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!
Why I Don't Fear Homeschooling (Anymore)
We plan to homeschool.
Have I said this publicly before? I'm not sure. Those close to us may know that we have been strongly leaning in that direction for some time.
Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed at the thought. I am intimidated at the prospect of going through 800 curriculum packages not to mention a hodge podge of homeschooling blogs with free printables for flashcards, worksheets, coloring pages, and how will I ever pull together something remotely adequate, or know which curriculum has the greatest educational value for my family? It leaves my head spinning, to be honest.
Part of my feeling overwhelmed, though, is this sense that when we "start to homeschool", it's like I will have to flip a switch and bring a whole new level of structure and busy-ness to our already fairly busy lives. I will suddenly be required to arise while it is still dark and cook a hot breakfast so that my children will be sufficiently nourished to tackle the stacks of handouts and lap books and sensory tubs that I also prepared before the sun came up. My evenings will devolve into hours of grading, lesson planning, and stressing about how to get enough hours of school in when we really need to spend Friday cleaning and running errands.
Don't judge me too harshly, but I kind of like being awakened by my daughter padding into my room at the crack of 7:34 a.m. to announce that "I'm awake! Eat breakfast now?" I love that there is usually no deadline by which we need to be fed and dressed, so if we happen to want to snuggle or take spontaneous photos of someone's amazing bedhead, we can do that. I enjoy responding to my kids' needs throughout the day, feeding them when they're hungry, reading together when the mood strikes, and navigating around my own energy level and to-do list as well. I don't feel altogether prepared to give up this "lazy" (yeah, right) lifestyle in favor of three-ring binders and the pressure to gather around a wall calendar at 8:00 a.m. to describe the weather, name the day of the week, and count down to Christmas. Because most days I doubt that's going to happen until at least 9:07.
But then I read this article:
Part of my feeling overwhelmed, though, is this sense that when we "start to homeschool", it's like I will have to flip a switch and bring a whole new level of structure and busy-ness to our already fairly busy lives. I will suddenly be required to arise while it is still dark and cook a hot breakfast so that my children will be sufficiently nourished to tackle the stacks of handouts and lap books and sensory tubs that I also prepared before the sun came up. My evenings will devolve into hours of grading, lesson planning, and stressing about how to get enough hours of school in when we really need to spend Friday cleaning and running errands.
Don't judge me too harshly, but I kind of like being awakened by my daughter padding into my room at the crack of 7:34 a.m. to announce that "I'm awake! Eat breakfast now?" I love that there is usually no deadline by which we need to be fed and dressed, so if we happen to want to snuggle or take spontaneous photos of someone's amazing bedhead, we can do that. I enjoy responding to my kids' needs throughout the day, feeding them when they're hungry, reading together when the mood strikes, and navigating around my own energy level and to-do list as well. I don't feel altogether prepared to give up this "lazy" (yeah, right) lifestyle in favor of three-ring binders and the pressure to gather around a wall calendar at 8:00 a.m. to describe the weather, name the day of the week, and count down to Christmas. Because most days I doubt that's going to happen until at least 9:07.
But then I read this article:
Wait, what?? Homeschooling doesn't have to be so stressful? Morning snuggles are ok, educating and caring for my family and home can be done in a way that meshes with my biorhythms and personality! Homeschooling works BECAUSE it conforms to your family, rather than causing the family to conform to a bus schedule. Who woulda thunk.
Obviously, this was the most important point the author was trying to make: Lazy moms can homeschool too!
I am in no way condemning families who choose to public or private school their children. What I am saying, though, is that I am suddenly looking forward to homeschool days that start slowly and allow my children and me to be who we are. Joel and I love our kids, and believe in raising them to love learning. I doubt our kids are going to fall through the cracks academically if I don't have all my flashcards laminated before Mikayla turns three.
I feel like I can breathe again. And take my time sorting out the preschool homeschooling agenda. Already we read every day, Mikayla knows her alphabet, shapes, colors, and has a well-rounded vocabulary so far. She can run, hop, dance, and generally get dressed by herself as long as she doesn't have to match. She loves to match, sort, organize, build, and destroy. She enjoys imagining, pretending, singing, and narrating her every move. I'm pretty sure it is simply because 1) God made her to develop these skills, and 2) we include her in our everyday lives, conversations, and the life of the church (I didn't realize that teaching her catechism questions was considered a pre-reading skill!). That's it.
It's ok. I'm ok. A relaxed approach to homeschooling is ok. We will grow into the lesson plans and portfolios as the need arises. For now, I don't yet have my own laminator, labeler, or three-hole-punch, and it. is. ok.
I know there was a whole lot more in the article than what I've commented on, but I loved this relaxed, practical perspective on homeschooling from a mom who happens to be an M.D. Which, by the way, I've seen a few highly-educated women writing on the benefits of homeschooling lately, and it is refreshing to say the least. I like being able to point to this trend of educating at home even among the competitively-employed. Homeschooling: not just for skirt-wearing, flour-milling hippie moms! There are actual benefits to your family besides just protecting your children from the Big Bang theory and depriving them of social skills! Although, since we're being open and honest here, I would wear long skirts and mill my own flour in a heartbeat. I am way more crunchy than I look.
