Christmas Eve 2011

We tried to get a cute photo of them together in their matching pajama pants I made for them but Isaac was NOT letting that happen!

     

Anna Kate counted out nine carrots for Santa's reindeer!

One more week!

       

I am so excited for Christmas!

Elf on the Shelf

I've been posting the adventures of our elf, Jack, on Facebook. Here is a link to check out the pics:
Elf on the Shelf 2011

18 months

Isaac at one and a half:

Weight: 21 pound 15 ounces - 5th percentile

Height: 33.25 inches - 75th percentile

Head: 50th percentile

Size: 12-18 months

Shoes: 4

Diapers: size 3

Teeth - 12 with 4 more on their way

• Sleeps from 7ish at night until 9ish in the morning.
• Takes one nap - usually only 2 hours because I have to wake him up to get Anna Kate from preschool but will sleep longer on the days we don't. 
• I hold him before I lay him down and sing a few songs. He puts his head on my shoulder and tucks his arms in when he's really tired. Usually he will lay right down without a peep and go to sleep. If he does have trouble going to sleep if we lay down on the ground in his room he will stop crying and fall asleep.
• Walks ALL the time.
• Walks backwards too.
• Just started walking with his hands behind his back... it's really cute.
• Has this new laugh that sounds fake. (I went back and read what Anna Kate was doing at 18 months and she had the same laugh!)
• Wants to feed himself with a spoon.
• Jabbers like crazy and his vocabulary is exploding although they're words only we can understand. 
• Baby (day-day) Diaper (di-da) Please (sleeese) Shoes (soosh) Cheese (ceeese) More (ma)
• Is finally calling us dada and mama but no name for Anna Kate that we can tell.
• Signs more, please and kind of all done.
• Knows a few animal sounds - Cow (ooooo) Duck (mack-mack) Dog (oof-oof) Cat (mowe) Chicken (bak-bak)
• A few other sounds - Princess (ahhh - sings like Ariel) Santa (woah-woah-woah)
• Sits down outside the pantry door and says/signs "please" when he wants a snack.
• LOVES chocolate thanks to Grammy Pat's advent calendar she sent and Daddy giving him m&m's.
• Favorite food is probably macaroni and cheese with fruit loops a close second. 
• He's kind of picky about other food. 
• He will say "mmm" when he takes a bite and likes it.
• Loves his vanilla soy milk and asks for more as soon as he is done.
• Likes to sing the Itsy-Bitsy Spider and does most of the actions.
• Also likes the Wheels on the Bus and he will roll his arms the whole song.
• Says his version of "cheese" when he sees me with his camera. Will sit down on the stairs or in front of the Christmas tree and say "cheese" even when I don't have a camera.
• LOVES to carry a toy in each hand. The toys change from day to day but they are usually the same - two bowls, two little people, two spoons, etc.
• Loves to play with people - doll house people, little people toys, duplo people. He tries to make them sit on things and will "talk" to them.
• Also loves pushing around cars.
• He copies Anna Kate ALL THE TIME and thinks he should be able to do whatever she can do.
• He folds his hands during prayers but he doesn't close his eyes, just scowls, which is probably what we look like to him!
• He is a really good scowler and will scowl and then smile over and over because it makes us laugh.
• He will do anything for a laugh!

He is a really fun boy with a sweet personality. I love this age!

Isaac at 17 months old

• 12-18 months clothes
• Size 4 shoes
• Size 3 diapers
• 11 teeth - 3 poked through this week (bottom right incisor and two top molars) and 5 more are trying to come through
• Goes to bed around 7 or 7:30 and wakes up around 9 am! 
• Takes one 2-hour nap although he would probably sleep longer but I have to wake him up to pick up Anna Kate from preschool.
• He is WALKING at least 50% of the time. Finally!
• Had a textbook case of roseola this past month and it really slowed down his walking progression. He was SO clingy and refused to walk for a whole week.
• He signs "more."
• Says, "ta-too" for "thank you."
• Has really started loving to books this past month. I was a little concerned because he wouldn't ever sit and listen to an entire book and now he can't get enough. He wakes up every morning and pulls out book after book for us to read. He especially loves Goodnight Gorilla and What's Up Duck?
• He will do a couple actions to Itsy, Bitsy Spider.
• Puts his finger to his lips and says "shh."
• Copies whatever Anna Kate does.
• Plays with the play kitchen toys and makes sounds as he's pouring stuff or "eating" food ("num, num,  num)
• Says, "mmm" after taking bites of any food.
• Throws his food on the ground when he's done.
• Tries to take off his bib if you ask him if he's all done.
• Dances to music.
• Gives me anything tiny he finds on the ground.
• Loves to eat sugary cereals like Lucky Charms and Crunch Berries and picks out the marshmallows and  berries.
• Points at everything.
• Babbles and has full-on "conversations" with anyone who will listen and respond to him.
• He is stubborn.
• He tucks his arms in while singing him to sleep and tucks them in when he is laid down in his crib.
• He's a happy boy but can make some pretty intense scowls.

