Misc Break Stuff & First Potty!

It was a wonderful break over the Holidays!  This next new year promises to bring many changes.  The first of which is beginning on the journey of potty training.  Since Thanksgiving, Izzy has been pretty interested in the potty.  Dan and I haven't been pushing the issue to much, but we've been talking with her about it.  However over break, Izzy decided that she wanted to sit on the potty.  SO....I sat her on the potty.  We sat several times just to get the 'feel' of it...I guess that's the best way to put it.  Then, out of the blue...she went potty!  Over break she's had successful #1 and #2 sits, but nothing consistent.  It's early though, so we're still not pushing it.  She seems to go through streaks.....her most recent thing is to tell us that she's either going potty or has to go, then when I ask if she wants to sit on the potty she looks at me for a beat and says, 'Noooooo.'  Eh, whatever.  ;)  We'll get her there.  Isabelle is even starting to tell the sitter when she's in process of going....even with all her playmates and distractions around.  Here's hoping that 2010 will see a break in diapers!

The only trouble with the break was a persistent cold that Izzy had pretty much since we came back from Iowa.  Lots of green boogers and Kleenexes.  You know it's bad when your 21 month old comes to you to have you wipe her nose instead of the usual.  The usual of course being Izzy running away from me shrieking with glee when she sees me coming for her with a Kleenex.

Here are some misc pictures from over break.

What you see here is an entire travel pack of Kleenexes that Izzy managed to get her hands on....she used 1/4 of one of them.  The rest?  Yea, perfectly clean...if a little rumpled.

Catching some tube

We were all able to relax with the time off!

First Sledding Outing!

SO!  A sled was a gift from Santa this year.  As soon as it was seen Christmas morning, the need of a sledding outing was on.  A couple of days after Christmas Day we took the plunge.

Isabelle loves being outside, so that wasn't the issue.  One issue was having her keep her mittens on.  Another issue was towing her up the frigging hill!!  We thought this would be a method of getting out some of her energy, which I think was successful....but it kicked the poop out of mom and dad as well.

The hill we went to is maybe 5 minutes from our house.  Izzy was fast asleep by the time we got home, and didn't wake up as I sat her down to take my snow covered boots off before laying her in bed.

I'm looking forward to our next outing!

Dad helping Izzy up the hill after her first round...she'd walk about 1/3 of the way up the hill before becoming disgusted with walking in the snow.  After that she rode in the sled.

Hitching a ride

Mom helping Izzy up the hill

A view of the park where we went - and a feeling of how big the hill actually was!

Dad and Izzy en route

Later, Dudes!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season!

Isabelle had a wonderful Christmas this year.  She is more aware of what is happening and can talk with us a little about what she thinks and what she does and does not like.  We traveled to IA to have Christmas with both families the weekend before Christmas and were able to have Christmas proper at our house this year.  I can't describe Izzy's reaction to going to bed Christmas night with the tree looking one way and then discovering new presents under the tree the next morning that Santa had left!  She yelled with surprise! 

Dan and I were lucky enough to be able to take some vacation over the holiday season.  How nice it was not to be stressed out about going to work, having to take Izzy to daycare or only having a few minutes to play after work before the supper, clean-up, bath, bed routine!  We played and played over break.  Honestly, we spent a lot of time telling Izzy that Magnum's toys were Magnum's and that he was allowed to play with them when she was upset when he tried to get them from her.  The other times, though they played with his toys together, having a grand old time.  Honestly....why did we buy Izzy kid toys?

Christmas Eve day was busy with making cookies for Santa, making our Holiday supper and then opening presents!  It was a bit much for the Iz-meister, but she thoroughly enjoyed all her presents on Christmas Day....AFTER she exclaimed over what had miraculously appeared under the Christmas tree over night.  Among other things, Izzy received a toddler band set, her very first sled, and a sparkly purse complete with sunglasses, lipstick, nail polish, perfume and cell phone!  It's a good thing that all the items that came with the purse were play things or Magnum would have ended up looking and smelling very pretty indeed.
 

 Izzy hamming it up by the tree

Before the Christmas Eve ravage...

 

Magnum enjoying getting the toys out of his stocking

 

Daddy working to free a toy from it's restraints while Izzy patiently looks on...supervising.

