Happy birthday, Isabella!

On July 7, 2007, I was in Louisville for my friend Teren's wedding. She was getting married in Canton, and Tim couldn't make the trip, so I asked my friend Lindsey, who also knows Teren, if she'd be my guest at the wedding. I picked Lindsey up at her house, and we headed off to the wedding. Before we made it to the first stop sign, Lindsey told me she had some news: She was pregnant! I was beyond excited to hear that one of my best friends was expecting a wee little one, and I was so happy to watch another close friend get married on the same day. Needless to say, I was on cloud nine. We left the reception shortly after the cake - Lindsey wasn't feeling great at that stage in her pregnancy, but I wasted no time in telling EVERYONE at the reception that she was with child.

Over the next few months, I heard about the pregnancy mostly through phone calls and e-mails. I saw Pregnant Lindsey once more around Thanksgiving and then waited anxiously in March for news of the baby's arrival. Lindsey and her husband Tom didn't find out the sex of the baby, but I think 99% of us thought they were having a boy. The day before Lindsey was induced, I bought a little boy's outfit to send as soon as the baby was born.

I had to exchange the outfit for something in pink.

Isabella Deborah was born on March 10, 2008. (Clearly, not the boy that most of us were expecting!) She's been tiny, adorable and largely missed by moi. I met Isabella once last May (photo above), and she was absolutely perfect. I often hear her talking during phone calls with her mommy. And really, I feel like she and I have a lot in common: loves of food, babbling and sleeping - a girl after my own heart.

Although her mom and dad like to call her Isa or Izzy, I prefer more non-traditional nicknames like Izzarama, Izzinator and The Izmeister. (Lindsey is a big Michigan fan, so an MSU-themed "Izzone" is probably not one I'll try on the fam yet.)

One of the hardest parts of being in Florida is missing out of the lives of our family and friends - every time a friend gets engaged, married, pregnant, becomes a parent, etc. - it tugs a bit harder on the heartstrings. But I can only hope that we'll be back in Ohio sooner than later to celebrate lots of Izzy's future birthdays - like her 18th, Linds! Maybe she can get a tattoo? :-)

Happy birthday to Isabella and her amazing parents:


(Photos stolen from Lindsey and Tom's picasa and Facebook albums.)