Isabella's 5 months old...so let's celebrate with a Christmas session! :)

Well, as you can tell, Isabella is 5 months old!!  It is awesome that she is growing so fast and becoming so active!  Like I previously posted, I have been blessed to be able to spend all of 5 months with her, and this makes our first session with me as a working mommy all the more fun!

I hope you enjoy these shots I got of her-- stay tuned for our Christmas card--it should be in your mailboxes shortly.  Thanks to everyone that voted on Facebook to help us decide which picture to use as our 2010 Christmas Card!!  :)  My clients and family are fabulous!!!  And there is a surprise picture at the end that I think y'all will LOVE! ;)

Surprise!!!

Yes, that's right folks!  You guess right-- she is SITTING UP! :) 


Enjoy!

Thanksgiving!!!!

We have been blessed enough to be able to have many Thanksgivings. The first celebration we had was at our house with my mom and Matt's family. I was so exciting to get to cook our official first Thanksgiving at our house, now that both of us actually have the tie to host events!

I made my own centerpieces this year. These were made from a white pumpkin and a floral arrangement that I chose from our local floral provider. I made two: one for the buffet and one for our table centerpiece.

 We had turkey(I will spare you the gory details since you already know my love affair with dead bird carcasses), corn casserole, stuffing, squash, mashed potatoes, breads, pear pandowdy, and a pumpkin roll.

It was nice to be able to have Thanksgiving with my mom since she was able to come up, but we weren't able to make it to Tennessee. Now Isabella was able to have Thanksgiving with both sides of her family on her first Thanksgiving!

There were so many things going on that Isabella couldn't decide what she wanted to do!  So, instead, she decided that she would just take a nice little nap. ;)

After she woke up, she decided it would be best to hang out with cousin TJ and watch a little TV.  :)  They were so cute together!!



Everyone had a great time, and I was so thankful that we were able to celebrate with all of our families. :)

Then, on Thanksgiving, we went to Meg and Bill's house where she had made a wonderful spread.  So, we were able to get delicious Thanksgiving treats two times in one wonderful, holiday season!!!

After dinner, everyone took a nice little nap, a Thanksgiving tradition for just about everyone in the family! :)

For dessert, we went to Aunt Toot's house- and as usual, it was LOADS of laughs and fun times had by all!  There wasn't any Bingo playing this year, but there was a puking dog (don't ask), shouts across the room, laughter, and lots of little baby snuggles and hugs!

I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving celebration for my daughter's first Thanksgiving! :)

Returning to work

Wow.  It is hard to believe that it is finally time for me to return to work.  Reflecting back on my time spent at home, I think that in the beginning (July and August) the time went by fairly 'slowly' if you want to call it that.  We were busy changing diapers, learning our new little baby girl's ways and communications.  But too soon she began to hop, skip, and jump through the stages (September, October and November), and I felt the wind on my face as my time home with my baby began to FLY by.

Matt and I did a lot of praying before Isabella was born, that we would be okay while I was at home with her, since it was something that we both wanted desperately for her during her infancy.  Well, an update on that:  God is Great!  He has blessed us in so many ways; he has opened doors neither of us thought possible; and we have been able to enjoy our time with her the way God intended for us to enjoy.  I couldn't have asked for a better scenario with my sweet, sweet little child!

It is a bitter-sweet end to an awesome journey.  I am blessed with a job that I like, with great hours, and great coworkers- no complaints there!  I am really going to miss waking the baby, feeding her all her meals, and having our awesome play time.  But, I am comforted to know that there is a nice video camera close by and that she will be in loving hands until I return. :)

Say a little prayer for me today that I will be a strong Godly working momma for Isabella, as I return to work today. :)  Be Blessed!

29 and counting...

So, on Black Friday I turned the big 29. Wow. In celebration, I decided to do 29 of my favorite things! :)

29. Getting excited about hunting camp and seeing all the family
28. Saying "Hello!" to all my Target friends and family bright and early (my first Black Friday shopping at the store since leaving Target)
27. Staying up late and getting up early for shopping (3 hours sleep might not have been enough, but it was fun!)
26. Matt spending the day with me instead of working on the basement :)
25. Having enjoyed a week-long celebration of my birth ;)
24. Isabella's platypus lip!!
23. Laughter
22. Chinbacca
21. Taking my relaxation time in the tub while Matt played with Isabella (this is golden time now!)
20. A nice glass of Nissley Fantasy Wine
19. Taking a walk
18. Pumpkin Spice Coffee
17. Listening to Christmas tunes
16. Putting up a few decorations to finish the indoor decorations
15. Drinking a big, ole' glass of sweet tea from Pal's! (sweet, sugary bliss!)
14. Taking some shots of Isabella, just because
13. Black Friday shopping with Matt and Bella (she slept through the whole thing- does that count?? ;) )
12. Eating dinner at Miyako- SUSHI!! :)
11. Watching Isabella and Alec hold hands and talk at dinner!!!
10. Giggle time on the changing table 
9. Digging into a yummy pumpkin roll
8. Watching my all-time favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice
7. Downloading a Disney book app for Isabella
6. Watching Isabella's face when she started reading the book!!! :)
5. Birthday wishes from friends and family
4. Talking to my mom
3. Playing with my new IPad
2. Taking a nice, long nap after shopping, snuggled up with Belle
1. Spending the day with my family- Matt and Isabella

I am already starting my list of "30 things to do before you are 30", so feel free to suggest things to add to my list.  I only have 360 days to accomplish these 30 things...that is 1 'thing' every 12 days....hum, guess I better get started! ;)
Be Blessed!

Pear Pandowdy

In preparation for Thanksgiving, I thought I would post some of the recipes that I made for our Thanksgiving with Southern Nana (and the Dresslers) plus what I will be making again for Thanksgiving!!  Well, Martha Stewart has outdone herself this time!  This dessert is primo [and watch out ladies- it isn't gonna help you cut any weight! ;) ]!!

