Friday, January 30, 2009

If you have 10 minutes to kill...

Visit the Orange County Zoo in Irvine Park!

You seriously only need 10 minutes. It's that small. Please don't confuse this adorable little zoo with the Santa Ana zoo---this is even smaller than that one!

But it did have some impressive animals.

2 Mountain Lions
2 Bears
1 Eagle
1 Ocelot
1 Bobcat
Goats
Deer
Birds
and that's about it.

The entire park is gorgeous. They have a couple lakes, a train that goes all around th park, horseback riding, a zoo, wonderful trails for walking or biking, paddle boats you can rent, picnic tables and benches and beautiful trees all around. So relaxing and peaceful. I highly recommend a visit to Irvine Park.

Now on to some photos.

I started by taking a few shots of daddy and Charlotte. (How precious)
Then I realized we need a family shot---so I began my favorite ritual of squeezing together and snapping the shot myself. ---I'm normally pretty good at these shots but that day---something was terribly off. Notice in the first few that mommy and daddy look okay but Charlotte is not cooperating---so I insist we keep trying. And this is where the fun begins. Enjoy...

The first one we took actually ended up being the best one---although Charlotte looks weird in it.

The second one is better one of Charlotte (I guess) but now Raresh is not cooperating.

The third one I apparently decided Raresh's eyes and nose aren't even necessary and Charlotte is now very mad that I took that tube she was chewing on out of her mouth.Raresh's reaction to me cutting him out of the previous photo apparently made me laugh---and laugh hard---As you can tell I'm totally cracking up about it...Raresh looks great and Charlotte's looking for her chew toy.Ooops---there I go again...(notice the chew toy is back)By now--we're all done...so this was the last one we attempted. Not the greatest but I'll take it.

Oh are you wondering where the shots of the animals are???---

That wasn't really my priority but just to appease you animal lovers...here you go. Happy now?


Guess who's back??

A happy baby and a happy mother!

I haven't added any photos of Charlotte lately because as you know---we've had some growing pains these last couple of days. The teething has been a real bear. Since she's now feeling a little better I decided it's time to post some pictures of our happy baby all back to normal. I know all kids go through good times and bad but man ---oh---man--do the bad times feel like they last forever or what?
A few classic shots of her in her second home--aka---"The Carseat"---poor little thing--always on the go.

The other day, Charlotte was in her jumper bouncing away and having a grand ole' time while I was cleaning up. The next thing I know---I hear total silence. I look over at her and she's asleep. So funny! Rachel has been asking if she ever fell asleep in her high chair --well--no, she doesn't miss meals (hmmm--wonder where she gets that from?) but she seems to be okay falling asleep in the middle of some exercise. Yeah---I can see that.


Also, I had Charlotte gut busting over a silly noise I was making so I ran to get the camera and this is the so called "gut busting" she gave me when she saw the red "record" light. Darn it! She just won't perform on cue!---She really is an Isai!

I'm happy to report, the Isai household is getting back to normal. I love it.

Thanks for your kind words and prayers.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Teething = Sleep Deprivation

It's been too long and all I want to say is---I'm tired. Very very tired and really praying for her little teeth to come already. She's miserable and so are mommy and daddy.


Sleep sleep how you are missed

Screaming alarm will make anyone pissed

It won't last forever. It's a season of life

And I'm sure Raresh misses his nice happy wife.


Just a silly rhyme to express my silly nonsensical time in life. I'm not used to sleepless nights. I miss my darling sleeping baby. And since she's misearble--I haven't had a good opportunity to snap pictures of her.---I promise my next post will have pictures.

She turned 9 months yesterday! Can we say crazy?

Thursday, January 8, 2009

A New Year's Challenge...definitely underway

I wanted to give you all a quick update on how my New Year's challenge is coming along. It's been a few days since I posted and here's how it's going.

1. I memorized the first 2 verses for 2009. The first is John 16:33---"These words I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!"
I also learned Ephesians 5: 1-2--- "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love as Christ also has loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifce to God for a sweet smelling aroma." (Just for the record these verses were both typed from memory. Woo hoo!)

2. Being a better wife---well, I haven't packed his lunches this week but I did send him loving and supportive texts and spoke kindly to him.

3. Being a better mommy--I fought through all the tiredness and enjoyed my evenings with Charlotte.

4. Balance--I accepted Raresh's help in cleaning the house which gave me more time to take care of other errands. This past weekend I managed to balance time with family, friends, and I even polished my fingernails. I feel that's pretty good balance for this week.

5. Forgiveness--I didn't beat myself up (too much) for not doing everything I set out to do in this challenge. I know every day is a new beginning.

6. Working less--No change there but I'm still being positive about it and I'm learning to be faithful in prayer and patient in waiting. Key word is learning. I'm having a rough Monday morning.

7. Living each day as if it were my last--I didn't really do anything meaningful as if it were my last day, but I have been more aware of how short life is and I'm trying to make the most of the time I have. Having that awareness and reminding yourself of it, does help prioritize things.

One area I definitely need to work on is doing things that build people up not tear them down. I hope next week I can have better reports on this one.

Well, week one of 2009 turned out pretty good. I'm grateful. Very very grateful.

Happy Anniversary Charlotte's Web!

Tomorrow, January 9th, marks the 1 year anniversary of my blog. I have to thank Rachel for bringing me into the blogging world. She really encouraged me to do it and I'm so glad I caved and started. Every now and then I go back and read the old posts of how I felt before Charlotte arrived and it brings everything back as if it just happened. I'm so thrilled that I was able to capture so many of my thoughts, fears, and feelings. I also love seeing how much Charlotte has changed. It's unreal!

Well, I really would have loved to post this on the actual anniversary day but I will be very busy tomorrow and know the likelihood of me getting a chance to post is very slim. So Happy Anniversary Charlotte's Web! Here's to many more posts!

Monday, January 5, 2009

A New Year...a new challenge

This 2009 I am asking for prayer from my dear friends and family. I have a few things on my mind that I want to accomplish and I figure by writing it down, I can reflect on it later and see how I'm doing.

Some goals and plans of action.
1. I want to memorize scripture.
My plan of action: I will learn the weekly bible verses given in our church bulletin.

2. I want to be a better wife.
Plan of action: Pray for Raresh more, support his work and be more understanding of his long hours. Cook more and pack his lunches. Speak kindly to him, submit to him, and tell him what a wonderful provider he is and how every day God gives me with him is a gift words can't measure.

3. Be a better mommy.
Plan of action: Pray for Charlotte's needs now and for her future needs. Stick to the routines I've made for her. Sing to her more. Read to her more. Play with her more. Not allow the long days and tiredness to cause me to miss out on the fun and joy she brings to my life.

4. Balance time with family, friends, work, chores and me time.
Plan of action: Family--The days Raresh doesn't work are family days.
Friends--The days he does work is the time I schedule time with friends.
Work--Wake up and go--and try to find the joy in it.
Chores--Take advantage of Raresh's willingness to help around the house.
Me--Once Charlotte is asleep, pamper myself.

5. Forgiveness
Plan of action: First off, I need to forgive myself for the days I don't complete everything on my list. I need to remember, some days are really hard and I need to stop focusing on what I didn't accomplish but on what I did.

6. I don't want to work full time.
Plan of action: Save! Save! Save! and pray that the Lord would provide a way for me to work less, work from home some of the time, or stop working altogether. Be patient and consistent in prayer about this.

7. and most importantly---I want to live my days as if Jesus is returning today.
Plan of action: Choose my words carefully, love and forgive those that are hard to love and forgive, eliminate the things that don't build me or someone else up. Tell others about Jesus.

I realize these are huge things to accomplish but #5 is going to get me through the days I don't do so well. (How smart of me to include that #5, huh?)

What do you want to do this year?

Friday, January 2, 2009

Christmas 2008

Hi all---I know I've been MIA again. I had some time off from work and the last thing I wanted to do was get on a computer. So here is a quick recap of Charlotte's first Christmas.

We went to the Vlad's house on Christmas Eve. It's always so crazy when we all get together. 7 very active grandkids will make anyone's head spin--but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's always so fun to spend time with my family.

I really had every intention to get pictures of all the cousins--but I failed. It just got so crazy so fast--so sorry Ezra, Amanda and Spencer I didn't get any with you-but I'm sure someone in the house did. Here are some shots of Addisen & Charlotte.


Next up...Kyle and Ryan wanted some photo time with Charlotte.

By far the best thing Icould have found under the tree...


The next morning...0ur little family opened gifts together (sorry no pictures---but we did film). After that, we went to the Isai family. It was nice being able to celebrate with both sides of the family. Maybe next year the Vlad side can attempt a family photo. Trust me when I say--we've tried but it's nearly impossible. Remember we've got 7 little ones. What drama!

And finally--the three of us took some pictures the Sunday after Christmas at home.