And the cuteness continues

The Bellus-Penz household has been taking it day by day...Kristin back at work, Alix waiting for school (yes, she actually looks forward to it), and Steve as he looks for new work. Nothing very exciting has happened lately on any of these fronts, so for now I'll just share some more cute pix of little Anna who will turn 2 mos old on tuesday Sept 2nd! She is a great little baby...very little crying, sleeping 7 hours at a time first time last night!), giving her mom/dad/big sis smiles all the time!


my onesie says it all, "bad hair day!"

nature girl

our friend Jen gave us this onesie that says, "My name is Lu-Lu and I'm a ladybug". So cute! Especially since my little girl will always be Lou-lu to me!!

Uncle Mike, Aunt Lindsay, and good bud Marek sent Anna this adorable shirt to go with her "rocker hair"!

Daddy is a wonderful daddy, but he is still learning front from back on Anna's little outfits ;)

It's hard to see, but this is the way the cute outfit should look (are you paying attention, daddy?!) The cute heart pockets and ruffle detail along the neck go in the front...buttons in the back.

Anna in one of her favorite spots...playing in her rainforest activity gym. It is SO fun to kick the rattle and make it make noise...goooooood times!!

Up in the woods

Steve, Anna, Dino and I took a jaunt up to the Bellus cabin this past weekend (Amy joined us too!) We had beautiful weather and a few cold brews (not to mention some very tasty spanish wine)... what more could you want out of a weekend (well, besides having Alix there with us)? We needed a little relaxation after Steve's job news, and with my upcoming start to the school year, so it was perfect timing. During the weekend, Anna got her first chance to take a dip in the lake, as did Dino. Neither one was too fond of it. Dino is not a water loving dog, but I was able to pull him far enough out on his leash to know that he can at least swim a little bit. Anna on the other hand doesn't mind water...in a bathtub...but apparently lake water left a little to be desired in her mind. Both found their first boat rides, walks in the northwoods, and cabin sunrises to be much more enjoyable...lots of smiles all around. There was one scary moment with Anna and a run in with a bear, but luckily all turned out well (see the picture below for the story.) All in all I think Anna and Dino enjoyed what is sure to be the first of many cabin adventures.


Some pictures of the fun:

Anna and Steve enjoying sunrise at the cabin...Steve's story is that Anna crawled over to beg him (in perfect spanish nonetheless) to take her to see the sunrise, so while I was sleeping they headed down to the lake together (and with Dino) to check it out. Now there are several oddities to the story which makes it almost unbelievable...but despite the crazy story, the pictures are BEAUTIFUL!


I left Anna in the bedroom unattended for just a moment and when I returned I found her being attacked by a northwoods bear. No worries though, we came to find out he was a friendly bear and only wanted hugs.

Pure leisure!

So you see Anna, back in the day all trees looked like that. That's just how it was. It's not like these days where... (And the crazy dad stories begin.)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Walkin' in the woods...you can't tell it here, but Anna couldn't get enough of looking at all the trees along the way.

There's gotta be a window to crawl through somewhere!

I guess they say, when a door closes a window opens. So, Steve is now looking for this elusive open window. Yep, the failing Cash Systems Inc.(Steve's employer) was bought by what is apparently the biggest cash access business around. what does that mean? Who knows. All I know is that it leaves my wonderful hubby out of a job as of today. I know that losing a job is never fun, and hunting for a new job is even less fun, but I've also come to realize that this crazy little thing we call life has a way of working itself out in the long run. Steve is one of the hardest working people I know...any company should find themselves lucky to have him. The best part of all this madness is that this gives Steve a wonderful oportunity to find a job where he feels fulfilled and challenged. Here's to new opportunities that await...now, where is that damn open window???

Meetin' and Greetin'

On August 10th we held a family meet and greet BBQ for Anna. This was a great chance for us to be forced to clean our home, as well as have our extended family over so they could meet Anna before our next scheduled get together in November for Thanksgiving...when she'll look much different and not be a "baby" anymore. It was a beautiful day, filled with wonderful family...the makings of a great memory!

We were also lucky enough that this event brought my bro (Mike) our sis-in-law (Lindsay) and our one and a half year old nephew (Marek) to town for a visit. It is so hard to go months at a time without seeing them, especially now that there is a little one to watch grow up! Last time we saw Marek it was Christmas and he couldn't even walk...now he's walking/running and talking up a storm. We had a chance to go up to the cabin where his favorite activity was cutting the grass with his plastic mower...he must have said, "mowing, mowing" about a hundred times throughout the weekend...he was so excited to cut that grass...what a cutie!!! We also enjoyed a fun time on his first trip to the zoo. It's amazing to think that in a little over a year that's what Anna will be like.


