New Pictures

I don't really feel like posting a little story, but I do want to share some new pictures.

Bye Bye Beach Baby Hair

I took Isaiah to get his hair cut today. It's shorter than he's ever had it and Tim thinks it's much cuter that way. But *sniffle* all his little curls are gone.

And here's a picture from the day Joanna turned five months.

My Little Chef

Isaiah has become increasingly more independent and assertive. He really thinks he's much bigger than he is. I've been letting him help cook for quite a few months now and my, has he gotten brave! Saturday morning he helped make eggs and grits (one of his favorite morning meals). I usually let him whisk the eggs and help pour things and maybe even help get the butter into the pan. Well, he decided he could graduate to not only cracking the eggs, but opening them up over the bowl as well. He actually did a pretty good job, so he probably doesn't understand why Mommy quickly did the rest before he got a chance. So tonight, he decided that since he's mastered breakfast, it was time to tackle dinner. He helped me get potatoes out of the sack and put them on the table. I cut up one potato for mashed potatoes and realized I did not have a pot with water to put the cubes in. So as I was filling up the pot, he climbs into the chair in front of the potatoes, cutting board and....knife. He looked pretty professional holding the potato and trying to cut it in half. Scary none the less. We had a talk about him never being allowed to touch a knife and that it could hurt. He didn't attempt making the mashed potatoes again. Although, I did take the knife around with me and set it on counters right next to me wherever I was. With the potatoes on the stove and the gravy cooking away, I thought it was safe to come sit down for a moment. Then I hear Isaiah with his chair again. He likes to push it up to the oven and climb up to watch me cook. Only this time, I wasn't there. I'm thinking about garage sale hunting for a play kitchen for him.

My Mom in law just sent me this picture that her Hubby took while he was here that Saturday morning.

Trouble Shooting

Sometimes it feels like parenthood is made up of a majority of research, prayer and in the end...guess work. I know it's hard to believe (and this is a big confession here), but... I don't have all the answers. I bet you are all picking your jaws up off of the floor right now.

I feel like my day is comprised of tasks that I have to trouble shoot for. That plans are ever adjusting and situations arise that call for creative thinking and "what's the best solution" analysis.

Anyway, to catch everyone up on the past couple weeks...

We went to a wedding on our Anniversary. Tim was the photographer. It was in Pasadena and went well. The kids were awesome! Isaiah was the life of the party at the reception with his spinning in circles moves out on the dance floor! He fell asleep on the way home, which was very nice for us. Joanna ate a late night snack, then went to bed. Tim and I had at least 30 whole minutes to ourselves before ringing in the new year and heading for bed.

Our current struggle with Isaiah is first time obedience. It seems like this is more of an on-going issue, rather than something to be mastered. I know that's just the way it is, but I wouldn't mind if we could be done with it for a little while. Isaiah really is a sweet little boy though. He is very affectionate and I love to see him love up on his sister. He still is a great helper and desperately wants his own "my job" or chance to "try." I also adore hearing him try to soothe Joanna when we're in the car. "Okay Nana, It's okay. I know Nana."

Joanna is growing up! I feel like, now that her thrush is finally gone, I have wished some of her life away. I would try not to wish to be past the nursing phase, but I did at times and now I feel like maybe I didn't cherish some of the earlier days. I only feel this way sometimes, most of the time I don't, but when I do, it's sad. She is becoming quite the Mommy's Girl and I admit, I love it! She is always smiling at me and that's a great feeling. I love how babies are so non-judgmental. She doesn't request a list of my accomplishments or abilities. She doesn't ask for a valid identification card, stating my age. She has no requirements for me. She simply loves me and wants me around. That's the best.

It's Someone's Birthday Somewhere

Isaiah's favorite song is "Happy Birthday to You." He is always making Mega Block cakes and singing happy birthday. If there is a candle lit in the house or on a t.v. commercial, he exclaims, "Happy Birthday!" and tries to blow it out. It's lots of fun to watch and listen to him sing.

Joanna has been experimenting with her voice a lot lately. She's been shrieking, growling and playing with her tongue. Blowing bubbles is a favorite oral exercise. She still prefers to fuss until someone comes to get her rather than change positions herself. She is able to roll from her tummy to her back and I really think if she'd just try, she could roll her hips over and get to her tummy from her back. She's just not willing to. She wants to work on sitting instead. Maybe the view is more appealing.

I haven't put up any pictures recently, so I thought now would be a good time. These are from Christmas.

The best family picture we could get. Joanna did not like her outfit. I love that outfit. She hates it. The teen years are going to be fun.

Tim and Isaiah with Isaiah's Christmas present.

The Fireplace is NOT an ATM Machine

A couple of weeks ago, while Tim is at AWANA, I sit at the computer to check e-mail and catch up with a friend of mine. Isaiah decides his movie is boring. So he goes to the diaper bag and pulls out my wallet. At first, I don't notice. Then I realize what he has, that he's got in open and is taking things out. I tell him to bring it to me and give him a chance to obey. After a while he finally does. When I go to snap it closed...I notice a couple of cards are not in their spots. So after seaching my home, high and low, trying to think like a two-year old little boy...all the while asking him where he put my cards and getting the response "I don't know" with a huge grin, I take drastic measures and pause his movie. After grilling him a bit, (and trying not to laugh because he's being really cute...) I get him to confess.
"Empty," while shrugging his shoulders, "All gone."
"What do you mean, 'Empty?' Where did you put my cards?!?"
He goes over to the fireplace vent and looks in while pointing in it. I get a flash light and sure enough, there is my Costco membership card and what appears to be a.....bank card. After trying various means to retreive them, I decide to wait until Tim gets home. In the meantime I check my wallet and find that I have no idea what bank card it is, but it must not be one that I use.
When Tim gets home, he takes the fireplace apart as best as he can and finds that the cards are stuck between the sheet metal of the fireplace and the wall. Never to be gotten to, unless the land lord decides he wants a new fireplace. At least he did discover that the alleged bank card is only an American Express magnet that came in some credit card offer. *whew* I got a new Costco card the next time I went in and it was no big deal.
So the next Wednesday night...Tim is at AWANA again, of course. The kids and I are home with my father in law and brother in law. Isaiah gets one of his Cars memory game cards stuck in the fireplace vent. My father in law gets it out and then I find Isaiah got another one stuck behind the sheet metal and wall....again! He still talks about that silly Cars card being in the fireplace. I think he got his butterfly magnet in there too now. I figure one day, when someone decides they don't like that fireplace because it has silly little vents that probably aren't even necessary as it is a gas fireplace so it is more for looks than anything else and only attracts small children to deposit thin, flat objects into them, and gets rid of it...well they will have all sorts of treasures.
Now all I really want to know is if we can use the fireplace or if it will melt the plastic "treasures" and release toxic fumes into the air? Someone has to have an answer on this...I can't have the only kid in the world who has done this.

Cinnamon Covered Ants Anyone?

The ants go marching 50 by 50. Hurrah! Hurrah! I just deep cleaned my master bathroom on Tuesday evening and by Wednesday night, the floor was covered with ants again. So I just keep vacuuming in there. Sprinkling cinnamon sure seemed to help in the guest bathroom. I don't think it will work in the master though...I don't think I can get to their point of entry. They had to choose to come in through the base of the toilet. We're using those liquid ant traps, but they just aren't cutting it. Anybody have some bright ideas?

I am so looking forward to this weekend. It will be nice to get to see Tim again. I don't know how Military wives do it. I think they'd have to lock me up. I'm just thankful that this busy time is only a season for us. Well my timer just went off, so I better go grab the cookies out of the oven before they burn. Have a great weekend!