Christmas is near

Sorry I have been such a slacker about updating the blog....I can only blame it on being so busy. I know everyone has the same excuse. Here are a few updates on all of us.....starting with "the princess"

Isabella- is 4 months old.....she turns over, babbles a lot, loves her big bows, is starting to eat rice cereal, apple sauce, bananas, plays peek a boo, laughs a lot, is the happies baby ever, sits with the big kids at the table (at daycare), plays in the exosaucer

Dave....now works at Conoco Phillips, he is a business analyst, he works a million hours, but loves his job, is very excited that we both get to use the state of the art fitness facility, loves his daughter more than life itself....is the best dad ever....takes Isabella to best buy on a weekly basis to buy "gadgets"

Corrin- just finished her 2 graduate classes, is about to be finished with the fall semester, got through 3 preps (ap macroeconomics, academic economics, sociology) and is exicted about only teaching 2 preps for next semester, loves her daughter more than life itself....can't believe you can love someone so much...is looking foward to Isabella having a sibling in the future.....(will probably start trying in July of next year)...

We still have our house on the market....we are trying to sell it so we can move to suburbia. It is a tough market because of the recession. It also is hard because we have to leave the house perfect in case someone wants to look at it while we are at work.

For Christmas we are going to Louisiana for the first part and Austin on Christmas eve/ Christmas day. Corrin's good childhood friend and fiancee are coming in for New Years.....

Chili cook off

We had such a nice weekend. Friday night the three of us went and had burgers. Saturday Dave entered a chili cook off. He didn't win but the three of us had a blast. Isabella was the little star:) The three of us smelled like chimneys this morning. We had lunch with Danny and Ashlee and then looked at model homes in Cinco Ranch. We are putting our house up for sale and are thinking about building. I am including a picture of Isabella's Halloween costume.

Nice weekend at home

Dave and I had a nice weekend at home. I spent most of it working on graduate work and lesson plans. We went to Rajun Cajun for lunch on Saturday and sat on the porch. Isabella is getting bigger every day. She is such a happy baby.....smiles all the time. Dave took her to get her shots (6) on Friday. Poor thing did not like that too much. I just can't handle her crying like that. The city of Houston came around our neighborhood and finally cleared a lot of the trees that were laying in people's yards. The hurricane really caused a lot of destruction. Our fence is still down in the back yard and I told Dave we need to fix it soon because I like some privacy:)

Cows on the side of the lake

Dave and I spent this past weekend at our friends Barry and Nicole's lake house in Austin. Melissa and Brandon and Danny and Ashlee also joined us. Dave's parents were so excited to have Isabella for the weekend, and we were so glad to have adult time. We had the best time water skiing in Lake Travis and visiting a winery. While we were on the lake we passed a ton of cows grazing right next to it....I have never seen cows next to a lake....only in Texas! I went back to work on Monday and Isabella went to Tiger Trails for the first time. She seems to like it and has even participated in activities! Monday she finger painted.....too funny...a 6 week old! She looks so cute everyday because I doll her up from head to tow (bows, tennis shoes) I think she is the best dressed little girl at daycare. I am back at work and really enjoying it. I was sad about leaving Isabella, but really enjoy being around adults and being on a schedule. I have been doing really well working on getting my baby weight off. Christa and I have been running 3 miles everyday after school in the neighborhood next to Spring Woods High. We then pick up our kids. It is really weird to say I have to pick up my child!!!!

Hurrican Ike

It has been a while since I updated the blog. I a lot has happened. Isabella is getting so big. I don't think she has colic anymore. We had a couple of bad nights, but overall she is a great baby. Dave and I decided to ride out hurricane IKE in Houston. That was a stupid idea. Between 3 am- 6 am I was scared out of my mind. The winds were blowing so bad that I made Dave and Isabella go with me and sleep on the floor in the hall. Our bed has a window right behind it and I kept thinking it was going to blow out. We lost power around 3 am. The next day we decided to head to Austin and stay with Dave's brother Danny and his wife until we had air. We stayed until Monday and then came home to power! We still don't have Internet or cable, but are fortunate because some people don't have power. There is a city wide curfew between 9 pm and 6 am every day until Saturday. The gas lines are so long (hours and hours wait time). I went to the grocery store (HEB) and they were running on generators....no cold food. My school district canceled classes all week, just in time for me to go back on Monday. Dave and I took Isabella for a walk the last couple of days in her new jogging stroller.