Martha Stewart was on the Today show a while back and she made this pear pandowdy recipe (which, on a TV show, looked fairly easy).  So,  I headed to the internet and found the recipe on her website.

First, genius thinking, Martha has you make the crust in double (you freeze the 2nd 1/2 for the next time you make the dish), so you are already forced to eat this delicious dessert TWICE! :)  Way to go Martha!

Second, make sure you have a little time to make this- the 3 hours on the recipe is pretty accurate.  Not in terms of you standing in the kitchen the whole time, but in terms of cooling/freezing the crust so you can manipulate it for the patchwork crust.  Both parts (the crust and the pie) are easy to make- honestly- it is just the wait time for the crust that adds to your time.

Last, I haven't made any modifications to this recipe (a testament to the lovely Martha Stewart and her never-ceasing ability to amaze me!).  It turns out GREAT, delicious, and a true test of a good recipe:  there isn't any left after one sitting!

One note, instead of using a food processor- if you don't have one- you can use a stand mixer (it works basically the same).

Pear Pandowdy Prep: 25 minutes Total: 3 hours This pear-and-fig version of a deep-dish pandowdy trades the traditional spiced-apple filling but keeps the patchwork crust.
Ingredients Makes one 8-by-11-inch pie; serves 8. FOR THE CRUST 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, toasted and finely ground 1 teaspoon granulated sugar Salt 2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water 1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon heavy cream, for egg wash Fine sanding sugar, for sprinkling FOR THE FILLING 4 pounds firm, ripe pears such as Bosc or Bartlett, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 -inch wedges 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup chopped dried figs 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg	Directions Make the crust: Pulse flour, hazelnuts, granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until just combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. With machine running, slowly add 1/4 cup water and process until mixture just begins to hold together. If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse. Shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 disk until firm, about 1 hour. (Freeze remaining disk for another use.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough to a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a piece of parchment. Cut dough into 2-by-3-inch pieces. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine pears, granulated sugar, figs, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Transfer filling to an 8-by-11-inch baking dish. Arrange dough pieces in a patchwork design, overlapping slightly and leaving holes in between as steam vents. Brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling in the center, about 55 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Copyright 2010 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

The recipe can be found here:  Martha Stewart Living- Pear Pandowdy Recipe.

Baby Sign Language

I have been fascinated with baby sign language and its benefits for a long time.  

There are a lot of articles citing the positives about using sign language with your child before they can fully talk, which allows them to communicate easier (along with following their cues).  It is shown to increase their spoken, and eventually written (reading) vocabulary.

I definitely plan on using these with Isabella- funny: Matt and I are already doing these signs occasionally with her now and we just laugh at each other, but I know that it will eventually pay off!

Websites:::
Parents Magazine several articles about various types of words

Baby Sign Language 

Baby Sign Language Dictionary  


Articles:::
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior

Q&A Question on Sign Language Negatives 

These are a few of the resources I have used- there are TONS of other sites out there!  I will post more updates as we go along and teach her more signs.  I hope you enjoy reading more about this unique way of communicating with Isabella! :)  Be Blessed~

Simple Living

"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you." 2 Corinthians 1:12

For a while now I have been making our lives as simple as possible.   Why be complicated when things can be easy?  Now, please don't mistake this for obsessiveness, because it can easily turn in that direction!!

Here are a few of the things we have changed or decided to do in our home. Look for more posts in the future about our 'simple life'! :)

Gardening- We planted a garden this year.  It yielded soooo much!  I can't believe we haven't been doing this longer.  I was able to make enough  breads and other frozen items to use later that I swear, we will have bread until the second coming...or at least until I am ready to make more next summer!  I didn't have to buy hardly anything at the store this year, and next  year Matt promises it will be an even bigger garden (Yikes!).

Making my own baby food- since our garden yielded plenty, I am off to a good start and believe it or not (yes, some of you guys think I am crazy) it was SUPER easy!  On top of that, it saves money and I know exactly what is in the food, since we garden pesticide-free.  I will post about our baby food making adventures one of these days!

Glass baby bottles- I started out thinking it would be nice to be 'retro.'  But, after further research and though, plus a long discussion with Matt we decided that glass was the way to go.  They are very inexpensive, not made of plastic, and can be recycled when the day comes that they will no longer be needed (shedding a tear or two).

Couponing- Now some may say that this complicates, rather than simplifies my life, but I disagree.  It makes me feel awesome about the 5 minutes I spent clipping and printing, when I walk through the easy check out (see next post) and saved my family $31.00 (all items we actually use).  So, to me 5 minutes= $31.00......you decide if it is worth it for your family or not. :)

Easy Scan Checkout- Now I realize not every grocery has these, but if your grocery does, TAKE ADVANTAGE!!  All they require is a bonus card.  You pick up this handy, dandy hand scanner to take a long with you while you shop.  You find something you want, scan it, toss it in your bag (or in my case, put it in the bag organized by type of packaging or food--yes yes, I know I know...) and the lovely little scanner keeps track of your purchase total.  PERFECT for easy checkout (hence the name) and the budget friendly shopper.  I always go to the store with our bi-weekly budget and this little gadget adds it up, so I know exactly what it will be when I get to the checkout machine- PERFECT!

Cleaning with Vinegar- I long ago ditched the Swiffer for my sweet fur-children's safety, but I have now decided that I am ditching just about every cleaner known to (wo)man.  I don't see the necessity in using cleaners (not any easier since you are STILL wiping away the grime...now if someone invents a safe household product that wipes for me, all the better!).  I also have found that vinegar cleans better than some household cleaners that are 3 times as costly.  Now, don't get me wrong, on occasion I do miss the Clorox wipes, but only briefly, when I remember how much safer my home is becoming. :)

Baking- Again, some might disagree with my thoughts, but hear me out.  I have loved to bake and cook since I was young- always trying random new things, well, since diving back into this over the past year (its so much easier when you don't work in retail) I have found it to be very therapeutic, and rewarding (often judged by how much my husband likes the dessert-- i.e. how quickly he gobbles it up).  Plus, again it is a lot cheaper than buying a generic cake at the store and it sits all week because Matt doesn't like them too much.