 

Izzy and her purse - trying out the nail polish already!

 

A farm set complete with crops that grow, a tractor and animals that make sounds!

 

Christmas morning...Isabelle exclaiming over her brand new sled!

 

An innovative way of combining the 2 hobbies of bowling and sledding...

 

 Bowling in the kitchen...we have since put the bowling ball up and are using one of Isabelle's less harmful bouncing balls for knocking the pins down.  Izzy thought it was a good idea to THROW the bowling ball instead of roll it.  We will try it with the real ball again in the spring.....OUTSIDE.

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....

18 Months Already!

Where has the time gone? The summer? The fall? Has time always moved this fast? I could get into a philosophical conversation about how a person's perspective changes with the birth of their first child and subsequent children and blah blah blah....but I won't. Chances are, if you're here you're curious about Izzy and not the philosophical ramblings of her mother.

Again, it's been awhile since I've posted here. Life has been hectic at best these last couple months for a myriad of reasons. Nothing negative, just...well, the best way to put it is it's just life.

Izzy is now a full blown toddler and a joy at the same time. I know that sounds like somewhat of an oxymoron, but it's really the truth. I've never known one single person (and be it a small person at that) who could so warm me with a smile, hug or kiss... a minute later have me rolling on the floor with laughter... and then another few minutes later have me so irritated and frustrated that I could scream. Living with a toddler is certainly an adventure...and it's one we try to live with gusto!

Isabelle is quite the talker now and mimics anything you say (and do). I now more closely watch what I say and how I say it. If she can't quite say what you're saying, she will at least master the tone almost perfectly. Among her newer words are 'Cheerio' 'diaper' 'backpack' (we love Dora), and 'purple' among many others. Everything is now also "MINE!" when she wants you to hand it to her or she doesn't want to give it up. This isn't too bad yet...but I have a good idea what's coming.

She continues to be a wonderful helper, even if her help does set a person backwards a few steps. I just look at it as she's trying to help, so I'm going to let her! It won't be too long where she probably won't WANT to help. She helps me put trash bags in the empty cans on trash day, put laundry (and many other things now that she can open the door herself) down the laundry chute, she will hand me each dish from the dishwasher to put away....one dish at a time, and she will even help pick up her toys if I remember to ask her before bedtime.

Within the last couple of days, she's taken to carrying around her nighttime friend the cow and a blanket. This started yesterday....and I'm not really sure where it came from or why. I'm assuming it's just another phase and it's pretty cute to see her towing a sippie, a big blanket and her cow around with her....they're like her entourage.

She continues to surprise me almost daily!

Some recent pictures:

Izzy, Mags and I were picking up sticks after a windy storm in the yard. My little helper was right in the mix of it!

Izzy and Magnum seemed to have an affinity for the same stick at one point. Here Izzy is trying to talk Magnum into a different (smaller and therefore inferior) stick so she could have the one she wanted. As you can see, Magnum at this point is not interested in negotiation.

Enjoying some of the afternoon sunlight in the swing...

I swear these two just can't STAND to leave each other alone!

A girl and her shoes.

SOMEONE has been playing cards. I would have thought it was a gremlin...except for the tell tale drool calling card left on the chair.

Pondering the meaning of life over a grilled cheese. The picture really doesn't do the expression she was wearing at this point justice. She was thinking SO hard about something that must have been important!

Tiny Bubbles

It's been awhile since I've logged an entry on the ol' blog! Izzy is growing like a weed and getting into many many things. Small tantrums and whining have started in earnest, leading me to believe that here begins the terrible 2's, even though she's not yet 17 months. I believe a lot of her troubles come from frustration of not being able to say as much as she understands....and what she understands seems to grow sometimes by the hour!

