And then you were 2

Mom let me take you to your 2 year checkup. The whole thing ended up taking half a day, but you were a incredible, as usual. You let the doctors take all your measurements without the slightest complaint; even some blood from your finger without crying. I'm so proud of you. We had to wait so long in the room and lobby and you just played around like it wasn't even a problem. Had 99 problems this morning, but you weren't one. I got to answer yes to all the question of "Is your child awesome? Yes/No?" 

And yesterday we had your birthday party will all our family and friends. You got cool presents and ate A TON of sugar and we had an amazing time. These parties are way more stressful as an adult :P But I think you have a lot of fun. Your family loves you so much it's not even funny.

The Beauty That You Bring

Isobel!

It’s 3 days before your 2^nd birthday and life is good. It’s Friday and I just dropped you off at Trudie’s Daycare. You brought goldfish crackers in to share with everyone. The other kids were at the door anxiously awaiting your arrival, it seemed. You seem to talk and communicate more and better than the other kids your age. Sometimes you talk incessantly loud like you’re trying to make sure everyone else is hearing the same thing you are, like you aren't sure anyone else is hearing you… We hear you loud and clear, babe. You have the sweetest little voice I've ever heard and I treasure every mixed up word and sentence that comes out of your mouth. 

We stopped before walking into daycare, I wanted one more hug before the day took off. I don’t know when it’ll sink in, but your mom and I are always trying to tell you how much we love you. You don’t usually seem to get it, but I know so much more sinks in than you let on. You’re so bright, in every sense of the word. So we stopped to hug and you just let me hold you for a min or two. There’s nothing more special and calming than a hug from you. I know the day will come when I wont be able to hold you up in my arms, but that day is not today :P

Your brother is on the way. He’s growing so big right now and he’ll be here in late July. Our world as we know it will change forever, just like it did upon your arrival. 

Right after we found out you're getting a little brother!

We can’t wait to meet him and welcome him into our family. You’ll be a big sister for the rest of your life. But also, our time with just you will be over and… that’s kinda of sad because we don’t know how things will be. Having a new baby really shakes the world up and it takes some major adjustments. You’ll never remember your first 2 yrs on this planet as our only child. And eventually we won’t remember what it was like either. But I know now that it’s be the most incredible 2yrs ever (and we lived in Jamaica for 2 yrs!) and we’ll treasure it forever. You've taught us so much :*

But I think having a little brother is going to be awesome. You’ll always have someone to play with. A sibling is a relationship like no other; it’s a best friend for life. And if you’re any indication as to how he’ll be, he’s going to be amazing too.

I don’t know much else at the moment. I’m at work putting off work because I’m bored with my job, but that just gives me more reason to get outta here and come home to spend time with you and mom.

We’re building a back porch tomorrow and then Sunday is your birthday party! I hope someday you get to see just how incredibly happy you make everyone around you. The beauty and joy that you bring into this world... 

You just hopped up on the bed and started "reading" all by yourself

...you're just so bright. We love you.

you & cat

This song has been on repeat this past month. He's struggling so much with the weight of sadness in the first half, but then the 2nd half comes in and the music changes and there hope and he says, "My brother had a daughter/The beauty that she brings/Illumination"... And I feel like that... Being a grownup gets old, but the beauty that you bring to our world... it's beyond words... and I don't know if I've ever been as thankful for anything in my life.

Just wanted to stop and let you know how much I love you.

Isobel

It's Dad. Just wanted to check in and let you know, you're incredible. I got to spend 30min of unadulterated time with you this afternoon (i know that doesnt sound like much, but life is full like that) and it was the best 30min of my week. Watching you grow up is the most awesome thing ever. Seeing you grow, not just physically larger, but also seeing you communicate and respond to me more is just mind boggling. Every week I hear new sounds you're trying to pronounce. I see new books you're into. And just how much more observant you get every day. You're the sweetest damn thing I've ever met. You love being held while I cook dinner (other times you like hanging upside down). You also sit and eat with mom and give her a hard time while I cook.

You fuss and fight back a little more nowadays but you're still an absolute joy. You're even a joy around other people. You're always a little standoffish at first and wont let us put you down or anyone else hold you, but after a few minutes you're just having the time of your life and smiling and flirting with everyone. We went down to Henry Horton State Park last night to visit with the Dennistons (Mom's family) and you were just the main event. You're family just can't get enough of you. (It doesn't hurt that you have big blues eyes, 4-1/2 teeth, and a grin that just fills any heart with joy :P  ) Oh and when you squint your eyes and smile with your whole face... forgetaboutit. I'm yours.

I'm not historically good at telling people I love and treasure them frequently enough, so I just wanted to stop for a sec and let you know.

(Mom sitting out in the world's tiniest pool with you. She's a good mom.)