Making our own Laundry Detergent- So, I have found this to be quite interesting, and with all the positive feedback from friends, I am delving into the world of detergent.  I have always wondered what chemicals are in our detergent (sure it smells good...but what's in it???) and now I can add the cost-effective side of it all!!  I will definitely blog about this one once it all said and done!  Prior to posting this post, I have already created my own fabric softener and I am happy to announce that it works GREAT!  :)  Hopefully the detergent will too!

This is all I am putting on this blog, look for more things we are doing around our house to be more simplistic, as well as the funny tales we can tell about the ones that don't work so well!  ;)

Be Blessed!

Isabella's Fun Life

Isabella has had lots of fun times recently!  We have been busy with the basement and the recent holiday times, so I am just now able to post about what is going on in her life.

First, Halloween was a great success!  We went to Meg's house to hand out candy to all the little trick or treaters- I guess we probably had 30-40 kids by the time it was all said and done!  My favorite costume was the little boy with the Buzz Lightyear Costume.  He had wings that popped out like Buzz does- and it lit up!  AWESOME!

Isabella was a caterpillar :)  She was sooo super cute in her little outfit. 

She got to trick-or-treat with her buddies Alec and Olivia.  They also got to see the huge ladder truck from the local fire company come through the neighborhood, flashing its lights and running its siren!!  They stopped just so her good buddy Alec could see it and say trick-or-treat!  He loooves trucks!  The police officer riding the neighborhood also stopped and gave out glow sticks to all of the kids, so that they were more visible!  Thanks Lower Paxton Township!! :)

As you read from the previous post, she just turned 4 months old!  She is growing sooooo fast!  And, love her, she is so active now, it's great! :)

For her 4 month photo shoot I decided to document all of her newly found 'talents'...i.e. touching feet, playing with Paisley, fingers....so you could see her world, through her eyes! :)

 Enjoy!

After playing during her photo shoot, she was definitely tired, and ready for a nap!  Here's a little sneak peak at Isabella's nap time! :)

 And, what post isn't complete without a post about her food progress!!  She is getting ready to hang out in her high chair permanently.  We have been working with her to sit up in the chair, but I do still feed her at the table in my lap.  She isn't quite ready to sit in the chair and let us feed her, but she will be there soon enough!  :)

She is eating rice cereal and oatmeal cereal 2 times a day for the past week or so. 

I have also been preparing baby food for her and freezing it in preparation to shortly start her one those yummy, delicious goodies. 

She is regularly grabbing at plates and food while she is at the table with us, which is cute, but becoming more aggressive, so I know it won't be long until she is gobbling goodies all on her own!  Where has the time gone?? :)

Isabella Marie is 4 Months old!!

Well, you guessed it!  She is 4 months old!!  YAY!!! :)

Today was her well-baby check-up at the pediatrician and she did WONDERFUL!

Here are her stats from the check-up- she is growing nicely!

Length: 25 inches (74th percentile) long tall Sally.
Weight: 12.3 pounds (19th percentile) bless her, she is a skinny Minnie.
Head Circumference: 15 7/8 inches (30th percentile)

She had two shots today, one in each leg.  She also had an oral vaccine- which by the way she LOOOOVED the taste of it!  :)

She was a real trooper for her shots today.  A little whimper each leg, then a hug from Mommy and Daddy made it all better!!!

She was also cleared for Rice and Oatmeal Cereal (which she has been eating for the last week) and she can also start her vegetables- green then yellow, and so on!  Yay!  She is growing up so fast!

God's Beauty

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Collosians 1:16-17

So, on Tuesday, Matt and I needed to head to Juniata County for our car inspections.  Most of the time, we go everywhere together- all the while carrying on conversations.  I think this is why my drive up, early in the morning, was so profound that I felt God compelling me to blog about it.

So our drive started around 8:15 in the morning, while the fog was still out.  As I drove out of our neighborhood, following Matt, I plug in the IPod and search for my Christian Playlist.  I had downloaded a few new songs a couple days earlier and was itching to hear them (on repeat of course since they are new ;) ).  I took a look at the trees in our neighborhood and smiled.  The trees were gorgeous reds, oranges, yellows- PEAK FALL FOLIAGE has arrived in Central PA!!!!

As we get on the road, I looked across the Susquehanna River and just smiled.  The suns rays were starting to burn off the fog and streams, like a crown, were shining down onto the river, the water glistening in the light.  I thought how God has graced us with beauty all around us.

As we drove further north, the trees became even more vividly colored than they were in Harrisburg.  The fog was swirling around the low range mountains, weaving in and out of the trees, and all I could think was how beautiful the trees were and how life was meant to experience this!

I was so amazed that God would give us something so beautiful to look a EVERY single day (on drives to and from work, on the way to a Penn State football game...).  He works in simplistic, yet enormous ways!

The further I drove, the more God was really speaking to me.  Seeing these beautiful trees, knowing that God's hand was on each tree, making it beautiful, touching so many lives that revel in the beauty of his creation- it was REALLY weighing on my heart.  I am so blessed in my life, with family, friends, my beautiful, healthy baby- it seems like it makes it "easy" to follow God.  I'm amazed in all of those people that truly live through struggles (beyond what most people can imagine) and they live it without complaining- all the while having faith in God.  God ALWAYS provides.  That is something that my husband and I have learned with Isabella's entrance into our lives.  He always provides.

So, when you are riding around, you see beauty in nature- remember that God is all around you, touching and molding all you see and those you don't.

Be Blessed. :)

Bella Vita Photography Blog is up and running!!

