Love ~ Teach ~ Protect

Their purpose isn't to enhance my life ~ My purpose IS to enhance theirs...

See how fast we grow!

Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie Third Birthday tickers
Lilypie - Personal pictureLilypie First Birthday tickers

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Booty

He was actually so interested in all of the cool stuff that we had a hard time keeping him still for a picture.
I'm not mad. It makes complete sense!

Monday, December 20, 2010

We can't forget

about Isaac. He's still sleeping quite a bit. Note the book (thank you Dolly Parton Imagination Library) that we have available for him to look at while awake. "But, he's on his stomach - that is wrong" you think. Well, family, Isaac was but on his belly for "tummy time." I have been lectured by everyone of authority about how my child needs tummy time. So, down he went. He was not a fan - but the way he got back at us was rather funny. I am surprised his brother never thought of it. Isaac decided that instead of fighting to be up on his chest, he would just lay his head down and take a snooze. Looks like little Isaac will be "bull head number four!"

Friday, December 17, 2010

I went to check in on him

during his nap. I looked and looked over the baby gate. My little one was no where to be found. I looked for a toe or elbow sticking out from under the blanket - but nothing. As I started to step OVER the baby gate to further explore for my boy, I spied toes - a foot. Thing is, they were not in his BED! Remember, that hamper is in the shape of a frog. So, I guess he kinda got swallowed up by his room frog. HA!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Soft & gentle

He's getting better at supporting baby brother in his vibrating chair!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Phin's day

Play, play, play...


nap, nap, nap!

Monday, December 13, 2010

it was time to leave

and Phin was on the floor playing with his "super letters."
As I rushed him out the door, I saw that he was making a word.
This is what Phin was thinking about this morning:

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

what is sweeter

than a little boy sleeping?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

More shots of Isaac

in his first ever photo shoot.









3 month portrait

When Ethan was three months, he had his first "professional" photo shoot with mama. Now, on the same three month mark, Isaac gets his first photo shoot. It's interesting how similar they look - and how different they are as well. Isaac started out much bigger when he was born - it will be interesting to see if that trend will continue.

Monday, December 6, 2010

What a cute gift

from my friend Jessica Hughes. The outfit is reversible. It can be either a solid baby blue, or a blue with monkeys playing about. I particularly like it because the waist band isn't too tight - so that the cloth diapers don't fit well.
Isaac is certainly growing up. It looks like he may keep those baby blues (eyes).


My morning

This morning, I got to sleep in. Daddy got Phin and made him waffles and a berry bar and milk.
When I got out of bed, Phin was out of waffles and I asked him if he wanted eggs. While I started my coffee, I asked him if he wanted to do some recycle and he said yes. We recycled and I started some eggs while my coffee brewed. Phin looked at a book while I made the eggs and then he sounded sad - so I went to see the problem. He had taken his gluten free homemade berry bar from his high chair and it had dropped in the hallway. Because it was gluten free and had been made with too much millet flour, it had broken into pieces - like a piece of glass would. In the meantime, the dog was ringing the bell to go outside to play and the baby Zack was crying to start his morning. Quickly, the eggs were ready and Phin was back to his high chair with a new glass of milk and some eggs. I was bent over a broken berry bar with a broom and with steam rising off of the tea kettle I was very grateful for my morning.
ALL of it.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Phin wants to help

brother sit in his vibrating chair and really enjoy the experience. How does that happen? Phin rocks the chair up and down - which is cute - but we need to work on "soft and gentle" rocking - as Phin can get a little crazy with the rocking.

Friday, December 3, 2010

It's really quite interesting...

how is mind works.
We have been noticing this trend with his wanting a video, but the letters is still a little new to me.
This is how it works with the video.
Phin wants to watch a video and asks for such. I tell him "no" because he's ALREADY seen a video this morning.
He then tells me he wants to eat "mac and cheese."
SO, of COURSE, I tell him okay. I don't want my child to be hungry!
I put him in his highchair (yes, I still put my 27 month in a high chair. It keeps him contained...) and start the mac and cheese.
Luckily, I have earlier in the week made a HUGE pile of it and frozen it in smaller portions that I then pull down as needed to the fridge. Getting the mac and cheese will only take minutes. (yes, they are either corn or brown rice noodles...)
Once the mac and cheese is ready, I give him his drink and food and.... TURN ON THE VIDEO. Cause, you know, we turn on the video when he's eating.
So, he watches the video until it ends (however minutes I have put on the laptop) and then he wants to get down and play.
Mac and cheese untouched.
So, I have caught on to this...

Here is how the bath works:
He starts mumbling about playing with his letters.
(They were taken away because he was focusing on them too much. However, we didn't take away his bath letters.)
I just ignore the request because the letters are put away.
He then asks to take a bath (while still in his highchair at the end of breakfast.) I think, "AWESOME! He wants to be clean, right?" We go to the bath and run the water and he goes straight for the... LETTERS. he plays and plays. He tolerates the soap and the shampoo and conditioner and plays until I empty the tub of water. He CONTINUES to play... I warn him it's getting close to time to get out of the tub. I tell him it's time to get out of the tub. I start toweling him off, telling him we have to get out of the bath. We come back to the bedroom and put on lotion and get dressed in nice warm clothes and comb his hair and let him out to run the house and play. Again, he asks for letters. I ignore the request, as the letters are put away. He THEN asks for ANOTHER bath.

I have to say, I am impressed at how he knows WHAT he wants and makes the right requests to get that thing. I have to tell you though, it worries me - for what we will deal with as he gets smarter and older. I can smell the trouble already - just like a batch of chocolate chip cookies that are ready to come out of the oven!