Our First House

School

Dear Isabella,

Life continues at a hectic place.  Daddy and I are now wondering about where you should go to kindergarten in the fall.  There are so many options here in Louisville, and we're just not sure which way to go.  Self directed, traditional, magnet or something else?  I suspect you'll bloom wherever we plant you, but it's still difficult.  Oh, how I wish you could just tell us how you learn best. 

I love you,

Mommy

Time

Dear Isabella,

I've been thinking a lot about time lately.  It just seems there isn't enough of it.  In June Daddy accepted a new job in Louisville.  On July 1, Daddy's first day, I got a new job in Louisville.  On Oct. 1, we closed on our Louisville house.  And on the following weekend we moved all of our Knoxville stuff to Louisville  -- and I broke my left foot in the process.  Currently, we are in the midst of (hopefully) selling our Knoxville house and making all of the necessary repairs, etc.  It's a lot, and you have been fantastic.  Daddy and I have been stressed out, tired, and without a lot of luxuries we are used to -- like a washer and dryer.  You have also suffered -- you slept on the couch of our one bedroom apartment for three months. .

Here's what I've learned from this:  Live in the moment. Wake up, celebrate the fact that we are all together, and make it the best day you can.  Do everything you can to get that job or sell that house, but then relax.  Breathe and let God handle the rest.

I'm a natural worrier -- I get this from Grammy, but I'm really trying to work on it. I've worried about Daddy's job, my job, finding the right house, and selling our other house. I've wasted a lot of time worrying, and do you know what it's accomplished? Nothing. Not a thing. In fact, I'm just driving myself (and Daddy) crazy. I don't even want to think about how much time I've wasted worrying.

Some of the saddest times in my life have been followed by the greatest joys.  Do you know when these joys occurred?  When I relaxed and let God take over.  That's exactly how I met Daddy ... and that's how I came to be your mother.  I gave up some control and trusted that all would be as it should be.

So, just to recap: Worry less.  Love more.  Have faith.  Hopefully, this will save you a lot of heartache and time. 

I love you,

Mommy

My Favorite Muffin

This is the little breakfast place you and Daddy frequent when he takes you to school. 

Good at Stuff

"Mommy, why are you so good at stuff like opening things, reading, and turning on the TV?" 

Helper

"Mommy, I brought you a wet towel for your broken foot." 

I love this kid. 

DWTS

"I wish there were a kid's-sized dress like that." 

A Writer

Annoying voice in the backseat

30 minutes of annoying banter and screaming have passed from the backseat

Daddy: If you make another sound back there, this is going to be the place where Daddy beat Isabella. 

Isabella: That is not a good place. 

A Melted Question

"Mommy, you interrupted me and now my question melted."

Here

Dear Izzy, 

We are here!  We're living in Louisville in a  small  apartment in St. Matthews while we house shop. You have started attending a new preschool (that serves lunch), and Daddy and I are trying to keep up with our new jobs.  It's been pretty stressful, but I know that things will calm down soon.  

Thank you for being so excited about sleeping on the couch! 

Peachy

Mommy, I ate so many peaches today at school that I feel peachy. 

We're moving!!

Dear Isabella,

Well, its' been a while, and a LOT has happened.  The biggest thing is this: We're moving!!!  Although Daddy and I have absolutely loved Knoxville, (well, most of the time) and we can't imagine leaving a place that brought us so much joy (you), we are excited about this new opportunity.  So, we are packing up our gypsy train (ask Papa about this) and moving to Louisville.

Daddy is working at WAVE 3, and I'll be a resource teacher for JCPS.  We are beyond thrilled.  Well, we WILL be beyond thrilled -- once we sell a house, find a house, and get a bit more settled.

You have been AMAZING throughout this transition.  You've been excited to visit preschools, look at houses, and drive back and forth.  We are very, very lucky to have such an easy going,  adventurous girl.

                                                            Goodbye, Knoxville house.

Questions

There are lots of "whys" at the Shory house lately.  Today's questions were about babies.  

"Mommy, did you and Daddy think that I was a boy or a girl?"

"We thought you were a boy, but 

we really wanted a girl.  We were so excited."

"Did Grammy and Papa think that you were a boy or a girl?"

"They thought I was a boy."

"Wow. That would be weird if you were my Daddy and not my Mommy." 

Tiny Dancer

"Dancers don't jump, they plié." 

As Such

Today you asked Daddy to turn up the music, but you didn't do it in the most polite fashion. 

"Isabella, if you have a question, you should phrase it as such."

"Such. Such. Such." 

Love

"I love my hairy sister."

Jingle Writer

"Dunkin Donuts, Dunkin Donuts

Where could you eat your toes." 

