Five Weeks Later.....

Looking forward we have a few things to keep us busy on the horizon: Jason graduates on the 20th of June, we found out that Jason's brother and family will be headed back to China sooner than anticipated so we will spend the weekend following the graduation with them in Augusta, we have a wedding to attend in Chattanooga and that sprinkled in amongst all the business of our everyday life! (PS. For some reason I created this blog backwards, so start at the end for the beginning!) 

Then Jason was off to Texas to take his boards and Isabelle and I went to Hilton Head with Veronica and Rosa. We had so much fun just lounging around playing beach bums! Isabelle immediately loved the sand and by the end of the weekend loved the ocean (that took a little convincing). When we got back to Augusta on Saturday night we stayed with Veronica and had an impromptu get together with Kolbe and Papa Bill on the boat which included a firework show that throughly frightened and yet excited Isabelle! We had such a great time that the only thing that could drag us back to the humdrum of everyday life was the fact we were picking up Daddy from a plane! 

I had the brilliant idea of taking some pictures of Isabelle. I picked out the most scenic of locales in Marietta, dolled her up in a little over-priced birthday outfit Jason and I (more getting done by me since he had long since fainted when he saw the price tag) had gotten on our honeymoon and head out with a friend to help distract her for that perfect picture. Problem #1 - Isabelle had a tiny scratch which she insisted needed a band-aid (note it on her right knee...what Anne Geddes photo baby has a band-aid on?), Problem #2 - she decided she need to wear pearls and her fancy white shoes and would not be talked out it ( I had visions of her smiling barefoot, adorned only with white bows) and Problem #3 - absolutely no cooperation...she would stand/sit nicely for a minute and as soon as I went to take a picture would laugh fiendishly (I thought) and run around the gazebo like a maniac. Needless to say there were not any frame worthy pictures out of 30 and this is the only one I think that isn't blurred! There are quite a few of them with her half out of the frame and laughing wildly. I might try to make it a new genre....calendars and books of babies running madly! 

Isabelle opening her presents! 

So much for my assurance to family and friends that I would update weekly! And so much as happened in the last few weeks!  Isabelle turned two! I can't believe how fast the last two years have gone. She is still pretty much the coolest kid in my book.  I made a purple cake (per her request and much to Jason's chagrin) and we had a little family party for her - despite being a little grumpy and tired pre-dinner she was all grins and good time during her "Happy Day" party. The best part was when she sang..."Happy day, happy day, happy day to me!" 

Girls of all ages….

Saturday (04/26) was a red-letter day for Isabelle. First time at the circus. Granted it wasn’t the star-studded Barnum &Bailey crew but it was fun nonetheless. My baby is virtually fearless, while other children were running screaming in the other direction she would walk up to the clowns, shake their hands, give them “high fives” and she even gave out hugs. I though for a minute we were going to have a weepy clown ‘cause he got a little teary-eyed when he said, “This is the fun part about being a clown.” She wasn’t too keen on the trapeze artists or other hand to eye coordination feats - and to be honest I was a little happy about that, I didn’t want her getting any grandiose ideas at home. She was, however, completely thrilled by the “Rage in the Cage” especially when he had to “spank” one of the tigers who wasn’t cooperating. She told me it was making a bad decision because it wanted to go to sleep. Sounds reasonable to me. When we left the circus she was completely covered in stickers given to her by her “friends” the clowns and wearing a happy, tired smile. My favorite part was when we were watching the elephants perform and she turned to me to plant a soggy wet kiss on me. (I have no idea what spurred it but I loved it!)

Poor Daddy had to stay at school as he was in Board Review all weekend. He is starting to feel the crunch - two more weeks until the infamous Part IV - the final part of his boards and the one that will enable him to practice! We try to regal him with our weekend adventures without making him completely jealous!

He did get somewhat of a reprieve when we got to hang out with some of his friends on their pontoon boat Saturday evening. Isabelle had a great time yelling at Chris and Gina’s dogs - so much so that Nikki, another friend on board commented, “Are most two year olds that bossy?” My highlight on that trip is when Isabelle told us she had to poop and Jason took her into the woods. I heard a little voice saying, “I’m pushing, Daddy, I’m pushing.” Followed by a laugh and her announcement, “Baybelle farted, Daddy.”

So I want to know if I am just hormonal or is it normal to bawl over kid’s movies? I got so teary-eyed over “Finding Nemo” that Isabelle was prompted to tell me, “It’s ok, Nemo’s daddy find him, Mommy.” I might not be so worried about that one since it is pretty emotional…you listen to Mr. Brooks talk about his gimpy finned son for a minute or two and see if you don’t get choked up! But I am worried since this is a trend, “Disney Tarzan,” Cinderella, The Robinsons….they all got me weepy! I am turning into an emotional wreck and over Disney movies! Somebody help me!


Isabelle, Catfish & Bailey - she's thinking about what she can get them to do.....
Isabelle and me - I am tickling her..notice one of the leftover clown stickers

Its a little blurry...but here is Daddy helping Isabelle poop in the woods - NATURE BABY!
The only time Isabelle is quiet or still...when she is sleeping....(ps. she has her finger in her bellybutton...some kids suck their thumbs...Isabelle puts her fingers in her bellybutton)
One of the few rides at the circus Isabelle could ride due to height restraints....I love this picture...
One of her "friends."
So these pics aren't in any order....another one of Isabelle on the boat - see that face? She is telling Catfish to "Get down, cathfish, get down."

I like this picture too...she is intent on the prancing pachaderms.

This is the clown that she almost brought to tears....she walked over to him and shook his hand...later she would hug his neck!

Here we are!
Just 3 recent pics of Babycakes:

"We need to have a blog...."

Those were the words that launched this new post....

So last we left off....Jason and I were headed to the altar. Happy to announce we made it! Beautiful ceremony, great reception and very fun wintry honeymoon in North Carolina. Then back to reality!

Jason is preparing for graduation! 58 more days! (but who's counting). He has a rigorous last set of Boards in May and then he will be able to take a deep breath and enjoy some fishing before the student loans are due!

Isabelle is preparing to turn 2! She is feisty! And talks up a storm - sometimes we know what she is saying...sometimes we don't but we have learned NOT to just nod and smile because she knows exactly what she is saying! She has nicknamed herself, "Babycakes," - so if we say she is silly or crazy or anything else - she will say, "No, Babycakes," very indignantly! She is a challenge and parenting her is a challenge as probably any parent can attest.

Allow me to "philosophize" - the art of parenting a girl(or boy)treads a fine line between allowing a child to be who God made her to be and training a child in the way she should go. I sometimes get frustrated with certain qualities Isabelle exhibits, until I remember that children are not born as miniature adults. Children are fearfully and wonderfully made, but they are certainly a far cry from who they must be when they grow up. I read this quote...“Many parents,” writes James Stenson, “mistakenly believe that their task is to preserve character, not form it. That is, they believe that children come into the world with beautiful traits, admirable innocence, and that the job of parents is to maintain these as the children grow.” My initial reaction was a bit on the angry side....Isabelle seems at this moment to be perfection in her love and exuberance for God's creation. Every morning she wakes up naturally excited and eager something we as adults have to convince ourselves to do....I don't want to change a thing...just do my best to nurture and maintain. But then I thought, Mr. Stenson has it exactly right! Just as Isabelle exhibits the wonderful attributes I mentioned she also has the stamp of our fallen, broken human nature that makes her not want to share or makes her defiantly disobedient. So in the midst of all her innocence, there is an equal amount of fine-tuning and correcting and training etc etc. All all we can do is pray we get her at least on the right track.