July Faces of Isabel

Tio Juan & Tia Raquel

This week my great aunt and uncle, Tio Juan & Tia Raquel came to visit from Guadalajara Mexico! They flew right into Santa Rosa and stayed with us for a couple of days before driving with us up to Klamath Falls and then Beaverton for Auntie Nanna's wedding. It was so wonderful to have these treasures stay with us for a few days. I loved having them all to ourselves and get completely un-interupted time and not have to share! Isabel absolutely LOVED her Tio Juan. They quickly became best buddies. While they were here with us we went to San Francisco for a day, wine tasting and to the Sonoma Farmer's Market. They really enjoyed our little quiet town and are excited to come see our new home in Bozeman when we move up there.

Bobby loved Tio & Tia too!

Hanging out in San Francisco

Tuesday Farmer's Market

Tio Juan & Tia Raquel are the closest reletives I have to grandparents now. Tia Raquel is who I am named after, and she is the younger sister of my Abuelito. She is only about 9 years older than my mom, but she has always very close to my family. She taught me how to make some wonderful new Mexican foods while she was here, and brought so many gifts I lost count! I also got a big boost of confidence in my ability to speak Spanish because that is all we spoke while they were here!




Having my precious Tio & Tia here reminded me of the rich heritage that my family comes from. They represent a way of life that is quickly becoming obsolete. They live simply. Faith and family are the most important things. Their actions speak louder than their words, and their words resonate with wisdom. I hope that Isabel and I can go to Mexico this fall to see them again, and to also spend time with my other great aunts and uncles, and most importantly my great Abuelita Santos who is turning 100. While my Abuelito is no longer living, I still do dream of the photo of five generations together - My Abuelita Santos, my Tia Raquel, my mom, me and Isabel.

Nursing Strike

Or "Boob Strike" as daddy calls it. Yesterday was the day that we decided to dig our heals in, grit our teeth and hold on for dear life until Isabel took a bottle. I nursed her at 10:30am and a few hours later (before she got hungry again) I took off for a nice long swim, some sunning time, lunch at one of my favorite cafes in the Sonoma Plaza, and then enjoyed the fresh smell of the Sonoma Plaza greens while I read up on some journal articles. I popped in at home for a quick bit to change cars and then was off again vacuuming out the SUV and doing some much needed grocery shopping. When I finally came home at about 6pm I was expecting to hear Isabel screaming as soon as I pulled into the driveway & be greeted by a daddy ready to pull his hair out. What I came home to was a calm and collected husband and a chearful little baby who still hadn't taken a bottle all day long but was playing happily. Instead of getting fussy when she saw me (what I thought would happen) she just gave me a huge smile and continued to try and figure out the best way to slobber all over her toys. I proceded to cook dinner (Dave's favorite because he is such a rock star daddy!) and dad tried to give her a bottle again when she got fussy. He patiently held her, rocked her, took her to the sliding door, into a dark room, walked around the house... but our little stinker baby must know that she has enough fat reserves to outlast mom and dad! By 9:30pm (11 hours after her last feeding!) I gave in and put her on the boob. I knew that we both needed sleep. As I was holding her close I realized that I hadn't held her almost all day long and I almost started to cry! I began wondering if it was all really worth it... do I really need to sub this fall? Could I maybe tutor instead so I don't have to be gone for 8hrs at a time? Maybe she will take a sippy cup by early September... I looked at my little angel baby and felt so guilty for withholding nourishment and sustenance from her - well actually she had it right in front of her, but was just too stubborn to take it! She is definitely a Fraley/Perez/Casillas! But as my Tia Olivia reminded me, so am I! If I really want her to take a bottle then we can make it happen. We're the parents and can't let our lives be run by a 4 month old! Yet she totally runs our lives, and I love every minute of it :-)

4 Months

4 whole months have gone by! Isabel is just a blast right now. Not that she wasn't before, but she can interact so much more now! Just today while standing in line at the store she was cracking up at the person behind us who was smiling at her! I love it when she is so charming like that :-)

New things this month include being able to reach out to things. She can't quite tell her fingers to grab items yet, but she is good at using both hands to scoop the desired item straight into her mouth! She also reaches for your face like I mentioned in my last post, which is so adorable! Other mouth advancements are sucking on fingers, sucking on lips and pretty much just sucking on anything and everything that comes even close to her mouth! Here are a couple videos






She is pretty close to being able to roll over. She can do an assisted roll over if I get one arm under her head. I'm not sure what she is going to do first, roll from back to tummy, or tummy to back. I've been trying to give her more and more tummy time every day so that she can roll over soon!



Isabel is also becoming more vocal. Her frustrations have new pitches to them as she squeels from high to higher! She has an adorable little contented grunt she does too. Often times before she falls asleep. Her bables are also getting more complex. I love our little "conversations" when she gets a talkin'.



I can't remember if she could support her own weight on her legs last month. But she is getting better and better at standing as she puts those chubby little legs to work!

Here are her 4 month pictures!

Palm Springs

After a week in Oregon for Auntie Nana's Bridal Shower - I forgot my camera so I don't have photos :-( we came home for a day and then flew off to Palm Springs for the holiday weekend to meet up with all the Brinker uncles and grandma! It was super hot, but Isabel had a blast hanging out with grandma in the air conditioned house. In the evenings when it was finally in the 90's we went swimming. Isabel absolutely LOVED the water! Just over the weekend she started doing something new! Exploring faces! It is so stinkin' cute to see & feel her little hands and fingers grab at your nose, cheeks and mouth! It is almost like she is saying, "I know you're mine & I love you!"