Lots going on!

I'm going to attempt to catch up! 

Isaac is 7 months old today!  Here is photo bomb of him:

Isaac is still army crawling everywhere.  He is super speedy and is becoming quite the explorer.  He has been found behind the quilt rack (playing with a lamp cord), behind the end table (playing with a lamp cord), behind the love seat (playing with a lamp cord), and behind the couch (playing with a nerf dart gun and the curtains).  Do you see a theme?  If Isaac seems to have a ton of energy before a nap or bedtime, Mark likes to start him at one end of the house and let him crawl the other.  He finally gets there and he is worn out!

Dominic and Luke had their first wrestling tournament a couple of weeks ago.  Luke's didn't go so well.  Because of his weight, he wrestled 5 & 6 year olds that had experience.  He fought hard against the first boy....but spent the match trying not to be pinned.  If you know anything about wrestling, it is more difficult and tiring to be the defensive guy than the offensive one.  Luke lost his second match as well.  He was so discouraged that he wouldn't even take the mat for the 3rd match.

 Winning a trophy (participation), took some of the sting out the loss.  I'm just glad he doesn't realize that all the kids got this trophy.  We are proud of him - he tried this year.  We have been telling him that each year he gets experience, he will get better and better.

After watching Luke get smashed in his first match, I was pretty nervous for the same result with Dominic.  Dominic amazed us all....including the coach.  He did great!  He won his 1st match in a 5-0 decision, the 2nd one in a 14-2 decision, and pinned the 3rd kid (which was a girl but we are not supposed to talk about it!).  Dominic will be going to Rookie State in a few more weeks.

 Dominic won his age group (8 & under) weight class of 50-55lbs.  We are so proud of him and all he has learned this year.  The coach says he has natural talent - good on his feet, great balance, and a good head.  We hope he continues.

Isaac is still trying to master sitting up.  He is getting closer!

 This was too funny....Isaac happened to roll over on this sock monkey and it looked like he was using it as a pillow!

Isaac's Accomplishments!

Isaac is getting ever closer to mastering sitting up.  He can do it for short periods of time before falling over backwards.

He is also getting to be a "speedy" army crawler!  A few more weeks and he will be off to the races with knees underneath him.

Isaac's bottom teeth FINALLY broke through over the weekend.  Can't tell if it is just one or both - I'm guessing both.

And not to be outdone...Luke has 2 officially loose teeth!

Cloth...6 Months

Isaac has been sporting his fluffy cloth bottom for nearly 6 months!  Bring on the neigh-sayers!!!!!  We have blown right past the 6 week mark and are ever closer to making it to a year.  I have no doubts we will continue all the way to potty training.  I do not miss disposables at all.  I can honestly say that we have only bought one box of disposable diapers for him....ever.  That was in MI right after he was born.  It was a box of 124 size 1 pampers.  He outgrew them before they were all used and we gave them away.

I will admit that with the Disney Land trip approaching (kids still don't know) I will buy disposables for that trip since I will not have easy access to laundry.  However, we have managed several 3 day adventures totally in cloth!

My baby is disappearing...

Not literally of course.

Isaac woke up yesterday morning in his typical good mood.  Blowing raspberries and playing with Scout for a few minutes.  I lay in bed listening to him and smiling.  I know that I need to get up soon because Isaac's playful coos are going to quickly turn into his "Where's my breakfast?!?" growl!  So while he is still playful, I scooped him up out of his crib.  He buried his face in my shoulder and gave me a giant, open mouth good morning kiss.  It melts my heart every time.  I pulled him away to plant a kiss on his gorgeous face and something had changed.

I swear it happened overnight.  Oh my gosh.....where did my "baby" go?  NO, NO, NOOOOOO.....I wanted to shout it out loud!  My "baby" can't be gone yet......he was just here last night when I put him to bed. 

Isaac "the baby" is disappearing...and all too quickly if you ask me.  Isaac "the toddler" is showing signs of life.  My mind flashed not too far into the future when one day I will kiss Isaac "the toddler" good night, and he will wake up Isaac "the boy".

I don't dare think past those days in the future.  I know all to well, what he will become...watching Dominic and Luke go through their phases too quickly as well.  I miss Dominic's chubby cheeks - they have been replaced with a thinner, harder, more defined jaw line already.  I miss Luke's baby soft, plump tummy and roly poly legs.  He is now sporting a mean 6 pack and well defined calf muscles.  I watch them in total amazement at wrestling practice...they are becoming "men".  Why do they have to grow so fast?  I'm pretty sure it took me much longer....but I know it went too quickly for my mom too.

When Dominic was 6 months old, I cherished these moments.  Tried to hang on to every single memory I could because I didn't know if we would ever have another child.  When Luke came along, I was almost certain we would have 1-2 more children and I was so consumed with day to day life with a 2 yr old and baby boy I didn't think much about it.  But now Isaac is different.  I know he is 99.99% our last child. (Ok God, do you hear me this time too!  The last time I said that, you roared with laughter knowing that Your plan is not our plan!).

I do want him to grow up.  But just not so fast.  So please, Isaac, do your mom a favor.  Let me see glimpses of Isaac "the baby" a few more times before he disappears forever.

When they don't know we are looking....

I picked up Luke from school today.  Since I'm also working today, I needed to take him to the sitter's house.  This means we drive in a different direction from home right past Dominic's school.  Luke and I noticed there were kids out for recess so we pulled over to see if maybe Dominic was outside.  Sure enough, Luke spotted him!

Recess must have just been getting over because the kids were lining up to go inside.  I saw Dominic run towards the building.  I also saw another child fall down in front of him.  Dominic and 3 other children ran on past.  For a moment, I was disappointed he didn't help.  But then...he turned around, went back, and offered a hand.  The other child got up and the 2 of them ran to the line together.

No matter what else happens today, I have had a parenting success.  My child helped another...

Luke IS Awesome

My little Luker.  So full of life.  So full of ornery.  So full of amazing awesomeness.  (I don't care if awesomeness is not a real word!)

Last night after his bath, I was drying him off.  He leans in a gives me a giant hug.  He whispers, "Mom, I have something to tell you."  Now, if you are a mom of a very ornery, hasn't learned to filter his thoughts, four year old boy....you just never know what you might hear.

So I braced myself.....Luke says, "I'm so proud you are MY mommy.  You have a very important job.  I'm not talking about the job where you help sick people.  That is important too but that's not what I'm talking about.  You work hard to make me, and Dominic, and Isaac have food to eat.  Clean clothes to wear to school.  A clean house.  And sing our bed time songs.  I'm glad God gave me you for my mommy.  I miss you when you are at work.  But you know what?  You are right here (and he pointed to his heart) when we are not together."

Luke...you are full of amazing awesomeness.  I'm so proud you are my son.  I'm forever grateful that God gave me you too.

Well Worth the Read

I have now had several friends post this blog on Facebook.  I finally took the time to read it.  Amazing.

http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/04/2011-lesson-2-dont-carpe-diem/