I Promise to Do Better

Isobel

I'm so sorry I haven't kept up with this blog more. I think about writing in it almost everyday, but these days our life is... challenging and busy and stressful. I'm sure that's always the case, but we've just been going through a lot of life changes ever since we moved from Colorado to Tennessee. (Have we told you about why we did that? Basically, Colorado is the greatest place in the world but all of our family is in TN and we decided that having them involved in your life was more important to us than living wherever your mom and I wanted to. TN is great and we don't dislike living here, but we'll take you to CO someday and you'll see the Rocky Mountains and the biggest blue sky ever and you just might understand.) Anyway...

My goodness where do I start? Let me start with this: You are the most beautiful and incredible creature I have ever spent time with. Everyday you just absolutely amaze me. Your personality is delightful. Your toothless, ear to ear grin melts my heart. And when you giggle... It fills my heart with a joy that I've never known. This past year has been the most exhausting year of my life, but you couldn't be more worth it.

You're almost a year old. A YEAR. You've gone from the most adorable little bald wiggle worm that couldn't do anything but sleep 23.5hrs a day and blink at me, to a crawling, walking, talking, smiling, laughing, holding her own bottle, pointing at things, splashing in the tub, sleeping through the entire night... baby adult. You're absolutely brilliant. And I'm so blessed to have you in my life. On the nights that I put you to sleep, I always thank God for you and for giving me the honor of taking care of you.

It's a Friday today and I'm tired. We're about to move to a new house and a new part of Nashville. It's exciting because this is what we've been working towards but it's all quite exhausting. Your mom is about to start going back to work and she's stressed about that. She was only going to take off 3mo after you were born, but we both decided that staying home and raising you was more important. Now that we're back in town with grandpa's and grandma's, she's going to start going back to work, part time for now. The grandmas are gonna watch you a couple days a week and you're going to go to a daycare the other days. I wish we could both stay at home and raise and take care of you forever, but this world doesn't really allow for that.

I've been saving pictures of you to put together someday. Should have it done by the time you're 30 :)  This one has been my desktop background lately. I enjoy it so so much.

I love you soooo much, honey. Your mom has taken to calling you Chippy here and there. I think it's funny and weirdly fitting (weirdly because I've never even heard that name before). Oh! and you've really taken to spinning lately. I twirl you around and you just love it. I think you love being dizzy. Even after we stop spinning you like to shake your head back and forth. Anyway, can't wait to twirl you around this weekend :*

ps. One last thing, and maybe this is more for me… Up until now when putting you to bed, I’d hold you on your back/side, cradling you, and I’d rock you to sleep. Some nights you’d fight it and grab at my beard till you fell asleep. But something happened recently where you don’t like being held like that anymore. Now you sit upright in my arms and lay your head on my shoulder. It makes me feel so special and loved… it’s hard to describe but I love it. Then after praying I lay you down in your crib and you put your arms above your head and I lay a blanket on you and you doze off. It’s one of the best parts of my life.

Worst Mom Ever: Return of Mommy to the Blog

Turns out being your mom is two full-time jobs on REpeat, girl.
That, or maybe I'm just not the quickest study in this area...
These are my excuses for not keeping up at this online documentation of your early months. That is all. :)

You're 4 months old now and I'm pretty much the only one who's still counting the weeks (and sometimes days). We go for your 4-month doctor appointment next Friday and I'm irritated they scheduled it for when you're actually, technically going to be 17 weeks old - the nerve!

Gosh, so much to catch you up on...We flew home to Nashville last week to meet lots of friends and family. We flew with you for the first time and set a record on that Saturday (8.10.13) for most # of people to kiss a baby in one afternoon ~ I think it was close to 50, kiddo. I'm amazed you aren't sick right now, but I threatened people about washing their hands before holding you. :)  Your Meemaw asked people to bring their favorite books as gifts and I'm still going through them all! I think we got some good ones.  You were a champ at traveling and being the object of affection. You slept okay in the new surroundings and were such a good sport with all the new people...quite the crowd pleaser. I dare say, we haven't come across anyone interested in engaging you that you are happy to oblige.  And you're not a big diva or a ham. You're just cool, calm and pleasant...throwing the occasional adorable smile and chuckle out 'for the fans.'  I couldn't be more impressed (and grateful).

I need to be better about logging all the details that I'm sure you'll quiz me about when you're older. I know I asked my mom for any little morsel about "my past," and was excited to know my habits, my unique traits...And for the first couple of months, I thought that you are pretty regular and easy-going.  The last couple months have allowed us to start seeing your personality and your unique characteristics though, and I want to be able to tell you!  Just watch - If I do end up writing it all down, you'll be like your dad and never really care to ask that kind of stuff! :)  Either way, I want to remember.