Seriously, though, I never really liked the idea that choosing to manage my children's education might make me appear controlling, religiously paranoid, or anti-social. I mean, I am all about sticking it to the man, but it has always been more about doing what's best for my children than about bucking the system.
At this point, I'm just rambling. Check out the link, reflect on reasons for homeschooling, and join me in celebrating the freedom to educate our children in what way seems best to each of us.
Obviously, this was the most important point the author was trying to make: Lazy moms can homeschool too!
I am in no way condemning families who choose to public or private school their children. What I am saying, though, is that I am suddenly looking forward to homeschool days that start slowly and allow my children and me to be who we are. Joel and I love our kids, and believe in raising them to love learning. I doubt our kids are going to fall through the cracks academically if I don't have all my flashcards laminated before Mikayla turns three.
I feel like I can breathe again. And take my time sorting out the preschool homeschooling agenda. Already we read every day, Mikayla knows her alphabet, shapes, colors, and has a well-rounded vocabulary so far. She can run, hop, dance, and generally get dressed by herself as long as she doesn't have to match. She loves to match, sort, organize, build, and destroy. She enjoys imagining, pretending, singing, and narrating her every move. I'm pretty sure it is simply because 1) God made her to develop these skills, and 2) we include her in our everyday lives, conversations, and the life of the church (I didn't realize that teaching her catechism questions was considered a pre-reading skill!). That's it.
It's ok. I'm ok. A relaxed approach to homeschooling is ok. We will grow into the lesson plans and portfolios as the need arises. For now, I don't yet have my own laminator, labeler, or three-hole-punch, and it. is. ok.
I know there was a whole lot more in the article than what I've commented on, but I loved this relaxed, practical perspective on homeschooling from a mom who happens to be an M.D. Which, by the way, I've seen a few highly-educated women writing on the benefits of homeschooling lately, and it is refreshing to say the least. I like being able to point to this trend of educating at home even among the competitively-employed. Homeschooling: not just for skirt-wearing, flour-milling hippie moms! There are actual benefits to your family besides just protecting your children from the Big Bang theory and depriving them of social skills! Although, since we're being open and honest here, I would wear long skirts and mill my own flour in a heartbeat. I am way more crunchy than I look.
Seriously, though, I never really liked the idea that choosing to manage my children's education might make me appear controlling, religiously paranoid, or anti-social. I mean, I am all about sticking it to the man, but it has always been more about doing what's best for my children than about bucking the system.
At this point, I'm just rambling. Check out the link, reflect on reasons for homeschooling, and join me in celebrating the freedom to educate our children in what way seems best to each of us.
Easter Highlights and Chronicles
Easter highlights:
Worshipping our resurrected Lord and Savior, complete with a choir introit and brass postlude at church. Alleluia!
Driving to New Jersey in our new (to us) Town & Country minivan. It felt like driving a mansion. Joel told me I looked like such a mom, passing out PB&J sandwiches from the back seat.
Watching Mikayla blow through her Easter basket, pausing only briefly to put on her new sunglasses and remark, "Dark in here!" She opened all of her own Easter eggs as well as Isaac's, and discovered a real affinity for jelly beans.
Enjoying a meal fit for royalty, prepared by my lovely and talented mother in law, including ham, potatoes, pineapple casserole, asparagus with feta, and a lovely Prosecco wine. Not to mention the birthday cake for dessert: a carrot cake made with pineapple and coconut and some delicious "diaper cream" frosting (Mikayla is easily confused; she turned down one frosted bite of cake initially because it had diaper cream on it! She also, however, learns quickly, and inhaled the rest.).
Being told by more than one person that I was channeling my inner Brittany. I am 99% sure it was the bangs and leggings. I take this as a high compliment, incidentally.
Come to think of it, the whole family looked super springy and adorable (well, one of us looked manly and handsome, but the rest of us looked cute!). The astute observer will notice that Mikayla is wearing the same pink dress that she wore to Isaac's baptism a year ago. This year, it actually fits. In my defense, last year I had a 14 month old and a newborn and was approximately four weeks postpartum. Anything pink was fair game; I'm not even sure "clean" was a criterion at that point. All that to say, we're moving onward and upward in the wardrobing department.
Want to see us in our Resurrection Day best?
I love that Scott and Becca's family made it into our family photo, in that perfectly framed spot between Joel and me.
And Easter chronicles:
One of my top favorite things about this Easter, though, was looking back over the past three Easters and marveling at the Lord's gracious providence. Three years ago, I was actually miscarrying our first pregnancy on Easter morning after years of trying to conceive. I remember thinking to myself that Easter would never be the same, that it would always bear a reminder to me of loss - and yet how comforting that it was simultaneously the celebration of eternal life! Remarkably, two years ago, we treasured Mikayla's presence at three months old. It was poignant evidence of God's promise to turn our mourning into dancing, and we were astonished that He did this so tangibly for us. Her middle name is Grace, to remind us of what she means to us as a gift of the Lord's generosity.
