Bella-Christmas 2011

Bella and I went for a little ride last weekend to see the 1 and only Santa Claus! We had a ball. Despite being in line, and a little boy who couldn't have been older than 4, telling her that Santa Claus was not real. I thought they were literally going to get in an argument. Bella kept saying that he was wrong, and that it was not true. I was like, "Why the h_ll are you in line to see him then???" Anyway, she bought her little Elfie (Elf on the Shelf) and told him everything she wanted. Of course what she told him she wanted was not what she told me she wanted, and this Santa has already gone shopping. Oh well! — at Pentagon City Mall.

Big Milestone!

Well, besides Bella starting kindergarten a month ago today!!! She also tied her shoe for the first time tonight! I would have never thought it would have been tonight, given the fact that she literally was super sassy, tired, and crying most of the evening b/c she hasn't been feeling well and missed her dad who is in Canada and has been for over a week. We got home and ate dinner, and she was so upset that i told her she could not have junk food, that she pitched a fit and literally cried for about a half hour.
We took a bath, we changed clothes, we brushed our teeth, the whole time she was still crying all b/c i would not let her her a treat. Finally, we were getting ready to go to bed, and she started trying to tie my pajama pants and got really angry that she was having a hard time. She stomped her feet and curled up in the floor, and said she would never learn... I just kept saying that she had to try and that i knew it was hard, but she would figure it out if she kept trying. She gave up and got in the bed. We just happened to get back up b/c she had to go to the bathroom, and she started trying to tie my pants again since she had calmed down, and literally did it right away!
We squeeled and high fived, and laughed... and she was so excited. The look on her face when she saw me laughing and so proud of her was beautiful. She was so proud of herself and you could see it. She is such an amazingly wonderful girl... I am so lucky and blessed. Congrats Bella on tying for the first time!!!! Many more milestones to come!

Bella's Fifth Birthday

Well, my sweet little girl turned 5 this past weekend! It was great! She was so excited to have all of her friends over to the house. We were originally supposed to have a pool party, but Hurricane Irene decided that Bella would be better suited to have about 30 people over to our place. Those in attendance were Jack, Charlotte, Nina, Rache, Tom, Daniella, Ava, Eve, and Paolo. Lots of fun!
She got her first make up, and boy daddy was not happy. She got tons of toys, shoes, a big map of the world from me, and all of her family has been in town all week.

Thank you to all of our friends and family for making this special. Bella marched around telling everyone to "line up" behind her, and that they could "help her open gifts if they were nice to her". It was hilarious... Happy 5th Birthday my sweet girl!

Looking forward to a GREAT weekend!

Bella and I have some company coming in town. Tonight my daddy and 2nd mom, Kathy are coming in town to see our new place!
Bella is so excited to see them and we will be celebrating Kathy's birthday. I actually got pretty emotional on the drive in this morning, as I was listening to some old school music by Elton John, and thinking about how lucky I am to have such an amazing set of parents who love Bella and I so much.
Thank you Dad and Kathy who have been so wonderful to us, helped us through the roughest years of my life for sure, and been so supportive the whole time. I could not have done it without you.

Stay tuned for some cute pictures... as this Saturday is Bella's first dance class at Buffa's Dance Studio, where she will take her first tap lesson, and second ballet lesson! Can't wait!
Caroline

Sweet words from Bella

Bella wrote me a note on her stationary last night that said "Bella love Mommy." She said "Mommy, whenever you are thinking about me and you want to see me, but I am with daddy, you can read this."

I just got teary, and said, "You have no idea how much I miss you and that is ok. What a perfect idea."

Our New House-A new chapter

Well, Bella and I just moved into our new house in Springfield and it is amazing. So much more space, lovely neighbors, safe, a little park next door at the little elementary school. We went bike riding today and of course Bella was zooming through the neighborhood. She loves riding over the speed bumps in the street- of course Mommy isn't a huge fan. She doesn't understand that speed bumps are for cars, and we need to be on the sidewalk:) But I guess that comes with time. She seems so happy here
I am blessed to have such a wonderful daughter and to be in such a wonderful home that is filled with her laughter and smiles.

Jack and Grace and Dana came over yesterday to visit and to see it, and of course Jack and Bella were racing down the hill outside and Jack got hurt.... Grace fell down a few stairs.. They are all ok! But I guess someone had to break in the house. I am sure many more bruises to come.