Wow.  I am amazed at how quickly Bella Vita Photography has taken hold and God's hands are truly all over this project and venture in our lives!  When you get a moment, take a look at the site and leave us some feedback- geeze, even become a "follower"!!!  :)   Thank you again, to everyone that has encouraged us, reassured us, and prayed for us in this new venture- your support is invaluable to us, so thank you! :)

Here it is:  Bella Vita Photography Blog

Enjoy!!!  Be Blessed!

Pumpkin Rolls

Well, my post on Facebook about making Pumpkin Rolls really created a stir, so here is the recipe and please send me your recipe if it is different!  These desserts are super easy to make and they are great goodies to take to fall parties, get togethers, or family functions!!

Pumpkin Rolls


Ingredients
3/4 Cup all-purpose flour
1 Cup white sugar
1 Teaspoon baking soda
2 Teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 Cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1 Teaspon lemon juice
2 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Icing
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened (I use light)
1/4 Cup butter
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Cup confectioners' sugar

Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Grease 9x13 jelly roll pan.

2.  mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin spice in mixer.
3. Stir in pumpkin puree, eggs, and lemon juice.
4.  Pour mixture into prepared pan and spread evenly.
5.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

6.  Lay long piece of wax paper (foot and 1/2) on cooling rack.
7.  Remove cake from pan onto wax paper.
8.  Let cake cool for 10 minutes, then roll into roll, careful not to damage cake.  Ensure the wax paper is rolled between the cake.
9.  Let cake cool another 30 minutes.

10.  Make the Icing: blend cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar in mixer.
11.  Unroll roll (after 30 minutes) carefully and spread Icing on cake.  Make sure Icing is generously applied (where you can't see the cake).
12.  Carefully roll cake back up, this time without the wax paper inside of roll.  As you roll, tug gently on wax paper on outside of roll to ensure it is not stuck to the cake.

Cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to ensure freshness.  You can also freeze the roll for a couple of weeks.

All mixing directions are according to a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer, so adjust accordingly if you use a hand mixer.

(Recipe used this time from www.allrecipes.com-Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll- modified to my specifications)

Enjoy these yummy, easy Fall treats and let me know how they turn out!! :)

Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest

Every year we attend Pumpkin Fest in Adams-Ricci Park.  This festival has several special meanings for us- 1.  I loooove fall and pumpkins and festivals (all wrapped into one at this one, its fabulous!) and 2.  The festival takes place in Adams-Ricci Park.  The park is built on Ricci land, and you would be correct if that was Matt's family.  His aunt and several cousins live across the street from the part, his Aunt Toots volunteers her time at the festival and everyone in the family always heads to the park to meet up for Dressler/Ricci fun times!!

I had to proctor the SAT early Saturday morning, so after I came home, we headed over to the festival.  When we arrived we made a quick pit-stop at Toots' house so Dan could meet Isabella- he was doting on her for sure!! :)

Then we spent the next 30-40 minutes at the information stand hanging out with Toots.  Bella loves her!!!  She was smiling and cooing at Aunt Toots, it was ADORABLE!  Matt ran into a friend from high school, so we spent some more time socializing before heading off to see the stands.

We missed the car show, since we went later than we normally do, but shhhh...I was okay with that ;)

There are GREAT arts and crafts booths at the festival, so we spent the rest of our time walking around browsing the neat, creative, crafts that the vendors had created.  We were nearing the end of our walk around the booths when Linn came running up!!  YAY, she made it!  We were sad, because we thought at first she wasn't going to make it.

She of course wanted little Bella right away!  So we finished our walk, Toots bought a home-made Apple Pie and we headed back to Toots' house.  We spent the next few hours having good talks, reminiscing about Dottie, Linn had a fabulous time feeding the sweetie, and just enjoying each others' company! 

Isabella was great-, she didn't scream, cry, or fuss (thank goodness!!), but I really can't wait until next year when she can toddle around to the booths and pick our her favorite things and carry on one of our favorite family traditions!

All in all, baby Isabella's first trip to Pumpkinfest was a success, she had a great time, and many. many family members got to meet her for the first time!!!! :)

The Basement....oh boy.

Well, after many, many, many months of planning, talking, debating, and saving, we are on a HUGE journey....to finish our basement!!  Yikes, yes, I know, you may be thinking that we both should check ourselves into the nearest looney bin, however, let me explain a little...

Dottie always wanted us to finish it, we just didn't find the right timing, and again, now that we have a baby (this seems to be a theme lately don't you think??) we need space for family to stay, have holidays at, office space for photography fun, and better storage.  All the more reason to get our butts in gear!!

Matt did a phenomenal job planning it out- he used software, did a 3D diagram of the room, made a million lists, and found great deals for us!!  All of this means that my prayers for this to be completed without a lot of stress are that much closer to being realized!!

Over the past 3 days we have been to Home Depot and Lowe's more than I care to admit.  I will say, I looooooove shopping- I mean serious, retail therapy should be a real form of therapy for folks ;) - however, having said this...I was definitely "shopped" out.  We had three giant loads (I'm talkin' trailer loads full of goodies) of supplies to get started with.  I have to give a BIG shout out to Meg, Billy Bob, Bill, and Jason for helping carry all this to the basement-- hopefully their full tummies were payment enough for all their hard work!!! :)

Our first step (ok, serious, who am I kidding...MATT'S first step) is to frame out the wall for the storage/organizational closet, hang the drywall in there and get the storage cabinets set up (I don't think I have mentioned yet how EXCITING it is to have this room!!!  whooo hooo!!).  With this room, all of my decorations for the house will be stored away nicely (okay, OCD organized, but it will be AWAY!)  and thanks to our builders- we don't have a lot to do to complete this portion of the room.  They studded all of the walls (except 1), insulated them all, and ran some wiring....so all we have to do is build 2 walls, hang drywall, and finish the floor and ceiling.  YAY!

