Little Sir Isaac

New blog!

2008-08-22T19:45:00.004-04:00

Well, we've decided it's time to re-name the blog so it reflects both of our children. Please visit our new blog United in Laughter to follow the happenings in our family. We'll be saving Little Sir Isaac in case he's interested in a blog of his own someday.

Two of a Kind

2008-08-19T08:01:00.006-04:00

I couldn't resist these matching shirts for my boys. We had fun with our own little photo shoot.

Beach Bums

2008-08-18T16:01:00.005-04:00

We had a great family day this weekend! Saturday we spent the day at Tunnel Park on Lake Michigan. It's a great beach just north of the Holland State Park. The tunnel from the parking lot to the beach is right in the middle of a dune. It was fun to run through and yell, "Echo!" Other beach-goers enjoyed Isaac's enthusiasm as well. Levi snoozed under our beach umbrella and then enjoyed watching Isaac and Daddy build their sand mountain. Isaac loves to play in the sand so a day at the beach with an endless supply of sand was fantastic! We did a little bit of swimming and wave jumping to make the beach visit complete. It was very sweet, we got in the car to drive home and Isaac said, "That was fun!"

Get Your Goat

2008-08-08T08:15:00.004-04:00

We made another trip to the Critter Barn this week. Isaac remembered our last visit and some of the pig-things we learned. As we were walking into the barn we passed quite a few goats. Isaac pointed and said, "Those are the pot-belly goats." He ended up being a little unsure of the goats; they are bigger and quicker than pigs. However, he could not pass up the chance to feed a baby goat with a bottle. And, he was ready to become a billy goat with the mask we made. We used soap made from goat's milk to wash our hands, then moisturized with lotion made from goat's milk and then snacked on sherbet made from goat's milk. Another fun class!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changing

2008-08-05T14:34:00.005-04:00

Levi is changing so quickly! He is becoming much more aware of the world around him. He enjoys watching Isaac and looks for him quite often. It's heart-warming for us to see our two boys smile at one another. Levi is also becoming interested in Oscar and I saw him flash a smile at big dog recently. And, Levi is also a fan of all the hair on his head. He's frequently found with a handful while sleeping. If he doesn't get a bald spot from laying down, he just may get one from all the twirling and tugging!

Fun in the Sun

2008-07-28T08:50:00.002-04:00

We've had some beautiful Michigan weather and we've done our best to get out and enjoy it. Levi snoozed on my lap while big brother Isaac had fun on the boat.

Levi is a really happy baby. We are seeing constant smiles from our little one. He's sleeping all night and catching multiple cat-naps throughout the day. I'm beginning to notice a pattern for his daytime sleeping so a 'schedule' is close at hand.

Party Time

2008-07-20T22:59:00.004-04:00

Isaac had such a great time at his birthday party! His cousins commented that he was jumping up and down at the window when they got here. He's been ready for this day for quite awhile! It was a fantastic party and thanks to our families for joining in on the celebration! Isaac was asleep the second he hit the pillow. He did bring his music playing card to bed with him and held it while he slept in his new pajamas. It was the first thing we heard the next morning when he woke up. Now we're looking forward to a couple of quiet days at home so Isaac can continue to enjoy all the fun new things he got for his birthday.

Look Who's 3!

2008-07-16T20:17:00.004-04:00

We had an awesome day celebrating our 3 year old! Daddy took the day off so he could join in on the birthday fun. We gave Isaac 3 things to choose from for our family to do together on his birthday. His choice: go to a farm! So, we got up bright and early to go to the 'Critter Barn' for a Little Farmer's class about pigs. Isaac helped feed the pigs (meat hogs and pot belly) and got their pen ready with fresh straw. There was also a story about pigs, a craft about pigs and a pig cookie for a snack. The class even sang 'Happy Birthday' to Isaac. It was precious, he smiled the entire time.

After lunch we took him to a great little bakery and let him pick out the dessert of his choice. A spiderman cupcake! Yum! After spending the afternoon playing with his new toys, we went to a great little hotdog joint (Yesterdog for those GR natives - where else?) to get him the best hotdog in town for supper.

Isaac's birthday party is this weekend so it will be more fun, dessert and presents as the celebration starts all over again with extended family. We're looking forward to watching our boy smile as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins take part in wishing him much happiness.

We cannot believe Isaac is 3! He is doing so much by himself and constantly reminding us how big he is. His little mind is working all the time and he never ceases to amaze us with the things he says, remembers and figures out. He's a wonderful little dude! We're so thankful God chose us to be his parents!

Big & Little

2008-07-10T12:43:00.003-04:00

Well, this was our 2nd attempt at getting a picture of these 2 in their Big & Little shirts. The first one Levi wasn't real happy so this is an improvement. As long as the shirts fit, we'll keep trying!

Happiness

2008-07-10T12:41:00.002-04:00

It might be blurry, but it's a smile!

Fun on the 4th

2008-07-05T14:38:00.004-04:00

We have had lots of fun celebrating the 4th! We started Thursday night at a friend's house for food and fireworks. They live on a golf course very close to the launching point so we had front row seats on their deck. Isaac thought the fireworks were fancy, loud and cool. He also threw in a "Woo-hoo" in between some of the bigger booms. Levi slept through the entire show! We were all amazed that he only flinched at a few of them.

Friday we went to the parade and met up with our friend Rowen. We've been missing her so it was very fun to see her again. Both kids gathered an impressive amount of candy. Levi was awake at the parade but desperately wanted to be sleeping. He'd just drift off to sleep and then another horn would blow. After the parade we headed home for lunch and naps. Then we went to our cousins' house for the annual cook-out and game of kickball.

We were also part of the tens of thousands of folks in the area without power. It went out during a storm Wednesday around 3pm and finally came back on Friday around 2pm. Thankfully, the temps were beautiful so the house stayed nice and cool. We loaded up the cooler with ice and managed to save a majority of our food. But my goodness how we take electricity for granted! Preparing our meals became more challenging and so did getting the Jeep out of the garage. The garage is not attached to the house and there is no service door so Martin had to climb in a window to open the garage door from the inside. Our cordless phones no longer worked and neither did the answering machine (sorry if you tried to call us!). The estimated restoration time was 11pm Saturday so we were very excited yesterday when it came back on. Thank you Consumers Energy for working on the Holiday!

Healthy Big Boy

2008-07-05T14:30:00.002-04:00

It was Isaac's turn at the doctor this week (it was his 3-year old check-up; a little early). He is a growing boy! He now weighs 28 pounds and is 36 inches tall. He had an eye exam for the first time and passed with flying colors. He also had his blood pressure taken and passed that as well. I think he felt quite important to have a turn getting his arm hugged because he watched the nurses check my blood pressure at every baby appointment of my pregnancy.

And yes, he's still best friends with Oscar.

