New Posts

I finally got our new blog figured out and put up two new posts! Visit us at russelandlaurenmarsh.blogspot.com to see them. If you can't log in to our new blog, let me know and I'll add you as a reader.

Private

I have been debating this for a long time and I have finally decided to make our blog private. I know it's annoying because you have to log in to gmail to see the posts and your sidebar can't pull up information on when private blogs have been updated. I know, and I'm sorry, but I'm doing it anyway. I want you (if there are any of you besides my mom and sister) to keep reading my blog and keep up-to-date with us, so I'm going to try to make this as painless as possible. I am creating a second blog, russelandlaurenmarsh.blogspot.com, which will be our new, private blog. I will keep this site up and running as well and each time I add a new post to our private blog, I'll post the title on the public site with a link to the private blog. Does that make sense? We'll see how it goes and adjust as needed. In the meantime, put your email address in the comments section or shoot me an email and I'll add you as a reader!

7 Months

I can't believe Isla is already 7 months. Well, 7 and a half months if I'm being specific. There have been a lot of long days, but these 7 months have flown by. As with Isla's 4 month summary, I missed her 6 month recap, so this will have to suffice for a peek at Isla at 6 and 7 months old.

At 6 months, Isla weighed 17 pounds, 11 ounces and was 28 inches long.
She can sit! She is so much happier now that she can sit up and see everything going on around her. This means she has also transitioned to big girl baths with Natalie. I love those two in the tub together.
Isla had a rough December. She had an ear infection early in the month and was prescribed amoxicillin. A few days after starting the antibiotic she developed a high fever and full body rash and we learned that she is allergic to amoxicillin. The fever went away and then came back with a vengeance, lasting almost 10 days. We had to do a blood draw and other uncomfortable tests to make sure something more serious wasn't going on. In the end, we think it was just a horrible virus as all her tests came back normal.
Isla has been doing great ever since and has settled into a happy routine. She generally takes three 1-hour naps a day, though she has had to learn to be flexible in order to keep up with Natalie's social events, i.e. morning play dates. She goes to bed around 7:30pm and wakes up at 6-ish in the morning. I used to do a nightly "dream feeding" around 10:30 or 11pm, but I have recently dropped that and she is doing fine without it. She still nurses 5 times throughout the day and is up to two solid food meals a day. She has liked everything we have given her to try so far with the exception of bananas, which she spits out every time.
She is developing a happier personality and is quick to smile. She is still a mama's girl, but she is getting better at being with other people too. She has recently started reaching her arms out to me when she wants me to take her from someone else or pick her up and I absolutely love it. It is so sweet to see her lifting those little arms in the air and wanting me. I love her to pieces and am so glad she's mine!
Update! January 17, 2013 - Isla's first tooth cut through! It is one of her bottom middle teeth (left side) and the other bottom middle tooth feels close as well.

Recent Favorites

They are playing together! It was bound to happen sooner or later. :-)

Looking so cute in their sweatpants and sweat shirts on a rainy day.

Block tower masterpieces - one of Natalie's favorite activities. 

I just love that sweet little face.

Lessons in toolbox maintenance.

 Loving the big girl bath.

 

I love her ponytails so much. And with a bow? Even better. :-) 

Christmas Day

Christmas is so much fun with kids. I have a feeling it's just going to keep getting better for the next few years, too. I don't think I have been this excited about Christmas morning since I was a little girl.

Isla's 1st Christmas! 

 

 She was so sneaky with that wrapping paper. 

You look away for a second and it was straight into her mouth!

Natalie loves her piano ("pinano"), alphabet computer ("pi-cuder") and new blocks. A pretty big part of me hopes she never says those words any differently than she does now. I love it. 

 We attempted a family picture using the self-timer. Fail.

Good thing Russ' parents were kind enough to get a family shot of us later that evening. 

And yes, the girls stayed in their Christmas pajamas all day. Merry Christmas to them. :-)

 

I need to upload the video we took as the girls came down the stairs, but in case I don't get to it, my favorite part of the video is Natalie spontaneously saying "Merry Christmas, Isla!". They melt my heart, those two.

We had a completely relaxing day at home, just the four of us. We were able to do Facetime with my parents and siblings and then had Russ' parents over for dinner. It was lovely.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Russ' parent's home with both of his siblings and their families, along with Grandmother Black. We love living so close to his whole family.

 It was a special treat to get a few pictures of Isla Lillian with her namesake,
Great-Grandmother Lillian Black. (Russ' maternal Grandmother) 

 Natalie and "Gigi Black" hanging out. "Gigi" stands for Great-Grandmother.
She felt like Great-Grandmother sounded a little too old and asked for Gigi instead.

 Natalie and cousin May playing. I didn't get a picture, but at one point I noticed they were missing and I found them together building block towers and singing Frosty the Snowman in the basement. So cute! May is two years older than Natalie and is so good to her. 

 Natalie passing out presents

 Opening a present from Grandma

 All smiles!

Grandma and Grandpa Marsh with all their grandchildren.

(L-R: Grandma, Isla, Natalie, Dane, Drake, Jimmy, Mayda, Grandpa, John)

I can't believe how much everyone has grown up in just one year! 

Check out the cousin Christmas picture from 2011 here.

 Isla opening her very first Christmas present. 

She was a big fan of the wrapping paper and loved her gift as well. :-)

Temple Lights

Beautiful Sunday evening looking at the lights at the DC temple and checking out the Christmas trees and nativity displays at the Visitors Center.