Izabella: 4 Months ~ Hannah: 54 Months

It's so hard to believe that little Izzy is 4 months old already. She is such a sweet baby. Loves to roll around - I'm amazed how far (and fast) she can travel. She has found her voice - she can get pretty loud. But mostly she loves to growl - Hannah calls her a baby dinosaur. It's really very cute, except when it's 0'dark thirty, you're sound asleep and wondering if a wild animal has somehow gotten into your house. She drools a ton, I think she is teething, but have not seen any teeth pop through yet. She's a good sleeper and gives me a 7 to 8 hour stretch at night. The most heartwarming by far is the way her eyes follow everything Hannah is doing, she's already trying to keep up with her big sis...

Hannah is a bit of everything right now. Funny, loving, sassy, impatient... She has so much attitude right now it's hard to believe she's mine - until Jinoo tell me she acts just like me. *great* She is getting really good at swimming and can swim underwater but is still trying to figure out 'side breathing'. She adores her little sister and always wants Izzy next to her. She has started her second year of preschool. She goes four mornings a week. She loves to write her letters and sound out words and then tell me how to spell them. She surprised me last week by writing her last name on her own - we've never even worked on it. We are working on her reading skills. We have started the book: Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons She's catching on pretty fast. She likes for me to give her mathematical story problems that involve addition and subtraction. And then she'll give me a problem right back. She's always very good about telling me "Great job" once I answer.  I'm always amazed at the questions she asks and the stories she tells me. She loves imaginary play and we spend most days in one of her pretend scenarios. Hannah insists she has changed her middle name from Young to Big. Thus, when someone asks for her name she now replies,  Hannah BIG Mattila.

I am so grateful for my two girls. They fill my heart with so much love. Life is good!

Izabella - 3 months

It's hard to believe Izzy is 3 months old already! She loves to smile and goo, but we really have to "work" for giggles. She rolls from her tummy to her back, but gets stuck half way back to her tummy. She is really getting interactive. I just love having little conversations with her. She loves to be held. Some nights she gives me 6 or 7 hours of sleep. She is really a dream baby and I feel so blessed to have such a sweet spirited girl.

A Secret Garden Tea Party

Hannah, Izzy, and I went to a Secret Garden Tea Party at our local community center. There were crafts galore. Hannah got to decorate a placemat, make a flower out of fruit, listen to a story about a spider's tea party, decorate a tiny bird feeder, make a necklace and fairy crown. It was a very fun filled two hours (Izzy slept the whole time!). Hannah was mostly excited to dress up in her princess fairy dress.

Izabella Jade

Izzy is such a sweet baby, she rarely cries and has the best disposition (as you can see with the above picture that was taken when she was 3 hours old). I really couldn't have asked for anything more! She loves to be in her mommy's arms and thinks she needs to eat ALL the time! She lost almost a pound in hospital, but had gained a few ounces by the time we were at the pediatrician for her first visit. Dr. Del Beccaro says she is "perfect," but I already knew that!

Big Sister

I imagined that Hannah would be crazy excited to meet her new baby sister. But when she walked in she was very quiet. Still, she couldn't wait to get her hands on her new baby sis. As the mom, my heart was so full and proud of my little Hannah for showing us what a great Big Sister she is going to be.

Meet baby Izzy.....

She's finally here! Izabella Jade Mattila came to us at 9:29am weighing in at 7.7lbs and is 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing awesome!

Here are a few pics of the day....


















We're in the waiting room waiting to get in to the birthing suite....and this is the before shot. Promise, won't show any 'After' shots.












Trying to get a shot with these ladies is like herding cats. They love to laugh with each other.













I figured they'd kill me for posting the first pic but oh well. Here's the one that puts me back in good graces.


















Always trying to be fashionable in any circumstance.

















Ok, maybe not so much with the hat but the smile says it all....
















I'm diggin the suit....


















Apparently, I'll be painting something later on.













Baby Izzy back in the room with mom for the first time. She wasn't too happy about getting her temp taken but mom knew what to do....
















How's the saying go? 'Mom's know best....'

Thanks for all the warm wishes all. Soon there'll be more pics and stuff.....

It's go time! We're headed to the OR!

I'm all suited up! Asked if I had to wear clothes under my suit to which everyone in the room said resoundingly 'YES!' 
What? Is it because it's see through?