Colic?

Isabella is getting so big. I think (Dave doesn't) that Isabella might have colic. She seems to get really fussy in the evening. I know it maybe gas, but sometimes she seems unhappy....anyway, having a baby is the most wonderful experience ever. I am really enjoying these last few days at home I have with her. I am having to do lots of school work (high school and graduate) but try and do it when she is sleeping....(which is most of the day). Dave and I have been playing baby cds for her...she really likes those. She seems to really be filling out and getting bigger. Dave stuck his tongue out at her a few times yesterday and she did it back...it was too cute:)

Polka Dots and Gustavo

Isabella and I are just hanging out at home recovering from an eventful Labor Day weekend. I have been dying to put her in this pink and brown hair bow and decided to take pictures of her. It is still a bit big, but she is so cute!!! Dave and I went to Breaux Bridge from Friday to Sunday. Hurricane Gustavo was the big news story. Michelle, Morgan, Abigail, and her two dogs evacuated to our house Sunday, Monday, and left this morning. It was a very nice weekend visiting with the family. Dave is at work and I am trying to get things done around the house. I really look foward to when he gets off work every night!!!

Daddy gets pooped on....and pooped on again....

Dave is such a great daddy...he pitches in 50/50...It was so funny tonight when he went to change Isabella's diaper. He wasn't fast enough and she pooped all over him...he started screaming for me to help. I ran in to the nursery to help him out....where she started to poop on him again....I just kept laughing...it was funny...both of their reactions. Isabella is such a good baby. She sleeps most of the day and when she is awake she smiles (I know, it is probably gas:) I am becoming a bit stir crazy staying at home. I really am grateful to have a few weeks of bonding, but know I will be ready to go back to work.

Settled with the new baby

Today was the first day I was all by myself with Isabella. She is such a good baby. She sleeps most of the day and only wakes up one or two times a night. My mom was so wonderful and stayed with me for a week after her birth. I do not know what I would have done without her. Dave's mom has also been a big help. School has started for teachers, but I am not going back until Sept 22. I am so grateful to have six full weeks to bond with Isabella. I went and picked up paper work for her daycare and am pretty excited that it is right next to my school. Spring Branch has a few schools for teacher's babies and I was lucky enough to secure the last spot at Tiger Trails (the one next to my school). I can even pop over during my planning period to check on little Isabella!

Isabella Caroline Wilcox

Isabella Caroline Wilcox was born August 7, 2008 at 2:33 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches long. She is the sweetest, smartest, cutest baby!!!!! Dave and I checked into the hospital Wednesday evening to start the induction. I started laboring on my own so I did not have to be given the pictocin. After the doctor broke my water, the contractions got stronger and things really started. Thankfully it was not a long, hard labor. We love her so much and can't wait for everyone to meet her!!!!

Collapsed Ceiling

We have had drama over the last couple of days.....not baby drama, but house drama...around the stroke of midnight...August 3rd (Isabella's due date) Dave, William, and Paige were in the study playing computer games (I know....crazy that they were still awake)....when Paige noticed the ceiling was looking weird. William noticed a funny smell.... All of a sudden the ceiling collapsed. I was sleeping. It is the biggest mess....not good timing with the baby coming on Thursday and family all coming in Wednesday. We have been staying at Christa's house while we try and figure out the fix. We thought a pipe busted, but the plumber said no, it must be the air conditioner. So I am going to have to go meet the air conditioning people, state farm insurance adjuster, contractors, etc.....we just hope this is not a sign that little Isabella is going to bring drama...haha..just joking...

The List.....

