Mine

Usually hearing the kids say the words "That's mine!" or "Give me my...." drives me nuts.  Do we really not have enough toys, books, etc. for you each to choose something different?  This morning, I heard those familiar sounds coming from downstairs.  I started to sigh, then heard something a little different.

"Elizabeth, he is MY baby!  He sleeps in my room!  I'm playing with Isaac."

I just had to smile.  Josiah has claimed Isaac when it comes to people outside of our family saying they want him.  "That's our baby."  But it's never been about him.  I guess Isaac is slowly working his way into his big brother's heart. 

A few other things about my two boys that have made me smile:

Yesterday, Josiah held the gate open for Isaac to go upstairs with him.  I didn't realize it until I heard Isaac crawling around on the floor above me.  After the inital panic passed (we don't have a baby gate at the top of the stairs because we haven't spent much time letting Isaac crawl up there), I listened to Josiah tell me that he let Isaac come up because Isaac wanted to be with him.  We did talk about not letting the baby go upstairs without someone with him, though ;-)

Today, Josiah was including Isaac in his imaginative play.  He used the porta-crib mattress as a car, and was happy to have Isaac sit up next to him.  He asked Isaac where they were going, and when Isaac stood up, Josiah said he was filling the gas tank for them.

These are all the more sweet because Isaac just has a special affection for Josiah.  He loves Elizabeth, and she clearly dotes on him and plays with him a lot more.  But he loves Josiah just a bit differently...maybe he just knows he has to work a bit harder to win this one over. :-) 

I'm excited to see how they are going to change in the next year as Elizabeth is at school and Isaac becomes more of a playmate.

The First Day in the First Grade....

(to the tune of Billy Joe McGuffrey)

Now Elizabeth Grace Baber was a really pretty kid

On the first day of First Grade, I'll tell you what she did

She woke early a time or two before the alarm
Took some pictures with her bros and showed us all her charm.

First day in the first grade
First day in the first grade
First day in the first grade
She wore clothes, chosen at Kohl's, for which Great Grandma paid.

Now Elizabeth Grace Baber was a really eager kid
On the first day of first grade, I'll tell you what she did

She rode the bus for the first time, bounding up the stairs.

She went off for her first day with really cute hair.

First day in the first grade

First day in the first grade

First day in the first grade

Glad we had some extra time to put her hair in braids

Now Elizabeth Grace Baber was a really friendly kid

On the first day of first grade, I'll tell you what she did

She met a friend with her same name, just in the reverse (Grace Elizabeth)

Then she came home, jumped off the bus as if she had rehearsed

She had a great day in the first grade
A great day on her first day
It was a great day in the first grade
She will have some fun and learn with the new friends she made.

Ten Months Old

Isaac is ten months old today!  Our littlest man is growing and changing so fast!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

At his 9 month appointment last week (OOPS!), he was 20 lbs. 6 oz., and the nurse measured him at 28.5 inch.*  But I think he'as actually over 29 inches.  It's hard to get a good measurement on a small table with a wiggly baby. :-) 

Isaac is a mover!  He will attempt to crawl through or over anything in his way--leading Daddy to employ the nickname "Tank" for him.  (Thanks for the idea, Auntie Max :-))  Isaac easily walks with a hand just skimming over furniture or holding someone's hand.  He lets go while standing, and can crouch down and stand back up.  So far, he will try one step, but then goes down to crawl.

Helping Daddy put his new dresser together

He is becoming more independent, so we're starting to see a bit of a stubborn streak in him.  He wants to hold his own food and take bites rather than having his food cut up into small pieces.  He insisted on holding an ice cream cone upside down the other night.  But he ate the whole thing!

Some of his favorite things to do:

Eat

Drink anyone else's drink

Take toys out of the toy box

Take trash out of the trashcan

Take silverware out of the dishwasher

Dump the dog's water bowl
Follow his siblings
Laugh at his siblings
Clap
People watch
Give open mouth kisses

Snuggle (the last two are my favorites, too!)

We're so blessed to have Isaac in our family! 

*It was a bit of a strange feeling realizing that Isaac, at ten months, weighs more and is probably within an inch of the size Josiah was when he came home at 28 months.  Looking at Isaac and Josiah now, it doesn't seem possible that Josiah could have only been that size! :-)