Maui!

Aloha! Ryan, Isla and I had the joy of traveling to the beautiful island of Maui for our winter vacation. We joined my parents and sister and stayed at my Grandfather's beautiful condo at Napili Point. Ryan and I hadn't been there since our honeymoon and it was crazy to think that this time we were bringing our 5 month old daughter along. Man how time flies!

We had the best time. We went whale watching, sat by the pool, swam in the ocean, went to a Jimmy Buffet concert, drank and ate a lot, and basically just enjoyed being on vacation. Isla also had a great time while she was there. She turned 5 months old, got to try rice cereal for her first time, rolled over for her first time and is beginning to sit up on her own. She also kept us in hysterics with her "talking", which can sound like she is screaming at times.

Going on vacation with your 5 month old is a lot different than vacations without them. For instance, I finished one book instead of 5, didn't really "tan" as the sun isn't good for a baby, was asleep by 9 and up most mornings at 6:30 or 7:00. But when all is said and done I loved having Isla with us for a week and half and getting to see her reach some of her milestones firsthand. My parents and sister were such a great help with Isla and Ryan and I got to go out for drinks with friends and go to the beach to swim.

The weather was really cold in Maui this year, but still warmer than Idaho! I don't ever remember wearing a sweatshirt and jeans at night while I was in Maui, but I did this time. They had the coldest night on record (51 degrees) while we were there. The stormy weather made for some good surf though. We got to watch the crazy surfers off of Napili Point (a place that they call "Hole in the Head" for good reason) while sipping our cocktails. We did have some beautiful days too! And we got to see a ton of whales - my favorite part. Here are some pictures from the fun trip:

Isla and I getting ready to board the plane to Maui:

Ryan and Isla on the plane. Isla turned out to be the best flier! She smiled and giggled our entire flight over to Maui - it was almost as if she knew where we were going:

Ryan and I on the lanai at the condo after we got there:

My sister, me, and my mom getting ready to head to Napili Beach for a cocktail.

Cocktails at Napili Beach. Notice how I'm totally ignoring my child and trying to decide what to drink. Anna was so much help on this vacation! Love you!:

So I caved and bought Isla some sunglasses for the trip. Ryan hated them and said that she looked like she was going to go play some raquetball. I do agree, but I still thought they were cute:

Our view everyday from the pool. I know life is tough:

Isla's spot by the pool:

Isla took her naps by the pool so Mom and Dad could enjoy the sun:

Isla also got to enjoy her first cocktail:

Ryan and I were also lucky enough to go to a Jimmy Buffet concert with my parents while we were there. Anna graciously offered to stay home and watch Isla. Thanks for the tickets Dad the concert was awesome. Can't think of a better place to see Jimmy Buffet!

Ryan and I could not get over this parrothead:

Anna and I enjoying a beautiful Maui sunset (and sending out the vibe):

The condo has a huge mirror in the living room which kept Isla entertained:

Me and the family:

Isla's Favorite Things

It seems as though Isla's cold has finally passed and we enjoyed a nice weekend at home. Isla got to go to Meredith Hamilton's third birthday party and then go on some walks with Mom, Dad and Hank because the weather has been so nice. Here are some pictures of Isla playing with her favorite toys:

Isla's not so sure about the camera Mom has in her face:

Warming up to it just a bit:

Mom trying to get a smile by making some kissing noises (obviously it didn't work!):

Check out those meaty thighs in the bottom of the picture. Too cute for words:

Watching Dad vacuum (yes, Ryan vacuums!):

Getting some tummy time:

4 Months Old!

Isla had her four month check up last week and passed with flying colors. The doctor said that she is a very healthy girl and to keep up the good work. We also found out, to no ones surprise, that Isla is a big baby girl. She weighed in at an even 16 pounds (90th percentile) and is 25 inches log (75 percentile)! Her large size became even more noticeable when she got together with her friends Delaney and Payton, who are six weeks older than her. As you can see from the pictures below Miss Isla is the biggest out of all them:

Delaney, Isla and Payton:

Payton really liked Isla's shoes:

Seriously, I can't believe how big she is compared to them:

Payton and Isla holding hands:

The rest of the pictures are just some random ones taken over the past couple of weeks:

With her Daddy after a bath (look at the beautiful blue eyes they both have):

Getting ready to go for a ride in her stroller:

This picture was taken by my cousin Laura over Christmas and I absolutely love it! She is wearing a Single 09 hat that my aunt had for her New Year's Eve party:

Isla's Got the Giggles

Ryan and I discovered last night that if you make the "achoo" sneezing sound to Isla she pretty much thinks it's the funniest thing ever. We got her going and caught it on video. We made her laugh til she puked (seriously).