Ok....so tomorrow is my due date.....For the last 2 weeks I have been trying anything and everything to make this baby come. I thought I would post a list of all the crazy things I have tried.
1. lots of walking
2. made Eggplant Parmesan recipe that is supposed to put you in labor
3. ate chicken curry at Thai recipe (made them use 5X the spicy sauce)
4. ate very spicy Mexican food
5. went to Carabas Italian restaurant because someone said a certain recipe put people into labor
6. ate suicide wings at Wings and more
I could go on and add things to the list......I am really glad I only have a few days left!!!!!

Getting Ready for Baby....Still Pregnant

This past weekend Dave and I tried to finish last minute things before Isabella arrived. We bought a jogging stroller and Dave installed car seats in both cars. He also put together the cutest baby vibrating seat. If Isabella touches one of the hanging animals, it automatically starts playing music. I went to the doctor today and I am still 1 centimer dilated. He said the strong contractions I am having at night is a good sign. My due date is Sunday (the 3rd), but if I do not have her by Wednesday (the 6th....Dave's 30th b-day) we will check in at 7:30 pm to start the induction. She would probably arrive on the 7th around the afternoon......Less than a week....we are so excited!!!!

Still Pregnant

Ok, so I am still pregnant.....I went to the doctor today and he said I was 1 centimeter dilated.....which is better than not being dilated. This means that I could go into labor tonight or in 10 nights.....I get the impression from my doctor that if I am still pregnant next Thursday (next dr. appointment) we will talk about options, etc. Dave came home today and told me his co-workers threw him a surprise baby shower.....which was very sweet of them!!!! He really likes his new job at Conoco-Phillips. For anyone who didn't know, Dave's old company Chenier laid off about 80% of its employees due to a slow liquefied natural gas market....he really loved that job, but we are both really happy that he found the functional analyst (whatever that means) job at CP. We are both really excited about having a baby and hope it is sooner rather than later. I am not that uncomfortable, but at night it is hard waking up every 30 min- 1 hr to use the bathroom or change sleeping positions!

False Alarm

Today Christa and I took William to play at Chuck E Cheese while we worked on graduate school work...(almost done!!!!!) We then went and had an awesome lunch at a new place called Egg and I. It was really good!!! As I was walking to the car, I felt all wet down there (I know...tmi)...I thought my water might have broken. I called my doctor and he had me go to the labor and delivery so they could check. To make a long story short, my water had not broken, I guess I just peed all over myself.....(bladder spasm....I looked it up)....they checked to see if I had dilated (I haven't) but they once again said she is ready, my cervix is soft....so any day now.... I am more calm now about the whole situation because now I have an idea of what it will be like...my only concern is how small the room is. I don't know where everyone is going to fit!!!!

Isabella has an email address!

This is pretty funny. A few months ago Dave set up an email for Isabella (Isabella.c.wilcox@gmail.com). He sent our family members an email from her....(I know, she hasn't been born). Dave is afraid the account will become inactive if he doesn't use it every few months, so he sent another email from her to family members saying....I snuck out to send an email....it was pretty funny.... Everything has been great. Dave and I are really ready to meet our little girl. We have 20 days until her due date. The doctor says she is in place, has started to drop, and I am starting to thin. He said if on my due date (Aug 3rd) my cervix is ready, he will admit me into the hospital. This was music to my ears because some doctors let their patients go 2 weeks over. (he induces after 1 week over). Christa and I have been busily working on our 2 graduate classes. The Texas school finance is soooo hard!!!! I am enclosing several family pictures. Paige just went to camp in Livingston today, William is returning from England tomorrow, April is busily working on her coffee shop in Idaho and Michelle is staying busy with Abigail and Morgan.

Baby Shower

Our family and friends hosted a baby shower for baby Isabella this past Saturday. It was amazing how wonderful it was. Everyone worked so hard and everything was so beautiful. Saturday my friend Andrea from North Carolina flew in and my family from Louisiana drove in. Dave's family came in from Austin. We had such a great time and little Isabella got so many beautiful presents!!!! Sunday we had family over for brunch and then worked on the nursery a little more. We are so ready for her arrival. She is still very active and weighs about 5.5 lbs.