Our plan is to have a special bed for those guests that come to visit us (okay, again, who am I kidding???  They are coming to visit the sweetest baby on the planet- Isabella!), plus an awesome Library area- Yippeeee!!  We are going to have our TV down there, plus our office space.

When we are finished, we do have a surprise for all of those that come to see it first, so keep up with our progress and find out what the surprise is!!!

Please pray for us...for Matt's safety as he builds this, Isabella's cooperation during the build, and my sanity.  We are on a timeline to be finished before the end of November, so we need God's hand to be on this project as we attempt to complete it all, safely, properly, and that it becomes what God wants it to be for our family!!! :)

Miss Isabella is Three Months Old!!!

Here are the pictures I took of Isabella for her 3 month birthday!





It is hard to believe it has already been 3 months since she first graced us with her beautiful face at 4:15 am (bright and early....or really late- however you want to look at it! ;)  ) at the Hershey Medical Center!!

I can't believe she has grown so much!  God has blessed us with a beautiful, smart, and active baby girl! I just hope I can keep up with her so we don't miss any of those important life moments! ;)

She was a great subject during the shoot: laying around, cooing, giggling, huge smiles when Matt walked in the door, showing off her super-baby skills (ha, ha) and just a load of fun to photograph!!!



She had a lot of fun and absolutely adored wearing her tutu!!!  As you can see, it was too much fun for her! :)

I hope everyone enjoys these pictures of her. :)

A dash of Life and a pinch of Photography on the side...

As many of you have already read, I am starting up photography on the side!  How exciting, right?  Well, I have been so busy the past couple of days that I haven't been able to post on here.

However, the exciting time has come!!!!  I can announce that::: I also have a Facebook Photography Page!!  YAY!!

Bella Vita Photography is in full swing now!  I have several October Specials and I am really excited to get out there and shoot a lot of great pictures this fall!!

Here are the current specials for October:

Fall Family Full Session
Hey Families out there- are you looking for great Fall Family Fun Photos!?!  If so, look no further than our Fall Family Package!  Have your entire family shots taken, on location, for just $30!!! Let me know if you are interested.


Breast Cancer Awareness Mother-Daughter Mini-Session
Attention ladies (and gentlemen!)!!  Bella Vita is having an October Special!!  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so, in honor of all those survivors and in memory of all our loved ones, get a mini-session with your mother or daughter for just $15!!! Book your time quick- the slots are filling!  :)


Halloween Costume Mini-Session
Bella Vita is also having a Halloween Costume special!!!!  $10 mini-session for children!!  4 or 5 on location shots just in time for Halloween!  Capture the 2010 Halloween spirit with this quick, inexpensive package, but hurry, the slots will book-up quickly!


Please take a look at the page and "like" Bella Vita Photography so you can get a running feed of our specials!!!  And don't forget to keep Bella Vita in mind for all of your upcoming holiday photo needs!!

YAY!  I am so excited, Matt and I have talked a lot about this venture and we really feel (like this blog) this is the direction in which God is directing us.  Please continue to pray for us that God will have his hand on this venture and it will all be for his glory!! =)

Working Off that Baby Chub

Well, I was released for physical activity at 5 weeks, so since then I have been running, although I have struggled to keep a regular routine with having a small newborn.  Matt has been great to watch Isabella while I go out...but I find myself lonely running (I never was before!) and it is getting dark earlier.

Matt and I regularly went to LA. Fitness prior to getting pregnant and I continued to go through my second trimester.  We did a rotating routine of lifting, legs, and running and cycling (I did pool work during the pregnancy).

I like going there, they have great classes, they have free childcare (or else it is only like $5.00 a month), they have a pool I can do laps in, and the equipment and locker rooms are always spotlessly clean (I am not a fan of germies from other random strangers).

I have recently discovered Zumba with my 'sister' Lindsay.  It is TOOOOO fun! ha ha ha.  Now, I am athletic by nature-I always have been- from dance to running to basketball.  Zumba however is a challenge for me and I like that it is a NEW challenge, as I find myself getting bored with the 'same ol' thing'.

I'm happy with my weight loss progress- I have lost 32 pounds since having baby Isabella, now I am ready to work on toning and my health.  Since she was born I have been eating muuuuch better.  It is funny how you don't crave the junky foods any more :).  I would like to continue to loose a few more pounds and tone up again- it was kinda scary how flabby my stomach was after giving birth (Ok, I get I just had a baby, but please respect that it is something I am not used to).

I'm not sure exactly what I want my routine to look like, but I think that with the success we have had following our cleaning schedule as a team, I am thinking that I need to create a workout schedule, so I can have another list to "check things off on."  And so I can add another calendar to the fridge. ;)  I want my schedule to be varied and fun- not like a job.  I have had several suggestions on what to incorporate, but more suggestions would definitely be welcome! :)

I will continue to post about my progress- maybe having my plan out there will be even more motivation for achieving my goals. :)

Keep asking me how my workout schedule is going.  I have set a definite goal so far- to start running road races again.  I miss them, they are fun, and its a good environment to be in, plus the health benefits are superb.

Sing-A-Ma-Jigs

Now that I am a mother, I find myself (many more times than not) awake early enough to watch the duration of the morning news.  I have been watching Good Morning America a lot more than The Today Show, as of recent--their stories just seem to 'mean' more to me for some reason.  I've not quit watching The Today Show...just perhaps a hiatus.

Well, the other day I was watching to hear what the "Hot" toys are for this Christmas.  I have always watching/listened/researched this topic, since I worked for Target for several years and fourth quarter is our big time.  I needed to know for staffing, replenishment, etc.  Anyhow, in tradition, I heard they were going to talk about toys, so I was definitely within ear-shot until the story came through.  They talked about the usual Nerf guns (yippee- sarcasm as this is ALWAYS on the list), the Buzz Lightyear doll that costs $80.00 (yikes!), and these cute little plush dolls called Sing-A-Ma-Jigs!