She is an interesting mix of a princess, a daredevil and a comedian. The last 2 portions of her personality are what usually cause her many bumps, scrapes and bruises. These are the parts that make her enjoy wrestling and tumbling around, including but not limited to doing belly flops off of the couch. The first part of her personality is what causes her to present me with her hand whenever anything icky is on it....be it sand, dirt, finger paint, or bath bubbles. This part also lends itself well to her being my mini-hair dresser. If I sit down on the floor with her in the evenings to play, she sometimes will get a few of my hair things from the bathroom and work on fixing me up....either that or she will try to share her dress up shoes with me by trying to put them on my feet...whether they fit or not. Needless to say with the hair dressing and the sharing of dress up things, we are working on being "gentle" and "nice." Anyone that knows a toddler well knows that this doesn't work real well at this age. Even with having her princess personality parts, however...she doesn't seem to mind getting soaked with food or fruit juice or the outside bubble stuff, or having things like ice cream dribbling down her chin. An interesting mix indeed.

As I progress along the growing path with my daughter, little bubbles of memory float to the surface from my own childhood; like a post shortly after she was born referencing the Czech words I suddenly remembered my mom using for things when I was little.

Yesterday another bubble surfaced. This time it was a song that I remember at least one of my sisters singing with me. I won't mention any names....you know who you are! It's been playing on an infinite loop in my head since yesterday afternoon, so I am publishing the lyrics here in an attempt to get it OUT.

As I was walking down the street one dark and dreary day
I came upon a billboard, and much to my dismay,
The sign was torn and tattered from the storm the night before.
The wind and rain had done its job and this is what I saw.

Smoke Coke-a-Cola cigarettes, Chew Wrigley's Spearmint Beer,
Ken-L-Ration Dog Food makes your complexion clear!
Simonize your baby with a Hershey's candy bar
And Texicola beauty cream is used by all the stars.

So take your next vacation in a brand new Frigidaire
Learn to play piano in your winter underwear
Doctors say that babies should smoke until they're 3
And people over 65 should bathe in Lipton Tea!

This....I can remember all the words to THIS, and yet forget so many more arguably more important things? (Jen....if you're reading this....I can also still remember about 80% of the words to "One Week" too....where as with others that I should remember, like from SCHOOL...I have to look up.) I can't decide if I am excited to teach my daughter these things on car trips or in preparation for camp when she's older, or if I feel a bit sorry for her....that I'll be teaching her all these kooky things.

Here is a picture of my bruiser. Followed a stroller right off a step and into a corner at the sitter...having fun, chasing the 2.5 year old she plays with there.

For awhile, Izzy was convinced that Magnum was ALWAYS wet and needed drying off. She probably got that idea after we had quite a bit of rain a few weeks ago.... here she's helping dry her buddy off:
You can just tell Magnum HATES the attention, can't you?
Mom helping Izzy make her first 'mud pie' cake. This is a recipe that my Mom used to make with me all the time. It reminds me of home, summer....and baling.
I'm hoping Izzy will like to bake with me as time goes on. It's one way to have something to do together and be able to discuss things.
And here is my handsome fur-boy. He puts up with so much, and loves us completely anyway. He LOVES the new carpet by the way....hopefully that will be enough to cuddle with and lay on so we can keep him off the new couch when it comes in!

The TODD Ride

This last weekend Dan, Izzy and I got together with some friends and rode a 27 mile trail in Des Moines, IA. Not only was it awesome to see quite a few of our old friends again, but the experience of the ride itself was great! Honestly, I wasn't sure how I would do over that distance. I admit that it was tiring, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Izzy was a pretty good sport about the whole trip. It was a LONG trip to IA on Friday...about 8 hrs worth. By the time we arrived in Ankeny we were ALL ready to get out of the car. On the ride, she did pretty well too....sleeping quite a bit and taking in the sights the rest of the time. There were portions of whining, of course, but that is to be expected when someone her age is restrained over a period of time. She seems to be saying 'I've got no stinking time for this, let me out!'

Here Izzy is playing with Kylie. Kylie was kind enough to show us around the playground at the trail head. The girls had a great time exploring and giving me things they found. At one point we found a group of geese to harass a little too...

The park pretty much rocked!

Here we are at the starting point. Note we're all fresh and smiling....ha ha. Izzy already has her helmet donned....obviously awaiting a wild ride.

The Sponge Bob MagnaDoodle says it all...and yes, she had help writing this...Finish line was El Bait Shop in downtown Des Moines.

Group finish shot. Note we are all looking a bit more subdued here. We've just finished 27 miles on the hottest day of the summer....and now we're having a beer! (minors excluded)