Isaac's 18 Months Old!

Isaac is 18 months old, as of Sunday. He's such a big boy! Since I blog in lieu of doing an actual baby book (I bailed out pretty quickly on that one, to avoid that whole future-sibling envy of the firstborn's gorgeous baby book, followed by a bunch of photos shoved haphazardly into a notebook as you later realize motherhood is more about chasing children than memorializing them)...how about a few updates?

Isaac is a climber. Onto chairs, up the stairs, into the car. Anything he can reach is fair game! He also loves remotes and phones, which he uses interchangeably to control the TV and talk to Papa (or Pop Pop, depending on the day and his enunciation). "Haa-oooooo, pa pa!"

He's got words, too. Mama, Dadda, Layla, ME!, God, yes, please, all done, no, cracker, cookie, cup, hi/hey, bye, Mema (Jamma), Papa, Pop pop, Amy, Becca...I guess he basically knows the names to all his favorite things and people! (He also definitely knows the word "pee-pee", but I didn't know if I should include that for the sake of decorum?) He is sharpening up on his animal sounds. He used to tell me that a cow says both "moo" and "bah", but I attribute that to normal development. He was perhaps a little young for the rapid set-switching. Now, he easily runs through cow, sheep, dog, cat, duck, and horse. He also knows his body parts, but gets the biggest kick out of pointing at your nose when you ask where his nose is. He gets that adorable mischievous smile on his face, as though he's pulling one over on you.

Isaac is his sister's biggest fan. He imitates her at every opportunity, which is nice when it comes to using dishes and silverware at the table. He sometimes asks to sit on the potty, and assumes that the whole point of it is to sit still for 2-3 seconds, and then rub a shard of toilet paper on his bum. He also attempts to rub bits of toilet paper on other people's bums at times. Learning the concepts, people, learning the concepts.

Speaking of imitation, today Mikayla took off toward the stairs waving a toy and singing a little song. Isaac motored after her, waving his hand in similar fashion and making the same sing-songy sounds. So adorable! As I turned the corner myself, I watched Mikayla pivot with all her two-year-old grace and scoot down the stairs. Isaac, on the other hand, ran smack into an empty diaper pail and fell clumsily on his hiney. Quite the epitome of little brother trying to keep up with big sister, and it gave me such a chuckle!

We spent the last week teething. And by "we", I mean Isaac spent the week or more in abject misery and did his best to project his pain onto the rest of us as well. Poor kid. I am pleased to report that his first molar broke through yesterday! Well, I felt the edge of it today on his gum, whereas he has refused to let me anywhere near his mouth or gums for the past few weeks. I'm assuming that means it erupted yesterday or this morning. I can hardly wait for the contralateral molar to catch up.

Isaac eats meat and carbs with gusto. He is choosy about his vegetables, preferring the green ones. He is on the fence with regard to salad, which he uses more as a vehicle for salad dressing. He licks it off and promptly double-dips his spinach leaf back into his tiny puddle of creamy french. Isaac has rejected all fruits not pureed and in a pouch, up until the past week when he FINALLY embraced watermelon! I suspect he has texture issues.

He had his first haircut awhile back and is overdue for another. The mullet is filling in a bit, and his hair is growing out over his ears again. Fortunately, he's so stinkin' handsome that the ladies hardly notice the hair issues. Speaking of ladies, he knows how to give a handshake, and he knows what to do with a lady's hand: he ducks his face down and plants a big smacker on the back of it. I have seen at least two church ladies melt into a big puddle of baby love over this trick in the past few weeks.

He still sleeps like a dream, 7:30pm until the neighborhood of 7:00 a.m., and a two-hour-ish nap from 12-2. Except when he's teething, but we're hoping for a return to normalcy in the next few days.

Isaac's personality is so sweet and mellow, and yet also decidedly silly. He has a fearless streak that'll get us into trouble sooner than later. He is my little snuggle muffin all the way.

I love you, son, my precious miracle baby, and a sign of the Lord's bounteous goodness to us. My heart overflows at the sweetness of this last year and a half of enjoying you and your sister together.

Soli deo gloria!

Isaac 14-Month Update

At a week shy of 14 months, I think it's high time to post a bit more about what Isaac's been up to lately!

On April 13, Isaac took his first few steps to his Aunt Amy. He has since repeated this many times, letting go of one support to take a few steps to his momma, dadda, or the other couch. We've caught him standing up from the ground, rather than pulling himself up, on a few occasions. And he can stand by himself with no support, until he realizes that's what he's doing, and lowers himself onto his bum. The advantage is that this little boy has no fear, and is very interested in EVERYTHING, so he will probably be the kid who starts walking without quite realizing it. I have a feeling he'll be doing laps around the house in the next week or two!