Just got the lowdown from the anesthesiologists and it's all but waiting for the lab results before heading in.

All smiles and ready to go!

At the hospital and Brandi is getting all IV'd up. The nurse is going through the pre game questions and yes all I can do is use sports analogies right now. About an hour away before Izzy is here. Stay tuned.

And so it begins.....
It's 6:15am and we're about to head out for Izzy's birth. Very excited! Be back soon.....

Mother's Day 2011

This Mother's Day was very relaxing and to top it off - it was sunny! We took a walk into Ballard and visited the Farmer's Market and stopped at Dante's for lunch. Once home, we had a nice long afternoon nap. For dinner we went to Tutta Bella. Hannah made me a Queen of Mother's Day crown, which I wore in the house just to remind everyone who's day it is!

I love being a mom to Hannah and Izabella (for Izzi, I'm more of an oven at this point). I am so grateful for the opportunity to have such a darling daughter and the gift of another on the way (in 24 days!).

Closer than you think...

Today is the nicest day we've had in Seattle in as long as I can remember. It's blue skies, sunny, and temps are supposed to reach... wait for it... 65!!! So, we spent the morning at the Woodland Park Zoo. This weekend they opened a small dinosaur exhibit. So, we started there. The dinos in this exhibit move and make sounds. All the dinos are only built to 1/4 scale. After seeing how big T-Rex is at 1/4 size, it was hard to imagine how scary it would be to see one built to scale. Eeeesh! Hannah loved all the dinos except the Dilophosaurus, who spat water out of its mouth at the staring children. Hannah's favorite dino was the T-Rex and baby T-Rex.

We enjoyed the Edmontosaurus nest filled with lots of hatching babies - I forgot to take a picture of the nest, but they look just like mom (above) only much, much smaller.

As this was the only dino they had available to 'ride'... we had to have a pic.

Of course, you can't get out of an exhibit without walking through the gift shop. Hannah found the only pink dino in the shop; a Triceratops.

We took a spin the the carousel. This weekend it is free and so it was busy, busy, busy. Hannah found a horse that was on the inside of the ride where all the mirrors were; that way she could watch herself ride her horse around. We ended our trip today walking through the dino exhibit again. This time with little pink Triceratops joining us.

One Sick, One Well

I ended up in the doctors office today with a diagnosis of Sinus Infection. This is the worst I have felt in years! I actually had to get a substitute for my class tonight. This is the first time in 6 years I've had to get a sub for being sick. Hate that it's this crap that's keeping me from teaching.

Everyone keeps telling me to slow down - I've just been feeling so good. It's not hard to go go go when you feel great. But, maybe my body is telling me something? I'm backing off of my 6 classes a week. I'll only be teaching 2 classes this week and 4 a week during the month of May. That should help some.

Also, Hannah had her 4 year check up today. Her height/weight ratio is starting to even out to average. She took her first eye test, which went fine. She liked the hearing test, saying it was like playing a game. I did opt for her to get her last set of immunizations. Four shots - and she was SO BRAVE! It probably helps that she helps me with my shot every night. The nurse told her she's done with immunizations until she 11, which she reminds me of, every few hours. Jinoo told her he would take her to somewhere special because she was so brave. We were thinking the "pink store" (Clare's at the mall) or shoe shopping. Hannah said, no thanks. She'd just rather go to Disney Land.

Easter 2011

Our morning started a bit earlier than normal. I usually have to drag Hannah out of bed at 9am, but she was up at 7:50 certain that the Easter Bunny hid a bunch of eggs. And as she expected, there were over 65 eggs for her to find. She was so cute and had a comment each time she found an egg.

Easter Bunny also left her a basket of candy complete with a new toothbrush and toothpaste. Hint, hint!!

Then, it was time for all of us to get ready for Easter Brunch. This year we went over to our friends house and had a very nice pot-luck. I made Baked Apple Cinnomon French Toast. It was awesome!

Earlier this week, Hannah and I made suckers to take for all the kids at brunch. Hannah passed them out (only after she chose the sucker she wanted).

Countdown: 5 1/2 weeks

Izabella is growing and so am I! My doctor is happy I'm finally gaining some weight and my tummy is measuring right where it's supposed to. We are scheduled for a c-section on the morning of June 1st - 5 1/2 weeks to go.

