1st Fat Lip

Well, as I mentioned we are working on "gentle touch," as in, no hitting. Instead of saying no hitting we tell Maxwell the type of behavior we want to see. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. He is usually very gentle with Isabelly, but last night things got a little owie. I think he forgets, or doesn't realize she is smaller and slightly more fragile then his other, bigger friends.

As she was crawling out of his "fort" made with balnkets and the dining room chairs, he pushed her forward and she busted her lip.

She cried a little, then was over it pretty quickly.  Maxwell had a timeout and apoligized. As an only child this kind of thing is new to me. Terry as the 4th of 5 children, experienced this stuff pretty regularly.

Here she is obviously not all that upset. A homemade grape juice popsicle as an ice bag makes all the difference.

 Still a sweet, if lop-sided smile and ready to play some more.

Getting loves from daddy.

It won't be the only one, I am sure. She wants so much to do what Maxwell is doing. Maybe we will increase her insurance!

Zoobies and Zootles

Thank you, thank you Nana C for the amazing gift subscription for Zoobies and Zootles.

"For me...all mine..read to me Momma!"

We have read through this magazine, designed just for babies, printed on thicker, rip resistant paper, nearly everyday. Sometimes multiple times a day. She has started to develope her own pace though. Speed reading we call it. We hold the book and read while she quickly, very quickly, like before your done reading, turns the pages.  

We can't wait for our next issue. This one has been thoroughly loved!

Thanks Nana C!! What a great gift!



A Month of Firsts

I have been meaning to post about what a great month August was for us. It was truly a month of firsts.

 Isabel has blossomed before our eyes. She began walking and feeding herself with a fork. She is quite the comedian and laughs her hinder off at most of the silly things that Maxwell and daddy do. Her laugh is so sweet and silly. Like Maxwell, she often can't quite catch her breath. She holds her hands to her head in an "oy vay" reaction and drools copiously all the while. What a deliciously sweet girl she is. 

The first time she walked she took 7 steps with daddy, then 5, then 2, then did not walk for over a week. Just a teaser!! Then when she started again she was really working it all out. A little wobbly at first, but she has gotten better every day and now regularly putters around the house, picking up stuff and moving it around.

This first video was about a week before she took off on her own. She loves pushing this thing around, way more then Maxwell ever did. I think it really fuels her sense of accomplishment.

This is one attempt. After taking out the camera to get some video footage, she decided she was pretty much done with the show.

Attempt #3, it was after this that we would have to wait or a week to see her try again. By the way, that little necklace, she found it one day and now puts it on every morning when she gets downstairs.

She has always been an amazing eater and throughout August she would look at Maxwell, with his fork and point and shriek. So what did we do...we gave her a fork of her own. She is obviously absorbing everything she sees her big brother doing.

Here she is feeding herself with both fork and hand. Much faster that way. Rice and noodles are her favorite to try with the fork. I could literally bathe her after every meal. She is quite the exhuberant eater.

She is growing us so fast, right before our eyes. I feel like any minute words and full sentences are going to come out of her sweet little mouth. What a joy she is!

Maxwell had a first of his own, his first day of school. He had been looking forward to it for weeks, Pre-K. He goes 3 mornings a week and loves it.

Wearing his new backpack he got for his birthday. He and Isabel both love a camelback.

In front of school waiting for the doors to open. He is doing soooooo well. I guess I shouldn't be shocked, but he knows and identifies all the letters of the alphabet and counts to 20 by himself. Handsome AND brilliant, what a combination! He is even a better big brother. Sharing is coming a little easier, now that he has to share at school and we are working on "gentle touches," so Isabel doesn't look like a punching bag. But, really he is doing so much better with his jealousy issues, I am happy to report