Enjoying some good company on the patio during the meet and greet BBQ


Anna meets Mackenzie at the BBQ


BBQ fun


Big Kisses from Marek to baby Anna


Marek...such a big boy!

our trip to the zoo

only a couple of days left of summer and today was too beautiful to pass up getting outside and just enjoying something fun, so...Anna's first trip to the zoo!! She loved it so much that she just couldn't contain her glee and slept through it all. The rest of us actually kept our eyes open and it reminded me just how much I enjoy the simplicity of the Como Zoo...it brings back treasured memories of my childhood and I'm so happy to be able to pass those memories along to my children too.


getting ready...is that a smile???

Anna and Alix enjoying the view of the lillypads

What's a trip to the zoo without a ride on the carousel?

Gammy and her 2 grandgirls after our picnic

Power to the People!

zzzz...I love the zoo...zzzzzz

momma and baby...too cute!

Much awaited Patio Photos

The old patio...green, red and yellow pavers that only a previous owner could love. During their removal we found out that they had actually been placed right on top of a layer of bright green pavers--bad taste on top of bad taste...nice.

Getting ready for the new beautiful patio

Our new lovely patio complete with a privacy screen (thanks Steve, Ed and Dad!) I couldn't be happier!!

Bad Doggie...B-A-D!!

Why doggie???? why???? Why must you tear two ginormous holes into our sod (and that does not count the one you did earlier in the day) right before we have to host 40 friends/family back there??? :( Why have you decided to become a digger now? Could you not wait just one more week??? I guess those seams that have not yet grown together are just too tempting to a doggie like you. Please stop digging doggie...I am too tired to deal with all this right now. If you stop I promise to give you as many yummy doggie treats as you want...and the good kind too...not those crummy milkbones. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease??? Thank you.

*sigh* Why can't things just fall into place without any issues...just once???? Let's just hope we locate all the dug up holes before one of our guests falls into it next weekend and then decides to sue us for the $10 we have left to our names. *sigh*

Quick Update

Well, this will have to be short and sweet because we are just minutes away from the Design Star and Food Network Star Season Finale...and if you know me, you know nothing stands in the way of my reality TV ;) So, here goes a quick update...

*Our friends Chad and Nicole held a wonderful shower for us this past Sunday. It was so kind of everyone to come and greet Ms. Anna, even though most had already seen her
at least once. Unfortunately, I don't have a single picture from the event...so you will have to take my word for how pretty/handsome everyone looked (especially me ;) and what a great time was had as we leisured on the McGuire deck on a perfect afternoon. We are truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives!

*Anna is growing big and strong...she is mostly a wonderful, quiet, little girl...although last night was a different story. She is still sleeping A TON and I can't wait for her to be awake a little more often (I know, I know...I'll eat those words later) so we can gaze into those beautiful blue eyes.

*Our patio is done!! Woohooooooo!! Steve, his dad, and my dad all worked this weekend on putting up our privacy screen after our contractor finished our beautiful new patio. It looks AMAZING and I can't wait to sit out there and enjoy our beautiful backyard. It has come SO far from when we first moved in--I will post before and after pictures as soon as i can!

I will include a few more photos...my favorite is Anna wearing her "bad hair day" t-shirt...very fitting since she has uncontrollable wild-child hair. It truly is a riot!


Anna in her "bad hair day" onesie. I think they made that just for her!



Anna Chillin' in her sling. I kid you not, this thing is a lifesaver--if Anna is fussy all you have to do is put her in the sling and she falls asleep immediately! Make fun of it if you will, but I couldn't be happier with this purchase!



Tummy Time...I am SO strong!

more cute baby pics...

If I do say so myself ;)


Good buddies already


I don't care how cute mommy says I look, I do NOT like this bathrobe!


Naked and Happy!


Kisses all around

Life would be good if...

