Wall Art from Grandma

Here is the new wall art that Grandma created for Izzy. When they come, I will post pictures of them hanging in her room. We are the first to have Delia Bradford original baby paintings, and on the new fancy floating canvas .

Update

We have had a busy Memorial Day Weekend getting ready for Izzy's arrival.

All is well with the baby. I got to see her via ultrasound last week and all is good (still a girl!).

Update from Baby Center:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal.

Mike and I started birthing classes on Friday and will continue through the month of June. It is odd being in a room full of pregnant people all with common aliments. Even the dad's bonded over our emotional changes.

Big purchase for the weekend - Izzy's new car! It is even equipped with navigation so mommy doesn't get lost. We have the route to the hospital preprogrammed already. :)

Carmel Plein Air Event

Congratulations, Mom (Grandma)! She received an honorable mention ribbon at the 15th Annual Carmel Art Festival in the Plein Air Painting Competition.

All her furniture is in!!

It was a little difficult to take pictures with the bright (and VERY hot) sun coming through the windows. Things are a little washed out, but you get the general idea. I am making letters for above her bed, my mom is painting two little paintings, and we are going to eventually put some pictures of Izzy over the dresser.

Let's hope she is actually a girl...

31 Weeks

Hayley & Uncle Mike

A Post from Izzy's Room

I type this post from my new favorite room in the house. Izzy is dancing in my belly to Jack Johnson (her favorite), and I am oh so comfortable in my new chair!!!

For Mother's Day, Mike went to get the crib and chair from Goores. They tell us the dresser will be here in mid-May... hopefully that means this week!

I ordered a mattress on Friday. In 7-10 days I will post a photo of her bed with all the trimmings.

Wall art coming soon!

Baby Shower

Thank you for our lovely baby shower in the park!

Decorations by Sabrina (it was a little windy!):
Gifts for Izzy!



We had some great helpers with the gift opening:

Mommy & Daddy to be:Aunt Caitlin made some yummy cupcakes (red velvet, vanilla & chocolate) - YUMMY!
Hayley had fun in the spray park:

Annie & Ross:

Jaime & Grant's dad, Jack:

Eli @13 months - Harrison in the background:

Eric, Joel & Kyle:

Sara & Lucie:

Sabrina, Suzette, Caitlin & Hayley - look at the cute Frisbee favors that Nan made!!
More favors - M&M's with Izzy's name on them!

30 Weeks

Only 10 more weeks to go (hopefully!)

Update from BabyCenter:

"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)"

Surprise Spoiled

Last month, Michael and I had decided on the perfect Mother's Day present for my mom...but things don't always go as planned and this past weekend I let the secret out. We've decided our daughter's name is going to be Izabella Delia Smith.

Photos of Izzy's (middle) namesake:

My Grandpa

Howard Bradford
July 14, 1919 - April 30, 2008
Father of 5
Artist

He was a wonderful mentor and father to my mom, and will be missed. Grandma Delia will have to tell Izzy all about him.

"My point of departure as a painter is directed essentially to things around me: the sea, mountains and the landscape in general. Sometimes I bring nature into the studio."

"Although I am essentially a studio painter, plein air excursions are part of trying to extract some organic intensity I experience. Distillation of personal observations into a cohesive and singular statement have been my intention for many years."

Mike's favorite painting:

“Hanging Bird” via Galerie Plein Aire in Carmel