Sing-A-Ma-Jigs are adorable.  That is all there is to it.  They come in a variety of colors and they sing in harmony (and in tune).  They sing various songs when you squeeze their bellies along with some gibberish sounds.

They had all of the different colors on the segment I was watching.  VERY COOL.  They were playing them in harmony, so as to create your own song.  Even better!

Well I went in search of these cuties at Target and I found them.  Good part:  they had all the different colors so I could play around with them and test them out.  Better part:  each doll only costs approximately $12.00- yay!  Best part:  Isabella smiled and giggled when I held the doll out and made it sing to her.  She LOVED it! =)

So, I have officially bought my first Christmas gift for this season!!!  I got the pretty little purple one (pictured) for Isabella.  Let the shopping commence! :)

Isabella Marie is 12 weeks old

God has truly blessed us, and I hope that all of those people out there using our blog to keep up with her progression as smiling a little with this post!  Thank you also to all of those readers that sent messages from the announcement email =)  they were all so kind and got us really excited to continue our blog and that God had led us in the right direction!

Growin' Babe Details:

Everyone is always asking about how much she is sleeping at night- so I have a shout out for our little baby!!

Sleeping:  at least 8 hours, but I have to give her props- she slept last night from 8pm-9am (with little dream feed around 11!!!)  She rocked it out!

She is growing like a weed!  We are so proud of her progression and know that God's hands are all over her growth and personality.  She is very much the wiggle worm right now, really having fun rolling over!  She almost has it in a snap and we just sit and laugh and watch her work sooooo hard to get over so she can inspect and gaze her beautiful eyes upon something unknown.

This week Isabella and I also went shopping with the family sisters.  It was our first outing without Matt- God love him- he is great.  He has been so helpful to me that I can honestly say that I never felt overwhelmed or alone!  Well, the big girls were ready to head out alone =)  Isabella was great, she slept all the way through her 'hang out time' with the heartbreaker also known as Alec!  She chilled, she ate, she vocalized when she didn't like the outfit Aunt Meggie was looking at- haha, she had a great time!  Aunt Meggie is already coaching her on the way of curly hair (I wonder if she will have beautiful curly hair like Meg???) and how to build an outfit around the shoes....ahh the sister I never had ;)  Its perfect. 

On The Parental Unit Front: 

You know, it is interesting, there are those parents that are obsessive about what everyone else's kids are doing, how big they are, when they smile, sat up, crawled, walked- its mind-boggling really.  And there are those parents that are just happy in the moment.  

Now, as for myself and Matt, I am really proud to say that Matt and I both fall into the "just happy in the moment" category (yep, that's right, I am tooting my own horn in this post!!).  I wondered before she arrived whether or not I would constantly want to know 'what's next' and whether or not I would be a good mother, but I have felt an surreal calmness with her.  I just know,... you know?  I do like to ask a couple of my good girl friends (that I trust) about what to expect, especially my pal Julie- she's done this 5 times already...and is about to do it for the 6th time  (yay for baby Avery!), and the one thing she has already shown me is that every baby is different, and precious.  She told me about a book-The Baby Whisperer- that I have been reading on occasion about routines with the babe, but really Isabella has made it easy for me.  Sure, she has her crying moments, but I haven't heard of a baby that doesn't cry, so I think all is good =).  I also have a couple of girl friends at work that give GREAT stories and "what not to dos", so I have been blessed to be surrounded with strong women.

Matt has been preparing to finish the basement.  Exciting times, yes, I know.  We gotta have somewhere for Nana to stay!! =)  It will be nice to have the office space and library we have always wanted plus a place for each of us to work on our hobbies.  Not to mention a fab place to put a BIG OLE CHRISTMAS TREE!!  =) One that the pugs WON'T snort all over!  He is patiently waiting on me to purge more clothes...ahh the clothes.  That is another post in and of itself.  He's a good man for waiting patiently on me to finish the declutter of old clothing.     


It just dawned on me that as of today, October 1st, I only have 2 months left with my little butter bean!!  Oh My!  I'm happy she is growing so fast, but sad my time will eventually end...at least for a couple weeks, then I will be back for another few days!  ;)

I am also happy to report that baby Avery joined Julie's family 9/30/2010!  Yay! :)  She has a full head of hair just like Isabella- it brought a sweet smile to my face to see how beautiful the little girl is!!!  I enjoyed putting things in Isabella's hair and knowing it was obvious it was in her hair and not taped to her head- ha ha ha- and I know Julie is going to have a blast doing the same!!  Congratulations Julie!!!

3D TV- oh boy, Billy Bob!

SO...Billy Bob (otherwise known outside the family as Bill, Megan's husband) has been browsing on the internet for 'deals'.

He says that he found this website that you can bid on items.  He decided to bid on a 3D TV...and won!  So, now comes the price...!  We all told him it was too good to be true!


Needless to say, he wants to prove us wrong!  He took the day off work for delivery, cleared everything out from behind the bar in the basement.  I'm telling ya, this is going to be the best sports bar basement in Harrisburg if this TV actually arrives.

We will see.


A digression on the website.  The website he was using is called: http://www.beezid.com/ Basically how it works is you buy bids, for like a penny.  Then you "spend" them on the bids you want to place on various items.  If you are the highest, you win!  There is a tutorial the explains how to do it.  You can also auto bid with a price range and how many bids you want to use.  Simple right?  Sounds too good to be true to me.

Again, we will see.

So here is the update:  We are having 3D night at Bill and Meggie's as I type!  It is pretty cool.  So, Billy Bob was right!  It worked!  Okay, so slight defect--it didn't come with any of the 3D glasses...small loss for getting a $1,400.00 TV for approximately $160.00.  Meg picked up a pair of the glasses (apparently there are specific glasses for each 3D TV made by each brand)- word to the cautious: these glasses are kinda pricey. 

Isabella loves the TV! Ha ha, oh no! ;) 

Matt is also mesmerized by the tv, lol!