I could just NOT look pregnant anymore!! Ugh, I am not used to feeling this self-conscious about my body. Everyone says, "it took 9 months to gain the weight, so you shouldn't expect to lose it all right away"...I wish that helped me feel better, but it just doesn't ;) Poor baby Anna is not going to have any pictures with her mommy anytime soon! I guess for now I'll just keep doin' what I've been doin'...lots of walks and pretending I still love my maternity clothes enough that I just can't give them up yet ;)

Baby Crack Machine

Call it what you will (I call it the baby crack machine), but this is the best thing since wine with screw off tops (easy access to wine, what could be better?!) . Really it's name is the Homedics Sound Spa Lullaby. What is a sound spa lullaby you might ask...it's a white noise/lullaby machine that projects cute pictures onto the ceiling (unfortunately Lou-lu can only see 15 inches in front of her face, so this part of the machine is only enjoyed by mom right now...let me tell you though, those darned sheep floating on the ceiling are super cute ;) My happiness comes from the fact that the ocean setting puts my little one to sleep in a matter of seconds, then I set the timer and voila--instant nap time with no fuss!! The only issue so far.. not too soon after the timer goes off and the ocean waves cease to roar...she begins to stir in their place and soon she is roaring...naptime abruptly cut short. I guess our energy police (a.k.a Steve) may have to just look the other way as I play the thing all night...and all day. That is, unless he wants a cranky(er) wife around the house.

Well Traveled Baby

Anna is about 12 days old today and is probably about as well traveled as they come at this point in life. We have made a trip to a friend's cabin to celebrate the 4th of July weekend...the Mall of America...the dogpark...numerous stores (Barnes and Noble, Menards, and Target to name a few)...2 restaurants...more coffee shops than I should admit to...Grandma's house...an art fair...a ton of walks...to the hospital to meet our new friend Beckett after his birth...and the list goes on. It is good to get out and about, but I must admit I forgot how tiring it just getting ready to take an infant everywhere, not to mention carrying a little one around from place to place. You would think with all the technology these days they could find a way to make those car seat carriers lighter! Luckily Anna takes it all in stride... guess she figures, why should she care where she sleeps?! Here are just a few pix from our travels, as well as some of our other "firsts".




Anna got a chance to meet her first out of town relatives when Uncle Richie and Aunt Catherine (Anna's middle namesake) came into town from New Jersey



You might not be able to tell, but this is Anna in her baby bjorn during her first trip to the dog park...can you tell Mommy took this herself while wearing the carrier ? ;) I think the dog park bores Anna.


About a week after Anna was born she got to make a return trip to the hospital...this time to meet her new friend Beckett who was born to our good friends, the Newtons. It will be so fun to watch the two of them grow up together!


Here is Anna the day after leaving the hospital...she is chillin' at our friend's (the Zimmel-Lammer's) cabin on the fifth of July.


Here is dad with his first diaper change!



Anna's first bath! She wasn't thrilled with this whole bath thing. She has since gotten better...it's definitely more fun now that she can sit in the water!

Home from the Hospital

We made it home...yea! Everyone survived their first night and slept amazingly well, even the little one who slept all day. I think we were all just plain tuckered out after all the excitement the past couple of days.

Both sets of grandparents came over to have a little Happy 4th of July BBQ...but I guess we were too tired to think of taking any pictures...ooops! Above are a couple of pics from Anna's first day home. She is a little less red, perhaps a bit more yellow...I wonder what color tomorrow will bring ;)

Anna update

Daddy and Anna...we all think she looks like him

Nana (Kristin's grandma) and Anna-- about 95 year age difference!

Nassar and Anna sharing a hug (Nassar is my hippo and "focal point" that Alix brought me before I had anna...named after the spanish word meaning to be born...nacer)

Gampy Jim and Anna sharing some quiet time

Anna on mommy's belly...yes, it's still that big :(


The family has survived Anna's first full day and a half of existence...whew! Anna is beautiful and wonderful and sometimes very noisy...just like her big sister ;) We have had a wonderful day and a half meeting our relatives and friends. I feel so blessed to have had so many people come and meet our beauty...being surrounded by loved ones at times like this is a wonderful experience...and I would be SO bored sitting her alone!... so although we were busy here at the hospital, I wouldn't have had it any other way!!!

Anna is doing well, but is quite jaundice. We will chat with the doctor today about getting her back to normal, and since jaundice is quite normal I am not too concerned. Luckily she checks out well in all other aspects--including lung capacity (she has her mommy's voice level ;)

This mommy is ready to get back out into the world. I am not one for hanging out in one place for too long, so I look forward to getting out and doing just as soon as we leave the hospital. It looks like today might be a good one for getting out and enjoying some sun on a walk, which will only help that jaundice. I can't wait!

Right now Anna is hanging out in her sling (which appropriately has a firework design to celebrate the big day!) She LOVES it and it is the quietest she's been since last night...if only I had thought about using it earlier. It also frees up my hands, so I can quickly type this message. Win/win for both of us!

Thanks to everyone who sent well-wishes our way these past few days...it means so much to us to know that so many people were thinking of us. We feel very blessed, not only to have Anna in our lives, but to have all of you in our lives as well!!