I never feel like I see Bella enough. I miss her the minute she walks out the door to go with her dad. Last night, while we were laying in her bed, and I was literally rocking her to sleep (don't normally do that anymore but she fell yesterday and hurt her leg very bad so she was upset and couldn't sleep), she told me that she loved me so much. She told me she never wants to be away from me, and that when she is with daddy she misses me so much. She rubbed my face, like what I usually do to her.
She is so amazing. She is so soft, and gentle, and caring. I love her more than I can even explain.
In the news, I heard that a lady in New York, 25 years old, was so distressed in her relationship that she drove her four kids of a bridge and into the Hudson River. The oldest, the 10 year old survived, but the other three kids were killed. One was 11 months, 5, and 8. I can't stop thinking about it. When I heard it, i grabbed Bella and just held her. Children are so precious. I don't deserve to have such a wonderful amazing daughter. She just takes my breath away. I love her.

A Wonderful Weekend

Bella and I had an amazing weekend! Yesterday we had a playdate with Paolo and Ro, went to a pizza shop in Old Town and then to "Hooray for Books" on King Street. That is one of Bella and I's favorite spots to go! Then today was awesome as well. We spent some good quality time chasing eachother around the house this morning, playing dollhouse- you know, the usual. Then went for a bike ride in the overcast weather in Old Town. Yes-we actually rented a bike with a trailor and hopped on! It was a blast. Stopped at the candy store on the way back and Bella filled up her basket of candy.

Tonight was great-we met Charlotte her long time friend at Fort Ward park and ran around. What a nice weekend. We hugged a lot, told eachother we loved eachother, and just spent great quality time. I wouldn't trade a minute for the world.

Trip to Moms- Summer 2010

Posted some new pics! Enjoy!

Sunday and Snowing

Bella and I are enjoying the morning with coffee, and playing babies. We set up an entire home living center (like at her school) in the den and the babies have been in time out, sleeping, and have already eaten things like pototo chips and lettuce and it has only been 30 minutes! It has been great.

Coloring our new Dora pictures as well for Grandma Susu and Grandma Hutton to cheer them up. Not sure Grandma Susu knows she needs cheered up, but Grandma Hutton has been hurting a bit with her broken wrist and arthritus so she might could use a nice scribbled Dora picture!

Yesterday, we had a ball going swimming at the YMCA on Monroe Ave. Bella is a little fish! We are still working on getting her face under the water, but we got goggles so that is a step in the right direction!

Monday March 7th 2011

Today I picked Bella up and we listened to Alabama on the way home from school. When we got home, she wanted to bring in the CD and dance to it. So we did... Very cute. Dancing around our little house to Dixieland Delight. She kept saying... "mommy can you do this?" and she would hop on one leg.... Or "Mommy can you do that?" and do a Michael Jackson looking move. It was great! Then we had the most random dinner. Couscous, veggies, and she insisted on instant Gritts. Ha! I threw in some fruit to make it healthier. She is growing by the minute. It is so hard to believe how big she is, and all she wants to do is eat!
I love her so much, she is my "miracle baby."

Playdate with Evan

So my old boss Caroline Holt watched Bella for me yesterday since she was out of school for Presidents Day. They had a ball! Well, at least Bella did. She was sooo obsessed with Evan's little sister Susanna who is less than 10 months old, that she somewhat forgot anyone else existed! Kind of hurt Evan's feelings a bit.
They played, read books, ran outside, and Bella of course followed Susanna around the house trying to pick her up every second. Then she got a crash course in breastfeeding when Caroline went to feed Susanna. Bella had never really seen that before, so when we got home and got ready for her to sleep, she asked if Mommy could feed her like that! Quite an interesting scene here at the Allred house in Del Ray. I had to explain to her that I could not and would not do that. Then she asked me if I did when she was a baby, and talk about a hard explanation there! "Well honey, mommy was on a lot of drugs so no she couldn't do that." Bella left the conversation and drifted off to sleep with nothing but a puzzled look on her face. Who knows what she was thinking!

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"

Well so does Bella Martin! She told her teachers on the MLK holiday that her dream was to be a mommy and have four babies! This was posted on the bullitan board at school. So while the other kids wrote what they wanted to be when the grow up or that they want to eat limitless amounts of icecream, Bella wrote she wants to be a mommy. How sweet. She will make such a great one. She is so giving, and caring. Her mommy is so lucky to have her.
I love you Bella with all my heart.
Mommy.