Then, just one year ago, to heap grace upon grace, God surprised us with Isaac as well. As you might guess from his name, we laughed at the Lord's overflowing bounty in giving us a second child so soon! And this year, the four of us packed into our minivan, something we've been praying and saving for, a gift that makes me wonder what the Lord has in store for next Easter! Plenty of room for another car seat! (I've been saying things like this a lot lately; I think it's because some of my dearest are pregnant or have young babies, and it makes me look forward to the next one, should God grant us another child.)
God is good beyond all our comprehension. I feel humbly grateful that His goodness has been evident in such obvious ways to us. In whatever circumstances, whether His goodness is clearly seen or veiled by suffering, I pray He always turns my heart toward Himself and makes me more like Christ through it all.
"Oh, the depths of the riches, the wisdom of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!
'For who has known the mind of God, or who has been His counselor?
Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?'
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."
[Romans 11:33-36]
Worshipping our resurrected Lord and Savior, complete with a choir introit and brass postlude at church. Alleluia!
Driving to New Jersey in our new (to us) Town & Country minivan. It felt like driving a mansion. Joel told me I looked like such a mom, passing out PB&J sandwiches from the back seat.
Watching Mikayla blow through her Easter basket, pausing only briefly to put on her new sunglasses and remark, "Dark in here!" She opened all of her own Easter eggs as well as Isaac's, and discovered a real affinity for jelly beans.
Enjoying a meal fit for royalty, prepared by my lovely and talented mother in law, including ham, potatoes, pineapple casserole, asparagus with feta, and a lovely Prosecco wine. Not to mention the birthday cake for dessert: a carrot cake made with pineapple and coconut and some delicious "diaper cream" frosting (Mikayla is easily confused; she turned down one frosted bite of cake initially because it had diaper cream on it! She also, however, learns quickly, and inhaled the rest.).
Being told by more than one person that I was channeling my inner Brittany. I am 99% sure it was the bangs and leggings. I take this as a high compliment, incidentally.
Come to think of it, the whole family looked super springy and adorable (well, one of us looked manly and handsome, but the rest of us looked cute!). The astute observer will notice that Mikayla is wearing the same pink dress that she wore to Isaac's baptism a year ago. This year, it actually fits. In my defense, last year I had a 14 month old and a newborn and was approximately four weeks postpartum. Anything pink was fair game; I'm not even sure "clean" was a criterion at that point. All that to say, we're moving onward and upward in the wardrobing department.
Want to see us in our Resurrection Day best?
I love that Scott and Becca's family made it into our family photo, in that perfectly framed spot between Joel and me.
And Easter chronicles:
One of my top favorite things about this Easter, though, was looking back over the past three Easters and marveling at the Lord's gracious providence. Three years ago, I was actually miscarrying our first pregnancy on Easter morning after years of trying to conceive. I remember thinking to myself that Easter would never be the same, that it would always bear a reminder to me of loss - and yet how comforting that it was simultaneously the celebration of eternal life! Remarkably, two years ago, we treasured Mikayla's presence at three months old. It was poignant evidence of God's promise to turn our mourning into dancing, and we were astonished that He did this so tangibly for us. Her middle name is Grace, to remind us of what she means to us as a gift of the Lord's generosity.
Then, just one year ago, to heap grace upon grace, God surprised us with Isaac as well. As you might guess from his name, we laughed at the Lord's overflowing bounty in giving us a second child so soon! And this year, the four of us packed into our minivan, something we've been praying and saving for, a gift that makes me wonder what the Lord has in store for next Easter! Plenty of room for another car seat! (I've been saying things like this a lot lately; I think it's because some of my dearest are pregnant or have young babies, and it makes me look forward to the next one, should God grant us another child.)
God is good beyond all our comprehension. I feel humbly grateful that His goodness has been evident in such obvious ways to us. In whatever circumstances, whether His goodness is clearly seen or veiled by suffering, I pray He always turns my heart toward Himself and makes me more like Christ through it all.
"Oh, the depths of the riches, the wisdom of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!
'For who has known the mind of God, or who has been His counselor?
Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?'
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."
[Romans 11:33-36]
Keep Calm and Mother On
So I headed to Walmart with my children this morning to purchase their Easter baskets and fixin's. I know, I am the most fun mom out there, spoiling all the surprises by letting Mikayla hold all the Easter presents in her lap in the back of the cart. But I think it's more realistic than mean to say that hiding her Easter basket for the next four days will re-set the surprise meter. At the beginning of your life and again at the end, you could hide your own Easter eggs and still have fun hunting for them, right Dad? (He has been telling me for years that he can hide his own Easter eggs. I figure he'd be happy to know he has cute company in the short-attention-span/poor-memory camp.)
Mikayla picked out the Easter baskets. Pink for herself, blue for Isaac. There were other options, but the girl apparently goes the conventional route once in a great while. I tossed a few bags of goodies into the cart, which Mikayla is too young and naive to be excited about. I'll refrain from naming them because a few of these might turn out to be surprises for the hubs. I saved $1.97 by not getting him an Easter basket, but an Easter plastic bag gets to be exciting when you're pushing 30.
It only took an hour, but it felt like eons in a purgatory of cheap plastic pastel. They almost had me at the Easter bunny sippy cup, but this is not my first rodeo. That sucker is going to pop at its poorly-glued seams the first time a certain somebody squeezes it with all her two-year-old gusto. Instead, found a ten pack of Hanes socks that included pink and purple and should fit into a few plastic eggs (why stop at Christmas stocking when you want to give boring/awkward necessities as gifts?). AND. The poor girl has been begging for a belt for ages. She watches momma and dadda belt our jeans and asks to wear one. I've tried the double-wrap around her tiny tummy but we both know she looks a little ridiculous at that point. Today, I found a two-pack of sparkly belts, one white/silver, and the other pink, in toddler size, for the low Walmart price of "this might actually last you through the summer if little brother doesn't chew on it". Also, shades and a sweet sun hat. Mikayla totally wore the sun hat through the entire store as she carried her Easter basket. Again, best mom ever. Isaac spent the trip chewing on a bag of green plastic grass, so I'm pretty sure that seals the "Mom of the Year" deal.
I also needed a few things for myself, such as leggings and those little invisible socks you can wear with dressy shoes. Of course they were superbly organized and took hardly any time and effort to actually find the right color and size. Meanwhile, Mikayla filled her Easter basket with ladies' socks and a bra and Isaac learned how to stand up in the front of the shopping cart. I can only hope he learns how to apply that skill every time I try to strap him into something.
And then it was time to hit the checkout. Always the best and most enjoyable part of any Walmart trip, right? Lo and behold, God's providence smiled upon us. Just as we rounded the corner, with Mikayla helping me push the cart/being dragged along the side as she attempted to name every object and person we passed, I saw her. An angel in a blue Walmart vest standing behind an empty Express lane register. I may or may not have heard cherub voices serenading our approach, but I'm 80% sure a soft heavenly light shone down upon her name badge. We made it through there in five minutes, which felt like it was only twice that long as Mikayla struggled to understand why her pink hat and beautiful pink basket were wrenched from her grasp and dragged away on the conveyor belt of doom. Toddler problems.
By the time we were loading into the car, Mikayla was genuinely irrational. She wanted to hold her basket, no she wanted her book, no she wanted to get into the car, no she wanted to ride on the roof while singing Itsy Bitsy Spider. Momma pulled out the crackers, and the tears evaporated into thin air. Eyes still red and nose still flowing, Mikayla looked at me and said around a mouthful of Wheat Thins, "Crackers make me happy, momma! I not sad anymore!" I thought back to my first outings with Mikayla long ago, the times I spent frazzled and weary from public restroom diaper changes and pleading with my infant to stop crying, and I realized how truly seasoned I have become. I am a professional sippy-cup-carrying, cracker-wielding mother of two. I have learned to pack snacks over diapers any day of the week because of EFFICIENCY in bag space and implementation effort. A child will happily forget about a soggy bottom for awhile when he or she has fistfuls of food to devour. And really, regardless of the problem, crackers make it all better, at least temporarily. Motherhood is 70% strategy and 30% praying for grace. And strategy is 98% crackers.
So we made it home, and the children are napping. Except for Isaac, who just woke up because he can tell when Momma has set a goal to accomplish and he apparently has lots of help to contribute. My goal is to put together Easter baskets and then hide them in our new bathroom closet until Sunday so that the toddler memory wipe can commence.
That reminds me, we girls tried on our Easter dresses today between lunch and naptime. Mikayla bestowed her approval upon my dress and legging combo, and she looked just angelic in her fancy light-pink dress and flower headband. It seemed like a good time to show her how a lady stands and curtsies, but the girl all but fell over trying to execute the curtsy. Have you seen Rogers & Hammersteins' Cinderella? Think nasty stepsister #2.
Those Easter baskets aren't filling themselves. Thanks for reading along, and remember, if you go to Walmart, don't forget a snack!
Mikayla picked out the Easter baskets. Pink for herself, blue for Isaac. There were other options, but the girl apparently goes the conventional route once in a great while. I tossed a few bags of goodies into the cart, which Mikayla is too young and naive to be excited about. I'll refrain from naming them because a few of these might turn out to be surprises for the hubs. I saved $1.97 by not getting him an Easter basket, but an Easter plastic bag gets to be exciting when you're pushing 30.
