Happy Halloween!!

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!  We decided to brave the cold and icky weather and go trick or treating this year.  Granted, we only made it to a few houses, but Isabelle didn't seem to mind.  She was very good about only taking one piece of candy per house, but what she had trouble with was putting her treasures in her bag after picking them up.  So, the entire time we were trick-or-treating, Izzy had candy in both fists.  As we approached the next house, she would reluctantly put ONE of her treasures in the bag mom was holding....watching it the whole time....until a new treasure was had.  We probably would have made it to a couple more houses, but we kept having a wardrobe malfunction...one of her ruby red sparklies kept coming off on her.

We let Izzy be a kid tonight.  She had her fill of a few candies....got her first sugar rush...and subsequently her first sugar crash....it wasn't pretty, but she had a blast.  You can tell which pictures were later than the others by the chocolate on her costume.

Here are a few pictures:

She didn't keep the hat on long, but she was fiercely protective of it.

The Captain Morgan Pose - in miniature. After a hard day of plundering for candy, all hard working pirates deserve a drink. Yar.

 

 Mmmm, a mini-Snickers. This one tastes even better because I snuck it out of my bag and peeled it myself!  Note that Magnum is ready to come to her aid if she would rather not eat her treasure...

 

Here, Izzy is sweet talking Daddy into letting her have one of the gummies that we had for OUR Trick-or-Treating visitors.

 

A pirate and her stash..

 

  Avast, mateys....

 

 Arrr, ye be eyein' me Kit Kat.  This one, I'm savin' fer later....

 

 You can see she is totally pleased with this holiday and her haul.

 

And THIS picture....poor Magnum.  He puts up with a lot.  Not just from Isabelle, but Mom too.  This picture we had to take after Izzy was in bed...she is fiercely protective of her pirate bling and hat.  Note that Mom enhanced this one with a little extra bling....sometimes I am just too easily amused.

 

Messin' Around

Isabelle continues to amaze me with her speech and understanding of things.  Watching her learn and develop is one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed.  I've heard my friends who were parents before me say this, and I believed them...but I didn't realize just HOW amazing it truly was.

Among other things, Izzy now has a VERY good handle on 'No.'  She could say and understand this before, but it sounded more like 'nuh.'   Within the last few days, it has developed into a distinct 'Noooooooo.'  If you're lucky, the 'Noooo' will not be accompanied with a slap away of whatever you are offering her.  What can I say....the girl has sass.  I should not expect any different.  In her defense though, this usually occurs in times of great hunger or great tiredness.

Since she can now say 'yea' and 'noooooo' Izzy now has a lot more power in letting us know what she's after.  There have been many times lately that we've had to remind her that she can, indeed talk, and does not need to whine a point.  To reinforce this, whenever she looks up at me with those big blue eyes, points, and speaks to me seriously, I do my best to listen and interpret....many times I do not get it quite right the first time.  I think Izzy is teaching me just as much, if not more than I'm teaching her.

Now when Isabelle gives you a hug, she squeezes...REALLY squeezes.  Sometimes once she has squeezed you as much as she has deemed fit, she will pat your back like she's YOUR parent or old buddy...twice.  No more...no less.  Her favorite time to hug Mom is right after her bath once she's been lifted out of the tub....naked and dripping wet.  I do believe she is the one person on this Earth that can get away with this and have mom like it.

Izzy is working on counting, shapes, colors, and animal sounds.  We read when we can together and discuss pictures and books, and we count as a distraction sometimes when a melt down seems emminent.  At her sitter, they also do something every day called 'circle time.'  This is a time of stories, colors, animal sounds and numbers as well.  Izzy still loves going there every day and many days does not want to leave.  We are truly blessed to have found such a place for our daughter during the days.

Here are a few recent pictures.  I didn't think I'd write this much because I have Halloween pictures to also post shortly, but as is usual, once I start typing I keep thinking of recent stories and antics.

How can you not smile when you see this face??

Cooking with Izzy

Waaassaaaap?  What'cha doin' Izzy?  Watchin' the game, havin' a sippie...

Izzy and her silly face.  Usually seen when dancing to music or when she's tasted something tart or salty.

Playing in the curtains is a new favorite game.  She'll hide for a few minutes and if you do not comment or come to find her she will call to you.....'Mooooooommy.....MOOOOOOMMMY....'  If SHE opens the curtains, this is what you will find.

If YOU sneak up on her and open the curtains, THIS is what you will find...

Playing after bathtime.  She's a girl, no doubt...see the headband and the bracelet?  However, she's fully aware she has 'tracktas' on her PJ's and she's not afraid to tell you what they sound like....