I love my swing set!

A special thanks to cousins Matt, Amy and Noah for selling us this wonderful Little Tikes swing set. Isabella really enjoys the dolphin swing and the slide!

Go Cavs!

Not only did Lebron and the guys tie the series at 2-2 last night, but Isabella had the experience of a lifetime at her first Cleveland Cavaliers game and a playoff game to boot!

Kevin, Isabella, Grandpa Kramer and Uncle Keith (and mom of course) enjoyed free tickets to the game courtesy of the Cavs Reading & Learning Center at Project Learn.

Isabella was so good and really got into the whole cheerleading atmosphere, yelling and singing with the crowd. She sported her Cavs cheerleader outfit and her Lebron James Nikes!

And what a game it was. 73-72 Cavs! Detroit here we come!!!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

When I stopped to think about I wanted to write about on, this, my first Mother's Day, I got to thinking not about me and how I feel about being a new mom, but about my mom.

She provided me with all the love and support a girl needs to pass on to her daughter! She played peek-a-boo with me just like she does with Isabella. She changed my diapers and gently brushed my hair. She bathed me and fed me even when she was so tired it hurt to move.

These may not seem like important, life-changing things, but looking back, that's what each moment was. She showed, and continues to show me, in each action that she loves me above all else. That is the best gift any child can receive.

So on this Mother's Day, as we receive our flowers and cards and tokens of appreciation, I hope each of us takes a minute to say Thank You to the most influential, most loving and hardest worker in our lives - our Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms, grandmas and godmoms - all of you make a difference every day in the lives of those you love!

And to my Mom - Thanks for loving me and for always being there. And thanks for showing me how to be a great mom to Isabella!

First Sleepover

Isabella enjoyed her first night away from home last night as see shared a night-night with Aunt Julie and Uncle Chris. She faired well going to sleep first at 10:30 p.m. (later than she's goes down for us). But that didn't last long because within an hour she was screaming out in her pack-n-play. She may have been scared not knowing where she was and sleeping in the pack-n-play for the first time could be tough.

Kevin and I missed her a ton! We both kept asking each other "do you think she's okay" and do you think she misses us". But having the sleepover was a blessing in disguise since I had Kevin call an ambulance for me at 11:15 p.m. I had incredibly shooting pains in my chests and I couldn't catch my breath. After trying Pepto to calm maybe heartburn, I was desperate. When EMS arrived they checked me out and said everything was fine. Still don't know what caused it but I'm glad to be feeling much better this morning.

Now off to pick up our angel!!!!!!!

Isabella's Baptism

What a great Saturday, April 29!

Isabella was baptized at the 4:30 p.m. mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Cuyahoga Falls. The deacon and priest made the event very special for our family by recognizing us at the start of mass and by talking about our adoption journey. Godparents Julie Madera (my little sister) and Keith Kramer (Kevin's younger brother) were included as well and even brought up the gifts at communion.

After the homily, he deacon performed the baptism. Isabella never cried as he poured the water over her head but did push his hand away as he blessed her with the oils. He made everyone laugh by saying "She's got quite a mind of her own!" We were delighted to see the Miller Family who adopted Jakob at the same time as Kevin and I were in Guatemala picking up Isabella. They live in Northfield and we have family friends in common. What a small world we live in!

We entertained about 50 guests at an after-party at Kevin's parents' home. The weather was beautiful so many people enjoyed dinner and dessert on the desk and in the sunroom. It was quite a night!