It only took an hour, but it felt like eons in a purgatory of cheap plastic pastel. They almost had me at the Easter bunny sippy cup, but this is not my first rodeo. That sucker is going to pop at its poorly-glued seams the first time a certain somebody squeezes it with all her two-year-old gusto. Instead, found a ten pack of Hanes socks that included pink and purple and should fit into a few plastic eggs (why stop at Christmas stocking when you want to give boring/awkward necessities as gifts?). AND. The poor girl has been begging for a belt for ages. She watches momma and dadda belt our jeans and asks to wear one. I've tried the double-wrap around her tiny tummy but we both know she looks a little ridiculous at that point. Today, I found a two-pack of sparkly belts, one white/silver, and the other pink, in toddler size, for the low Walmart price of "this might actually last you through the summer if little brother doesn't chew on it". Also, shades and a sweet sun hat. Mikayla totally wore the sun hat through the entire store as she carried her Easter basket. Again, best mom ever. Isaac spent the trip chewing on a bag of green plastic grass, so I'm pretty sure that seals the "Mom of the Year" deal.
I also needed a few things for myself, such as leggings and those little invisible socks you can wear with dressy shoes. Of course they were superbly organized and took hardly any time and effort to actually find the right color and size. Meanwhile, Mikayla filled her Easter basket with ladies' socks and a bra and Isaac learned how to stand up in the front of the shopping cart. I can only hope he learns how to apply that skill every time I try to strap him into something.
And then it was time to hit the checkout. Always the best and most enjoyable part of any Walmart trip, right? Lo and behold, God's providence smiled upon us. Just as we rounded the corner, with Mikayla helping me push the cart/being dragged along the side as she attempted to name every object and person we passed, I saw her. An angel in a blue Walmart vest standing behind an empty Express lane register. I may or may not have heard cherub voices serenading our approach, but I'm 80% sure a soft heavenly light shone down upon her name badge. We made it through there in five minutes, which felt like it was only twice that long as Mikayla struggled to understand why her pink hat and beautiful pink basket were wrenched from her grasp and dragged away on the conveyor belt of doom. Toddler problems.
By the time we were loading into the car, Mikayla was genuinely irrational. She wanted to hold her basket, no she wanted her book, no she wanted to get into the car, no she wanted to ride on the roof while singing Itsy Bitsy Spider. Momma pulled out the crackers, and the tears evaporated into thin air. Eyes still red and nose still flowing, Mikayla looked at me and said around a mouthful of Wheat Thins, "Crackers make me happy, momma! I not sad anymore!" I thought back to my first outings with Mikayla long ago, the times I spent frazzled and weary from public restroom diaper changes and pleading with my infant to stop crying, and I realized how truly seasoned I have become. I am a professional sippy-cup-carrying, cracker-wielding mother of two. I have learned to pack snacks over diapers any day of the week because of EFFICIENCY in bag space and implementation effort. A child will happily forget about a soggy bottom for awhile when he or she has fistfuls of food to devour. And really, regardless of the problem, crackers make it all better, at least temporarily. Motherhood is 70% strategy and 30% praying for grace. And strategy is 98% crackers.
So we made it home, and the children are napping. Except for Isaac, who just woke up because he can tell when Momma has set a goal to accomplish and he apparently has lots of help to contribute. My goal is to put together Easter baskets and then hide them in our new bathroom closet until Sunday so that the toddler memory wipe can commence.
That reminds me, we girls tried on our Easter dresses today between lunch and naptime. Mikayla bestowed her approval upon my dress and legging combo, and she looked just angelic in her fancy light-pink dress and flower headband. It seemed like a good time to show her how a lady stands and curtsies, but the girl all but fell over trying to execute the curtsy. Have you seen Rogers & Hammersteins' Cinderella? Think nasty stepsister #2.
Those Easter baskets aren't filling themselves. Thanks for reading along, and remember, if you go to Walmart, don't forget a snack!
The Washing Machine is More Thankful Than I Am
About two weeks ago, Mikayla decided to boycott the whole potty thing. She had been doing well for several weeks, with perhaps a couple dribbles or full-fledged accidents a day, but overall grasping the concept and motivated to put her pee pee where it belongs. It was a dark and stormy Friday when she felt she had had enough of the potty concept and would simply let loose wherever she stood. Momma's lap included. Friday and Saturday actually blur together a bit because Joel worked that weekend, but I do remember lots of laundry and lots of wine (for me after bedtime, not for her...though that probably would have explained the problem a bit, eh?). I reasoned. I begged. I pleaded. I almost cried. Nothing seemed to change the determination with which she looked me straight in the eye, said "pee pee in the potty!" and urinated straight down her leg and into her socks/shoes/momma's slippers.
For close to a week, I was washing almost all her 16 pairs of undies every other day. Other parents assured me this was a normal phase, and I read that it was a result of Mikayla mastering the skill and getting bored with it. I guess. Child psychology feels like voodoo sometimes, even to the thoroughly initiated. All I knew was that it had. to. stop. And that retreat was not an option. To return to diapers would be an admission of failure and confusing to Mikayla. It would ensure eternal revocation of my crunchy, homemade-baby-food-making, cloth-diapering, overachieving momma membership card.
So we hung in there, through dinners that involved four changes of undies and ended in Mikayla pantless and sitting on a towel. Don't even ask me about the poop.