Healthy Baby Boy

2008-06-25T22:46:00.002-04:00

Levi had his 2 month check-up today and he now weighs in at 11 pounds 8 ounces. His doc was very pleased with this growing boy. We got a great report from the doctor and some reassurance that Levi is eating well. Just as the doctor was asking if we're getting lots of smiles from our boy, Levi flashed him a big grin. Then, minutes after I was asked if Levi is cooing, Levi made his sweet little baby noises as well.

Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!

2008-06-21T17:38:00.005-04:00

We met all 3 animals at the zoo this week. The lions were quiet, the tiger looked right at us and the bears were on the move. After the zoo we took a trolley to a downtown salon for some face painting and 'mane' styling.

Chalk Time

2008-06-18T15:02:00.002-04:00

Isaac received some sidewalk chalk as a Big Brother gift from a family friend. It was on a dreary day and we weren't sure if it was going to rain but we really needed to try out the chalk. So, Daddy and Isaac spent some time getting creative on the front porch.

Waiting for Nana

2008-06-16T20:12:00.002-04:00

Nana was on her way over with supper and as soon as I told Isaac he camped out on the window sill to watch for her. She's kept our kitchen so well stocked that now when Isaac sees her he asks her if she has any cookies.

A big thank you to everyone who has brought us meals since Levi's arrival. Your thoughtfulness has meant so much to us. It has been helpful to not even have to think about supper as we are adjusting to life with 2 kids. In fact, there's been so much that Isaac doesn't believe that I cook anymore. I made baked blueberry french toast for breakfast on Father's Day and Isaac asked who made it. When I told him I did, he smiled and said, "No, Nana did."

Brotherly Love

2008-06-16T20:08:00.002-04:00

Here's a new hang-out for big brother and little brother. By the way, don't let Isaac hear you say Levi is getting big. He will correct you with "No, I big. He's tiny."

Festival of the Arts

2008-06-16T19:53:00.007-04:00

Isaac loves to paint. This year we took him to the Festival of the Arts and let him spend as much time as he wanted in the Paint-In area. And believe me, he spent a lot of time there. I don't know how many kids we watched come and go while our little artist just kept right on working on his masterpiece. He definitely got in to it and quite literally, he left with paint in his hair. It was great! Kudos to all the volunteers who put the booth together. No parents are allowed in the painting area so the kids do their own thing (I was in long enough to snap these pictures and then was asked to leave). They can stay as long as they like and use as much paint as they like. It was a dream come true for this big boy.

Smiles and Coos

2008-06-16T15:22:00.002-04:00

Levi has begun to smile! He has a wonderful smile - his whole face lights up. We're still at the point where we have to work hard to see a smile so we have not captured one on camera yet. Also, we're hearing sweet little noises from him as well. Those first coos are so precious. There still isn't much of a pattern for sleeping yet. Some nights we'll get as much as 7 hours from him but other nights we'll only get 3. Thankfully Isaac doesn't hear him upstairs and Martin is a sound sleeper (I only wake him up for help on the weekend), so I'm really the only one affected.

Hiatus Explained

2008-06-16T10:33:00.002-04:00

Our computer has been on the fritz, but thanks to Martin's determination and tech ability, it is now up and running again. Yay! Lots of updates are on the way. Here's a glimpse of what's to come...

We walked to a nearby playground today for some Father's Day fun (yet another reason we love our neighborhood!). We had the place to ourselves and really took advantage of it. Everybody went down the slide: Levi included via the Baby Bjorn.

Then, in our own backyard, Martin and Isaac were having fun watching Oscar take a shower in our sprinkler. I was watching them out the window and just had to take a picture of the happiness. You can almost hear the giggling when you look at this one.

HUGE slide

2008-05-27T14:41:00.002-04:00

Part of our holiday weekend (and Martin's birthday weekend) festivities included a visit to a waterpark. Daddy & Isaac took a turn going down this HUGE slide. I wasn't sure if Isaac liked it or not because his face was so serious on their landing. But Martin said our big boy was doing happy yells all the way down.

Isaac has been waking up each morning eager to give a weather report. This weekend he climbed out of bed, opened his shade and yelled, "It's a beautiful day!" However, today, he climbed out of bed, opened his shade and yelled, "It's a rainy day!" He'll continue to yell his report until someone agrees and looks out the window with him.

Hanging Out

2008-05-27T14:37:00.002-04:00

Levi loves to sleep - during the day! Although, I will say it's getting better and it's not every night, but his favorite time to be up is between 2am and 5am. Not quite my favorite hours of the day, but this too shall pass. ;)

Levi's Wheels

2008-05-22T16:30:00.002-04:00

While Noah and Isaac were motoring around, Levi was looking stylish in his wheels too. It was a bit on the cool side and Levi was sleeping, so our stroller/car seat combo was perfect to keep him warm and snuggly inside. I have a whole new appreciation for products like this and our baby carriers (we have a sling and a Baby Bjorn)...easy to keep Levi with me (or on me) and still have fun with Isaac.

Isaac has added the words "because", "actually" and "accidentally" to his vocabulary. It's hilarious. We were in the car the other day and I saw some birds flying over us but didn't see exactly what they were. I said, "Isaac did you see those birds?" He replied, "Actually they are gooses Mommy."

That was then, this is now

2008-05-20T14:20:00.005-04:00

Isaac and Noah both enjoy cruising in the dump truck. No warm weather get-together is complete for these two without taking a spin in it. As you can see, the same was true last year too!

Twice as Nice

2008-05-12T15:29:00.004-04:00

Mother's Day was twice as nice with two little boys to snuggle. =)

Yesterday when Martin picked Isaac up from Sunday School Isaac was sitting all by himself on a step holding a baby doll and giving it a bottle. Prior to Levi's arrival, Isaac had shown very little interest in baby dolls. It's quite sweet that this big brother chose a baby doll over his favorite dinosaurs.

What kind of hand is this?

2008-05-08T15:35:00.003-04:00

Here's a conversation I had with Isaac recently:

I: What kind of hand is this? (he held up his right hand)

M: That's Isaac's hand.

I: It's right hand.

M: Yes, it is. What kind of hand is the other one?

I: Left hand. (he held up his left hand)

We have no idea where Isaac learned left and right. Martin and I have each mentioned it in passing, but we've never made a point to teach him the difference. Now, as long as he is holding something, he knows the difference between left and right. He also gave me his left foot when I requested it for his left shoe.

Levi had his 2-week check-up today and the doctor said he couldn't be more pleased with him. Levi now weighs a hefty 7 lbs 9 oz. The goal was to be at least back to his birth weight within 2 weeks (he weighed 6 lbs 10 oz when we brought him home from the hospital). Everything else checked out just fine as well.

One more thing: today I heard a story about a baby that was born 4 weeks premature and his lungs were not fully developed. He also has a hole in one lung so he is in the NICU. It reminded me how thankful I am for two early babies that have been two healthy babies. What a praise that both our boys came home from the hospital the same day I did.

New Bike

2008-05-05T20:43:00.002-04:00

We got this great new bike from some friends at church. They brought it over yesterday and Martin and Isaac bought a helmet tonight so Isaac could start learning how to ride it right away. Pedaling is a new concept for Isaac, but we're confident he'll have it mastered in no time.

Brothers

2008-05-05T19:19:00.002-04:00

Isaac likes holding Levi, and Levi likes being held by Isaac. At least once a day Isaac wants to hold our baby. He's been a very sweet big brother and rushes to say "Good Morning" to Levi as soon as he wakes up. If Levi is crying Isaac will say, "Mommy, our baby needs you." Or, he'll walk over to Levi and pat him and say, "It's ok." It's wonderful for Martin and I to see.

Story Time

2008-05-05T19:12:00.002-04:00

While I was busy making lunch, all my boys kept busy with Isaac's new library books. Isaac has befriended Miss Jeanne the librarian. The other day he told me she's an awesome lady, and I agree. She does a great job at story time, and she always says hello to Isaac when he's picking out new books.

Levi

2008-04-29T21:41:00.002-04:00

Levi is such a wonderful addition to our little family. He has been making us all smile ever since we met him. Isaac is a great big brother and has been sharing his toys and books with Levi. He wanted to share his pancakes too but was a little disappointed when he found out our baby doesn't have teeth yet.

Levi's blood sugar stabilized within 36 hours of birth so all is well. Thanks for the prayers!

Another Schoenborn Boy!

2008-04-24T22:37:00.003-04:00

This morning at 7:16am Levi Jensen Schoenborn was born. He weighed 6lb 15oz and is 18" long.

He, like his big brother Isaac, decided to come early. Unlike last time—we were better prepared, but it still all went so quick. Melissa noticed contractions that felt different than normal around 1am. We got to the hospital around 4am and like I mentioned above he came into the world at 7:16am!

Levi's blood sugar has been bouncing around a bit more than normal. The doctors assure us that it's not a big concern. There are so many factors that could be causing it to happen. Please say a little prayer for this issue to resolve itself.

It's looking like we'll all be home before noon on Saturday.

Enjoy the attached pics!

Warm Weather = Big Falls

2008-04-23T13:42:00.002-04:00

Isaac had his first big tumble of the season. He didn't get his hands out in time to break the fall, so his face and knee took the brunt of it. It's looking better already (it happened Monday) and he's really enjoyed the extra attention it's been bringing. At my Mom's group everyone who saw him showed their concern. I also had a doctor's appointment and the staff was very compassionate to this little band-aid boy. It's been a bummer for Martin and me to see the scratches on Isaac, but we know there will be more. It's only April and he's an active little guy.

Hankie Hats

2008-04-23T11:54:00.002-04:00

After a weekend run, Martin put on a bandana to help keep his face and head dry & cool. Isaac immediately wanted one of his own. He LOVES to be like Daddy! We ended up calling them hankie hats because in the thick of winter bandanas work great as hankies, so that's what Isaac identified them as.

Look out Beckham here comes Little Sir Isaac!

2008-04-17T23:44:00.007-04:00

Like Mel mentioned below—We really had a great night tonight.

Growing up playing football it's really weird to see our son kicking a soccer ball, but he loves it. It's really cool to see him buzzing up and down the field. We still have to work on the focus... Ha Ha!

We all so needed a night out of the house. Spring is here.

Soccer Love

2008-04-17T19:19:00.003-04:00

Isaac loves kicking the soccer ball around. It's wonderful to have a school yard across the street equipped with a soccer field. There was a team practicing on it tonight, but it only proved to be beneficial as Isaac kept one eye on them studying their technique and one eye on the ball trying to keep up. Martin and I were amazed at how well he dribbles the ball (actually, so was a jogger who got a big grin on her face as she watched Isaac in action).

Isaac's vocabulary and conversation continue to surprise us as well. This afternoon we walked to the library and stopped to chat with a neighbor. At supper I mentioned to Martin that we saw our neighbor and he asked me how she's doing. Before I could answer, Isaac replied, "She's doing well."

It's days like today that remind us how much we love our neighborhood. It's so nice to be a quick walk away from the library (and ice cream store that we are watching with anticipation to see signs of opening for the season) and to see the school yard bustling with activity tonight. The basketball courts, track, soccer field, baseball diamond and everything in between were full of people enjoying the beautiful weather. And, the sidewalks also had a steady flow of people walking or running. It almost feels like after a long winter we've all returned to the land of the living.

Have Vacuum, Will Clean

2008-04-15T13:53:00.008-04:00

I keep forgetting to buy batteries for Isaac's toy vacuum, actually, I keep forgetting to even check what size battery is needed. Each trip to the store Isaac sees batteries and asks me to buy some for his vacuum. So I finally decided to substitute his toy vacuum for a real one and I wish I would have thought of it sooner. Isaac has so much fun with this little hand-held one and it helps me out with keeping the floors clean as well. I only had to show him once where the on/off switch is and now he's fully capable of running it all by himself.

Uncle Bud's with Jesus

2008-04-12T20:56:00.003-04:00

Well… There isn't any picture for this posting. Just a sad event to report.

Melissa's Great Uncle Bud passed away this last Wednesday. Last Saturday afternoon we celebrated his 89th birthday with him and Aunt Clarice. Not soon after the party he became ill and slipped into a coma.

A little cute story to share with you about Isaac. This morning, before breakfast, I said a quick prayer and during the prayer I asked God to comfort Aunt Clarice because she lost Uncle Bud. After the prayer, Isaac piped in with a cute "Uncle Bud's lost?" It's really amazing how innocent he is. We then proceeded to explain to him that Uncle Bud is now in heaven with Jesus. Later in the day, at Uncle Bud's funeral, Isaac saw Aunt Clarice and asked "Where's Uncle Bud?" I told him to tell me where Uncle Bud was and he answered, "WITH JESUS!"

WOW! It instantly brought tears to my eyes. Isaac is so amazing!

Reading with cousin Noah

2008-04-07T14:56:00.002-04:00

All was quiet and the two little boys were off on their own. This typically makes a parent believe trouble is brewing. So, imagine our delight when we stumbled upon Isaac and Noah quietly reading books together.

Family Fun

2008-03-30T15:49:00.002-04:00

We had another Family Day this weekend. Well, maybe it was a day and a half because we also did Movie Night on Friday. We all cuddled up on the couch in the basement with a big bowl of popcorn (hugged by Isaac) to watch "Finding Nemo." Then Saturday we started our day by visiting the butterflies at Frederick Meijer Gardens. The highlight of the butterflies for all of us was when a butterfly landed on Martin's head. We were only in the exhibit a minute or two when it happened, so it became the talk of the day. "One landed on mine Daddy's head. That's funny!" The nice weather was a huge bonus - we got to run around and play outside in the Children's Garden as well. We were not planning on that so it was a real treat to get some fresh air.

We also did some shopping yesterday. We learned with Isaac's early birth that we need to be ready for this Baby soon (I may go full-term or I may not). Isaac helped us pick out both a boy outfit and a girl outfit for our Baby to wear home from the hospital. He was serious about helping us and would yell, "Honey, look! Awwwww...." with each outfit he presented. We've also started reading books together as a family at bedtime. It's an idea I got out of the book "Honey for a Child's Heart" which is all about incorporating reading into a child's life. It's a great book and comes complete with book lists for children of all ages and all interests. A treasure for years to come!

Easter Blessings

2008-03-23T20:27:00.004-04:00

There's no shots of Isaac in his nice Easter clothes this year. He's in a new room for Sunday School at church and it is equipped with a drinking fountain. Isaac loves to play in the water so he thought the fountain was meant for fun and had a great time drenching his face, neck and clothes. He's a fast little dude because by the time he was discovered, it was much too late and we had to hang his clothes up to dry as soon as we got home. So, we just have pictures of our egg fun and his basket. We put very little candy in his Easter basket and he really warmed our hearts by wanting to share the few pieces he had. He took the first one out and claimed it for himself, the next one was for Mommy, then Daddy and then his good friend Rowey. He's a thoughtful little man.

Hope you all had a blessed Easter.

Circle Track

2008-03-21T14:49:00.004-04:00

Isaac never ceases to amaze me. Daddy has been the resident circle track expert ever since we gave this train set to Isaac. It is not your basic set and takes some real strategizing to connect all the pieces successfully (at least that's what I tell my college-educated self to make my failed attempts seem not so bad). Isaac was quietly playing in the living room this morning while I was cleaning things up in the kitchen. He started yelling with excitement and was running and jumping his way into the kitchen. He wanted me to see that he made a circle track all by himself! We are both very proud of it and are looking forward to Daddy's arrival home this evening to show him Isaac's handiwork.

Baby news: Our due date is about 8 weeks away. Baby and I are both healthy and growing well. ;) My appointments are now every 2 weeks. Isaac has been to each one and even has his own measuring tape (a gift from the doctor) so he can measure my belly too. He says I'm getting really huge. Out of the mouths of babes...

Vacation Part V - All that fresh air

2008-03-11T15:01:00.009-04:00

Despite being on vacation, we managed to stick to Isaac's schedule most days. There were only a couple of times he had to catch his zzzz's whenever possible. Our Disney day was by far the longest and he zonked right out with cousin Noah. The one downfall to renting a stroller from the park is you have to give it back. However, both Isaac and Noah managed to remain sleeping in their Daddys' arms. And, I'll confess there were a few days when I couldn't resist napping right along with Isaac. Our travel back to MI was also another long day (ok, 2 days) so Isaac snoozed in his carseat; and he sure does look comfy! On our way home we were talking about sleeping at our own house in our own beds and Isaac said, "I love that big bed." I think he summed it up quite well because there's nothing like that first night back in your own bed.

We're so thankful we could take a vacation and for the time spent with family. It was a great 10 days and we made some wonderful memories!

Vacation Part IV - Hanging Out

2008-03-11T14:17:00.005-04:00

The rest of our vacation was spent hanging out. We all stayed in one house so it was tons of fun for Isaac to have his cousins right there and ready to play all week. The weather was beautiful so we played outside, played outside and played outside some more. We visited Downtown Disney a couple of times to do some souvenir shopping and play in Lego Land. We even managed to do a letter box which is pretty cool to have an out-of-state addition to our notebook.

Vacation Part III - All things Disney

2008-03-11T07:16:00.007-04:00

So, no trip to Orlando is complete without incorporating something Disney into it. We had breakfast with the characters on Sunday to prep us for Magic Kingdom Monday. This is one of my favorite Disney experiences. It's great food (which is important to a pregnant Mommy) and a good opportunity to meet some of the classics. Isaac was not in the least bit shy or afraid of anyone. We think one of his favorites was Minnie. She was so sweet and gave lots of kisses. Dale was a lot of fun too and kept calling members from our group over to get in the picture until only the waitress was left to hold the camera.

We spent a full day Monday at Magic Kingdom. Isaac loved it (we all did!). After each ride he'd ask, "What's next Mom?" Martin and I went on the teacups with Isaac and thought we better take it easy (the spinning of each cup is controlled by the riders in it), however, we forgot how much Isaac likes to get dizzy. Once he figured out how to make the cup go round and round, there was no stopping him. Isaac also enjoyed the parade and kept busy waving at everyone in it. Tweedle-Dee (or maybe it was Tweedle-Dum, they look alike) came right over to Isaac and gave him five in the middle of the parade. Isaac just beamed at the special attention. It was a very fun day.

Vacation Part II - An Ocean View

2008-03-10T07:35:00.005-04:00

This was a first for both Isaac and Martin! A trip to the ocean! Well, technically it's the Gulf, but it's ocean water complete with ocean creatures so we're calling it the ocean. We stayed a couple of days in Tampa with cousin Lisa and made a trip to the beach in Clearwater. It was a bit cool but we still had fun. Isaac is even sporting his new Tampa Bay Buchaneers jacket (one of Daddy's favorite teams).

Vacation Part I - Planes, Trains & Automobiles

2008-03-09T18:57:00.007-04:00

We had a great vacation and got some really fun pictures so I'll be doing a series of postings to share some of our favorites.

This first set shows the different types of transportation we used to get to Florida. It was a much better deal to fly out of Detroit (even with the price of a rental included). Picture #1 is Isaac in the back of the mini van we rented. He thought it was pretty cool to sit "Way back here. Daddy no reach me." We had him so pumped up for vacation that when we stopped at a rest area on the way to Detroit he shouted, "Vacation!" He's so easy to please. He knew Mommy & Daddy were excited so he was too, even at a bathroom stop.

Picture #2 is Isaac on a bus for the first time. We had the entire bus all to ourselves. It was a short ride; from the rental drop-off area to the terminal, but long enough for him to experience a bus ride.

Pictures #3 and #4 are both on the airplane. Isaac is a flying champ. His ears never bothered him and he liked flying way up high above the clouds. He kept busy jamming to Sesame Street on Daddy's i-pod. Our flight had service to Nashville so we hung out in the plane for a few minutes and Martin and Isaac got to check out the cock-pit and meet the pilot. Isaac also got his first set of wings. It was a great travel day and our little dude is fun to travel with.

We did take a small 'train' to the baggage claim in the Tampa airport but we didn't get any pictures of it. But it did help round off our day of transportation.

Our Little Grad

2008-02-23T13:51:00.002-05:00

Isaac has graduated from his gymnastics class. He even has the certificate to prove it. It was a fun 6 week class that Daddy and Isaac did together. Isaac really enjoyed the running and jumping aspect of the class. Now we're just waiting until the fall when he'll be old enough for soccer; kicking is by far his favorite physical activity. Not to mention, he's quite accurate and powerful around the house so we can only imagine what he'll do when let loose on some turf.

Baby update: Welcome to the third trimester! Now the count-down really begins. Our due date is 12 weeks from today and baby is doing great. Little one has been doing some gymnastics as well; I've been feeling lots of big movements. Isaac is enjoying watching my belly grow and has been giving lots of hugs to Baby. And, according to Isaac, the race car has moved to Daddy's belly. It seems like he's more accepting of the baby idea but not quite ready to give up on the race car yet.

--Mel

Sweet Valentine

2008-02-15T12:54:00.002-05:00

Isaac admires Daddy's goatee. Last night I think he tried to 'grow' his own with our special Valentine ice cream dessert.

--Mel

Cool as a Cucumber

2008-02-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

We're trying to give Isaac 'responsibilities' that are age appropriate. One that he has mastered is putting his drink away after each meal and snack. He can reach the little drink cubby from the floor, but it's much more fun to climb into the fridge and become one with the appliance to properly stow away the cup.

Here's a conversation Isaac and I had at supper time one night last week:

I: What's this?
M: Lasagna.
I: What's in it?
M: Meat, noodles, cheese and beans.
I: Oh, thanks for making it Mom.

--Mel

Haircut Up High

2008-02-04T14:33:00.001-05:00

Isaac no longer needs to sit on my lap for a haircut (yet another sign our peanut is growing up!). He sits perfectly still while Miss Kelly cuts his hair and giggles when she uses the buzzer by his ears and neck. Even though it's been close to two months since our last visit, he remembers where Miss Kelly keeps the candy jar and politely asked for some when he was finished.

--Mel

Couch Time with Momma

2008-01-30T15:37:00.000-05:00

Our poor little dude has a double ear infection. We are definitely encouraged though that this is the first one this winter and it's the end of January; last winter it started in October (which may technically be Fall). Isaac has been on meds a few days now and is sleeping better at night, which means we all are! It's so different having a sick little guy with an extended vocabulary. He told me his ear hurt and he needed a Q-tip to make it better.

Fun new things:

Isaac can sing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,' and 'Jesus Loves Me'. However, he prefers a small audience as I'm the only one that has been privy to his performances.

We were stripping wallpaper in Isaac's new room and Martin pulled off a rather large piece. Isaac said, "Good job, Daddy!" Which, by the way, Isaac is very into wallpaper removal. There are a few more rooms in our house that need it taken down, and I know just the man for the job!

--Mel

Bob Bliss

2008-01-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

We've been talking about getting a membership to the local Children's Museum and as soon as we found out a Bob the Builder exhibit was coming to town, our decision was made for us. We got our membership just in time to sign up for a preview party where Isaac met Bob. It was very exciting! Isaac also got a chance to 'drive' a digger...he's in the picture, just look for two little eyes behind the wheel. ;) He was also honored to use Bob's tools at a workbench and felt very important helping keep the water pump working. The exhibit is in town until the beginning of June so the fun has only just begun. I'm sure we'll make many more trips so Isaac can be part of Bob's crew.

Heart Melting Moment: Today as I was rocking Isaac for naptime, he was listing all the things he's going to share with our baby. A few items from the list: socks, puzzles, books and Eeyore. Even after I left Isaac's room he was still shouting out ideas to me. Just gotta keep this momentum going until the baby is really here...

--Mel

It's Not a Race Car

2008-01-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

It's official: there's a baby in Mommy's tummy, not a race car. And here's the first picture of our little one (face with eyes looking at you is on the left). Our baby is also quite active as the ultra-sound tech spent about 45 minutes with us trying to catch all she needed on 'camera' while baby did the rhumba. The doctor's first comment was that we have a big baby! 97th percentile! "YIKES!" says Melissa. Quite opposite of Little Sir Isaac who has yet to hit the 50th percentile.

This weekend we took baby steps in getting Isaac's new bedroom ready. He's already picked out which wall his bed should be on but we're still a month or so away from making the actual move. At least he's got the planning done for us! ;)

--M&M

One Happy Little Dude!

2008-01-08T15:51:00.000-05:00

I adore Isaac's smile. It's rather contagious, don't ya think? This picture was taken on Christmas Eve after opening a couple of presents from Mommy & Daddy. Isaac really enjoyed Christmas this year and is still having so much fun with all of his new toys. And, Jesus' birthday celebration made quite an impression on him as well. As I was laying him down for his nap today, he was singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

It's so fun to watch Isaac interact with other people. Martin and I took him to our favorite breakfast spot recently and Isaac was very polite to the waitress. He said "Thank you" when she brought him his drink. She asked if we were ready to order and I replied with a "Yes," so Isaac said, "I ready too." I ordered my food and then Isaac said, "Pancakes please. Daddy have pancakes too." Oh, and Isaac is still interested in how happy everyone is. We got a 16 happy from him the other day! Wow!

--Mel

Move Snow

2007-12-31T15:01:00.000-05:00

Isaac is always ready and willing to help. He was so excited to help Martin "move snow" and did not stop until Daddy did. He keeps his shovel right next to Martin's in the garage. Isaac even volunteered to do some shoveling last week when we got back from grocery shopping. He was pretty sad last night though when Martin used his snow blower and we stayed inside to watch. Isaac pulled a stool over to his bedroom window so he could see Daddy. It's a front-row seat, but not quite the same as being in on the action.

--Mel

Merry Christmas to All!

2007-12-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

In church yesterday the toddlers had a birthday party for Jesus; complete with party hats, balloons and noise makers. Isaac has been running around the house today proclaiming, "Jesus is born!"

Peace, joy and love to you all!

--M&M&I&O

Do you like my hat?

2007-12-24T14:26:00.000-05:00

Isaac may not know who Santa is, but he sure does dig this hat! Isaac believes Santa is Noah because of the Little People Noah's Ark that we have. Noah has a white beard so all white-bearded men are Noah, including Santa. Martin and I decided not to tell him otherwise...let the innocence last as long as possible!

Yes, this is Isaac's current favorite shirt (note the last few postings)! He is a big Bob the Builder fan so if this shirt is not in the laundry, he'll be wearing it!

Baby Update: I am feeling the baby move a lot these days! It's such a sweet reminder of the new little one that is to come. I am also just a few days shy of being halfway through the pregnancy. I have an ultrasound in a couple of weeks so we are looking forward to seeing the baby in action. Isaac has decided there is no longer a baby in my tummy but a racecar. The color changes quite often (green, purple, orange) but he's certain it's a racecar.

--Mel

My Guys

2007-12-05T20:23:00.000-05:00

Isaac and Daddy have so much fun together. The latest thing is sharing hot chocolate! They used to walk to the coffee shop once a week for some cocoa, but since it's getting colder a walk to the kitchen has been just as good. We even got mini marshmallows at the store this week so they can top it off with something sweet.

Baby Update: Isaac went to the baby doctor with us last week. He's already taking his big brother role very seriously. He listened intently as the doctor spoke and he repeats the heartbeat as "Boom, boom, boom." Also, I am beginning to feel the tiny flutters of our baby moving. It's incredible: even though it's the second time around, it all feels so new and exciting!

--Mel

Trimming the Tree

2007-11-24T19:36:00.000-05:00

Isaac had so much fun decorating our Christmas tree. It's a great looking tree this year...all the 'breakables' were put up high by Mommy & Daddy and the rest were put on by Isaac. He enforced a three ornament minimum for each branch (note the branch next to him). We love it!

--M&M

Counting Cookies

2007-11-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we counted our blessings and today we're counting cookies. Isaac helped me make some of our favorite cookies this morning. He loves to pour the ingredients in the bowl and stir it all up. After I put the dough on the cookie sheets, he went right to work counting the cookies for me.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday! We lost power late Wednesday night until early Thursday morning so we woke up thankful for a warm house and a fridge full of food - 2 things so many people in this world go without. It helped put things into perspective and made us realize how much we have. God is good.

--Mel

Throwing Leaves

2007-11-12T14:57:00.001-05:00

Typically Daddy rakes the leaves while Isaac is napping. However, with this most recent clean-up duty, he waited until Isaac could help. What a treat - for both of them! Isaac has his own rake and he knows how to use it. Daddy and Isaac invited me out to play in the leaf pile before they bagged it all up. We had so much fun running, jumping, throwing, and sitting in the leaves.

The other day I told Isaac I was so happy. Now, he likes to make sure I still am. He'll say to me, "So happy Mamma?". I'll tell him I am and then ask him the same question. His reply? "Isaac so happy. Two happy." Although, today, he said, "Just one happy." Apparently he's trying different ways to apply his counting skills.

--Mel

Fall Fun Continues

2007-11-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

We made our annual trip to Robinette's apple orchard with friends this weekend. It seemed late in the year for it, but we're thinking we might be on to something - there were no crowds! Isaac pretty much had this wagon/slide all to himself. Next year I'm sure he won't mind sharing it with his friend Baby Ian who was too little to slide this year.

Something new: I put Isaac's jammies on him the other night and pulled the shirt down snug so it covered his tummy. He looked down and said, "Looks nice." Must look dapper even in his sleep.

--Mel

A Big Boy Bed

2007-11-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

Isaac slept in his big boy bed for the first time last night. He is one excited little boy. We planted the seed about a month ago and he's gone bed shopping with us a few times. Last week he picked out his new sheets (Thomas the Choo Choo Train) and then we bought the bed yesterday. He helped Daddy put it together and then said to us, "Isaac nigh nigh big boy bed." We thought there might be a transition time, but he was ready right away! Our little peanut is growing up so fast!

--Mel

Dinosaur Roar

2007-10-31T19:35:00.000-04:00

Isaac has a killer "Roar!" so it was a perfect match when we found this dinosaur costume. With parties last week and this week, he got plenty of use out of it. He had a fun Halloween and collected plenty of candy.

He's getting more challenging to catch on camera. It used to be fun for him to look at his picture on the digital camera, now it's just fun to avoid it all together.

Happy Halloween!
--Mel

Pumpkin

2007-10-28T19:27:00.000-04:00

Daddy and Isaac carved their very first pumpkin together this weekend. Isaac enjoyed cleaning out the gooey orange inside and dumping it in the trash. Daddy made the pumpkin just how Isaac instructed; with 3 eyes. Here's a shot of my pumpkins with their pumpkin. ;)

--Mel

Big Brother

2007-10-24T20:15:00.000-04:00

We have some exciting news: Isaac is going to be a big brother! Our baby is due May 17 and we actually heard the heartbeat at the doctor today. I think both Martin and I forgot how amazing it is to hear that sweet little beat.

The first time we told Isaac there's a baby in Mommy's tummy he was quiet for a few moments. Then he smiled, shook his head and said, "Nooooo" like it was the silliest thing he's heard. Now, he likes to say there's a baby in his tummy too. He must think it's a new game we're playing.

--M&M

More Fall Fun

2007-10-22T13:37:00.000-04:00

This weekend we had wonderful weather! It was perfect timing for the Fall Harvest Festival at our CSA. We went on a hayride and rode out to a pumpkin patch where Daddy and Isaac chose another "kumpin" to bring home. Our collection of pumpkins is getting pretty big and Isaac has been enjoying playing with them all.

We also visited the family apple orchard. We did some apple picking but Isaac had more fun playing with sticks and dumping apples from bowl to bowl, or just using a bowl as a hat. It was a great day to be outside and the orchard was a great place to be.

--Mel

"Kumpins"

2007-10-19T13:18:00.000-04:00

Today Isaac and I visited an apple orchard with our friends from Bright Beginnings. Despite the chilly and rainy weather, we had a great time! We started out sampling the donuts and cider, then ran and jumped in some hay, played in a cornbox (as opposed to a sandbox), pet a few goats, picked a few apples and picked pumpkins (or "kumpins" as Isaac says). Our family loves all of the wonderful Michigan fall fun!

--Mel

Set up

2007-10-06T13:55:00.001-04:00

Isaac is not in this picture, but his personality is. Martin and I call this his 'set-up.' On any given day there is at least one in our house. Isaac has fun moving the set-up from room to room and sometimes picks up items along the way. We're not sure what it means, but we know he's into structure and order. We found out from our neighbors that their son used to do the same thing and he's still a focused, detail-oriented kind of guy (he has kids of his own now). It's fun to watch the set-up grow or to see the placement of toys within it; yesterday he had a dinosaur on top of a xylophone and today a turtle is hiding under the grocery cart.

Heart melting moment: This morning I was gone for a few hours. When I came home, Isaac opened the door to greet me, gave me a big hug and said "Miss you."

--Mel

Ride It

2007-09-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

If there's a toy, or a piggy bank for that matter, that is just the right size, Isaac is going to ride it. He is still on the go constantly and is very creative with new ways to play with the same old things. For example, typically we just put money in a piggy bank. However, after Isaac stashed away all of his change, he said, "Ride it" and hopped on. He's great entertainment.

Favorite Phrases: "Isaac did it!", "Read the book", "No please Mommy"

--Mel

Cookie Monster

2007-09-24T21:18:00.000-04:00

Isaac is growing up so fast and is so curious about everything. Enjoy the movie.

It takes a bit to download, but it's so worth it.

Cookie Monster

-- Martin

Farmer Isaac

2007-09-16T20:55:00.000-04:00

We had a great morning at the farm Saturday! We went to a potato harvest and dug up potatoes for a couple of hours. Isaac loved it - permission to play in the dirt. Secretly, Daddy loved it too for the same reason. Daddy also spotted a cricket and showed Isaac how to hold it carefully in his hand.

Mommy and Daddy made time to pick cherry tomatoes so Isaac kept himself occupied with this red tractor. It was hard to leave it behind, but we convinced Isaac he could play with it next time.

--Mel

Pancake Posse

2007-09-12T13:58:00.000-04:00

We are a pancake family. Most Saturday mornings Martin makes them for breakfast and now Isaac is a chef in training. He likes to help me make supper so there was no hesitation when he saw Daddy stirring something fun in a bowl. He pulls a chair over to the counter to get the best view possible.

New Words: "Cooking", "Tower" and "Acorn"

--Mel

Family Week Part 2!

2007-09-02T13:17:00.001-04:00

Family week has been much needed! We are truly enjoying our extra time together. Isaac smiles, looks at Martin and says, "Daddy home." Oscar is quite pleased with Martin's time off too and cozies up to him every chance he gets (photo #1). Big dog was also happy to be at the lake with us for a few days. He seriously sounds like a horse as he does laps around us on the beach (photo #2). I'm afraid he's showing his age a little more each summer though. After two consecutive days with good runs on the beach, he hasn't moved off the couch.

Isaac can play with diggers and dump trucks all day long so there was no question on which toys to bring to the beach with us (photo #3). Although, he did spend quite a bit of time with shovels and buckets. He made sure we packed enough so Mommy & Daddy were well supplied too. Nobody gets bored when he's around!

Of course, no vacation is complete without ice cream, and lots of it! We've had so much lately Isaac is beginning to think it's one of the food groups (photo #4). Hmmm, is it bad we have plans to meet up with neighbors for more ice cream tomorrow?

--Mel

Family Week

2007-08-28T15:07:00.000-04:00

Martin is on vacation this week so every day is Family Day! We started out by going to a Whitecaps game (photo 1) - Isaac's first one! He had a great time and he has made some adjustments to his own pitching arm (and sound effects) since then.

We also visited the Binder Park Zoo and got a chance to get up close and personal with the giraffes (photo 2). After we ran out of biscuits to feed them, Isaac ran around giggling with excitement. They are such sweet animals and he was thrilled to meet them. We did bring our stroller, but it was more for storage. He felt like quite the big boy walking beside us and running on the trails through 'Africa'. When he did tucker out, Daddy's shoulders were a much better option than the stroller (photo 3). Then he really tuckered out on the way home with his new purple monkey (photo 4). We thought a stuffed giraffe would be a fun keepsake, but our little monkey fan had a better idea.

Today we walked to a nearby Fire Station with some neighbors for a visit (photo 5). We all got to climb in a truck, wear their headphones and hats and see where the firefighters sleep, cook and relax. The firefighters were so nice and informative and really made our kids' day!

It's been great to spend time together and it's still the beginning of the week. Eventually we'll end up at my parents' cottage, but until then, we have playgrounds to visit, letterboxes to find and maybe another road trip or two (that's the best part of this vacation - we're deciding as we go!).

--Mel

In the Zone

2007-08-25T13:36:00.000-04:00

This Bubble Belly Dog is my current favorite invention. Isaac can do bubbles all by himself and Mommy no longer gets light-headed! Yay! Now we just have to keep an inventory of bubble refills so he can stay in the bubble zone. It's a great way to pass the time on a rainy day. Oscar even gets into it and tries to catch bubbles in his mouth. I wouldn't be surprised if one of these days he starts barking bubbles.

--Mel

One, Two, Fun with Shoes

2007-08-15T13:40:00.001-04:00

Isaac prefers to be barefoot. However, there's nothing like clomping around the house in Mommy's shoes. Or, shuffling off in his Big Bird slippers (they get extra cool points because they used to be cousin Noah's).

--Mel

Dump Truck Grump

2007-08-13T13:42:00.000-04:00

Isaac got himself into the dump truck, but then he couldn't get out. I only have a small amount of guilt for running to get the camera before I helped him. =)

New words: "Motorcycle", "Helicopter", and "Huge pancake"

--Mel

Boy's Best Friend

2007-08-03T13:26:00.001-04:00

These two have been into snuggling lately. Isaac actually asked me to take this picture - he knows how cute they are together! Not long after they got up off the floor, Isaac and Oscar sat on the couch together while Isaac looked at books.

--Mel

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2007-07-29T20:28:00.000-04:00

Martin and I have been married 7 years! Wow! And we can definitely say they've all been happy ones. Married life has been very good to us. We thank God for bringing us together and for being with us every step of the way.

Here's to many more years of wedded bliss!

--Mel

Water Fun

2007-07-25T14:08:00.000-04:00

Isaac got a sprinkler for his birthday and we decided to test it out. He had a great time running around it, through it and over it. Daddy even put on his bathing suit so he could run around it, through it and over it too.

Isaac had his 2-year well child appointment and all is well! =) Actually, all is more than well. His ears look great! We haven't heard that about his ears in months (9 to be exact!). He's also growing at a good rate and developing just how a 2-year old should.

New words (he knows well over 50, which is a 2-year old milestone): Pickle, Jeep and berry.

--Mel

Blueberry Hill

2007-07-23T13:15:00.000-04:00

One of our favorite things about summer - fresh blueberries! Every year we go picking/eating with friends. There's nothing like blueberry pancakes in January made with the berries we put in the freezer to savor all year long. Yum! Isaac was a big help and took his 'taste-testing' role very seriously.

--Mel

2!

2007-07-16T13:08:00.001-04:00

Our curious little monkey is 2! Wow! Where has the time gone?

We had a great family party yesterday. Thanks to everyone for coming and celebrating with us. There's a plethora of new books and toys that have been keeping our 2-year old very busy.

We're so thankful for Isaac and the fun he brings to our lives. What did we ever do before he came along? ;)

Happy Birthday Little Sir Isaac!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

PS - Follow this link to see how Isaac used to relax on the couch:

Chillin'

Beach Bum

2007-07-08T14:10:00.001-04:00

We took a 'mini-vacation' for a full day of boating and beaching! Isaac loves the water! He had a great time kicking and splashing, it was just like the bathtub only with an endless supply of water. The real bonus is there were no limits on the kicking and splashing (at home the water has to stay in the tub).

New words: "Please", "Run" and "Happy".

--Mel

A Fun Fourth!

2007-07-04T21:04:00.000-04:00

Isaac was a little leary at the beginning of the parade today. I'm not sure if it was the group of motorcycles or fire trucks that startled him more. However, once things calmed down he got more comfortable and ventured off my lap to begin an impressive collection of candy. He commented with either an "ooh" or a "whoa" with each addition to his candy bag.

--Mel

Family Days Rock!

2007-06-25T15:35:00.001-04:00

This Saturday was a family day! We started off by going to the farm to pick peas. It was fun to see Isaac trying to figure out the difference between the peas and the leaves. Then we were off to find a letter box at the zoo. Letter boxing is a low tech scavenger hunt. You get the directions from a website to find a "letter box" in a given park or recreational area. We found it! After finding the letter box we headed to a fun little playground at the zoo. Isaac is getting braver and braver!

--Martin

P.S. I hope my next post isn't another six months from now!

How Great Thou Art

2007-06-20T13:29:00.000-04:00

This picture of tiny Isaac in the middle of the tall trees reminds me of the hymn 'How Great Thou Art', one of my favorites.

--Mel

Oh lolli lolli

2007-06-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

Here is Isaac enjoying his first lollipop! I think it's safe to say he likes it. =)

--Mel

An Independent

2007-06-11T14:52:00.001-04:00

Isaac is past the point of needing help at meal time. He makes strides each day that bring him more into 'boy-hood' and further away from 'baby-hood'. He does really well with his yogurt (in the picture above) and leaves very little to clean-up.

Isaac is really into buckles lately too. He holds the buckle in place on his carseat while I get him situated. He also likes to play with the one on his highchair, even if it's not meal time.

New words: "Hee Haw" and "Out"

--Mel

One Cool Cat

2007-06-06T15:07:00.001-04:00

Enough said. =)

--Mel

Nigh Nigh

2007-06-04T14:58:00.000-04:00

We took Isaac camping this weekend for the first time. He did fantastic! I bought some new outdoor toys at the local five & dime (which was also a sentimental visit, my Grandma used to take me there to pick out toys) and Isaac kept busy playing with them all weekend long. There was some gravel on the campsite next to us and Isaac had so much fun digging in it and loading stones in and out of his trucks. Here he is snuggling up to the 'Woof Woof' who is 'Nigh Nigh'.

--Mel

Helping Mamma

2007-06-01T14:39:00.001-04:00

Isaac loves to help. I was pulling weeds out of the driveway and Isaac plopped down on my lap. He tried to pull a few weeds for me and then decided it was more fun to help me with the sound effects. So, with each weed pulled by Mamma, a grunt came from Isaac.

--Mel

A Couple of Shots

2007-05-21T20:26:00.000-04:00

I couldn't decide which shot to post, so I went with both. The first one Isaac is completely helping himself to Martin's food. It went from a "Mmmm" as he eyed Daddy's plate to grabbing the spoon and diving in. What you can't see is Isaac has a death grip on the back of Martin's shirt. It could have been so Isaac wouldn't tip over or so Martin couldn't disappear with the food. Either way, it was cracking us up.

The second shot is to show how big our boy is really getting. Not only can he climb (well, it's more like a missile launch) onto the chair all by himself, but he's also finding more comfortable ways to sit in it. Take a walk down memory lane and check out 'Measure Up' posted on January 3, 2007.

--Mel

Weee!

2007-05-15T14:06:00.000-04:00

The slide at the park has a new name, "Weee!" We found a great slide that is just the right size for Isaac. He can climb up all by himself and slide down all by himself. He was feeling like quite the man.

--Mel

Pasta Man

2007-05-10T21:02:00.000-04:00

This is one of Isaac's new favorite ways to pass the time - a tub full of pasta and beans. He uses a couple of spoons as shovels and a small container as a bucket. He's very good about keeping everything in the tub and makes sure every last bean is back inside before we put it away.

Another fun Spring discovery: lawn mowers! Although, like vacuums, they are fun from a distance.

--Mel

Yet another reason to love laundry

2007-05-02T14:09:00.000-04:00

Isaac was very proudly wearing Daddy's t-shirt. He picked it up out of the laundry basket and said "Daddy on." Then he put it on and wore it around the house for quite awhile. Isaac is a big fan of Daddy. We were all eating dinner together and he said "Daddy home" as he smiled at Martin.

--Mel

Family Day

2007-04-25T13:26:00.000-04:00

We had our first official 'Family Day' this weekend! It was AWESOME! Martin and I have been noticing that even on the days when there is not much on the calendar, we find lots to make ourselves busy with. And, when Isaac is napping, one of us stays home and the other races around town trying to get errands completed. We end the weekend missing each other because we haven't spent quality time together. So, we are determined to have one full 'Family Day' a month. It's a day to spend together as a family and to relax a little bit too. Our first 'Family Day' consisted of a leisurely morning at the park. We blew bubbles, played with Isaac's Buzz Light Year ball, collected pinecones and just explored the world around us. We even brought a picnic lunch so we didn't have to rush off when it was time to eat. Once we were back at home and Isaac was napping, Martin and I worked in the yard together. Now, anyone who knows me well knows that is a big deal for me. I am not an outdoors girl. I don't like bugs and I don't like to get dirty, but I truly enjoyed every bit of it this time. I think I focused more on the time with my husband and less on the bugs and dirt. ;)

Once Isaac woke up we did run one errand together (we originally said no errands but decided it was ok as long as it was quick and we were all together). Then Martin grilled some brats for dinner and we went to our favorite spot for some ice cream. It was a fantastic day. We're definitely going to do this once a month and are even trying to plan at least one half day a month that is designated as 'Family Morning' or 'Family Evening'. At the risk of sounding pretty sappy, it really made us recognize the importance of spending time together just being a family. We don't need to spend money or do anything phenomenal to have fun. We're already coming up with ideas for future 'Family Days' and a majority won't cost a thing, but the memories sure will be priceless.

--Mel

A little climber

2007-04-20T14:08:00.000-04:00

There are a few drawers/cupboards that I don't mind if Isaac explores the contents of. He was quietly playing with this one the other day while I was making dinner. I think we were both surprised when I peered at him and found him quietly playing in the drawer. He is getting taller so I think that is also making him more confident in his climbing abilities. He dives onto the chairs in our living room and in his bedroom.

He's also jabbering up a storm. I really think he told me a story yesterday. He uses quite a few recognizable words and quite a few from his own little language. His communcation skills are pretty impressive; we usually know exactly what he wants. "More," "Isaac," "Yes," and "No" can cover a lot of info!

--Mel

Oscar Snooze

2007-04-12T13:48:00.000-04:00

Isaac isn't the only one that enjoys laundry days. Oscar has found that Martin's clean, soft t-shirts make a great pillow.

--Mel

Fun with trucks

2007-04-12T13:37:00.000-04:00

When Martin and I bought our house we had no idea what an impressive front window sill we were getting. It's at the perfect level for a toddler! Isaac can spend up to 20 minutes playing with toys on it - that's an incredibly long time for our busy boy. We had a great time gathering all of his vehicles so he could line them up. After each addition, he'd say "More?" and we'd go on a hunt for another one. Notice they are all facing East/West. Later he moved them all to face North/South. That's got to be yet another sign of brilliance. ;)

--Mel