Since I'm new at this, it's hard to tell what is just typical infant behavior and what's distinct. I reserve the right to revise this later, if needed:

• YOUR LAUGH: When I read to look out for laughter around 2-3 months, I thought it would be this nonstop, overwhelming, bubbled up, goofy-sounding laugh...It's not like that at all. For one, you smile A LOT, but you don't laugh all that often. Your dad and I joke that you're a "tough crowd," and that maybe you take after me in this way.  When you DO laugh, it's more of a low chuckle.  It makes ME laugh...which in turn keeps you laughing a little more (and so on).  Of course, I can't seem to make you laugh. It just kind of happens whenever you hear something you like. I then try and repeat whatever it was that caused the chuckle because I'd do just about ANYthing to hear it more and more. :)  I'll have to take a video one of these days, but you started knowing about cameras and video early on and will start only focusing on the camera when it's on...grr.
  
• SLEEP:  You and I are currently negotiating sleep, in that it's not perfect, I need more/better sleep and so, I'm trying a couple of different tactics to help you "self-soothe."  However, I did read that the amount you sleep and how early/late you like to sleep is indicative of how it'll stay throughout your life, which is cool! So far, you are pretty middle of the road...not really a night owl, but not a super early rise either...which is just perfect for me. You're typically asleep for good around 10 and up around 8am. If I make you real comfy, we can occasionally sleep in until 9:30 or 10am, but I try not to do this unless we (or at least I!) really need it.  So there you have it--you like your sleep, but not too much. You ARE bright eyed and happy in the mornings, but I don't know that you aren't in the afternoons...I'm hoping that we can get you napping properly throughout the day soon, so that you'll be in good spirits throughout, instead of the tiredness building over the day and culminating with agonizingly long bedtime rituals at night. Anyway, pretty moderate and healthy sleep habits, I'd say!
  
• TOUCHES: You love caressing faces and putting your hand on our hands, when in reach. You will still lay your head on our shoulders when we carry you in that "trying to burp" style and are pretty passively affectionate, I'd say. I still can't get you to mock my "kisses" and "hugs," but you love to be held close, rocked and kissed/stroked on the head (like a kitten). :)
  
• CATS: So far, you don't seem to care one iota about your cat brothers, Goob and Peeta. You don't mind them and you aren't interested in them...they might as well be potted, meowing plants around the house.  I'm sure this will change in time!
  
• WATER:  Judging from your almost daily baths and occasional playing in the complex pool, we think you are a natural water baby! Again, and maybe this is a personality thing in general...you aren't overly excitable about the water, but you seem very easy and comfortable in it. You seem to enjoy both warm and cool water and, so long as your helper is confident and keeps a secure hold on you, you'd stay playing in it for a while--just enjoying it and relaxing. I've put toys in the bath with you and you'd really rather play with the water faucet itself--the flow of water coming out and the faucet knobs. Water IS pretty amazing, though.
  
• STANDING:  You LOVE LOVE LOVE to stand, kiddo. Sitting has been less natural a position for you, but we're working on it with you in the Bumbo seat. Yeah, but you've liked standing since you were probably 2 months old--most of your smiles and babbling/cooing is done in this position. Your legs are strong and you love it. Even when they get tired, you drop to this kneeling position and are pretty happy there until you get energy for STANDING again. Laying is alright, but you're in that position most of the time.  We've recently gotten you playing in these jumper activity thingies (one that hangs in the doorway and another free-standing one that's Farm-themed) and you don't really get the bouncy part, but you love the standing part! :)

Josh, am I forgetting anything?

you're literally the most adorable thing I've ever seen

http://instagram.com/p/bsG-Y8ITc2/

10 Things I've Learned While on Maternity Leave
[Thanks to Erin Puckett Breedlove for inspiring this list and letting me straight-up copy a couple of these points!]


10. Just because something is a "natural process" doesn't mean it will be easy or happen without effort. This should be applied to everything you think (during pregnancy) will just "work itself out."  It will...just not necessarily smoothly and/or without tears.

9. Breastfeeding is intense. 
It hurt for the first 6 weeks (and still sometimes does!) and requires me to be "on call" all the time, non-stop. Don't get me wrong, it's flippin amazing...but it's a lot to manage.

8. Some (read: all) projects will just have to wait. 
Maternity leave is not a "stay-cation," nor does it allow much free time for anything not absolutely necessary. Any day that I take my vitamins and get a shower is a WIN.

7. The age-old "sneak pee" on the changing table is not just for baby boys anymore.

6.  Curdled milk is what babies spit up and it will go down your pants and all in your hair.

5. Baby poop velocity is FOR REAL and not to be underestimated. If you wait, you will pay (in loads and loads of laundry).

 4. Contrary to your worst fears, 9 out of 10 adults you encounter in public won't judge or shame you. They encourage, try to help and genuinely celebrate your little love-muffin!

3.  Any errand/meeting requiring you to leave the house will take thoughtful planning and more time than you ever thought necessary. Being on-time becomes the cherry on top!

2. Childrens' books teach grown-up lessons. I have cried, laughed out loud and written lines down for future reference...in the same instance where it put my LO right to sleep!

1. This baby is the coolest, best thing I will ever do, and I'll spend the rest of my life thanking The Lord for making me a "mommy."