dear isabella

My Dearest Belly,

Today is July 23, 2015. You have been alive for 7 years, 1 month, and 26 days. That's 2613 days. The best, happiest, and most wonderful 2613 days of our lives.

I've been meaning to do this for a while, but for some reason never got around to it. My hope for this is that one day you will see this and know just how loved you are by me and your dad. You've brought us joy beyond belief and I know I speak for the both of us when I say that you are our biggest accomplishment ever. I've always thought that if raising you and your sister were the only things I ever do with my life, I will count myself as having accomplished it all.

This is you right now:



You're missing both your front teeth, so you actually look more like this:
For almost 6 years you were an only child. We devoted our free time to showing you things that we hadn't seen when we were children, and we certainly had some good times.

We've gone to Arkansas:
This was on the side of the road somewhere

At "The Old Mill" 





We visited Daddy in Virginia:
 
(This was the view from Daddy's apartment in Norfolk) 

We went once in the summer...
This was at Ocean Breeze Waterpark

...and then again for Christmas.

Virginia Beach

 Your first hockey game


We took a road trip to Washington, D.C.
 Lincoln Memorial



The Smithsonian Museum 




Shenandoah National Park 



We visited NYC:


Ice skating in Bryant Park 

I think we took this in Rockerfeller Center
The view from the Empire State Building
Times Square


Brooklyn Bridge
Staten Island Ferry




We visited Colonial Williamsburg:
 The Capitol


People just walk around dressed like this. Weird, I know.

You were totally into it though :)





Corpus Christi


Fish Creek Park in Arlington

We've gone fishing. This was recent. We went fishing 4th of July weekend. We didn't catch anything, but had loads of fun :)
                                           




But don't worry, we have plenty more adventures ahead of us!!!


Today I register you for 2nd grade. I can't tell you how fast these days come, and I can't believe you're a few years from being out of elementary school. It's certainly bittersweet.

We love you, and I can't wait to share this with you....one day.