And just as suddenly as it began, the rebellious phase ended. Mikayla woke up exactly one week later and decided that she had punished her poor momma enough. In fact, from that morning on, she commanded me to wait in the hallway while she pottied by herself. Ours is a purely utilitarian relationship at times. I gain admission into the royal presence when she realizes that wiping her own bottom would be beneath her. (Literally. See what I did there?) She also needs me to reach the yogurt raisins and stickers, which are her potty reward. Of course, she's not strong enough yet to completely disdain me, so we have lots of giggles and squeals along the way because we are both so proud of her for going on the potty!
And people, she has even started pooping on the potty. Several times. By herself. Once she waddled into my room with her pants around her ankles to tell me she had pottied by herself, and we much later discovered the #2 evidence in the bathroom. That girl.
I am already strategizing with regard to makeup and leg-shaving.
For all the sarcasm and desperation that go through my mind at times, I hope you all know me well enough to trust that I am so delighted by Mikayla's growth and determination. She is so elated when she does something by herself, and it fills my heart up with so much gratitude and love. We have done the happy potty dance together many, many times. The Lord has outdone Himself in His goodness to us in our sweet children <3 .="" p="">
Isaac's First Birthday Post
I'm not sure quite how or when, but a whole year has gone by since Isaac came into our lives. From a little blue line to his peaceful water birth, and now his precious kisses and doe eyes, it seems he has been nothing but sweetness and laughter in our lives. Sleepless nights, an overnight hospital visit, and that bathtub full of poop not withstanding.
His current existence might be summed up by saying he is on the move. Since he discovered his ability to clamber up the stairs a month ago, he has spent most of his waking time attempting just that. I regularly discover him sitting at the top of the stairs doing nothing in particular, just waiting for me to come bask in the joy of his wonderful accomplishment. So far he hasn't attempted the descent, even by accident, but I'm just waiting for that moment to come. His love of the stairs is so great that he has invented a way to teleport himself through a barricade consisting of two to three dining room chairs placed in various configurations at the foot of the stairs, without moving them or making a sound. No, but seriously, I've never seen him do it, but the chairs apparently are small fries for this guy. Carrying him upstairs for diaper changes and bedtimes? No deal. He will wiggle and squirm until I concede and let him crawl up himself. Usually, I give in at the landing, and head up the stairs ahead of him to enjoy the sight of his little grinning face bobbing toward me as he climbs. This activity rivals only the eating of cheerios for Isaac's greatest pleasure.
Isaac splashes around in the bathtub with his big sister, squealing with delight and tolerating her bossy ways. He tries to climb into the tub by himself (which, a baby boy trying to climb over something that is clearly too big for him, while naked, is the dearest, funniest thing to watch!). He succeeds in climbing onto the bathroom stepstool, two steps up, while hanging for dear life onto the drawer, which he pulls out for that purpose. My little problem solver.
Splashing in the toilet, unrolling the toilet paper, demolishing window blinds. These are a few more of his favorite things. Along with unabashedly watching his sister do every little thing she does. I can only hope he is learning all her tricks and foibles, because it would be such a breeze to have two with her penchant for opinions and independence. They enjoy each other so much, whether obliviously engaging in parallel play or vying for the same blue mega block (they are not created equal and it's apparently not worth having if it is not also worth fighting for).
Other miscellaneous details: He's been in size 12 month clothing for a few months now (well, ought to have been...I've been squeezing him into some 6-9 shirts until my parents' birthday package for him arrived last week!). Six teeth present and accounted for. Eating some finger foods but prefers being spoon fed for most things because if you could get somebody else to do your work, wouldn't you? Says mama, dada, banana, moo, and amen if you know what to listen for, usually repeating after somebody rather than saying them spontaneously (he'll answer "What does a cow say?"). He signs "all done!" after meals and tends to just gesture wildly for "more" and "drink". We get the point. My little pragmatist. He waves, claps, tells us he is "so big!" or, as we joke, "sorta big", because he often throws up just one hand.
Favorite foods include, in order of preference, cheerios, graham crackers, banana puffs, anything with applesauce, oatmeal, yogurt, anything with black beans. He's grown tired of plain avocado lately but will eat it with yogurt or applesauce stirred in. Ditto sweet potato, we sometimes have to add some seasoning or other food. He eats a whole bowl of oatmeal with a banana and yogurt stirred in for breakfast. Meats are no sweat, and he loves most veggies and potatoes. Of all things he loves to eat, his cookie monster-blue birthday cupcakes were not among them. He was decidedly underwhelmed and even cried when I tried to force-feed him a bite.
His temperament is so mellow and quiet most of the time. He can tolerate so much of Mikayla's toddler antics, and sits peacefully when I tow them to doctor's appointments and the store. People marvel at how great my kids are, and I attribute it to Joel's laid-back 50% of the gene pool for sure.
In closing, I told Mikayla that I am writing a birthday post for Isaac, and asked what I should write. Mikayla would like to share a very robust "Happy birthday to you!" with her little brother.
Measurements coming soon. His one-year well baby visit is tomorrow, and then I'll come back and update with his weight and length for the record books you are all keeping at home.
**We had a great doctor's appointment! He weighed in at 24.4 lbs and 30.5" long, 75th percentile for both. The nurse practitioner thought he looked perfect in every way other than that pesky diaper rash, which is totally going to embarrass him later if he ever looks back on his birthday posts when he is older.
His current existence might be summed up by saying he is on the move. Since he discovered his ability to clamber up the stairs a month ago, he has spent most of his waking time attempting just that. I regularly discover him sitting at the top of the stairs doing nothing in particular, just waiting for me to come bask in the joy of his wonderful accomplishment. So far he hasn't attempted the descent, even by accident, but I'm just waiting for that moment to come. His love of the stairs is so great that he has invented a way to teleport himself through a barricade consisting of two to three dining room chairs placed in various configurations at the foot of the stairs, without moving them or making a sound. No, but seriously, I've never seen him do it, but the chairs apparently are small fries for this guy. Carrying him upstairs for diaper changes and bedtimes? No deal. He will wiggle and squirm until I concede and let him crawl up himself. Usually, I give in at the landing, and head up the stairs ahead of him to enjoy the sight of his little grinning face bobbing toward me as he climbs. This activity rivals only the eating of cheerios for Isaac's greatest pleasure.
Isaac splashes around in the bathtub with his big sister, squealing with delight and tolerating her bossy ways. He tries to climb into the tub by himself (which, a baby boy trying to climb over something that is clearly too big for him, while naked, is the dearest, funniest thing to watch!). He succeeds in climbing onto the bathroom stepstool, two steps up, while hanging for dear life onto the drawer, which he pulls out for that purpose. My little problem solver.
Splashing in the toilet, unrolling the toilet paper, demolishing window blinds. These are a few more of his favorite things. Along with unabashedly watching his sister do every little thing she does. I can only hope he is learning all her tricks and foibles, because it would be such a breeze to have two with her penchant for opinions and independence. They enjoy each other so much, whether obliviously engaging in parallel play or vying for the same blue mega block (they are not created equal and it's apparently not worth having if it is not also worth fighting for).
Other miscellaneous details: He's been in size 12 month clothing for a few months now (well, ought to have been...I've been squeezing him into some 6-9 shirts until my parents' birthday package for him arrived last week!). Six teeth present and accounted for. Eating some finger foods but prefers being spoon fed for most things because if you could get somebody else to do your work, wouldn't you? Says mama, dada, banana, moo, and amen if you know what to listen for, usually repeating after somebody rather than saying them spontaneously (he'll answer "What does a cow say?"). He signs "all done!" after meals and tends to just gesture wildly for "more" and "drink". We get the point. My little pragmatist. He waves, claps, tells us he is "so big!" or, as we joke, "sorta big", because he often throws up just one hand.
Favorite foods include, in order of preference, cheerios, graham crackers, banana puffs, anything with applesauce, oatmeal, yogurt, anything with black beans. He's grown tired of plain avocado lately but will eat it with yogurt or applesauce stirred in. Ditto sweet potato, we sometimes have to add some seasoning or other food. He eats a whole bowl of oatmeal with a banana and yogurt stirred in for breakfast. Meats are no sweat, and he loves most veggies and potatoes. Of all things he loves to eat, his cookie monster-blue birthday cupcakes were not among them. He was decidedly underwhelmed and even cried when I tried to force-feed him a bite.
His temperament is so mellow and quiet most of the time. He can tolerate so much of Mikayla's toddler antics, and sits peacefully when I tow them to doctor's appointments and the store. People marvel at how great my kids are, and I attribute it to Joel's laid-back 50% of the gene pool for sure.
In closing, I told Mikayla that I am writing a birthday post for Isaac, and asked what I should write. Mikayla would like to share a very robust "Happy birthday to you!" with her little brother.
Measurements coming soon. His one-year well baby visit is tomorrow, and then I'll come back and update with his weight and length for the record books you are all keeping at home.
**We had a great doctor's appointment! He weighed in at 24.4 lbs and 30.5" long, 75th percentile for both. The nurse practitioner thought he looked perfect in every way other than that pesky diaper rash, which is totally going to embarrass him later if he ever looks back on his birthday posts when he is older.
Meanwhile, we will continue to praise God for the sweet, surprise blessing of Isaac. I feel like I say this all too often, and yet not nearly enough: We are undeserving of such goodness from the Lord's hand. Thank you, dear Father, for the great challenges and rewards of parenthood.
Attempted Independence
I guess it's kind of a big day around here. Lunchtime caught me by surprise (seriously? both kids are hungry right at 12:00? is that, like, a "thing"?), so Isaac went into the highchair with a handful of cheerios in front of him. Mainly because Mikayla is louder than him, and you know what they say about the squeaky wheel. Anything to achieve the sanity more quickly, I always say. Mind you, Isaac has never actually eaten cheerios before. We've gotten him onto those little dissolving Puffs things in the past week or so, but otherwise he is all, "Put it on a spoon, peasant." So the cheerios today was purely a move of "hey, he can at least throw them around and amuse himself."
