5 weeks old!

So I was meaning to post some updates and pictures of Bella when she turned 1 month last week... but I never got around to it. :) Having a baby definitely keeps us busy! Bella continues to be a happy and sweet little girl! She is still eating like a champ- we don't have a doctor appointment again until she is 2 months, but we have weighed her at home on our scale a few times. As of today, she is around 12 lbs! So it'll be interesting to see what she does weigh when she goes to the doctor.
Bella is still sleeping fairly well- some nights are better than others, which I think is pretty normal! She did sleep for 6 1/2 hours one night, and I actually woke her up to eat. I keep hoping that it will happen again, but so far no luck. However, when she does wake up, she just eats and goes right back to sleep, so it's really not a big deal. A new thing lately has been to stay up until midnight. That hasn't bothered me yet because we both sleep in until 9 or 10. However, as I have to go back to work in 2 weeks (boo) that could be more of a problem! I am definitely NOT looking forward to going back to work. Derek keeps reminding me that I am only going back part-time... but it's going to be so hard to leave my little baby! She is our little princess (as her shirt below points out.)
Bella's adorable "princess" shirt and tutu skirt from Grandpa Doug and Grandma Sheri. She is definitely the princess of our household!

Her shirt says "Mommy and I love to shop." Can't tell, can you? :)
Posing for some pictures before going out to eat with Grandma Sheri for lunch.

These were taken on Bella's one month birthday, July 2. She is definitely starting to get some rolls on her legs and arms! And note her chubby cheeks- Daddy's favorite part of her.
Bella's first picture with her Huyser cousins- Definitely hard to get a 6 year old, 4 year old, 19 months, and 1 month baby to pose for a picture. But this one is pretty good- even though Bella is starting to scream.
Her Fourth of July outfit- even though nobody got to see it since it was absolutely FREEZING outside!
Bella had her first definite smile on June 30. We think she had smiled a few times before that, but weren't for sure if it was actually directed towards us. I have tried to capture her smiles on camera, but haven't had any luck. This is the closest smile I have gotten- kind of a half smile!
She absolutely LOVES her swing. In fact, the night she slept 6 1/2 hours, she was in the swing. We have been tempted to put her in there more nights, but I don't want to develop a bad habit. I let her nap in there though- and no matter how much we adjust her head, it always seems to end up in this position. Bella and Mommy before her shower. There's not many pictures of us yet- I don't let Derek take any when I look gross- which is most days. :) I like being at home with a baby!


Derek's co-workers at Pella Art and Graphics threw us an awesome shower- it was so nice and we really appreciated it! (Thanks again!)



Derek's co-workers at Pella Art and Graphics threw us an awesome shower- it was so nice and we really appreciated it! (Thanks again!) Bella received lots of great gifts- not that she noticed, she slept on Grandma's shoulder the entire time.
Bella really likes to lay on a blanket or on our bed and "wiggle around." She is a very squirmy baby, and she enjoys being able to kick around her hands and feet! I say that is another trait that she got from her Daddy- he is also a wiggle worm at night. Trying out her Bumbo seat for the very first time! I thought she would sit well in it because she has really good control of her neck muscles. She can generally hold up her head most of the time.

Bella's Fashion Show

I thought I would post some more pictures of Isabella- She is now 3 weeks old and continues to do great! She is awake a lot more during the day, which has brought about her being more fussy at times as well. She is still sleeping good at night though, so we still can't complain. She typically gets up around 2 and 5 to eat, but then goes back to sleep right away.
I think Bella is still growing like a weed as well! She has pretty much grown out of her newborn clothes and is wearing her 0-3 month stuff- which is good, because she has a very large summer wardrobe. :) I have enjoyed getting to put her in all her cute outfits! We have gone on several outings this past week, so there has actually been an opportunity to wear them as well. We visited Daddy at his work places, I brought her to both hospice and dialysis, and she was at both grandparent's house for Father's Day. So she has been a busy girl!
Outfit #1: As you can see, she doesn't always like being tormented by having her picture taken. :) But she still looks so cute!
Outfit #2: Relaxing in Mommy's lap on Father's Day
Outfit #3: Looking rather perplexed for the camera
Outfit #4: One of her many many dresses! Her bonnet is still a little big.
Outfit #5: Her first time watching Baby Einstein in her bouncy seat. She wasn't too interested though. :)
Daddy and his little girl on their first Father's Day!
Outfit #6: A pretty grumpy look- I'm sure she wonders why this camera is in her face all the time!

2 Weeks Old

Little Bella is 2 weeks old today! She continues to be a pretty awesome baby, and Derek and I feel so blessed to be her parents. She is eating great, which was again evidenced by her immense weight gain over the past week. She is now up to 8 lbs 13 oz! It seems that we could have a little chunk on our hands- but that is fine because Derek and I love chubby babies. :) She is still sleeping FAIRLY well. At night, she much prefers the comfort of Mommy's arm and chest rather than her bassinet. But then again, what newborn doesn't?Here are some recent pictures of our sweet girl-
Conked out and relaxed :)
Trying on a dress for our church pictures
She now LOVES her baths! A fun nightly activity for her.
Relaxing in Mommy's lap
Snuggling with Daddy- she is a very good cuddler!
She actually can sleep in her bassinet- she just prefers arms. :)

One week old!

One week has already gone by since Bella was born, which is quite hard to believe! We have been pretty busy since we came home from the hospital last Thursday. Bella had quite a few visitors over the weekend, not that it fazed her in the least. She is a VERY content and happy little girl. She may look like mommy, but I think she definitely has her daddy's laid-back personality. Her first night home was a little rough, but ever since then it has gone great. We actually have to wake her up to feed her. I think she would sleep through the whole night if we let her! She is also doing awesome on eating. A nurse from the hospital came out yesterday to give her and me a check-up, and she is already up to 8 lbs! So she gained 12 oz in 4 days. We definitely feel so blessed to have such a sweet baby. Already, I can't imagine what our life would be like without her!
Bella at 1 week old
Our first family outing- We went to Des Moines for my birthday, not that Bella noticed. :) She slept pretty much the entire time!
Her ladybug outfit
Bella with her cousin Jager
Bella with her cousin Dylann
Naked baby!
Such an angelic face!

More Pictures!

Here are a few more pictures of Bella's stay in the hospital, first outfit, coming home, first bath at home and her in her very own bed.

Meet Isabella Lynn!

She finally decided to make her grand entrance yesterday morning, June 2, 2009, at 10:02 am. I won't go into much detail here, but I will say that Lindsey and I are just so thankful to God for giving us such a beautiful blessing. She is absolutely everything that we could have wished for and so much more. She weighed and measured in at 7 pounds 10 ounces and 20.25" long. We are truly blessed and can't wait to introduce her to all of you. So with that, I just wanted to share some pictures of her. So please enjoy!