SNip SniFF :)

Dear Baby I,
Maybe it is the warmer weather - Maybe it's because you have been sleeping so well ( in Isaac terms) this week (knock on wood) but dare I say you and I had quite a pleasant week this week. Aside from mommy's rants last week that the world is ending, this week you seemed to give me daily reminders just how cute and precious you are! Every time I looked at you this week I wanted to freeze the moment and capture you at this age, this point in time for eternity! You are getting so big! - and so vocal, so smart - and oh so curious and daring! I know you are growing up against my will, but each day you remind me how lucky I am to be able to stay home with you and watch you discover the world on a daily basis.

This week we did such that! We played hard and you took no prisoners! These days its you and Sadie against poor 'ol me! Two toddlers is definitely a work out! You and Sadie get along so well, its great! I think you hear "Earth Angel" every morning when she walks in! And then the mayhem sets in. TOys all over the floor, juices and smoothies covering the walls, and of course every cupboard and drawer emptied by 10 am! Who needs a gym? (ok, i do, but that is beside the point!) If you asked me 10 years ago where I would be in life, I would have never guessed here - but in this dirty, sticky, messy moment, I wouldnt have it any other way!
We set One major milestone this weekend - the dreaded first hair cut. Your first trip to Barber Stan was a very big deal, although you were quite skeptical. Especially since the 3 year olds next to you were getting buzz cuts with loud clippers!!  Bye Bye Baby curls! They look just as cute folded up in a napkin as they did on your head! I must admit - I think the new 'do is absolutely adorable. I guess you are quite the stud no matter what! Watch out Bieber! There is a new heart throb in town!!
This week we also spent a lot of time at the local library story hours. Apparently a little bit of snow on the ground makes the library a very busy place to be! But, you guys love it - all the kids, the books, the toys and of course running and screaming make it a kids hey day in there! We have also ventured out on walks more this week - yes walks! As in BOTH of us walking. Who knew a simple stroll up and down the block could take nearly an hour! I can only imagine what a trip AROUND the block would be like! I may have to pack us a lunch!



In line with my current constant state of thought of freezing time, another one of my "babies" has a big week coming up next week. I cannot believe it, but your cousin, my baby Bratty, turns Sweet 16 on Tuesday!! WHere the heck does the time go!! It seems like yesterday that I was taking her to Discovery ZOne (where she inevitably got sick every time) and listening to her belt out "2 Pina Coladas" (which she always thought was a counting game!) How could that sweet little girl be getting a driver's license!? It just doesnt seem possible! My one time little brat is a now boy crazed, clothes hog, texting, Grown up - but she will alway be my little Brat to me! Although I am sure that is how it will be with you! One day you are dancing naked to the Pajaminals Lullaby in the middle of the living room and the next youll be sharing your father's affinity for racy Gwen Stefani posters (which will no doubt (ha!) STILL remain in the garage!!) Ugh! When did Mommy get so old?

All I know kiddo, is I am not going to be in any rush with you growing up! Please take your time!! I realize in the beginning I was constantly waiting for that "easy age" to come - 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, blah. Here we are almost 18 months old, you're still not much of a sleeper, (you are one heck of a restless little bed hog though!) you eat like you belong in a stall, and you scream and throw yourself onto the floor over the slightest hiccups in your day. So be it!!! Scream, rant, squirm, throw all you want! I will gladly take it all in...for now :)
Love you Baby Monkey
Mommy

The Sky is Falling

GUess who licked the bowl clean!

Dear Baby Monster,

A full week back into "post holiday reality" and we are still alive! Oh my does Mommy miss all her helpers!!! And I am sure you miss all the friendly faces, although you have been so cute about pointing people out in pictures now! You definitely know your Nona!! Im pretty sure you eye up her cane in every photo! Not too mention you are still "yelling at jumper" everytime I tell you NO!
Well kiddo Mommy made a huge mistake this week of letting Daddy convince me that I should watch a silly video on the Denver Airport and the end of the world conspiracies. UGH. I will be the first to tell you Monkey, Mommy is not mentally stable enough for that kind of nonsense anymore. Not only did it freak the Living BeJeezus out of me, but it had me thinking about 'what if the world does end in 2012'? Needless to say I wanted to kill your father for allowing me to watch such gloom and doom, but I am sure my weeklong crazy-the-sky-is-falling-antics were punishment enough for him.

Ugh! Ribs...

What a horrible thought to get stuck in your head Baby I! As if I wasn't emotional enough from leaving NEPA, Now I have to worry about the end of the world and the future Holocaust at the site of the Denver Airport!! Well baby boy, If you are reading this, it means we have survived the 2012 End of The World, and your Mommy is officially nuts - but happy to be alive!
I realize Im acting a wee bit irrational about all the 2012 stuff, but honestly ever since I became your mom, my sensitivity towards any type worldly horrors and destruction leave me feeling sick inside. I cant even watch the evening news without thinking "what if" that were you - us. From the Arizona massacre this week, to tsunamis, to social unrest on the other side of the world - it somehow all seems to close to home when I think of what I would do to protect you.
As in the case of the 2012 destruction, I cannot save us from the end of the world. But when watching the news this week of the poor innocent lives lost at the Arizona Massacre I cant help but think the "end of the world" can be at any time and any place. Even a simple trip to the grocery store can be the end of the world for the poor parents of the 9 year old girl who died in the mass shooting. As cliche as it is - I have to remind myself that "nothing is guaranteed and each day is a gift." I have to remind myself to keep what is important in check. Time with Family and Friends, spending time with you and daddy, and making the most of each day - IMPORTANT. New Shoes, toys on the floor, money woes, undone laundry,  you eating ribs- NOT IMPORTANT.








It seems simple enough, but believe me kiddo, it is sometimes a hard credo to live by. I know someday you will want to do things that Im not too excited about - like snowboarding with daddy, extreme sports, staying out too late, eventually moving away - at those points in life you can throw this post in my face, but until then - and even when - it will always be my number one job to keep you safe and remind you constantly that you are loved. So bear with me if I kiss you too much, hug you too tight or tell you I love you a zillion times a day!
On a MUCH lighter note, as I write this it is nearly 8AM and you are still asleep. My nerves are on edge for what the heck may be wrong with you for you to be sleeping so long and well. Last time I was thrilled you slept so well you woke up with a 103 fever! Ugh!! Why must you toy with me like this!! :)
This week you have been so vocal! Words are right around the corner - you have some down - like Hi! ball, mama, daddy, nono, uh-oh, and zorro - other than that you still boldly speak Isrish! You also have a new love for your stuffed animals. You carry them around the house and have started to treat them like friends, putting them on your trucks and pushing them around the house. Daddy's childhood favorite, Srgt. Petski seems to be your Number 1 too!
Uh oh... I hear a grumble....
Oh Happy day!!! I opened your door and you were sitting up on the bed and gave me a big happy HI! thru your binky mouth! No disaster! Maybe you were just tired! A calendar day indeed!!

My Snow Angel

Yesterday was officially your first sizable snow storm. We tried to go out and play but with a windchill of -7 our outing was VERY short lived! You were highly skeptical of the white stuff. Im sure Daddy will break you of that in a hurry!
Well my monkey man we have a big day ahead of us today! I hope you are well rested! Im sure there are scrambled eggs in your near future too! I bet you slept up an appetite! Hopefully it will warm up for us out there. Just remember how much Mommy and Daddy love you Mr. Monkey butt - not even the end of the world can change that!
I love you Mr. Man!!
Mommy

2010. It was a Good Year!

Dear Baby I,
Happy New year My Baby boy!! What an amazing year we have had!! I cant believe it is already over! This was our year of "firsts" for just about everything - first birthday, first teeth, first steps, first words,   - so many discoveries in so little time. At my humblest, I can only say it has been an honor to be your mommy and watch you tackle your first year head on. We have had such an amazing time together - and as the song goes, (God willing) the journey has only just begun.
Every end of year celebration has some kind of year end recap. I think it would be impossible to limit my most memorable moments of your first year as I hope they are all permanently etched in my memory, but other than the obvious "firsts milestones" there are a few memories that stand out as "Irresistibly Isaac"
1. You and the Jumpy. The Jumpy turned out to be Mommy's saving grace as soon as you got in it for the first time last Christmas. Finally I found a spot for you that did NOT induce maniacal screaming!! Oh thank the High Heavens for the Jumpy!!! And even though you havent used it for months I still have a hard time getting rid of it....Just in case....
2. You and the Walker. Unlike the Beloved Jumpy, the walker was Mommy's archnemises! I have more scars on my ankles and toes from that thing than I would like to remember! But oh how you loved to speed around the house and chase the dogs in that thing! I never will forget the day I put you on the floor and a few minutes later you came whizzing by in the kitchen!! I will NEVER know how the heck you got yourself into that walker, but I should probably be thankful I did not see it in action! My little daredevil!
3. Sour Squash! Solid foods have definitely been a challenge for us. Not so much you eating them, more so the act of GETTING them into your mouth. You are not a huge fan of utensils yet kiddo. Hopefully that will change, although it hasnt for your cousin Emily. But no messy dining experience will ever be as memorable as your sour squash video or the time we took you to a restaurant and you devoured a hummus plate - literally!
4. Your dancing. You definitely are my little white boy who can dance - and you LOVE to dance - or in your case bounce - to anything! It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. I LOVE it!! I cannot wait until you  are older and I can embarrass you with all these dancing videos!
5. Kisses! By far my favorite part of being your Mommy so far! There is nothing in the world like a kiss from your baby - even the sloppy messy ones when your face is covered in sticky food or my favorite - a sloppy, runny-nose, boogary kiss!! I will take them all - anytime, anywhere!!
There are so many more moments that I have failed to mention - like your Birthday, swimming, trips to the playground, your love of the tubby, shutting down the AVP airport security system!!! It has been an amazing year my little man! I can only pray to build on those memories this year!

As I write this kiddo we are back home in Denver after a whirl wind trip back from NEPA. In all Isaac-Fashion, we had a less than stellar flight home. Not even first class upgrades helped on this one. You screamed for the first 2 hours! Mommy was completely stressed out to say the least. You wanted NO PART of being held and after hours of screaming I gave in and laid you down on the floor!! Thank God we had the bulk head seats!!! In seconds you were fast asleep and I easily got over the horror of being "that mom" who puts her kid to sleep on the floor of the plane.
Had I known the horrible flight was going to be the easiest part of the trip I would have taken better advantage of the free first class drinks! Our flight landed at 11, our Super Shuttle arrived at 11:30 PM, our luggage arrived at 12 AM. Next shuttle arrived at 12:45 AM...which we were bumped from due to lack of room for the 3 of us. Finally at 1:30 AM we got another Shuttle and headed home. In bed by 2:30 AM and up at 5AM! Oh what a night!
Yesterday seems like a blur and Im not even sure what day it is!! Once you discovered Santa came to the house you were overly excited to see your new Thomas Bed!!! Now the challenge will be to keep you in it! We also took you sledding for the first time. So much to do on so little sleep! We had a great time - of course Daddy liked it the best - but it was a great way to ease back into Denver life.

Leaving NEPA always leaves me with mixed emotions kiddo. Who knows where we will be by the time you are old enough to read these blogs, only the future knows. I do love living out here and having you and Daddy all to myself, but I do miss having all of our family and friends around to watch you grow. You really blossomed the past few weeks having so many people around you. Unfortunately Daddy and I will never make everyone happy with where we choose to live. So we have to focus on what is best for you. Whatever and WHerever that may be.

Well my monkey, I better take advantage of this precious nap time. I have so much stuff to put away! Im
I love you Baby Monkey Butt!
Love, Mommy