Mother's Day Photo

"This is my uncooperative queen face."

*Just after this photo was taken, you fell at Kroger and had to get 

three stitches. 

A Performer

"I'm going to have to say no to that dress."

Laughter from parents

"Write that one up, Mommy."

Dramatic exit

It's Not a Date

Your babysitter: Okay, Isabella. I'll see you at 6:00. It's a date.

You: It's not a date; it's a time.

Slumber party

Dear Isabella,

When Daddy is out of town, and he has been a lot lately, you sleep in my bed.

Tonight you are wearing a mermaid gown and plastic high heels to bed. Ouch!

Immigration

Well, you like to rally. We discussed this and you agreed that we should be nice to new friends. You were an awesome marcher. You held your sign proudly.

Kissing

"Mommy, why do you only kiss Daddy when you are leaving? Why don't you kiss him when you want to?"

"After we put you to bed, we kiss a lot."

"I'm going to stay up late!"

Sigh.

Commercials

"Daddy says that things with commercials are always good."

Coat

"Mommy, put your coat back on. You know the one you took off to rock your body."

-said inside Macaroni Grill

Bibliophile

"Now, we've bought six books at the book fair Isabella.  We can't buy any more because six is a lot."

"Six is NOT a lot.  I know that."

"How do you know that?"

"I watch Dancing With the Stars."

Fashionista

"Mommy, the pink dress is crying because we didn't buy her."

Poor Baby

Dear Isabella,

You threw up for the first time in your whole toddler life today.  Sadly, it was in church and all over both of us.  Sweet Daddy went back to the church to clean the pew and the sidewalk after depositing us at home to get showers.

Apparently getting sick gives you a lot of energy because you ran around in cirles and danced for most of the afternoon.  Then, you got sick again.... all over both of us, again.  So we got more showers.  Sigh.  We are very, very clean today.

You and I are taking a sick day tomorrow.

A Real Reader

Dear Isabella,

Well, you have been a real reader for about a week now.  You can read "Hello, Clifford" and "Curious George: Curious about Phonics."  That's a terrible title, by the way, but the stories are quite good.  You are loving it, but it's tiring work, so we only do it a little bit each day.  I'm still reading picture books and chapter books to you  at night, too.

Tuesday was your share day at school, and you took your Clifford book to read for the class.  You read three chapters.

We are so proud of you!

Deal With It

"Mommy, can you just deal with me when I love Daisy?"

A Sad, Sad Song

"Daisy, once you were a sister. Now you are just a girl."

Massage?

Dear Isabella,

Yesterday, Daddy was in the shower and I was in the bathtub when the bathroom door flew open and you came racing in with a pink baseball bat and this question: Who wants a massage?

Needless to say, we both started giggling and you joined in. Thanks for being such a sweet natured little lady.

Tired

Dear Isabella,

"My mommy just gets tired thinking about me."

Thanks for telling the waiter this tonight at Taste of Thai.

Dior

During a Dior commercial... "I want that dress! I love that dress!!" Sigh.

Daisy

"Mommy, Daisy won't eat my plastic banana split."

"Izzy, I don't think Daisy knows how to pretend."

"Mommy, Daisy won't eat my plastic banana split."

(Repeat six times.)

Graham

Dear Isabella,

Tonight we are waiting for news about Cousin Graham. You see, he's been having seizures for the past couple of months and the doctors are trying to stop them so they don't cause brain damage. Poor guy. He had a spinal tap and an MRI today. So, I'm spending the evening praying, waiting and counting my blessings. I love you.

You

Dear Isabella,

Thank you for making hard days better and for always making me laugh. You are the best. I love you so, so much.

Angel

Dear Isabella,

On February 8, 2013, we lost the most loyal member of our family, Angel.  When we came home from Taste of Thai (your favorite restaurant), she was at the top of the stairs, and she couldn't come down.  You quickly found your vet kit and all of us loaded up for a trip to the emergency vet for a second opionion.  Sadly, this would be our last night with our sweet girl.  She is now a real angel, and we all miss her so.

Birthday

"Mommy, why is my birthday ALWAYS in January?"

Smart Girl

"Isabella, how did you get so smart?"

"From you, Mommy"

"How did I help you get smart?"

"You teached me."

"What did I teach you?"

Eye roll "How to be smart!"

Too fast

Dear Izzy,

Time really does fly when you are having fun. I cannot believe how quickly you've grown.

I love you with all of my heart!

Love,
Mommy

Birthday Excitement!

Tomorrow it's going to be Tuesday, and I'm going to wake up and say: It's Tuesday and tomorrow I'm going to be four.

Beauty

My mommy's not cute, she's beautiful.