Easter Egg Day

We were lucky enough to have Jinoo's nieces with us for a few days. The girls had a lot of fun together. The girls loved coloring eggs and were very creative in mixing colors. Since the girls didn't want to try to get the eggs through security at the airport, I have 3 doz (beautiful) hard boiled eggs smelling up my refrigerator. I'll be eating nothing but egg salad sandwiches for the next month! Luckily, that sounds yummy to me right now!

Jazzer Shower

The Shoreline Jazzercise Group is so sweet and hosted a baby shower for me and Izabella. We had a great time with some fun shower games, great food and lots of laughs. Izabella got lots of darling gifts. It really feels good to have such a awesome and fun supporting work group. Thanks again gals! XXOO

Dino Parade

Hannah's preschool class has been learning about dinosaurs for the last few weeks. Today was their last day on the subject and the day ended with a dinosaur parade. All the kids got to paint their own dino head and decorate their own dino feet. All the dinosaurs looked like brachiosaurus to me, but Hannah told me that hers was a T-Rex!

30 weeks

At my 30 week checkup, Dr. Del La Torre and I discussed my scheduled C-section. Together we decided that Izabella would be delivered on June 1st! I'm pretty excited for Izzi's arrival, but also feel I need the next 9 weeks to finish preparing... Plus, I'm still feeling so good, it's hard to believe I'll have an infant in two months!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho....

It's off to the Doctor Hannah goes. Hannah has been in the doctor's office three times in the last 3 weeks! First, a sinus infection. A few days later, an ear infection. A week later, a double ear infection! SERIOUSLY! Poor little sugar has been a real trooper - not counting the five straight hours she cried over her ears hurting before I could get her into the doctors! Anyhow, today is her last day of antibiotics and she woke up this morning with a FEVER of 103! I talked to the nurse and she felt that Hannah was just getting back to back colds. I'm so tired of this crap! She hardy ever got sick before she was in preschool... AND if Seattle could pretend to change seasons into Spring - that would help too! A little sun?! A little LESS rain?! Help a mother out!

4 years old

Hannah brought in her 4th birthday in style with a Disney Princess birthday party. The girls decorated their own crowns, ate pizza and pink cupcakes, and helped open gifts. It was very successful and Hannah was in what she called "paradise."

Ballet Body

I'm teaching a new specialty class that runs for 6 weeks called Ballet Body. In this class you'll strengthen and lengthen your muscles for proper posture and grace with full-body ballet movements. Of course, there is no ballet experience needed and definitely no tutus required.

I'm so excited to get back to my roots and share my love for ballet movement. I hope you can join me. It's once a week on Tuesday nights. 30 minute power class. $60 for six classes. If you miss the first one, come to the next and we'll prorate the cost!

When: Starts Tuesday March 22nd @ 5:50PM

Where: Bitterlake Community Center Dance Room

Book Club - March 2011

This month's book club book was The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. Katie hosted with homemade soup (Butternut squash & sage AND Grilled Vegetable Pasta Bean.... BOTH to die for) and we each chose to make a cake out of the book. I made the Traditional Southern Red Velvet Cake. It turned out FANTASTIC! The book was entertaining too.

Gimme some SUN!

For Valentines this year, Jinoo surprised me with tickets for Hannah and I to visit family in Phoenix. We had a great time and took advantage of the shining SUN! The temperature was in the low 70s. So it felt cold to my family, but like summer to me and Hannah. In fact, every time we were outside, Hannah kept complaining that she was too hot! She's definitely a Seattllite!

It's A GIRL!

We were every excited for our 20 week ultrasound. And to find out we are expecting another girl, well, Hannah couldn't have asked for anything more! As parents, we were very happy to see our little one, know she is healthy and growing well. Hannah is excited that she can now start planning all the stuff she and her little sister are going to do. I am very excited to start getting the nursery ready and going through all the infant stuff!

A visit with Great Grandpa

Hannah and I were lucky enough to spend a week in Utah (Thanks Dad!) visiting my Grandpa. My sister also flew in from Phoenix with her youngest, Makyla. As we don't get to see family as much as we'd like, it was great to just hang out and spend time with the family. The time we get to spend with our family is so important to us and I'm so grateful for every moment!