Daddy's first solo flight

Last weekend mom had a conference review session in Chicago. Dad and baby came along, but dad flew home one day early. All went well, with the stewardesses cooing over Bill and carrying his luggage. Sunday morning she wandered around for a while, looking for Mom, then just shrugged and went on to breakfast. She got fussy in the afternoon, but that might have been because she was getting sick. She was sick and asleep most of Monday, and better by Tuesday.

She did well at the conference, although we learned the importance of good byes. There was a provided buffet breakfast, which  both Isabella and Bill crashed. When the meeting started, she was making noise so Bill rushed her out, which didn't make her very happy. She then got *really* unhappy when they closed the doors. The next day we had formal good byes and she was fine.

Isabella has been "playing" with her stuffed animals and the dolls at day care. She feeds them, pats them to sleep, puts diapers on them... Grandma Smart is busy knitting clothes for a doll she got. I'm sure Isabella will love it.

She's getting taller; she's taller now than Luke at day care, who's about six months older than her. Still on the skinny side - only 22.5 pounds. 

She takes great delight at naming everything in sight. Some of her new words: Quarter (for the jelly bean jar), Cracker-bunny (the bunny-shaped crackers), raining (of which it's been doing a lot), paper, teeth, spoon, pear, apple, bread, bowl, pajamas, shower, pillow, sticker, Thumper (one of the bunnies), all gone (with appropriate gesture - Ann taught her that one yesterday). Some phrases: We think she's saying "this is mom", Daddy down (as in lie down), Isabella's shoes. She chatters all the time, and there's a few words we haven't quite sussed out yet.

We thought we'd try another bicycle approach. This one sits on front of the handlebars. Isabella thinks it's great because she can steer! Well, she thinks she can. We'll see if she's still happy when we try it with the helmet...

She's been good about the potty, although she still hates to have her diaper put back on. Although she likes to assemble it and try to put it on herself... She's managed to get both feet in some clothes, although she's a little confused about shirts versus pants... 

Ann and I went down to the crepe place yesterday and Isabella figured out how to use a straw (we cut it a bit shorter so she could work it). Drank half the orange juice. 

Ok, I think she needs mom now, so off I go.