Saturday: scary

I hate crescent roll packages that don't open when you peel off the top layer.  Then I have to pop it myself and it always scares me.

Friday: pool

Isaac and I joined Betsy and Ethan at the pool this afternoon and it was a perfect day for it.  It took Isaac and Ethan a bit to warm up to the pool and to each other, but then they played and talked with each other.  I have no idea what they were playing or saying, but they seemed to enjoy it.  It was so much nicer than last year when we were constantly chasing the boys around the pool.  This time they actually played with the water and only wandered once or twice.

Then Isaac and I met Ben at a local Greek/Chicago food place that I hadn't been to before.  It was pretty good, although I did wish that my gyro had a few more veggies and a bit less meat.  Oh well, still someplace that I'd be happy to try again.

Wednesday: so there.

Amanda: Isaac, you need to go to the bathroom now.
Isaac: NO!
Amanda: Yes.
Isaac: NO!
Amanda: Do you want to go yourself or do you want me to carry you?
Isaac starts walking.
Isaac passes a large duplo piece.
Isaac snatches the duplo piece with the "if you're going to make me go to the bathroom, I'm going to take this with me even though you don't want me to" look.

It made us crack up.  I don't care if Isaac takes stuff with him to the bathroom, especially large duplo pieces.  But if that's how he needs to assert his independence, that's fine with me.

Tuesday: on boat?

This morning we went to a playgroup at church.  There weren't a ton of people there, but it was a lot of fun.  And Isaac did really well on the play structure...it's so interesting to see the change from last year.  He still wanted a little help on the slides (although he could have done them by himself).  The other funny thing is that he started hanging on a monkey bar.  I saw it and ran over and he was still hanging on it...I didn't really think that he could hold himself up that long.  He did proceed to fall while I was there without any trauma, but the next few times I caught him very promptly.  Guess I better teach him how to fall safely from the monkey bars. :)

Isaac was also very excited to go in the boat today.  I kept being asked, "on boat?"  And then when I said yes he wanted to make sure we were going to go in the water too.  He went out a second time with Ben...it was the first thing he said when Ben walked in the door.  They're short rides, but that works for us right now.

Monday: Happy Memorial Day!

We went to the parade today.  I'm glad it was only a half hour because Isaac lost interest rather quickly.  Part of it may have been from poor seats.  Luckily, he entertained himself well with a water bottle.

We also pumped up our (new to us) kayak and had a little ride.  It doesn't steer all that well, but we had a fun time.

Friday: 30 weeks

I'm 30 weeks pregnant today!  Only 10 weeks left!  (This sounds so much better than saying I still have a quarter left to go...that sounds like a long time.)

Currently I'm doing some quilt stuff on the computer, hoping not to throw up due to acid reflux (it just hit me out of the blue), and listening to Ben say "Boing, boing, boing, bonk! bonk! bonk!" while jumping around Minecraft and Isaac laughing like crazy!  Isaac also likes to "see moos", and "climb ladder".  When there was enough fuel Isaac enjoyed flying up and down.  Isaac loves the game, although he doesn't actually do anything during the time he gets to play/watch.

Thursday: "What's that"

One of Isaac's favorite phrases lately is "What's that?"  I am so sick of the question.  Half the time he knows the answer and wants us to give us the answer he's thinking of.  Of that half, half of the time he screeches/squeals/screams and asks what he just did. A quarter of the time I have no idea what the thing is...like the flap on plastic packaging.  The other quarter it's a valid question.

In other news, it's time for us to start teaching him how to put the covers on himself.  I don't understand why this is something that we need to teach him, but I'm sick of going over just to adjust his covers.

Wednesday: today

Isaac has diarrhea again. :(  But besides that he's still happy.  The good news is that he got most of it in the toilet though, so that was nice.

Tuesday: no gd and pictures

I retook my glucose test today and passed with flying colors.  Ben rewarded me by bringing home a donut!

And here are some pictures from our VA trip, in no particular order...

Isaac with lots of toys.  He did an amazing job in the car.

Hanging out.  Isaac liked Evelyn, but really just ignored her most of the time.

Goats!

Going on a walk.

Looking at a pretend ant.  (We had just seen a big fast one, but he is just looking at tree droppings here.)

Putting together a windmill/

Isaac helped put the nuts on.

Isaac and me.

Petting the goats.  Once they realized we didn't have food they ignored us.

A good photo.

Isaac playing his "guitar".  There were a few times where Nathan was playing a song on his guitar, Isaac was making noise with his "guitar" and Isaac wanted me to sing a song that he knew.  I said no...three different tunes was way too much.

Going to plant onions.

Planting onions.

Clearing rocks.

Being a farmer and surveying the land.

By the rock pile.

Putting up a drawing that Isaac made with Liz.

Looking at the stream.  It went under the driveway and Isaac loved running from one side to the other to check out the stream.

Picture time.

 Evelyn and me.

Evelyn's first selfie.  She isn't sure she likes the word either.

And finally, Isaac's new letter song.  We heard this a lot and at the top of his lungs on the ride home.  

Home

We arrived home today after a wonderful trip. Isaac cried for about fifteen minutes out of the 24 hour round trip, but it was because he had a dirty diaper...who can blame him?

But he also took a very short nap and cried easily this afternoon. I was also a bit grumpy, so we had a few moments. But after a bit everything evened out again.

However, I am tired. I decided to read in bed and then flurry threw up on the blankets. (She's always smart enough to throw up on the floor.). I called Ben up to help me not because I couldn't deal with the mess but because I didn't know what to do. The only thing I knew is that we should take the blankets off the bed. (We put on the other comforter (duh) and have the big blanket at the foot of the bed as the back up blanket.)

Friday: a restful day

Today we took it rather easy. We went on a few walks around the farm. Nathan and I put together a little windmill. After telling Isaac several times not to touch the blades because they are sharp, Nathan cut himself.

We also sang several songs and Isaac decided that Evelyn's toy giraffe is a guitar too. But he can't sing and play the giraffe because it is too hard.

Thursday: we made it

1) we stopped at McDonalds for lunch. It had a play place, and Isaac wanted to go play. Without thinking about the fact that it was made with opaque plastic tubing, I said yes. Five minutes later I had no idea where he was, but didn't hear crying and knew he didn't leave the two exits, so I wasn't worried. But then a girl tried to go up a tube and came back down...I thought Isaac was stuck. My motherly instincts shot in and I zoomed up the tube. He wasn't lost. He was fine. So we went down the slide together. I didn't let him go back up that part because I didn't want him to get lost. Aunt c was laughing this whole time because I had forgotten I was pregnant but apparently made a pretty funny sight.

2) Isaac helped read some books to Evelyn tonight by doing the animal sounds. It was super cute.

Wednesday: we're off!

And we're off to Virginia! Isaac and I left Ben at home and went to pick up Aunt C. During that ten minutes before we left Holland I sang "itsy bitsy spider" about ten times and was getting a bit nervous about the trip.

We got all of aunt C's stuff packed in the car. (The whole time it sounded like Isaac was saying "CC dumb ass" and we have no idea what he was really saying). Isaac did much better once we really got started. He took a short nap and chilled for a bit.

Shortly after, it was time for dinner. Isaac picked up a medium sized rock and was carrying it around, only to have it drop and shatter into three pieces. He was rather surprised, but then super happy! Isaac got a rock, I got a rock, and Aunt C got a rock. And he's made sure that we keep those rocks!

We stopped with about 4.5 hours to go.

Tuesday: Ben's failed test

Ben went to the bathroom.

Isaac: Treat?

Ben: sure

Isaac runs off to get a pretend heart.

Isaac: Here you go dada

Ben: Thanks!

Isaac: More?

Ben: sure

Isaac: Not two.  Only one heart.

So Ben may have failed his parenting test, but at least Isaac seems to understand that you only get one heart for going to the bathroom.

Monday: embarrassing and silly

I had my pregnancy glucose test today.  But I didn't read the directions and ate a donut for breakfast.  I called and they had me do the test anyway, but I failed.  I felt pretty dumb, but the doctor didn't seem to worry too much...I barely failed, I only gained three pounds over the last month, and my urine sample was clean of sugars.

It's still annoying though since I was rather embarrassed and need to do the test again.

*****and the silly*****

After we watch our TV program with dinner, we once in a while watch "Too Cute", a show about kittens and puppies.  He always says "Watch kitties?"  then "watch puppies?"  I was the one to say no tonight, so Isaac asked Ben...with the sliest glance over at me.  Isaac needs to work on his subtlety skills. :D

Sunday: Happy Mother's Day!

Today was a very nice day.  Ben woke up with Isaac, but as is normal on Mother's Day Isaac slept in.  Then I had breakfast in bed.  Then we all wore stripes.  (We don't have a picture with Ben, but Isaac picked out his shirt so that everyone would have stripes.)  We went to church, took a nap, and hung out on the deck for a while.  Then Jamie and her kids came over for dinner.  Isaac went a bit crazy, but everyone had fun.

Saturday: sprinklers

We prepped the sprinklers today...there are a few that still need some help, but we could run the sprinklers if needed.  We were about to start zone 5 when Isaac noticed the baby ducks.

Isaac was not willing to leave the ducks until they were out of sight.

Friday: our day

We saw a loon on the lake and close to the house.  We've seen a loon several times, but only ever one.  I hope it's not lonely, because it'd be nice if it stayed around.

We went to the quilt show.  "Unparalled" by Carol Vinnedge was my favorite.  I think that Isaac liked pretty much every quilt, but was also ready to go by the end.

We briefly walked through the flower show next to the quilt show.

And I took Isaac's picture by some tulips.

Even though the forecast said cool and rainy all day, when we woke up from our naps it was warm and sunny.  Actually, I was rather warm, but when I opened the windows the breeze cooled me down nicely.  Today marked the first day of "pregnant and bare foot" in the kitchen with this baby, but I highly doubt it will be the last.  Where did that come from anyway?  Back when there were dirt floors?  Ok, I looked it up on Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia.  It started being used between 1910 and 1950 and refers to a person that always stays at home (therefore not needing shoes) (and not working outside the home) taking care of the house and the kids.  Seems a bit odd to me because I suspect that even in the 1910s women had other errands that would take them out of the house, but maybe I'm just reading too much into it.  Anyway, I wore two pairs of shoes today besides going barefoot.

Thursday: baby name and warm days

Isaac wrote out some names with his letters today.  From top to bottom, they spell "Baby's name, mom's name, dad's name."

Today was also hot out!  (I think it hit 83 degrees and sunny.)  I know, not too bad, but it was too hot for me.  What happened to 73 degrees and sunny?  That would have been perfect.

Wednesday: worms

This morning Isaac and I had a lovely visit with Pat.  Isaac did a great job playing while we talked.  This afternoon we went outside and found some worms.  It started to lightly rain, so it was time to go inside.  Of course, Isaac didn't want to leave his worms.  (They weren't even very squirmy.)

So they came in with us.

I find it a bit weird that I'm ok with worms coming in the house but not rocks.  I decided that it is because I'm not worried about stepping on the worms in the middle of the night and hurting myself.

Tuesday: pregnancy brain

I wish I could say that I didn't have pregnancy brain, but it seems like I do.  Isaac isn't 30 months old as I stated two posts ago, he's only 28 months.  I incorrectly scheduled several things over the last week.  I feel as though I've been quite certain of several facts lately only to have them be blatantly wrong...but of course I can't remember them now.

However, I have reminded Isaac to go to the bathroom on a regular basis, so I guess that's something. : D  (He was close enough to an accident free day today that he got a sticker.  There was one accident, but it was while he was in the bathroom.  And there were several times where it would have been very annoying for him to have an accident and he didn't.  Hooray!)

Monday: gym

I went to the gym today! It's been a while...a long while. But 1) I felt terrible the last several months and 2) I just bought a bathing suit that I want to get my money's worth out of.

Sunday: 28 I months

Well, I finally took the standard pictures of Isaac near 28 months.



He's decided that he's been hot lately and so likes T-shirts and no pants.  (We did compromise on shorts yesterday and those were acceptable though.)  He has also figured out how to take his socks on and off, so we'll often see him walking around the house with inside out, upside down socks.

This morning after we finished praying he folded his hands again and said "Jesus!"  So we prayed again, thanking God for Jesus.  I wish that I was the one that had taught him that, but I don't think he got it from me.  I'm happy that he picked it up from somewhere though!

Then Ben asked, "Isaac, can I have a hug?"  Isaac responded, very clearly, "Yes...Mom hug Dad."  It cracked us up.  He's a rather funny kid.

He hasn't been sleeping quite as much lately, but he's usually very happy in his crib.  Nap times are often a bit shorter (and periodically don't happen), and it takes him a while to get to sleep.  But he just talks to himself and his animals and moves his blankets and pillows around.

Potty training still has a bit to go, but I have seen a lot of progress in the last two weeks.  Sometimes he has a dry nap and knows when he needs to go to the bathroom!  I think he is gaming the system since he gets a treat when he goes, but I'm ok with that for now.  I'd rather give him a few extra treats and get it solidly in his head that going to the toilet is a good thing.



He also is becoming more independent, which is often pretty nice.  Except for doors...if there is a double door he wants to go through one and have me go through the other, but he can't open his door by himself yet.  He also doesn't always want to hold my hand while we're walking.  He likes to watch me work in the kitchen (and really likes to help, but that isn't always practical).



He wanted to take some pictures too, so I had him take one of the baby.  He doesn't quite understand the "back up to take pictures" sometimes.

Saturday: "Come on, let's go!"

"Come on,"  Isaac says as he waves his hand towards me.

I don't move.

"Come on," Isaac repeats.

I still don't move.

"Come on, let's go!" Isaac nicely says, as he grabs my hand to bring me over to play.

I hear my own voice parroted back to me and (usually) move.  He's just so cute that it's hard to resist.

Thursday: cautiously optimistic

Potty training.

It's been a hard month.  That bout of diarrhea a few weeks ago really set Isaac back...so much so that I started wondering if we had started to try way to early and should just go back to diapers for a while.  But he would still go on the toilet if the timing was right.  Basically, I was (and may again) second guessing myself left and right.  The last week was better, but still only ok.

And then we had today.  It started with an accident during breakfast and I started second guessing myself again.  But the day got better...he actually told us that he needed to go several times before getting wet underwear.  He told us!  That hasn't happened before.  He's also getting better about being willing to go when we ask him to...it might be the stool and that he gets to turn the lights on, but I'll take any reason.  He can do everything himself until he's "all done".   Then I come into the bathroom and help him finish up.  He's often quite sure that I should stay out of the bathroom until he's at least seated on the toilet.

(He is also happy to give himself a treat.  Usually he asks for a treat at the appropriate time, but sometimes he "forgets" and treats himself for no reason.  I can't really blame him, but I can put the treats far enough away that only I can reach them.)

We'll see how tomorrow goes.  It's nice to have little victories once in a while at the very least.