She was very happy when eveyone finally said goodbye.

Even though it was her birthday and we were trying to have some good ole BELLA FUN, she decided to be a little upset in the afternoon (see pictures above). Something was really bothering her, that is until we gave her Cosmo--somehow that cat can calm her down like nothing else. Anyway, we just had to laugh that she decided to through a little tantrum on her birthday.

That night to celebrate, Grandma and Grandpa Noorda came over for dinner, ice cream and presents. We had a delicious lasagna prepared by Stacie and our favorite ice cream, Golden Spoon, for dessert. Before dinner grandma and grandpa gave Bella a pair of wooden shoes they brought back from Holland. It was hilarious to watch Bella trying to decide how she was supposed to walk in them and then finally sit down, examine them and try to eat one. Her reaction was priceless. After dinner we took her down to the pool and the jacuzzi. She just loves to swim; its like she was made for the water. We couldn't swim for too long though because it was getting late and we still had presents to open! Bella is one lucky little girl--she got a ton of presents! All-in-all it was a great first birthday!