Twenty-one and counting

I'm slightly strung out on Vicodin today, owing to three gum grafts that were implanted this morning. It's my second of four surgeries (gotta drag it out, thanks to insurance) and no more fun the second time around.
The upside is that I have child-free day to recover (big thanks to Jon's parents!) and hence a spare moment to sit down and process our lives for the last month or so. All the bits and pieces and cleaning and odds and ends that come with preparing for The Showing of a house were finally completed and our house has had 21 visits so far. And if all goes well, we'll be under contract later today. I ought to be rejoicing about that, but it really doesn't feel very good. We're losing so much money that I'm feeling mild to moderately depressed. Granted, it will be a relief to stop the constant cleaning and attention to detail that comes with showings. (True confession: my inner clean freak was thrilled to have an excuse to clean the bathrooms, etc. every day)
Overall, ambivalence best describes our current emotions, and isn't that the most logical response to such a move? If there were nothing positive about leaving, there would be no reason to go. And if it were all positive, it would suggest there was nothing valuable left behind. As it stands, the obvious benefits are that Jon will have a job he values (and values him) and that may lead to actual job security. The obvious downsides are emotional, financial, social, familial, and just about everything else. And yet peace reigns supreme for us. We are doing the right thing. Almost every indicator points to the folly of this adventure, but we both know it is the right path. I'm pretty sure that makes this a God thing.

Communicating our internal peace and faith to the children is another matter. Isaac has been acting out lately, possibly reflecting the recent stress and and busy-ness related to The Showings. I've tried to work in some fun things while we've been out of the house (swimming, parks, zoo), hoping this extra togetherness will help. For Anna's part, her sleeping issues have worsened. She knows we're moving, inasmuch as a five year old can process that information. I've tried to couch this as an adventure, but I don't think she's buying it. If we're not moving to Disneyland, then we really shouldn't be moving at all.

One of my biggest dilemmas was how to handle Isaac's third birthday. He hasn't had a real party thus far, and I wanted to make it a special day. Thankfully, Jon's mom took on the task and we had a lovely afternoon at their house. Lunch, cake, gifts, and cousins. Isaac adores his older cousins and what could be better than an afternoon with them? Gifts, maybe. I thought the poor little guy was going to explode before we got to his gifts, so we spread them out through the day. Grandma and Grandpa watched via Skype while Isaac opened their gifts in the morning, then another gift before lunch, one before the cake, and a couple towards the end. He got a lot of Star Wars paraphernalia and car related items, which is exactly what he wanted. I am planning to throw another party with few friends once the house is under contract. My boy will have his pinata!

More immediately, we're waiting on Jon's future employer to get us the actual official offer letter. Until then, we can't know definitively which moving company we'll be able to use. Which is kind of important, no? I suppose I could begin packing the stuff in the basement, but there are spiders down there. And the days are so nice right now and the basement is so dark. Not that I can take advantage of the sunshine today, what with an ice pack on my face and sharp pain in my jaw. Apparently I can't even vacuum for 24 hours (I specifically asked about that), which is sad mostly for Isaac. He is terrified of that loud machine so I wanted to complete the chore before he returned home. Well, I shall try to make the most of this forced down time. Maybe I'll start dusting. Or maybe read The Hunger Games, if I can just convince my inner clean freak to take another Vicodin.

Update: The offer fell through and I vacuumed. I postulate a causal relationship.

Terrific Two

Isaac! You turned two years old this week! Wow! I feel that many exclamation marks are in order!!!
Here is a brief snapshot of you at two:

Favorites
   Song: "Wheels on the Bus," hands down. This must be sung before every nap and bedtime. Your favorite bus guests include babies, grandparents, Anna, Daddy, snacks, dogs, and emergency vehicles.
   Activity: Anything with wheels, particularly buses and fire trucks. You often line up your vehicles with great precision, and intently study the motion of the wheels. You seem surprised that they rotate similarly regardless of the terrain. You also enjoy chucking these cars, attempting to mimic crashes and general mayhem.
   Location: You are an outdoors guy. Come rain, sleet, hail, wind, snow, or sun you stand at the door demanding to go out.
   Food: Yogurt, blueberries, and ice cream. Also, Daddy's coke and chips, and anything on Mommy's plate. This is why Mommy eats breakfast and lunch at the counter, and why on weekends Mommy wishes Daddy would also eat lunch at the counter.
   Lovey: Almost anything soft and fuzzy will do, but top of the list are Tiger, Monkey, Blankie (the green one with brown spots), Mommy's robe, and whatever Anna is holding.
   Books: Lately, those involving potties and poop (a good sign, right?) Also, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems which is a brilliant read and now overdue at the library.
   Shows: Pingu! Wiggles! A youtube video from the BBC's Top Gear involving a car chase in Albania. Recently, the first five minutes of Fast and Furious Four.  

Things you can do
Now that you are two, there are many things you can do. You may not always do these things quickly, but that is okay since Mommy needs to learn patience. And watching a toddler take 10 minutes to get himself into the car seat when we are late for preschool certainly increases Mommy's patience. Among other things.
   Buckles: Any buckle that is unbuckled should consider itself buckled once you've caught sight of it.
   Balls: You've got a good arm and decent aim. It's just a shame our yard is sloped, for I fear you're getting a skewed idea of the laws of motion.
   Beatings: This is one thing I wish you didn't do. On one hand, you won't take any grief from anyone. On the other hand, you need not smack Anna for no reason. In fact, you should not smack her for any reason. Where did you learn this behavior? Anna doesn't hit you - not even to defend herself. Is this a boy thing? Sometimes you scream at children who simply look at you. I hope you grow out of this.
   Boogie Down: You love to sing and dance, and nobody does a better interpretation of the Jaws theme song than you. You play a mean shark, Little Man.
   Burlesque: Not really, but this is the closest thing to pretend that begins with a "B," and I'm on a roll with the whole "B" thing. Anyway, you've begun taking on different personas, such a "doggy" or "kitty." This shows development in the area of Theory of Mind, and as a psychologist I find it rather interesting. Also just crazy super cute.
   Bedtime: You are a reliable sleeper. Generally 13-14 hours per day, including naps.
   Burrowing: You are such a cuddler, and I adore that about you. I love when you ask for hugs and nestle into my arms. And not just when you're tired or sick, but for the mere joy of cuddling.

Isaac-English Dictionary
Many of these Isaac-isms are disappearing as your language explodes and your vocabulary and diction improve. I will be sad to see them go. 
   cah-cah = car
   my do = I will do [insert action] myself or you will reap the whirlwind
   dump-cah = dump truck, pick-up truck, general construction equipment
   IO = Isaac. This nick name was coined by Bobi from your initials. It is similar to the Armenian word for yes. I find this ironic, considering...
   no = yes, no, maybe
   uh-huh = a tentative, slightly confused yes
   gummy bum = gummy worm
   bidah! = spider and things with spider-like qualities, including but not limited to lint, cracks, and dirt
   pingu = penguin
   gin (hard g) = again
   yard = I want to go outside right now!

These are a few bits and pieces of who you are right now. I love seeing you grow every day, and look forward to seeing who you will be at this time next year.
Happy Birthday, Little Man.

Hurry Hurry Hurry

Whew! The floors are finally clean, after laying fallow for longer than I'd care to admit, and I have about 20 minutes to write an over-due post before picking up Anna from preschool. So this will be "out there" without editing - apologies for run-on sentences, non sequitars/sequiters/nonsequiters... and spelling mistakes.

I am rushed in general, and can see that fall and early winter will be this way for many years. October will see me gathering outfits for Halloween, November will be all about Anna's birthday and Thanksgiving, and then *surprise!* suddenly it's December! In December we have our anniversary, Jon's birthday, various other b-days, and of course the coming of our Lord which we will celebrate via mass consumption. I will ponder the latter more fully when I have time.

The little people in our house had their check-ups today, and Anna has reached a special point at which her height and weight are the same: 42. Which is, of course, the answer to everything. Perhaps this means that she knows everything and we can stop paying for preschool. But probably not.
Some good news about Anna is that the Zyrtec (an antihistamine) that she's taking appears to be working, although it does make her tired (mental note: only give at bedtime). The bad news is that there's not much we can do about her constant illnesses. We're going to try Flo-Vent (a steroid) to see if that helps some of her symptoms, or at least reduce the amount of times that she's wheezing without us knowing it.

Isaac is also growing well, and is healthy other than his runny nose. Again, the theme of illness. We are on week 8 of constant illness over here, so it is on my mind quite a bit. Of course, I suppose I could stop taking them places (like indoor play areas, and child care at the gym), but that also seems counter-productive. And a good way to lose my mind.

In terms of overall development, Anna seems quite her age. She is very social and still loves to dance and make believe. A budding theater major, if this dramatic arc continues. For example, while watching her during dance class I realized she was the only child who had trouble listening to the teacher simply because she couldn't get her eyes off of herself (the kids face a mirror). She was making faces and just enjoying her own movement. It was pretty cute, actually.
Anna is also is becoming increasingly helpful around the house, and can be given a few chores to do. At the same time I cannot believe how poky she can be about some things - getting dressed or getting out the door seems to take forever! And it is so frustrating. Even washing her hands can be interminable - again, the pull of the mirror is irresistable to her.

Isaac is also quite his age and appears to be a force to be reckoned with. He doesn't take any guff from anyone, and has no qualms about hitting or "taking down" his sister. Given the inability of this age group to inhibit much in the way of behavior, time outs seem more punitive than instructive at this point. But we do it if only to remove him from the situation. Other than a penchant for violence, his demenour is very sweet and loving. He is so very cuddly, and loves loves loves soft fleecy blankets and stuffed animals. He's always snuggling into something. Has only about 10-15 words, but gross motor skills are a bit advanced. He's great at throwing, climbing, running, and things like that.

Okay - time is up. Until next time....

Weaned

It's been a few weeks since Isaac was weaned, and I'd like to think this was a joint decision. I admit, however, that sometimes when he's in the room while I get dressed, he looks at me as if trying to remember something important. (Or he just laughs, which I try not to take personally.)
At any rate, I've had some time to look back on this experience called nursing. Like many women, I've had very mixed feelings about it. So here's my story.

My initial intention with Anna was to exclusively nurse, and pump when needed. So I was delighted when she latched wonderfully, but less delighted by the excruciating pain (which of course went away) and the pressure to be ever present (which didn't go away). Like many newborns, she nursed a lot. But what was unique about our little girl was how little she slept and how much she screamed. It was a battle to get her to sleep, and one that we usually lost. Since I had zero experience with babies, I just assumed the nursing-screaming-cat nap cycle was normal and that it was my fault for not providing (a) more structure, or (b) less structure. In contrast, Jon suggested that a little formula was worth a try in case it was a milk supply issue. I argued that this was highly unlikely, and that breast was best. "Any hint of formula could permanently damage my supply!"

Well, as usual, Jon was right. By her two month appointment, Anna's weight had dropped from the 40th percentile to the 5th. She was barely over eight pounds, and still screaming. The pediatrician didn't seem to think this was a problem, but I did. So we instituted a bottle before bed, and we forked out some dough for a lactation consultant. The bottle was a hit, with Anna consuming 8-10 oz in one sitting, and sleeping much better afterward compared to nursing. The LC was a bust. She looked at the latch (perfect), inquired as to how I was cleaning my pump (fine), and showed me another way to swaddle (still ineffective). She did not inquire as to whether I had experienced engorgement (no), how much I could pump in one session (1/2 to 1 oz, maybe 2 oz if I was lucky), or do a before-and-after weighing (i.e., weigh the baby both before and after nursing to see how much fluid the child consumed). She also did not approve of the night bottle. From this interaction I concluded that I had failed, that I had only imagined the need for a bottle and that Anna would have been fine without it.

Nonetheless, I was exhausted so the night bottle stayed. Interestingly, over the next few months Anna grew fast and furiously, hitting the 80th percentile in both height and weight, and staying there ever since. 

I nursed Anna for 15 months, and during that time concluded that both nursing and using formula was the worst case scenario. Now I had to take time both to nurse and make formula and clean bottles. I also concluded that nursing was simply a horrible chore that moms did purely for the benefit of their children. I was floored by moms who claimed to enjoy breastfeeding. It just didn't compute.


When Isaac was born (new hospital, new pediatrician) I saw the in-house LCs right away. I wanted things to be different but was doubtful they would be. Again the latch was perfect, but again my milk was not coming in. The LCs recommended an herbal supplement + pumping. In the meantime, however, Isaac was beginning to lose weight (not just percentiles) and I could see that the nursing-screaming-cat nap cycle was beginning. So we just jumped in and started supplementing after every feeding. When that happened, I saw something I had never seen before: a look of contentment on a baby's face that showed he was full and happy and ready to sleep. When I saw that, I understood why nursing could be so fulfilling. If I, and I alone, could give my baby that feeling of fullness and contentment... well, who wouldn't want to nurse?!
So we worked hard (herbs, pumping, supplemental nursing systems) and over the next three or four weeks my milk slowly came in. "The girls aren't so floppy," was how I believe my LC put it. By the time Isaac was two months old, we were down to four ounces of formula a day and he was sleeping through the night. But it was not to last. At three months, he hit a growth spurt and I was never able to catch up. After weeks of constant nursing and night wakings I conceded defeat and upped the formula. Much less guilt this time around, though. I feel I did everything I could, without sacrificing my sanity or Isaac's health.

So my children, while I do feel that breastfeeding is extremely valuable, and although I'm sad about those 10 IQ points you've lost and the health problems you are no doubt experiencing, I have to say that formula probably improved your emotional health. Because it surely improved mine.

Spinning, spinning into the future...

In my last post I expressed concern about Anna's upcoming dance recital. I thought it was too much hoopla and too many backstage hours for such a tender age. I still think it was too much hoopla. But I needn't have worried about Anna. She did just fine playing with her classmates, watching the big girls in their costumes, and generally hanging out.
I should have been concerned about myself. Between the pre-rehearsal and pre-show primping, the packing of snacks and "quiet activities" and costumes, the coordination of naps and babysitters, this thing easily took two days of my life and hundred of dollars. And she was on stage for less than 10 minutes over two shows. I had the vague sensation, as I was sitting in the crowded auditorium, that my daughter's dance routine was being held hostage.
But oh, how she loved it! She was a little nervous, but performed wonderfully and wanted to do the whole thing again the next day. Despite my reservations I found myself bubbling with excitement by the time her class performed. It really is something to see your baby on the big stage. So here we are, days after the event, and I debate whether to enroll her with the same studio in the fall.
On the other hand, money doesn't grow on trees. Rec center classes, here we come!

The other notable event of the past couple of weeks was my birthday. I won't tell you the day or my age, but I will give you a hint: they are consecutive square numbers.
Jon's parents looked after the kids and we went for a leisurely dinner in the mountains. Although it was in the 90's in the flat lands, it was downright cold up there. Lovely! As an added bonus, Isaac did not have any meltdowns while we were gone. In fact, he had as much fun as Anna. Little does he know this means more babysitters in his future.

Speaking of Isaac and milestones, he is now 14 months old. Only a year ago he was an infant, a stationary observer of goings on. Now he's a spinning, running, dancing participant (not all of this is welcome as he also climbs the slide). Even Anna seems to have changed a lot recently: losing her baby fat, improving in agility, figuring out "jokes," learning deception (despite obvious flaws, this is indeed a hallmark of mental development), asserting her preferences with increased confidence (often loudly), deftly maneuvering the computer mouse (thumbs down from Mom). She is becoming a little lady, and I sometimes forget to respect her burgeoning self.

The last milestone I'm thinking of is on July 1st (which is also Canada Day!) On that day it will be two years since we bought this, our first house. I really like owning a home, particularly after the tiny apartments we lived in before. We haven't changed much of it, but it is undoubtedly ours. We did not realize how useful the layout or location would be when we bought it - it was simply the best one we saw during our two days of looking. We have been blessed since moving here, and I'm glad we followed God's gentle prod when deciding where and what to buy. I don't know if we'll be here forever, but I'm happy to be here now.

Dramatic Interludes

There have been a lot of ups and downs these past couple of weeks. To begin with, there was a surprising development at Jon's work place that caused us to re-evaluate our long term plans. Thankfully, that situation seems to have ironed itself out for now. We've also cried and rejoiced with friends who have had their lives turned upside down - some in good ways, some in sad ways. Closer to home, there was the cancellation of a weekend retreat that I was really looking forward to, although that may have been for the best. June is crazy busy for us, and we need the time to gear up.

Against the backdrop of these events is the everyday drama and swashbuckling adventures of our kiddos. This week's episode featured mistaken identities (is it Anna or Hannah who is scheduled for swim lessons?), ticking time bombs (in the form of babies who will explode if they wake up and find the sitter instead of mom), dramatic chase scenes (can mommy bike her children to the park before they kill each other?), attempted murder (occurring whenever bike rides took longer than 20 minutes), and extreme eating (how many berries can a baby consume before his health is at risk?). Spoilers: Hannah (oops); bomb failed to go off; yes, but barely; see previous; apparently more than baby currently consumes, however Mom's sanity is at risk due to constant changing of dirty diapers.

Isaac continues to develop in a myriad of ways. He's learned how to get down one or two steps without falling, and can follow basic verbal commands. Verbal production is slower compared to Anna, but hey he's a boy. So far he can say Mama, Dada, Anna, ca (for car), and dao (for dog). His "word" for food is something like a lip smack. He's a world class pointer and has finally begun waving. Both our kids were slow at waving, preferring instead to sob when Daddy leaves the house. I'm still amazed at how coordinated he is, and how stubborn. Which brings us to the skill Isaac's been working on the most: The Tantrum.
The Tantrum's form can take the shape of the "wiggly plank" (rigid and wiggly at the same time), or the "head throwback-back arch," or some combination accompanied by ear piercing shrieks that sound as if someone is sacrificing a baby goat. Anna also had her share of tantrums, but she could eventually be distracted. These days I would characterize her as emotional instead of stubborn - everything is a Thing but we can talk her down. Isaac seems more focused, more determined to reach his goal, and if a tantrum is required so be it. So there you have it. Anna has her dad's looks and her mom's dramatic personality, Isaac has his mom's looks and his dad's immutable personality.

Speaking of drama, there is one thing this week that's got my ire up. It's the hoopla surrounding Anna's dance recital. Since January she's been taking instruction at a dance studio (as opposed to the rec center), due to the convenient class times. I figured there would be some sort of costume fee, but it just didn't occur to me that the final cost could possibly be as high as it is. Just money, though, right? What's money in light of Anna's first big stage debut? However, now they're turning the recital practice (yes, the 3 year olds actually need to practice on stage like the big kids the day before the Really Big Show) into another recital. In short, there will be a legion of 2 1/2 to 4 year olds stuck back stage for three hours Friday evening (over the dinner hour, I might add), and three hours Saturday afternoon. They will be expected to do "quiet activities" back stage between their dance numbers. For three hours. That's six hours within a 24 hour period. Is it just me, or is that crazy? And don't try to tell me that there's not going to be pee in those costumes Friday night, because there's no way a stage mom is going to be able to deal with all that potty action. I know this won't matter in 20 years, but sheesh, wouldn't it be nice if Anna's first dance recital were a more mellow experience? Or am I being melodramatic?

Baby Days

Isaac's first birthday was this past week. The time has gone so quickly, and now the Lost Year is officially over. It's a more bittersweet event than I had anticipated. He is our last baby, and I am feeling the loss. I will miss holding such a tiny life, the new baby smell, the intense closeness that is unique to an infant. As Jon poignantly noted, children are forever moving away: they leave the womb, the breast, our steadying hands at their first step, our desires at their first "no!", our home as they run out to play, our yard when they ride a bike, our protection when they're off to school. Now I understand why many grandmothers are such prayer warriors - for years prayer is probably all that stood between them and a emotional meltdown.

Isaac's birthday itself was mellow, and I couldn't help but compare it to the day he was born. That day was warm and sunny (I have some lovely pictures featuring my sunburned arms) and we spent the morning at the zoo. Nothing out of the ordinary until about an hour after we got home. At that point my water broke, so once again I missed out laboring at home. No matter - a few hours later Isaac was born and all was well.

On this first birthday, we woke to snow and cold. However, Isaac's first taste of french toast took off the chill, and we headed to the library later on. That was a disaster. The Lost Year may be over, but the Onerous Ones have taken hold. He will not be contained or directed without making his displeasure widely known. Our little outing turned into a grab-and-dash as we took whatever books were close by and got out of there. It wasn't a total write-off, thanks to a nearby playground (sun had come out by then) and some wide open spaces. The swings are always a big hit with our kids, which is a little annoying because we have swings in our yard. What we don't have is all the other cool equipment they tend to ignore.

Anyway, after a marathon afternoon nap (birthday present for Mom?) we had some friends over for carrot cake and presents. (Cake BEFORE dinner - wow!) Isaac wore the same bemused expression the whole time, but seemed to like getting new cars and books. (Tons of baby dolls throughout the house and all he plays with are vehicles and balls. How's that for early gender differentiation?)

Anna was kind enough to blow out the candle before Isaac burned himself, and he tentatively grabbed at the edge of the frosting, unsure of what he was looking at. Things became clear once he had a slice, however.

And that was it! First birthdays are so nice, since the kid has zero expectation or understanding. The whole thing was a bigger deal for Anna, who made a few decorations, set the table, and helped decorate the cake. Gummy bears, anyone?

Looking ahead, I see some fun times. Once Isaac has lost his morning nap (surely by fall, if not sooner) we'll have a lot more freedom to do fun things. He should also be more verbal and I expect fewer meltdowns in public places. I will miss having a baby, but I look forward to knowing the boy.

Notes from the week

Wednesday evening our run of good health (2 1/2 weeks!) came to a halt with the arrival of Anna's cold and Isaac's fever. Is this the same illness with different presentations? If so, how interesting! If not, I imagine our housebound status will be extended as they catch each other's illnesses. So sad because, again, Anna's fun weekend (gymnastics, Pinnochio at the children's theater, a sleep over at grandma's house) is likely canceled. It has been replaced with the usual uncertainty of whether or not to give Anna a shot of her nebulizer, as well as a desire for a decent stethescope (sp?) so I can hear whether she's wheezing.
Blah. Anyway, my energy level is low so thought I'd just post a few random tidbits from the week.

• Sweeping is never truly done.
• Whyyyyyyyy dooooooooo threeeeeeee yeeeeeaaaaaaarrrr oooooooolds taaaaaaaaaaaaake sooooooo looooooooong tooooooo dooooooooo aaaaaaanyyyyyythiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggggg?
• New plan for 3yo: Slowly count to 5 after requesting an action. If action remains incomplete at this time, repeat. Threaten time out. Time out.
• Things that don't go well with sand: diapers, sun screen, siblings, drool.
• Babies with fevers are the saddest thing ever.
• Thank you, Isaac for putting away your toys. However, they do not live in the garbage can.
• Spring in CO is windy. Crazy windy. Luckily, no lawn furniture has been lost thus far.
• Isaac lasted a whole hour at a babysitter's house without crying. Yay!
• Working out more regularly the past three weeks. I suspect this is unlikely to continue.
• Why is food yucky when baby is in the high chair, but tasty when it is on the floor?
• Isaac has started biting mommy all over. When Anna did that, I responded with a stern "no." Very effective. In contrast, Isaac just giggles at the "no." Suggestions?
• Considering a larger vehicle (crossover? minivan?) after realizing that we may be unable to fit everything for our vacation in our car. Also, it's a bummer to have to wedge myself into the backseat, between car seats, whenever Mom or Dad flies down. I like our high mpg cars, and I hate car payments, so this is a big paradigm shift for me. Stay tuned.
• If birds are brave enough to build a nest on my porch light, beside the giant plastic owl that I recently erected to prevent this behavior, they should be allowed to stay.
• Have a great desire to plant raspberries. 

All about Isaac

Isaac took his first solo steps on Monday. He's only done it a couple of times since then, so I won't declare him walking just yet. Nonetheless, it's a big milestone. He's changing so quickly right now and in a few very short months will be a year old. How can this be? In the spirit of fleeting time, this post is devoted to the Little Man. [Anna, you will get your own post soon enough.] I'll probably be adding bits and pieces to this as I think of things throughout the week.

Physical Attributes: 

• Yummy
• Looks very much like his Mom at that age, down to a grin that reveals a tooth gap so large you could fit a grape in there.
• Not the burliest of boy babies, at only 19 lb 9 oz at the 9 month mark (30th percentile).
• Fair colouring, with hair that turns to fuzz at the first hint of humidity. 
• Has a cry that sounds like a baby goat.

Mental Attributes:

• Obviously very intelligent.

Emotional Attributes:

• Not a push-over. Although can be pushed over (by Anna).
• Relatively easy-going. Relative to his sister. Which is, I suppose, not saying much.
• Love-hate relationship with his high chair.
• Hate-hate relationship with his change table.
• Fear of our small rubber T. Rex. Possibly because Jon makes a roaring sound whenever Isaac gets near it.
• Cuddly.
• Ambivalent about being thrown in the air by Daddy. Mommy is also ambivalent about this.

Interests:

• Chewing socks. He loves socks. But only baby-size socks.
• Chewing his toothbrush. He has very clean teeth (and gums).
• Crawling a foot or two, then stopping to chew something. Generally a sock or a toothbrush.
• Crawling up stairs. Unless T. Rex is on the stairs.
• Putting his head down on different textures and just soaking them in.
• Getting into drawers, particularly a drawer in our bathroom. Has an affinity for a box of tampons.
• Pulling books off shelves and then paging through them.
• Investigation, locating any swallow-sized and hazardous items within his reach.
• Rolling a ball.
• Throwing aforementioned items down stairs. 

Favorites:

• Bath time!
• Pushing a shopping cart or other push toy and then banging it up and down when he hits a dead end.
• Kitchen cupboards.
• Banging the piano.
• Anna, particularly when she roars at him.
• "Walking" while yelling or blowing raspberries.
• Having Daddy bounce him on the couch pillows.
• Having his belly tickled with our head/hair.
• Bananas, blueberries, Cheerios, sweet potato, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, avocado, mango.
• Throwing the above on the ground.

That's Isaac in a nutshell, but like any baby he is greater than the sum of these parts. I'm excited to see who he will be a few months from now.