Much to my delight, he seized upon the opportunity to refine his pincer grasp and CHOWED those things. Fast. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't searched his bib pocket and the secret hiding place in the corners of the high chair. So cool! My sweet Isaac is a little self-feeder now!
The backfire: He proceeded to reject all of his normal lunch foods, eating only when another handful of cheerios was dumped onto his tray. Even the sippy cup was immediately launched. I did briefly interest him in a graham cracker, but I soon realized that forcing variety for its own sake only resulted in a lot more crumbs to sweep up. Cheerios really are the perfect, bite-size baby/toddler snack, aren't they?
So Isaac had like three cups of cheerios for lunch. Can't wait for the old digestive process to grind to a slow, grainy halt over that one.
And then? Mikayla announced she was done eating and ready for a nap. Cue her insistance that she is capable of putting herself down for a nap all by herself. I'm all about less work (see above), so I told her to just come back down when she wakes up. She went upstairs, I heard her door close, reasonable quiet ensued. Then I remembered the whole potty/no diaper thing. Shoot. Mental calculations suggested inevitable naptime "incident" based on most recent tinkle. Also, I began to hear strange thumping.
My freshly reheated pizza snickered at me as I jogged up the stairs to intervene. Turns out, Mikayla had the same thought, and was in the process of leaving her room to go potty. I'm sure that would have gone well, but I was obviously happy to help. Various potty time shenanigans followed, but we eventually got her back into her room (Isaac was, naturally, wailing for more cheerios by now).
I only had to threaten spanking twice before she stayed in her bed for good. That girl knows the cards to play, too. Will her good Christian momma refuse to read her the Bible before naptime? Yes, yes she will. Don't judge.
It got easier from there, though. Isaac let me know he was finished with a hearty, "All done, momma!" (Waving his arms wildly and making Donald Duck-like sounds. The fine art of interpretation.) And he has spent the last 15 minutes while I've been writing this post, doing this:
That boy loves him some outside! He could stand at a window for...well, at least 15 minutes, until his momma interrupts his workflow to snap a poor-quality backlit phone picture.
He currently has located another window and is working on raising the blinds. It was going so well until he noticed the leftover cheerios on his highchair footrest:
I wish that had better lighting, because the sight of him next to the cock-eyed blinds, munching on old cheerios is really one of the cutest things ever.
So, self-feeding and self-napping. I might just go book myself a vacation because obviously my kids barely need me anymore!
Much to my delight, he seized upon the opportunity to refine his pincer grasp and CHOWED those things. Fast. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't searched his bib pocket and the secret hiding place in the corners of the high chair. So cool! My sweet Isaac is a little self-feeder now!
The backfire: He proceeded to reject all of his normal lunch foods, eating only when another handful of cheerios was dumped onto his tray. Even the sippy cup was immediately launched. I did briefly interest him in a graham cracker, but I soon realized that forcing variety for its own sake only resulted in a lot more crumbs to sweep up. Cheerios really are the perfect, bite-size baby/toddler snack, aren't they?
So Isaac had like three cups of cheerios for lunch. Can't wait for the old digestive process to grind to a slow, grainy halt over that one.
And then? Mikayla announced she was done eating and ready for a nap. Cue her insistance that she is capable of putting herself down for a nap all by herself. I'm all about less work (see above), so I told her to just come back down when she wakes up. She went upstairs, I heard her door close, reasonable quiet ensued. Then I remembered the whole potty/no diaper thing. Shoot. Mental calculations suggested inevitable naptime "incident" based on most recent tinkle. Also, I began to hear strange thumping.
My freshly reheated pizza snickered at me as I jogged up the stairs to intervene. Turns out, Mikayla had the same thought, and was in the process of leaving her room to go potty. I'm sure that would have gone well, but I was obviously happy to help. Various potty time shenanigans followed, but we eventually got her back into her room (Isaac was, naturally, wailing for more cheerios by now).
I only had to threaten spanking twice before she stayed in her bed for good. That girl knows the cards to play, too. Will her good Christian momma refuse to read her the Bible before naptime? Yes, yes she will. Don't judge.
It got easier from there, though. Isaac let me know he was finished with a hearty, "All done, momma!" (Waving his arms wildly and making Donald Duck-like sounds. The fine art of interpretation.) And he has spent the last 15 minutes while I've been writing this post, doing this:
That boy loves him some outside! He could stand at a window for...well, at least 15 minutes, until his momma interrupts his workflow to snap a poor-quality backlit phone picture.
He currently has located another window and is working on raising the blinds. It was going so well until he noticed the leftover cheerios on his highchair footrest:
I wish that had better lighting, because the sight of him next to the cock-eyed blinds, munching on old cheerios is really one of the cutest things ever.
So, self-feeding and self-napping. I might just go book myself a vacation because obviously my kids barely need me anymore!
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