Well, the end of the story goes that the TV is real, the website is real, it was cheap, so check it out!  =)

Midnight Brownies

So there are a couple of reasons for posting this recipe.  First, as most of you guys know, since being pregnant with Isabella, I have had VERY LITTLE desire to eat meat.  In fact, during my first trimester I definitely lurched at the thought of cooking meat (poor Matt!!!).  Well, after she was born I figured I would go back to eating meat like I normally did...not so much.  I still eat very little meat (I can probably count on one hand the times I have eaten meat since July 8th). 

Well, while I was at home I was watching a Dr. Oz Show rerun (oh my, how I have become the mom at home!) he had a guest viewer- Kim Bensen- on his show that had lost over 200 pounds!  More power to her- that's awesome!  Well, anyhow, she had these secret ingredient brownies that are a lot healthier for you (especially if you like sweets).  Well of course I was hooked, I wanted to know what was in the brownies!! (Second reason for the post: get her awesome story and the secret out!)

So, she finally revealed that her brownies contain BEANS!! WHAT!?! Serious?  Yeah, okay, so I want to try this recipe, because it appeals to my "bean" side, haha- I've been eating a lot of beans during dinner, so cool- beans. 

So, word to the cautious...I haven't tried this yet, I just found it on his site and I plan on trying them this week (as long as I have all the ingredients).


Midnight Brownies

Brownies

Ingredients

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup agave syrup

1/2 cup self-rising flour

1/2 cup egg whites

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 tbsp  vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

6 tbsp mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a food processor, mix all brownie ingredients (except chips) together. Chop on high, until smooth. Clean off sides and blend for another 20 seconds. Add the chips and stir well. Spread into the 8x8 baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for about 1 hour at room temperature.

Frosting

Ingredients

6 oz. fat-free cream cheese

1/4 cup agave syrup

2 tbsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp semisweet mini chocolate chips, melted

Directions

With a whisk attachment on an electric beater, blend all ingredients until light and fluffy. Spread evenly over the top of the cooled brownies. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the 2 tbsp of chips with a 2-second spray of nonstick cooking oil. Using a spoon, swirl the chocolate on top. Allow it to set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy. Don't forget to have seconds! 

You can find the recipe on Dr. Oz's Recipe Page as well!

You can read more about the guest that presented this recipe in her book Finally Thin.

Hello Big Bird...you ol' turkey you!

Well, this one's for the birds! ha, ha, ha ok that was a little turkey cookin' humor.  The other day I decided to thaw the giant bird in our freezer and get to cookin'.  This morning I got up feeling frisky enough to jump on the "I cooked a turkey" bandwagon.  So, this is my adventure wranglin' up myself a turkey for dinner!

I got the Kosher little fella out of the fridge and began cutting away the packaging.  A little euw.  I finally got it all pealed away and cut out the directions.  Now I have this giant featherless blob of skin laying in my sink.  Double euw.  Now what to do?  Oh boy, I gotta touch this thing?  Serious?  Okay, well I suck it up and lift up the carcass to wash it off.  I am lurching at this point. I quickly give Big Bird his final earthly bath and towel him down- thank the Lord for Mr. Bounty.

I read the following direction.  It says I am supposed to 'rub' salt and pepper on this bird.  Are you kidding me?!  I throw up a little in my mouth just thinking about 'rubbing' the slimy, clammy skin of Big Poppa.

Oh yeah, forgot to take the neck and giblets (Yes, all those lovely little gals- known as Gibblets- that hung out at Gibbs hall quickly flashed into my memory!!) out of the cavity.  I am thinking that I might just leave this guy laying in the sink until Matt can figure this mess out.  Ok, Matt's funny saying from the hospital comes to my mind..."Sarah, pull yourself together!" (God bless that doctor).  Ok, next thought:  "Sarah if you can give birth, then you can do this!" Okay, refocus.  I reach in and remove the neck....I can't find the giblets.  I am looking and looking and they are NO WHERE to be found!! Moving on.  If they are still in there and I can't see them, I have just created the perfect excuse... just in case my bird is terrible!

I shake the salt and pepper on the outside- top and bottom- easy enough....now how am I supposed to get it INSIDE this thing??  Okay, I open it up a little and shake.  That is as far as I go- I draw the line at RUBBING my hand inside the dead blob laying on my counter.

I prep up my pan for the bird, using mushrooms, carrots, celery, asparagus, onions, and green peppers.  That mixture sure looks yummy, hope it turns out okay. 

I take the same items and start tossing them into the bird, trying not to touch it much.  I then figure out another use for the celery stalks- shoving the veggies into the bird!!  GENIUS!  So this moves my progress along nicely.  I baste it a bit and then its off for Big Bird's last earthly tan!

So here is how the lovely carcass known as Big Bird looked once he was prepped for tanning!  Ain't he a beauty?!

Okay, so according to the package, it says that I should cook this bad boy for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.  I choose 4 hours for a couple reasons: 1.  It's nice to be in the middle :) and 2.  I sure don't wanna make KFC crispy in my oven after all of my prepping, lurching, and the occasional hurling.  I worked hard on this plucked cluck!

I check on Biggie a couple of times and he looks like he is tannin' nicely.  After about 2 1/2 hours, I decided it was time for the Big Cover-Up!

So in case you have been confused at any point...this is my FIRST BIRD.  I have been married to a lovely husband for over 5 years and I have had the fortunate blessing of never cooking a bird on Thanksgiving.  Now most of you know me and know that I used to work at Target...as does Matt.  Now, if you think about it, who the heck, in their right mind would want to be cookin' all day on Thanksgiving the day before Black Friday?!  Certainly not the two of us, as usually we were at the store with a team prepping for BF.  So, alas, no bird for me.  Now "What about last year?" you may say.  Well, I could have made a turkey since I was so blessed to be in a new job, however there are two FABULOUS reasons I didn't.  First, I was pregnant and it was my birthday- there ain't no way I'm cooking on my birthday! Ha, ha and second, we were at Disney World!!  So, we were more than happy to let the lovely folks working at Disney whip up a tasty meal for us!