Isaac has also recently (last Wednesday) decided to eat finger foods. His favorite is peanut butter and jelly sandwich (open-faced, cut into bite sized pieces). He has also eaten spaghetti, peas, broccoli, chicken nugget, and a few other things I'm forgetting. It's hit or miss, though. How does Isaac decide whether to eat something with his fingers? His decision tree:

1. Touch food. Is it too slippery to pick up?
Yes --> go to question #2 (example: banana)
No --> go to question #2 (example: everything else)

2. Can I smash it?
Yes --> smash with thumb until pulverized. Reject food because it is pulverized. (example: peas, any legume)
No --> attempt to smash with thumb, until it shoots across the tray. (example: melon) If it doesn't fly onto the floor, pick up and throw onto floor. (example: everything else)

3. Does it taste good? (accidentally put food in mouth to discover flavor, or be force-fed by momma)
Yes --> shovel remainder of food into mouth (example: PB&J, chicken nuggets, hot dog, broccoli)
No --> pick up and throw onto floor (example: everything else)

4. Am I full?
Yes --> pick up remaining food and throw onto floor; consider making baby sign for "all done"
No --> keep shoveling

He has been talking more and more, mimicking words and sounds all the time. He says momma, dadda, pop pop (papa), banana, uh oh, and the occasional "amen" or "all done" (or something similar). I think he's also said "ball". He knows and uses baby signs for "please" and "all done". He waves hello and goodbye, blows kisses, and gives the sweetest hugs and kisses you ever saw. He bats his long lashes at all the young ladies, but most especially at his momma. And he is a SNUGGLER. My word. If he is the least bit tired or not feeling well, his left pointer finger goes into his mouth and his head nuzzles down onto your shoulder.

Isaac delights in bath time with his big sister. They laugh and squeal together often, usually because they have gotten into some game of peek a boo or hide the toy. He wears a size 4 shoe and size 12 month or 12-18 month clothing. Socks are a lost cause. Toilet paper rolls and toilet water continue to be coveted items, but he responds well to "no touch". I rarely even have to smack his hand. He LOVES to open and close drawers, and empty and refill their contents. I let him do this unless it happens to be the drawer holding Joel's razor.

He usually takes two naps: one around 10-10:30 in the morning, and another around 3:30. That second nap has been hit or miss for the past month or so, depending on how long his first nap was. Also, I think he's teething right now. He's had six teeth for the longest time but has been super cranky lately. I do wonder, though, if it is just a developmental thing because this was the age Mikayla was when she started with her first tantrums. He is also the same age Mikayla was when Isaac was born. Does that seem crazy to anyone else?

Little brother is waking up so I'll cut this short. I think I hit the highlights!

Journey of a Baby Brother

Poor Isaac. At this point in his life, he must feel like little more than a tagalong, an afterthought, that cute, chubby face in the background of his big sister's photos. So much of my day consists of me setting him up with something fun to play with, and then taking care of household projects or something more involved with Mikayla. So he spends a lot of time crawling around after us, pulling U-turns because he arrives in the kitchen after we've already left again, etc. He's getting pretty quick at it, actually. Factor in Mikayla's opposition to him having any manner of fun with his (which she believes are her) toys while she is present, and the guy seems to have quite the dull, if not slightly oppressive, existence.

(Don't feel too bad. Every female he encounters just drools over his big blue eyes and flirts endlessly with him. He doesn't have it so rough.)

Such was life this morning. We had just finished breakfast, and Mikayla was in dire need of a diaper change. I'll spare you the details. I plopped Isaac down with his shape sorter fire truck in the living room and headed upstairs with the little lady. Leave a ten month old unattended? Yup. We are so baby proof around here, there is nothing he can reach that could possibly hurt him before I'd hear what was going on. It is no sweat. Worst case, he does a lap around the house and I have to hunt for him for a few seconds when I come back. So I thought nothing of it when I left him to his own devices for 3-5 minutes depending on whether it was a 2 wiper or a 4 wiper. Moms, you know what I'm talking about.

Imagine my surprise when his voice suddenly sounded louder than it ever had before. Strangely close, as though he were approaching the....holy smokes!! I ran to the stairs and sure enough, there he was:

Go, buddy!! Thankfully, these stairs are so much more baby-friendly than the ones at our old place - the stairs that you had to literally turn your foot sideways as you went up or down because they were so shallow/steep. I am actually a-ok with Isaac climbing these, though perhaps not without a little company or a big pillow at the bottom. They're not steep at all, and his center of gravity is really comfortably low as he climbs all sprawled out. Do I sound defensive? No way. I don't feel weird or guilty at all that my son made it up seven stairs while I was on another floor of the house. Mom of the year.

Isaac is so fearless and bold though, such a boy. Another recent case in point you might find amusing, while I am actually here blogging: I don't do this often, but the other day I showered while Mikayla was napping, and brought some toys into the bathroom for Isaac to play with. Mikayla, when she was his age, used to get bored with her toys, and would come stand at the end of the bathtub, pull the shower curtain back, and wind up with a wet face and arms from talking to me while I washed my hair. Isaac? Straight to the middle of the bathtub side, flailed both arms wildly until the entire shower curtain was outside of the tub, and then stood there squawking at me while water drenched both his entire body and the floor. Banging his arms on the bathtub, too, of course. I had to wrap it up quick or risk flooding the place. Little dude definitely knows how to compensate for being the often-ignored baby brother!

