Catching up on pics

Why are you making me where this? I know it's from Guatemala but I don't care!I said NO!
I know I'm cute! That's why Aunt Julie can't say no to me when I'm at her house.No Zoe, that's mine!

Forever Family Day Pictures

I hope mommy has enough Web service today to get these pics up...

I love my Aunt Julie so much!

My Daddy loves holding me.

Check out my special ice cream cake. It was sooo good!

I had lots of friends to play with.

But I had to take a break with Papa Al because I was so tired.

And Grandma Sue gave me a big kiss and shoed me off to play again.

Uncle Keith let me chew on streamers.

My friend Nicholas and I try to beat each other in eating our ice cream cake.

Uncle Tim kept cousin Kylie occupied while the big kids played.I got lots of gifts since this was like my first birthday - one whole year with mommy and daddy.Everybody got big thank you hugs and kisses!

Shooo! What a day! Thanks for coming to the party!!!

Web Problems

Sorry for the delay in posting pics from the Forever Family Day party. We are having really bad Internet problems. Every time I get close to uploading photos, Roadrunner stops working. Check back in a few days to see pics...hopefully!

Need pics right now? Visit http://timandmelissak.blogspot.com/. Melissa posted photos from the party and made a tear-jerking video montage of Isabella's first year as a Kramer.

Forever Family Day

Today marks one-year since Kevin and I picked up our angel in Guatemala. This is like her one-year birthday for us. Think of us at 4:18 p.m. EST as we stop to remember when she was first laid in our arms. Pictures from the big family party will be posted later this week.

I love Elmo!

Isabella's new favorite character is Elmo. She walks around with her Elmo Valentine's Day (given to her by the Bennici family) and asks everyone to read it to her. She even takes the book in the car.

She's collected three different Elmo DVDs that she loves to watch! She also loves Cookie Monster.

Chuck E Cheese's

Last week, Grandma Mary, Isabella and I met a friend of mine at Chuck E. Cheese's in Canton. This was Isabella's first time there and she loved it! In fact, when the pizza came and the other kids wanted to sit and eat, all Isabella wanted to do was play. She didn't even care if the ride moved, she just wanted to sit on it like all the big kids did.

The kids who joined us are much older than Isabella so they showed her the ropes. They took control and helped Isabella on all the rides while the "mommies" talked. The girls even pooled their game tickets to score Isabella a blinking watch and some cool shades.

We will be going back very soon (Too bad though it's so expensive!)

Second Post-Placement...Done

We had our second post-placement visit today from our adoption social worker.

As part of our adoption contract, we have to complete four post-placement visits within three years. At a post-placement visit, the social worker asks us questions about Isabella's development - physically and emotionally. She observes Isabella playing and the interaction Isabella has with us. She then writes a report that goes to our adoption agency, the state of Ohio and Guatemala. We will have another visit in one year and the final visit in 2009, when Isabella is three.

Our social worker was very impressed with Isabella's personality and verbal skills. She, of course, mentioned how beautiful Isabella is getting and was excited when Isabella gave her a high five. Isabella performed in her happy, go-lucky way, showing off all her toys. She even gave the "nice lady" (Isabella's words) a hug and kiss before she left.

Tomorrow we will get ready for the big one year anniversary party set for Wednesday, March 21. It marks one year since Isabella made us her parents! Pictures to follow.

Read Across America Day

On March 2, Isabella, Grandma Mary and I visited Project Learn at the Main Library to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. The Cavalier Girls' cheerleaders were on hand to read stories and talk to kids about the importance of reading. Isabella was the only kid to show up so she had everyone's undivided attention. She loved hearing stories and showing off her Cavs warm-up suit.

What a beautiful day!

Hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the lovely 70-degree weather today! Isabella and I got out to run some errands with Grandma Mary and Papa Steve. We played outside for a long time, too!

Doctor check-up

On Thursday, Isabella had her 16-18 month well baby visit. Yes, I know. We are behind. She, in fact, is 21 months old, but since she was adopted, she lacked some standard vaccines. So she's behind a few months. She'll finally catch up in June with her 2-year well baby visit.

But anyways, she's doing wonderfully! Her new doctor was really impressed with her verbal and fine motor skills. A lot of Isabella's skills weren't even on the list of things a 21-month-old toddler should be able to do. It was so good to hear that she's doing well (even though I knew it already!)

The only hiccup accorded when the nurse asked me to strip Isabella for her weigh-in. Normally Isabella loves being naked, but today she knew a stranger wanted her to do something. She screamed as we put her on the scale. The nurse told me to have Isabella clap. So I told her to clap. But the screaming didn't stop. She just sat there, naked, screaming and clapping as fast as she could. It was adorable!

Playing with Daddy

While Isabella loves playing with kids her own age, she really really loves playing with her daddy!

Playing with Paige

Isabella loves playing with other kids. That's way I'm so excited that an old childhood friend of mine who has a daughter Isabella's age likes to get together often. We try to see each other at least once every few weeks so the girls can play.

I don't want to wear that

As you may recall, Isabella likes to undress herself. She likes having no socks on. She likes taking off shirts. Now, she even likes taking off her pajamas.

Grandma Mary had a joy one morning of walking in on a nearly naked Isabella. She had removed her shirt, taken off her zip-up pajamas, had unbuttoned all but one snap on her onesie and had un-velcroed her diaper.

I guess she didn't want to wear that anymore!

Presents anytime

Anytime Kevin and I can spoil Isabella we do! So Valentine's Day so no different. This special day called for special gifts. She got two new shirts, stickers, candy and other toys!

What's that?!!!!

Isabella had a rough week going to bed. She fussed and cried and talked, some nights for more than an hour before giving up. So when she screamed out on Feb. 13 I didn't think much of it...at first.

After a minute, I knew this cry was different. This was a scared cry. I walked back to the door of her room and listened to hear if she's calm down.

No luck, so I opened the door to a dark room. I could see dark spots on the bed sheet but thought it was wet milk. Not until I looked at Isabella did I notice the dark mess on her face.

I yelled for my mom and flicked on the light.

Blood everywhere. Isabella had her first bloody nose.

The bleeding quickly stopped and we got her cleaned up and back in bed. Now I don't wait longer than a few short minutes when she's crying at night to go check on her.

I can make cake

Every girl cherishes the time she spends helping to cook. Isabella will, too. Here she helps make a Valentine's Day cake that mom and Grandma Mary scarfed down.

Quite the little reader

We spend at least 30 minutes each day reading together. Isabella really enjoys reading at the table because she sees me and Grandma Mary reading the newspaper there every morning. She loves reading her first 100 words book because she thinks she's so smart when she points at the picture and says the name.

On the go

Wow! It's been awhile since I've posted any new pics. I've got lots to catch you up. I thought recovering from back surgery meant laying around a lot but with a 20 month old that's impossible. So we are on the go all the time...

"Mom, I know it's cold but I'm ready!"