But I digress.  Back to the big wrap-up. Now that everyone knows this is the first plucker at our house...I have no idea how much foil to use to wrap Biggie up with....so here is what I came up with! ha ha ha- foiled madness!  Do ya think its enough?? =)

Okay, here we go....wrappin' in progress...

So, I finally finished wrapping Big Bird and stuck him back in the tanner for the final leg of his last earthly vacation.  He will spend the remainder of his full-carcassness in the lovely sauna that I built around him with my mountain of foil!

The final product.  Thank you Big Bird for your contribution to my family's "Yay its Fall!" dinner celebration!  You grossed me more than once, but you were a trooper, and I "pulled it together."  What a nice duo we made for more than a couple hours today!  Hubby liked you so all is good =)


Now some of you might ask what was sweet Isabella doing the whole time I was wrestling with my demon known as Big Bird??

She was snoozing.  In true Dressler/McKinney style!










So, that pretty much wraps up my adventures with Big Bird.  I hope you enjoyed hearing about Biggie's Big Bird Bake!!

Baby Isabella Wall Decoration

I have had a few friends ask me about the decorations I created for Isabella's nursery, so I figured I would make a post about Isabella's name decoration in case someone wanted to create their own!

::::Project Supply List::::
1.  Letters
2.  Wood Craft Paints
3.  Ribbon to match
4.  Wooden knobs
5.  Q-Tips
6.  Paper Plate
7.  Plastic for table
8.  Hot Glue Gun and matching glue sticks
9.  Nails (finishing w/ wide, shiny heads)
10. Hand Drill with bit

How to make Baby Name Wall Decoration::::

Planning, Prep, and Design::
First, I selected my room decor and color scheme.  Isabella's room has a green and brown theme.  Her bedding has stripes, polka dots and paisley on it, so I wanted to bring out one of those patterns.  I chose the polka dots for a couple reasons: 1. I like them and 2. I thought they would be easiest to start the project off with.  After I decided polka dots, I chose the coloring: brown, green, and tan to match the room decor.

Next I chose the letters and paint.  I bought my lettering at a local craft shop, but you can find these at many big box retailers, such as Michael's, AC Moore, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, and many smaller stores.  Since I had picked polka dots, I looked for letters that had bubbles on the ends to go with the idea.  After I found letters in the right size- she has a longer name, so I chose smaller letters (5 in.) plus, I wanted it to fit above her bed.  If you want to spread them farther apart or have a smaller name to work with, then you could choose a larger letter.  

I then picked up some bright green, dark brown, and tan craft wood paint.  You can again find these paints at any local craft or big box retail store for only a couple dollars each bottle.  I suggest using a matte finish paint, as a glossy will be very streaky.  If you are interested in creating the glossy finish, I suggest a clear, glossy, finishing coat at the end.

I also picked up wooden drawer knobs at the hardware store. These are cheap (around $.40 each) and can be picked up at any Lowe's or Home Depot.  These seem to work best on a wall, as the other drawer knobs are pretty, but there isn't a great way to attach them to the wall (as they screw in from the back, rather than the front).  If anyone has a suggestion to attach the other knob style (back screw) I would definitely like to hear it- since they are so pretty! 

Creating the Letters::
Once I accumulated all of my supplies I painted the base color on the front of the letter (dark brown) and after this dried I painted the bright green on the sides of the letters.  Once both of these colors were dry, I touched up any mistakes then began the dots (tan).  

The dots are best applied with a Q-Tip (thanks Dottie for the great crafting tip!!).  I just rolled the tip of the Q-Tip in the paint, then 'dotted' it on the front of the letter.  Be careful not to press too hard, as it will make a paint 'void' in the middle of the dot, and you will have to touch it up after it dries.


 After all the paint had dried and all touch-ups were finished I began the ribbon.  I chose a thin ribbon with polka dots to match my theme, but not overwhelm the wooden knobs.  When choosing ribbon, it is best to choose after you have picked a knob, as this will determine how big your ribbon can be. 

To attach the ribbon, I just headed a glue gun and glued the ribbon on the back.  I chose not to tie bows at the top because it didn't work well, but I think it would look great if you chose to do that!  

I had green ribbon with tan polka dots that matched the green I chose for the sides of the letters, so I crossed the ribbon in a way that would allow the polka dots to face out.  I crossed the ribbon behind the letter (looks like a breast cancer awareness cross ribbon) and put a dot of glue to hold it in place.  Be careful where you place it, as this will potentially cause it to hang crooked on the wall (more power to it if you want them crooked on purpose- which is super cute!).  I hung the knobs first, as this determined how far down I wanted the letters to hang- determining the length of ribbon to use.

Finished letters with ribbon style and painted knobs

Creating the Knobs:: 
First I used the hand drill to drill a small hole down the middle of the knob.  This will be used to house the nail when it is nailed in the wall.

I painted the knob to match the letters.  I chose dark brown to pull in the dark brown background behind the polka dots.  Make sure the paint goes down in the hole so all you see is the painted color.

After they dried I took the decorative (pretty silver in my case), wide head, finishing nails and nailed the knobs to the wall.  Make sure you choose a nail that is long enough to go through the knob and still have room to hold in the wall.  I left the head of the nail flush with the knob, so it ends up that the knob has a pretty silver 'dot' in the middle of it when we finished.  Determine how far apart you want the letters and incorporate that into your measurement when you nail these to the wall (so the letters aren't too close or too far apart). 

Finishing the project::
After hanging the knobs and attaching the ribbon to the letters, all you have left to do is hang the letters on the wall!!  

One final tip::

Watch out for your pregnant belly if you are trying to hang them without moving the crib though!  

It might get in your way, especially if you are 9 months pregnant! ;)