I love this kid. He is so much fun, and astounding us every day with all his grown-up tricks!

Oh, and I can't wait for his big cousin Elijah to come and spend some quality guy time with him next week (!!). I have a feeling Elijah knows all about standing up to a big sister and can give him a few pointers. Can't wait to see you, Kayes!

Isaac's 6 Month Update

Ok first, and possibly more importantly, why did Blogger change? For some reason I can't log in to my blog FROM my blog view anymore. I used to be able to click my own bookmark, then click once more to write a new post, sign in, change the layout, etc. Obviously Blogger thinks I have nothing better to do than click three times and type a password and maybe even update my bookmark toolbar. Blogger is wrong.

What? You're here because you want to know what's up with the sweetest, most handsome little six-month-old guy in the world? I can help you with that.

Pediatrician appointments have become just SO much fun, now that Isaac can roll off of the table and Mikayla can turn the lights off and open the door. We take crackers, and pray that Isaac's exam will take less than seven minutes, which is approximately how long a container of crackers will hold my daughter's attention. Don't worry, she'll go back to it after she explores all the drawers and licks the doctor's special tools.

Today, Isaac weighed in at 15 lb 8 oz, which is only a half ounce more than he weighed at his last vaccination visit a month ago. Wha' happened? Turns out my plan of nursing five times daily, and following two of those feedings with some cereal or a fruit or veggie is SUBPAR. He needs to eat every two hours, alternating nursing with real food so that he is hungrier for the spoon. Because I have nothing better to do with my day than pipe food into my son and hope he naps during the twenty minutes when he's not swallowing or pooping.

Sorry, I am easily upset by suggested changes to my routine. Apparently.

As I was saying: Isaac weighed 15 lb 8 oz, placing him at the 29th percentile. He was 26 inches long, about average (I don't know how they think wrestling his heel to a random number on the measuring tape constitutes an accurate length measurement but hey I'm not a nurse). His head is average too, about forty something (42?) centimeters. I used to remember way more details of Mikayla's visits, so my fuzzy memory now must indicate exhaustion or that she is my favorite child. Or that I am busy rescuing the doctor's flashy scope-light thing from her clutches the whole time. I did have an allergic reaction to narcotic medication over the past few days, though, so maybe that is part of it too?

Isaac does SO many things, and has fun with it all. He rolls quickly and easily in any direction, often to angle for a better view of his big sister.  He holds his head and shoulders way up off the floor, and you can tell he wants to crawl but usually just succeeds at pushing himself backward. I guess he gets better traction with his hands than with his toes, just yet. He practically stands up in his exersaucer, just relying on the balance it gives him, but his legs are strong! Mikayla often busily shows him all the toys on his exersaucer, concerned that he may have forgotten since yesterday, pausing only to give him the occasional hearty thump on the back (playing gives you the burps, obv).

And this little boy has the absolute sweetest smile you ever saw! He opens his mouth in this gigantic grin, and between the dimples and the eye lashes you could just pour him over your pancakes in the morning. Sometimes he flashes his smile for his momma or dadda, but the greatest megawattage is reserved for Mikayla. Oh my heavens. He thinks she is really something! I have heard lots of mommas talk about how their babies adore their older siblings, but seeing it firsthand just blows me away. And Mikayla feels just the same way about him - he is the one person in this world who is always guaranteed a giant-pucker kiss from her. She hugs him, she kisses him, and she burps him, all the while explaining to you just what she is doing. She helps with his diapers, except she still thinks that they belong over his face. At least he is starting to really get a kick out of the big reveal, when she yanks the diaper away and says "Peek!" (or "boo!" depending on the day).

Isaac is such a big boy. He now has his own sippy cup that he is just learning to drink water from, and he sits in his "'eat" (seat, a.k.a. high chair) to "eat", according to Mikayla. He enjoys avocados, bananas, and cereal, and we are about to ramp up his food intake per the doctor's orders. I expect that peas, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes will make an appearance soon. And red meat, which remains a strongly encouraged first food, and which I still think is weird. We'll see how it goes. When Isaac eats, Mikayla requires an empty bowl and spoon so that she can show Isaac how it's done, either by demonstrating fake practice-bites or jamming the empty spoon into his mouth. We are still working on the whole "gentle" concept, and I think we're struggling against some selective attention on that one.

We hope to get some pictures up soon with Isaac's bear, so you can all see how he's growing. I bet he'll be wrestling it and rolling all over the place, so do your best to spot him amidst the blur of action. Anything I missed in this here update? Anything you've been wondering? Let me know!