We love our IZ-Boy!

Fun in the leaves!

Playmates

Anna Kate and Isaac were playing together so nicely this morning. It was very sweet. They were having a great time with Anna Kate's little stuff. Isaac is finally old enough to know not to put them in his mouth... hooray!

I like the little scenes Anna Kate sets up.

Isaac likes making the princess dolls sing like Ariel! It's pretty funny.

Playing under the table is another favorite thing they like to do together!

I get frustrated because it feels like these kids fight and get in each other's space all the time but they do have a great time together too.

Conversations with Anna Kate

AK: Can I go over to Kamryn's house?
Me: Not today.
AK: Why not?
Me: I don't know who her parents are.
AK: I can tell you her dad's name. It's Mr. C..... and I don't know her mom's name but I think it's Mrs. C.....
       So, please can I go to her house?
Me: I don't know where she lives.
AK: Call her and ask her.
Me: I don't know her phone number.
AK: I will ask Kamryn her phone number at preschool tomorrow and I will try to remember it the whole day and tell it to you when I get home.
Me: When someone tells me something I want to remember I usually write it down.
AK: Okay, I will ask Kamryn her phone number and then try to draw the numbers. I really hope her phone number doesn't have any 5's in it because I don't know how to draw 5's yet. Maybe Kamryn knows how to draw 5's. If she does, I will have her write the 5's.
Me: Sounds like you have a plan!


I've told Anna Kate that crying isn't allowed at preschool. She tends to get frustrated about things and just start crying rather than working through the problem. I told her if she does that at preschool Mrs. Spencer will call me and have me come pick her up.

AK: Mrs. Spencer forgot the rule today at preschool.
Me: What rule?
AK: The "no crying at preschool" rule. There was a girl crying and Mrs. Spencer didn't call her mom and she didn't have to go home.
Me: You didn't tell Mrs. Spencer about this rule did you?
AK: No, because I'm only in charge of myself, not Mrs. Spencer!
Me: OH GOOD!

AK: Can I have a play date tomorrow?
Me: Who do you want to invite over?
AK: Malia!
Me: Malia lives in Bellingham.
AK: Brianna! Oh yeah, she's in Bellingham too.
AK: How about Grandma?
Me: She's at work.
AK: How about Mrs. Spencer? (her preschool teacher)
Me: Probably not...
AK: Why? Because you guys are both grown-ups and will talk the whole time and Mrs. Spencer won't have any time to play with me?
Me: Probably.
AK: Hmm... I guess I don't know anyone here... only people in Bellingham!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

The weather was beautiful today and so it was a GREAT day to head to the pumpkin patch!



The sun was SO bright the kids were squinting at the camera... rare for October!

Cute pumpkins!

Isaac DID NOT want Anna Kate touching him. Can you tell?

We were able to meet up with some friends and take family photos for each other. SO MUCH better than asking strangers! Thanks Heidi!

Anna Kate and Kennedi had fun together!

FIVE kids in a wheelbarrow - can you believe it?

Kohen LOVED Isaac's ears and nose! Surprisingly, Isaac didn't seem to mind.

They had cute rubber ducky races for the kids.

Hooray for pumpkins!

Piano Man

Isaac loves to "sing" while he plays the piano.

Sneaky

Isaac always wants to play Anna Kate's guitar. While she was away at preschool, he crawled into her room and pulled it out to play. He likes to use the pick and sing along as he plays.

Crazy kiddos

Isaac loves to copy his sister - even when she's crazy!

Hair, Camera, Action!

Anna Kate wants to grow her bangs out so we are experimenting with new hairstyles.

I tried to get the bangs pulled back but some fell out.

Anna Kate took this photo of Isaac and I! She did great!!

Sweet and silly faces from a sweet and silly girl!

Isaac loves the camera and he wanted a turn too!

Pacifier???

When Isaac was a baby he would NOT take a pacifier. We tried and tried but finally gave up.



I was very surprised when I walked into the (messy) playroom and found Isaac with a pacifier in his mouth!

Anna Kate told me she found and it put it in his mouth because "it makes him look so cute!" Not sure if I agree with that but it was funny! She also admitted to me that she also chewed on it. I told her that meant they were sharing germs. She said, "It's okay Mom. I wiped it off on his shirt before I put it in my mouth." Whew! :)

Isaac wouldn't let me take it from him but I kept seeing his do this. He didn't know how to suck on it so he would crawl with his head up to try to help keep it in his mouth. Silly boy!

Now that's a cute face!

My little dustmops

Our front two rooms are empty and have hardwood floors - the perfect combination for sliding around on a blanket!