30th Birthday

Sorry it has taken me so long to post the pictures from my 30th birthday weekend, but things are crazy now that I am back at work. Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying being back at work and Isla is doing great at daycare, but the evenings are now dedicated to Isla and getting ready for the next day. Sometimes our dinners are even put on the back burner (no pun intended) while we play with Isla.

Anyways, back to my 30th Birthday weekend - it was so much fun! My parents came into town on Friday (my actual birthday) and then Anna and my cousin, Krista, came down from Sun Valley and we all went out to dinner. We kept it low key since the big celebration was planned for the next night. Oh boy, what a celebration it was. There was a lot of dancing and drinking and I participated heavily in both. I think my Boise friends were a little surprised by my dance moves, but it didn't take them long to join in. Unfortunately the pictures from the night are fuzzy (whoever was taking the pictures had it on the wrong setting I think), so it is going to be difficult to see some of them. Here they are:

Before the party my parents gave me my birthday gift - The Bob stroller. I absolutely love it - thanks so much Mom, Dad and Connie! We had to have Isla try it out - she is still just a bit too small for it:

Ryan, Isla and I before the party started. Thank you so much to my parents and Anna who took care of Isla throughout the evening, into the night and the next morning!

Anna, Krista and I starting to feel the groove:

There really aren't any words to describe this picture. I think Jeremy was just really excited to be at my party:

Really excited (I don't think he gets out much):

Some pre-dancing photos:

Let the dancing begin:

Unfortunately the night had to come to an end - I feel like we have curfews again now that we have kids. The Bordners were definitely sad to leave:

I'm just realizing now that all of these pictures are from the latter part of the evening - when everyone had just enough alcohol. It would have been nice to have the before pictures to see how tame it was before the music got a little louder. Thank you so much to my family and friends for celebrating my birthday with me and making it a blast!

Back to Work

Well I knew this was coming since the day Isla was born, I just wished it wouldn't have happened upon on us so soon. Tomorrow is my first day back at work and Isla's first day at daycare. This past week I have been struggling with my decision to go back to work, but I know that I am making the right one. I believe that work will make me a better mother and daycare will be good for Isla to learn to socialize and be okay with other people taking care of her (besides her Mom and Dad). Knowing all of this still doesn't make it any easier. I will miss her like crazy! My work is very anxious to have me back (I feel very lucky to have such a great job in today's economy!) and I have to say that I'm a little bit excited to go back as well. I have really enjoyed my three months home with Isla and feel lucky to have had the time with her. On to the next chapter . . .

Isla will be joining her friend Payton at daycare and I'm so excited for these two to grow up together. Payton and her family joined us last night for dinner and Isla and Payton got more acquainted with each other:

Christmas 2008

For Isla's first Christmas my Mom, Dad and Anna all made the trip to Boise. Ryan and I have decided that Isla is a good reason for us to finally stay put for Christmas and have the grandparents come and visit us! My Mom and Anna were able to come a week before Christmas and hang out with Isla. My Dad luckily made it out of Bellingham on Christmas Eve so he could be with us Christmas morning. We had nightmares that he wouldn't be able to get out due to the snowy weather. We were so happy that we were able to be with each other on Christmas day and really happy that my Dad brought his Wii. The day after Christmas we went up to Sun Valley to visit more family. Isla was finally able to meet her great Grandaddy, great aunt Margot, great uncle David, and cousins Erica, Laura and Drew. It was a very quick trip, but very fun. Lots of good food and wine was had by all! Merry Christmas to everyone.

Isla in her baby bumpo seat that GrandmaGiGi got her:

Hanging out with Aunt Anna:

Grandpa and GrandmaGiGi enjoying some Isla time:

My Mom, Anna and I thought it would be fun to go for a walk on Christmas Eve because it was snowing. It turned out to actually be raining so it wasn't as fun as we originally thought!:

Christmas tree with all of the gifts - GrandmaGiGi went a little overboard!

Anna, Hank, Isla and my Dad on Christmas morning:

Isla's stocking was about as big as she is:

Ryan and Isla up in Sun Valley:

All the cousins (Erica, Anna, Laura, Drew, Krista and I) at the Pioneer:

Cousin Erica with Isla:

Me, my Mom, and Isla with my Grandaddy (four generations):

Isla in her pretty Christmas dress:

Poor Ryan - I made him take this picture with me - he just looked to cute in the Christmas light headband: