Christmastime activities.

We had a great Christmas with our family and friends. Isaac seemed to enjoy the festivities for the most part. Late nights combined with poor naps made things a little "interesting" at times, but overall I would say he did quite well. He was still a little uninterested in the actual opening of the gifts...but he did enjoy all the new toys and books that he became the proud new owner of.


After the first big snow fall a week or so ago, we decided to go sledding with some friends. I thought it would be a fun new family thing to experience. As we arrived we bundled up appropriately and prepared for Isaac's first trip (with dad) down the hill. I watched them as they set off and waited to see them expecting to hear great tales of joy and laughter. As they approached, I realized that was not at all what I was about to hear. Aparently as they took off they started picking up more speed than Mike had expected. As he put his feet down in an attempt to slow them down, he showered both of them with cold, wet snow. Isaac burst into tears and immediately started screaming for "Mama"! When Mike brought him to me he reached toward the car and started saying "bye bye...bye bye!". Needless to say, he was finished. Mike and I took a few more trips down the hill and then we packed up and put Isaac out of his cold misery.







The very next day we bundled up again and headed out into the bitter cold to see the wonders of Christmas history at Greenfield village with Mike's family. It was the coldest day of the year, but we had already put our money into it...so we headed out regardless. We did get some yummy cider and hot chocolate...and Isaac got to see Santa up on the rooftop. When we ask Isaac what Santa says he replies "ho, ho, ho". It is so cute. There were several moments that I lost all feeling in my legs, and I was sure I had frostbite, but once we made it to the car all was well and we all survived.

Just before Christmas, we had our friends Jess and Justin over to take some Christmas pictures for us. It was really fun to sit back and watch the process as Justin followed Isaac around with the camera. If you have ever tried to photograph a toddler, you know how the scene is. I felt like the scene was total chaos...chasing Isaac around, rearranging his position, straightening his clothes, combing down his hair, trying to rescue innocent glass ornaments from impending doom, making silly faces and sounds, trying to find anything to occupy him in one location for more than 30 seconds...as I was taking it all in, I had to wonder how on earth we were ever going to get any decent pictures out of this. but when I saw what Justin was able to capture, I was in awe. I think one of the things I liked best about them was the chaos! Haha! These photos truly capture Isaac...this is him...messy hair, chubby cheeks, mischevious grin, tooth filled giggles...and all. I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life.

You can see the others at:

Isaac 18 mo

Numbers and Naps

At 17 months, Isaac has started identifying numbers. It started one day when I took a diaper out the box and he saw the number on it and said "five". I thought it was a fluke, so I waited a few minutes and after he was distracted for a bit, I took out his number book and asked him where the five was. He pointed right to it. It was such a surprise to me! It just seemed a little early to me for him to be identifying numbers...but we went with it and started reading through his number book every day. In a matter of days he was identifying several numbers, and now he can identify numbers 1 - 10, he can say numbers 1 - 13, and he is starting to count in order! What a little smarty pants. :) I thought I should get him started on letters, but he doesn't seem terribly interested yet. When I mix letters in with his numbers, he tosses them aside and continues with the numbers...lol.

He has also started to sing a little bit. Since I love to sing, I think this is especially precious! He just sings a few lines from the songs he hears on Playhouse Disney. He is so cute.

On the not so good side, for some reason Isaac has not been napping well lately. Until recently, he would go down around 1pm and sleep until at least 4pm...sometimes 5pm! Lately though, when I put him down he chatters away in his crib...sometimes for HOURS! He didn't fall asleep until after 4pm two days in a row, and the other days it was 2:30 or 3pm. I'm not really sure what to do...I feel like he is way to young to be completely giving up his naps...plus, I am not ready to give them up! Haha! I like the little break in the day to get some things done. Do I continue to lay him down at 1pm and let him work it out...or do I move his nap later? He's not crying or upset...he's just not sleeping. Argh...any advice would be welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks!