Isaac [14-15 months]

Our little baby is well into toddlerhood, everyday he gains independence.

He has a look in his eye when he's going to be ornery, and a sweet little face when he wants to give love. I love to see his personality come out a little more each day.

He seems to have plateaued somewhat on his growing curve. His weight hasn't changed much for months, although he seems to be growing taller. He is wearing 18-24 month clothes, and his feet are bigger than the other boys..I think they're size 6.

His days of being nursed to sleep are on their final count. It is a bit bittersweet, look how precious he is. He drinks almond milk now (like Noah and Jonah, his tummy did not do well with regular milk). I won't complain when he sleeps through the night, that moment won't maybe be so bittersweet. I suppose the fact that he has been pooping on the toilet on a semi-regular basis should counter the lack of sleeping through the night. So crazy that he does this!

 He recently discovered how to put on other people shoes..he wasn't able to completely do this by himself, but he was SO proud to have them on! 

He gives the sweetest open-mouthed kisses, which he prefers to give on the mouth! When we say its time for bed, he will wave goodnight/goodbye and reach over to give his brothers and Daddy a kiss. If we are leaving someone's house or church, etc..and say its time to go, say goodbye...he will do the same thing. Very generous with the kisses (to most people)!

He still has very blue eyes, and his hair is mostly dark blonde and strawberry blonde depending on the light. He has been busy busy busy with those teeth. His molars all came through, and his upper eye teeth are now coming in. Poor guy! He has been extra needy/wanting to be held for a bit, I'm sure those teeth are not feeling great!

He is loved very much! His older brothers do a good job of looking out for him. As he becomes more and more independent, that also means he grabs their things...and he KNOWS he has something they want! He has learned how to throw a fit (yikes!), and can run those little legs fast if he's trying to hang on to something for dear life! When he's just walking around, he will often just have something in his hand..it can be a toy, a food item, a random kitchen item, it doesn't really matter.

He is finding more and more that he can get into...trash cans, drawers, cupboards with bowls that can be easily dispersed throughout the house, the piano, the game cabinet, closets. And he can also reach the door knobs now, thankfully he hasn't figured out how to turn them yet. He is also figuring out how to climb up onto furniture. I must say, he isn't as crazy of a climber as Jonah was, and he is good about turning around in order to climb back down.  

His crazy uncle Mitch used the filter to make him look like a scruffy, biker boy. He thought it was hilarious to see himself in his phone..this picture makes me laugh!

He remains a happy-go-lucky boy, who just doddles alot! He says a few words; ba (ball), daddy (on occasion), ba-ba (that one is sometimes for brother and it sounds very close to what he says for baby). Those are the most recognized, but he says, "dah" ALOT, and "eh" quite a bit as well. I know he knows who all of us are...but he hasn't felt the need to say our names (other than Daddy, and he maybe has said mama once). 

Isaac [ONE YEAR]

Sweet Isaac, you are ONE year old!

How quickly you have gone from a little baby bundle to an active little boy! You can get into most anything you feel like you need to. You can walk more steadily everyday. You can climb stairs very well (you don't have an interest in learning how to go down yet).

You can smile so big! You are a happy little guy, and will flash your smile fairly readily. You are especially fond of babies or soft animals...this can be both in real life or in books..you make the funniest "awwwwweee" sound when you see them. You are becoming more and more playful with your ways, you like it when we "get" you! You have mostly light brown/dark blonde hair, but somedays it has a bit of a strawberry blonde look to it. You definitely have blue eyes and you have paws for hands and feet (I think you're going to be a tall, strong man someday!).

You celebrated your first Christmas this month. You actually didn't bother the presents under the tree until the very end, and then it was mostly because you wanted to climb on them. You received some fun light up toys that make noise, and really like those! 

You do well at eating, not super fond of vegetables as a rule, but still eat a variety of food. You've started eating more table food, and drink out of a sippy cup sometimes. Pretty much everything that you find on the ground goes into your mouth...so we are doing alot of finger sweeping in that mouth FULL of teeth these days! You have 8 teeth and seem to be working on those molars soon. 

I will add, you also go poop on the toilet nearly everyday! I know, its crazy, but you do very well at it. I can tell when you're going to go, and then you know exactly how to make it happen within a couple minutes.

You weigh 25 lbs (75%) and 31.5" (90%), so have kind of plateaued with your weight for the time being...probably since you are much more active. You wear 18-24 mo clothes, you are rather long..especially comparing you to what your older brothers were like at this age. Speaking of brothers..you REALLY like them, and they are still quite fond of you. You are beginning to get into their things, so some of the fondness is maybe fading when that happens. But Noah and Jonah will still ask to hold you from time to time..which is funny to see as you are growing pretty big for them!

You love to be held (particularly by mama..you crawl to my feet and stand up to my leg, hanging on until I pick you up). You sleep when you sleep. I don't really keep track of how often you wake up in the night, all I know is you don't sleep thru it yet. You take one nap, sometimes two if we're home. I usually nurse you and/or rock you to sleep. You are my baby and I don't mind doing this one bit!

Happy 1st Birthday Isaac Jesse...you are just so sweet and loved by all of us. 

I am very grateful that you are healthy and growing. It is bittersweet, as you are leaving the baby stage and entering into toddler-hood (those are fun too...we have found that out). I love you!!

Isaac [11 months]

Isaac, you are eleven months and going strong! 

I cannot even believe in a month you will be turning a year old!!

You have many faces and reactions. You've been clapping and giving the cheesiest smile when you get happy about something. You also have been trying to form your own version of talking, "ttta-ttta" that pretty much is the sound for all things. You seem to recognize mama and daddy's name, but haven't yet attempted to say them!

This picture was taken following your first bloody nose..you pulled down the bar stool on you! Thankfully, it didn't hurt you worse. You had just finished your baby food, and gave such a proper little pose for me to take your picture. 

The weather has been beautiful, and you enjoy being outdoors! You like to be on the move. You can crawl super fast (especially if you know we are coming to shut doors that we don't want you to get into). You are getting more comfortable by the day with walking alongside of things, or with a couple fingers. You even took a couple steps on your own just yesterday! Oh my dear boy, you really can slow down!!!!

 Christian had a music program at school, and you were just a squishy little ball of happiness. You seem to be teething for QUITE some time on these next series of teeth! Your hands are frequently in your mouth and you chew chew chew on everything! You love Mama and Daddy...but you also have a special connection for your Papa (and others too)!

I just love your laugh and big ol' smiles. You give out these smiles and get excited, followed by a squirmy session. You try to dig your toes into our bellies and climb up. I'm not sure if you think you are part monkey, but it really is hard to hold you when you do this! You are also a very gifted "growler"...like our very own baby bear cub. So all kind of animal similarities!

You love your brothers, and they love you. You are grabby, and relentless when it comes to getting ahold of their things. And..so...it...begins! They are learning that although you are still a "baby"..you are quick, and they have to be on their toes and sometimes they even give you a "buuuuuddddy!!" As demonstrated here, you will get into a sassy mood, and get ahold of Noah's glasses, snapping them back or just swatting like a grizzly bear and not letting go! But all is well, and Noah quickly forgives you with his, "no-no buddy, no-no baaaabby!" You guys..I think you will look ALOT alike!!

 Oh, my little ham, you are just the sweetest little boy. I certainly love you to pieces. You require eyes on you all the time...and if not, well you get into things!

Such as this! You took out all those stickers and proudly dispersed them. Fortunately, I have just the best assistants that inform me of when you are getting into things! So no longer do the drawers have things in them. The next day, Jonah came to get some stickers and exclaimed, "Oh no!!! Someone took all the stickers! What happened to them!??!"

Oh my baby, I just want to treasure these moments. Every bit. Just look at you sleep so sweetly. I can't say you know how to do this through the night yet, but it will come..someday. You love to snuggle on soft blankeys, not one in particular. You love to be nursed, rocked, sang to, bounced (sometimes), and although you don't require all of these to do in order to go to sleep, I don't mind doing any one of them...as all to quickly you will be no longer so little.

So eleven months...

We celebrated your 1st Thanksgiving this past month, and are preparing for Christmas soon!

I don't know exactly how much you weigh, but you are still healthy and growing! Although, its seems as though your weight is getting distributed differently, as you are on the move even more. I wouldn't say you are getting thin...but it just seems different.

You had to get antibiotics for the first time, for an ear infection...its been reddened for several weeks, but then when the fever came back and you were really just not you, it had been long enough and the doctor thought you probably needed the extra boost. I'm grateful you are now better!

You got your first pair of "real" shoes, walking ones, and you look so big and grown up in them! You have big paws, both feet and hands. I got you a 5.5 wide, you have a significant instep (and they are a little on the big side)...that's a whole 2 sizes larger than Noah's were when I got his first pair!

You like to feed yourself..the finger food type foods anyway! Cheerios, puffs, yogurt melts. You like those! You haven't been too picky about foods, not a big fan of green beans..but baby food green beans aren't exactly the best sounding anyway!

Isaac [10 months]

Sweet Isaac, time is being so cruel to me. 

You are 10 months old, and just as active and getting to be so toddler-ish by the day!

This past month, you visited a couple pumpkin patches, celebrated 2 of your brothers birthdays, and participated in your first halloween outing. You are an easy going sort of fella still, and you are adored by all of us.

You are growing quite, wearing 18-24 month clothes, and I discovered your feet are also bigger than any of your brothers were at this age. You are quite mobile, your crawling rate can be very quick, and you pull yourself up to things with ease. You are starting to stand for brief moments by yourself, but haven't officially taken any steps on your own. 

You are always watching those brothers of yours. I have no doubt your ears/eyes work very well. You are quick to turn your head at any noise, and make the "aaaa" or "ttttt-a" sounds to mimic whatever you are hearing. Those brothers can get the quickest smiles out of you, however, you hand them out pretty easily if someone just talks to you!

You wake up around 8, happy and ready to see what the day brings. You take a morning nap around 10:30 for at least an hour. You are up and playing, and then take an afternoon nap for 1-2 hours. Usually, you go to bed around 8-8:30...and no, you do not sleep through the night yet (you could work on that!). You wake up on average 2 times, frequently 3 times during the night. 

You are into SO much. You chew on most anything and everything, stick things in your mouth that definitely don't belong (leaves!), and play with things that are not toys (cords, magazines, remotes). You are like a puppy dog. You even have paws (your hands are just as chubby as can be).

You were the cutest little pumpkin around. 

 You and Jonah spend the most time together probably..since the other 2 brothers go to school at least part of the day most days. Jonah checks in on you frequently, and gives me play by plays as to what you are getting into. "Oh no, Isaac is getting into my room." "Oh no, Isaac is under the table." "Oh no, Isaac is chewing on this book." You will flap your arms/hands quickly, as you get very excited...you will also do this on all three of your brothers heads. You also have found out that yanking Noah's glasses away from his face is a really fun trick (not so fun for Noah, but he tolerates it amazingly well). 

You were put in this box while Daddy, Christian and Noah were putting together some tools in Daddy's new trailer. Jonah wanted to join you, so the two of you had a fantastic time watching the action in here. You were telling me all about something, as you have your 'talking-face' demonstrated here. 

There it is. Your smile. It is hard to get it on camera sometimes...as soon as I get my phone/camera out to take a picture, your face changes because you're so busy looking at the device I have! You still have 7 teeth, and I feel as though it is quite the teething process to get those molars in. You've had a cough/snotty nose for awhile now, so I actually took you to the doctor today but it all checkout out okay. 

Things you love:

Music..you will make a sing-song like tune when music is playing, and often try and sway your body to the music. You especially like walking into the sanctuary at church, knowing full well that music is about to be played. 

Your family.. you seem to be quite fond of each one of us, and the feelings are mutual. 

Your bed and mama/daddy's bed...you nuzzle into your blankies and love when I put you on our bed prior to your bedtime, you get so so playful.

Your bath...Daddy primarily gives you baths now as you sit in the seat, and most often take a bath with Jonah. 

Lights...most any kind of toy with lights is sure to make you smile.

To be rocked...you will often fall asleep for me while I feed you and rock. But if you've been fed, or if Daddy is putting you to sleep you like to be rocked and bounced. You guys have your way, and you and I have ours :)

Love you to the moon, little boy!

Isaac [9 months]

Isaac my dear, you are 9 months old and growing well!

You are weighing in at 23.8# (92%) and 29 1/4" (80%) and a healthy little guy. We met your new doctor this month, and she checked you over. You're wearing mostly 18 months+ which means ALL those hand me down 12-18 month winter cloths are just going to be simply not used on you! What are you going to do...I love all of you little man. 

You are seriously so happy. It does not take much to make you smile so big! And you show off all 7 of your teeth when you do. Then when you add in your rapid flapping hands and feet because you're so excited, its just the cutest thing.

You are very good at getting into things, very! And although I feel we have provided you with a pretty good selection of baby toys, you actually are more interested in the paper variety of little bits you can chew off of books/magazines/envelopes, etc. You are also very good at finding the crumbs any of your brothers drop for you.

