Isabella Fellows

So yesterday was officially my first birthday! I had so much fun. Mom and dad took me to the Bronx Zoo where my nanny Kym and manny Carsten both came to meet us for the day. Kym's friend Matt and Carsten's girlfriend Ijfke came too! We saw giraffes, bears, tigers, leopards, lots of birds, snakes, a crocodile and monkeys! Mom got me a super soft polar bear at the gift shop. I also received a wooden chair with painted animals, a teddy that plays peek-a-boo, and a blue dress and new tights from Meme. Our neighbors gave me another super soft pink teddy. Three bears in all! Aunt Jenn and Asian Grandma also have gifts in the mail. Mom baked me a lovely strawberry cake with fresh strawberries and cream cheese icing. Dad wanted me to destroy it for fun but I didn't really feel like getting my fingers dirty. Haha, maybe next year :)

So yesterday was a big day. In the morning, I took 5 steps to hand daddy the remote control. He took a video and sent it to mom while she was at work. This is officially called walking. I tried not to walk all day so I could show mommy. When she got home, I surprised her and walked the entire length of the living room! Also, I ate the same food as mommy and daddy for dinner. We had sushi rice with seaweed and sesame seeds, baked salmon and steamed broccoli. I also finished the meal with my first ever glass of cow's milk! It was so yummy! Mom fed me the salmon from a spoon, while I fed myself the rice with my fingers. I also gave some to Bowie who was sitting right under me. She hates wasting food. So walking and eating solid food today. Next up....talking! Meme also sent me a care package yesterday. I got a new outfit, some socks, and mom and dad got chocolate turtles and their own sippy cups! Here's a photo of me in my jeans, thermal heart shirt and turquoise vest. Meme ...

It snowed for the first time this year two weeks ago and it was the first time I ever played in the snow. Dad had to go into Brooklyn to work that day, so it was just mommy, Bowie and me. We walked down to the baseball field to let Bowie run around. There were a lot of other older kids sliding down the hill in their sleds. After, we went back to the house to make snow angels on the patio. The next day dad pulled me around in the back yard in my sled. We were going super fast and I had a huge smile on my face the entire time. I love the snow!

Dad took us to Long Island to check out a few towns to see if we would want to live there. We drove by a few houses for sale too. Here is a photo of us having lunch at a pizza parlor in Glen Cove.

So, I have pretty much claimed the living room as my personal play room. There are 4 toy boxes, my ferris wheel, my walker and my tummy time blankets. Mom put the sofa pillows everywhere to cushion the hard surfaces and to block me from crawling behind the chairs. Dad put the carpet down so the floor is softer now too. There is a gate to the room, so I can't go to the dining room or kitchen whenever I want. But I like it in here anyway. I like to take naps in my rocker in front of the TV. And if course this is where I watch my favorite show Super Why and my Learn to Read DVDs. Here's a photo of me already reading and one of me watching my show!

My AB (Aunt Betsy) is so sweet. Even though we could not spend Christmas with her in New Orleans, she still sent a box full of goodies to our house. I got a Le Petit Prince pop up book (The Little Prince- for those of you who don't speak French) and a designer sweater and skirt that can be worn multiple ways. Mom and dad got monogrammed stationary by a local New Orleans artist, monogrammed mugs, French soaps and an international transit guide book (perfect because we love to travel so much and we love public transportation too). Mom also got a beautiful orange ostrich clutch by Rebecca Minkoff. Here is a photo of me in my new outfit, it's a little big but I heard that's how Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen like to wear their clothes too :) Also a photo of dad wearing my skirt as a hat! My AB always picks out the best things and has so much style (She writes a fashion blog called Sass and Seersucker) It's a never ending Christmas! Thanks AB!

I spent my first Christmas in Washington D.C. with my mom and dad, Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Mike, Meme, Grandpop, and the dogs- Bowie, Sophie and Chloe. Full house! Uncle George, Aunt Cindy and my cousins Garrett, Jordie and Graham came over to Aunt Jenn's house for Christmas eve and we went to church at All Saints (where I was baptized). I got so many presents- a hammer game, a ferris wheel game that rotates eggs, a walker that I push around to learn to walk, a learn to read program for babies (as seen in TV), stuffed animals, books, tons of clothes and plenty of new empty boxes to play with. Meme cooked tons of food all week and mom says she has probably gained at least 5 pounds! We also went to look at the amazing Christmas lights at the Mormon church in Kensington and to the Botanical Gardens on Christmas Day. Anyways, I think I really like Christmas...peace!

Aunt Jennifer gave me one of my Christmas presents early, an LSU Tigers fleece onsie. This is actually more of a present for mom because she is so crazy about LSU football. She wants me to wear this costume everyday until the BCS Championship on Jan. 9th! I'm ready though...Geaux Tigers!

-wake up -put on a fresh diaper -lay in bed with mom until she decides to get up (15-20 minutes) -feed the animals -eat breakfast (oatmeal and fruit) -drink a bottle -watch Super Why!, hang out on the sofa, play with toys -get dressed -walk the dog This is dad and I playing on the sofa.

In Madrid, people wake up early, have a long lunch, take a nap, go back to work and have a late dinner. This is me at dinner at 10pm which is my normal bedtime! I heard the food was amazing...

This is my first cross Atlantic flight! Finally got a stamp on my passport. They had plenty of pillows and blankets for us on Continental so I slept the whole way to Madrid!

Dad picked out these awesome Sponge Bob pajamas for me in New Orleans. Even though we heard that Sponge Bob was a mindless cartoon for children to watch and it makes us super hyper, we still think the PJs are really cute.

Today we went to get a Christmas tree for my grandma. This is my first Christmas and my first tree. Daddy tied the tree to the roof of the rental car and we drove carefully back to grandma's house to decorate. Daddy wants to make the house look like a Christmas Spectacular. I cannot wait!

I love all my pets. I have two cats, a dog and a snake. This is my cat Aussie. He just had a birthday on Halloween but we don't really know how old he is. He likes me to jump on top of him and smother him. I also sometimes grab his tail and bite on it, but I only have my two bottom teeth so it doesn't really hurt him. I'm also very curious about his claws and like to touch them with my fingers. Aussie is the best kitty ever. He is loving and patient and soft.

Me and my mom and my puppy Bowie occupying Zinsser Park. We are protesting being inside on a beautiful day. It is the middle of November, 63 degrees and the leaves are red and yellow. Also I am wearing a Tutu!