SO BIG!

You enjoy baby food, and as long as it doesn't have actual chunks of food in it, you will eat it. So although you have plenty of teeth, the texture is not a go for you. You will eat Cheerios and the baby puffs, but not table food.

You joined the big boy bath crew. You have your own seat that works out so nice, and they think its great having you in on the splashing fun!

You also, legit, pooped on the toilet just a week before turning 9 months. I could tell you were going to go (its not too big of a mystery with the noises), and so I somewhat jokingly sat you on the potty. But then you went!! And you've done it SEVERAL times since. I thought it would be great motivation for your almost 3 year old brother, but instead he just said, "OH, good job BUDDY!"

You love the swing, and being outside. And being outside in these cooler temperatures with fall colors is simply wonderful.

On the go..yet oh so chill. You can do it all. You master the stairs going up like a champ, I follow you, and you haven't considered coming back down yet. And you can be the most snuggliest baby, just loads to love. 

Your brothers call you; Sweet Isaac, Sweet Baby, "Mama-Baby" (per Noah, and I have no idea why), Smiley Baby.

Isaac [8 months]

** 8 months old little man **

Jonah and Noah now refer to you mostly as "happy baby", said in the most 'happy' sounding voice they can use, and its not just a one time saying it, its on repeat. "Hey there happy baby, you is a happy baby, how are you happy baby, oooohhh happy baby" and on and on. BUT, you love it! And you ARE very happy most of the time!!! So, HAPPY BABY it is :)

You are VERY mobile. You crawl, pull yourself up, and get yourself placed in quite the predicaments. So, if I'm not able to keep my eyes on you at ALL times, I will put you in the swing for a ride. You still like the swing, and even fall asleep in it. The boys love to make sure you have a tune playing and they'll talk to you. You love music, you will sing loud during church and you will start singing your 'sing-song' noise when I rock you to sleep while singing. Its the sweetest!

You are part of this craziness. Your brothers take turns including you in our activities. In this picture, Jonah is pushing you in the stroller while Christian and Daddy sing London Bridges Falling Down. You love to interact with them, they certainly bring out the big smiles. But, you really do have a lot of smiles to share...even for strangers. You just have to look them over real good, keep a straight face with your cheeks not even budging a glimpse of a smile...and then you'll break loose and go all in, maybe even tilting your head against me to show that your bashful too.

You have 5 teeth as of exactly 8 months old! And you can gnaw on things like crazy!!! You eat baby food very well, nothing too solid yet...the few times we've tried (sometimes Cheerios or puffs), you don't utilize those teeth to their full potential.

You are on-the-go. The crib has since been lowered ALL the way, the baby gate to the stairs is on a MUST SHUT ALWAYS status, and pretty much all doors need to be closed. You have also learned how to open and shut the drawers to the hutch cabinet, which you haven't quite caught on that it doesn't feel good. And that stack of JUST folded cloths, you promptly learned how to pull yourself up for the first time, and flung the clothes to the floor.

I'm not going to lie, Mr. Isaac, I'm not really okay with you thinking you need to be so advanced. I mean, you are JUST now 8 months old, I don't need you to be learning how to walk!!! You are my baby, and you can be a baby a little longer please :) All the teeth so fast was one thing, but this activity business is taking it to a whole new level!

Its the cutest thing when you discover yourself in the mirror. It just doesn't get old for you...you love to smile at yourself and then often you'll lean in for a big wet kiss! So funny.

You tried out corn-on-the-cob nearly a month ago. You didn't get any real kernels, but you liked chewing on it all the same. The only times you really get mad/sad are when you are hungry and not getting fed fast enough, or tired and not able to lay down. You reach for people you know, and you will crawl up to my legs if you are on the floor and want to be held. You weigh 22#, so you are solid, but you are also quite long! You are wearing mostly 18 month size cloths, and even some of those the torso isn't long enough. 

You love to swing, and your brothers love to push you. The one day, Christian and Noah were outside with you as I quick took a shower. Noah came running in as I was getting out to tell me something that Christian did. I came out and Christian said, "I put him to sleep for you!" And sure enough, you were slouched down, FAST asleep! I was glad they didn't try and get you out to lay you down!!

You met your second cousin, Isaac.

Oh sweet Isaac, there is so much to love about you. You know how to warm our hearts and make us smile! You are such a blessing and I am so glad you are in our family.