Isaac's Vocabulary at 1 Year

Just for the record...

Isaac's vocab at present: (in order of acquisition)

Kaaak-Kaaak (Quack Quack-as in the sound a duck makes)
Daddy
Dunny (Bunny - as in his favorite comfort toy-see previous entry)
Ba (Ball)

Those are the only for sure ones. Every once in a while we hear something else we might think means something, but not for sure yet.

Yes, the glaring missing word is Mama. Can't wait to hear him say it!!

Lost on Aisle 3

What was supposed to be a lazy Sunday afternoon at home turned out to be anything but. Gaby was at lunch with her girlfriends and I was relaxing on the couch while Isaac was taking what was supposed to be a long nap. Just as I was about to take a quick nap of my own, the hysterical cries began. I got up and tried to get him back to sleep to no avail. So I got him up and played with him for awhile, but he was still quite fussy. It was going to be awhile until Gaby got home, so I decided to go for a long walk with Isaac. The stroller can usually calm him down.

I needed some things at the hardware store, so I headed that direction, about a 20 minute walk away. Sure enough, Isaac calmed right down as he held onto his beloved stuffed animal "Bunny" and sucked his thumb. As I wandered around the store, Isaac eventually got interested in all the merchandise and so I got him out of the stroller so that he could explore a bit. I knew Isaac wouldn't last for the walk home, so it was a blessing to have Gaby come by and pick us up in the car to take us home. Mission accomplished, a calm baby and I got my hardware items!

But hold on... I got home and was returning a phone call when Gaby asked, "Andre, where is Bunny?" I immediately realized that I hadn't seen Bunny since we got to the hardware store. I panicked. I told the person on the phone that I had an emergency and would have to call him back. I checked in the stroller, but Bunny wasn't there. I checked in the car, but no luck. I figured he must have fallen out along the way or more likely in the hardware store. I was going to have to go out on a Bunny search.

This Bunny losing thing may seem trivial to the uninformed. But Gaby and I have actually joked about someone holding Bunny for ransom, or that if our car got stolen with Bunny in it, how we would be more upset about the stuffed animal than the car. You see, Isaac cannot fall asleep without his Bunny. It is magical - place stuffed animal into screaming baby's arms and thumb goes directly into mouth. Isaac even recently began to call him "Dunny" (and he doesn't even say "Mommy" yet). This is not just any stuffed animal to my son.

So I got in the car and retraced my steps. No Bunny to be found on the sidewalk along the way. I prayed as I drove and started to wonder what else we could possibly use to try and replace Bunny. I got to the hardware store and ran inside. Almost to mock me, just as I got inside the door, the cashier looked right toward me and said, "I have it right here." But I realized she was talking to another person that was coming back for a lost cell phone. So with my heart beating hard, I went over to the area where I had shopped. Nothing on the first aisle, nothing on the second. But then on the edge of the third aisle, tucked next to the garden hoses, I found Bunny. He had been stepped on a few times, his tan fur turned to a dirty gray. But he was intact. What a relief. I called Gaby right away and told her that Operation Bunny had been successful. Now Isaac can sleep soundly tonight.

Happy Birthday Isaac

Dear Isaac,

I can't believe you are a year old today!! Exactly one year ago, I was at Descanso Gardens with Omi when my water broke and you decided to arrive!! And today a year later, I can't believe how full of love my heart is for you. It is a different type of love than I have ever experienced. It is compelling, vulnerable, immeasurable, and filled with joy. There is nothing in the world I'd rather be doing with my life than investing it in you. I count it such a privelage and honor to be able to stay home and spend pretty much most of every day with you. I'm so grateful that Dad is such a hard worker and also wants me to be home with you. He loves to come home from work, greeted by your smile, ready to hear all about your day's adventures.

You are such a fun little kid. I don't see you as a baby anymore. You are adventuresome, curious and very social. You love to be around other kids and play with whatever your friend Noah is playing with. You're lucky Noah is so patient with you!! You love to just climb right on top of him so you can sit in the same car he's in, even though there is another one right next to it. You are very energetic and at times, I just want you to relax and snuggle a little. But I wouldn't want you any other way than how God created you. Psalm 139 says that God formed you in your mother's womb, my womb. So that means God specifically chose to give you to us. So I guess He will give us all the guidance, patience, and strength we need to raise you to be the man He intends you to be! I'm so excited to watch you grow!

So Happy Birthday my precious son. You are loved deeply and I can't wait for you to wake up from your nap so I can come in and give you a big kiss!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Mommy

Guess we won't be having Lentils for dinner...

Isaac is getting a little better and entertaining himself. So this morning, I was busy reading a new book he got for his birthday, "The Quiltmaker's Gift" (fabulous and highly recommended), while he was wandering around the house playing with his toys. I should have got suspicious when it got quiet but I was quite enthralled in this children's book. Then I heard the sound of something pouring out all over the kitchen floor. I went to investigate and found Isaac in the middle of a big puddle of dry lentils. What to do... get frustrated at the big mess he made? Well, I decided to go with it and I sat down with him on the kitchen floor and had a grand time picking up the lentils, letting them slowly cascade through my fingers back onto the floor. It made a lovely sound, kind of like rain. (A sound we haven't heard much here in LA this year) Sometimes it's really fun to have a one-year old and enjoy things you never normally would as an adult!! Thanks Isaac!

Isaac's First Birthday Party

Isaac "enjoying" his Birthday Cake

We decided to steal a tradition from our Korean friends and had Isaac choose his "destiny". He chose the cell phone (surprise, surprise). He almost took the calculator though. So, it looks like he'll be some sort of sales, business man, schmoozer, with a little scientific bent.

Only time will tell...

Isaac playing in his new water/sandbox table.

We had a great time celebrating Isaac's first birthday this weekend. We had lots of friends and family over and really enjoyed hanging out in our backyard. Andre has been working his tail off to get new grass in and get the place looking good for the party. It was all worth it!!! We went all out with a jumper, party favors, and lots of good food!! Birthday parties aren't what they used to be! Isaac was totally afraid of the jumper and didn't like his cake but other than that I think he had a good time!! Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us! And a special thanks to everyone who helped by bringing food, bbq'ing, helping us clean up etc. It made it more fun for us!! We are so grateful to have so many amazing friends and family! For more pictures, check out our Shutterfly site.

Experiencing the Destroyed Nest Syndrome

My heart is hurting today for a Mama who lost her babies. For the past two weeks I've been watching from our office window as a mama sparrow feeds her little babies in a nest under the rafters of our overhang. Each time I heard the little babies chirping, I knew the mama had come back to give her babies some food. I would run to the window and watch the mama bird transfer food from her own beak to the babies' gaping mouths. It was precious! As a new Mom myself I related to her persistent mothering. All day long she would go back and forth to bring food to the nest.

I have been showing the nest to everyone who comes over. The kids are particularly impressed. In order to get a better view of the babies, we moved a ladder under the nest the other day. And I fear this turned out to be a tragic idea. This morning I heard lots of chirping but it sounded more mature. I didn't hear the same little chirping I've been hearing when the babies eat. I put my son down for a nap and immediately went to check on the birds. But what I found was not what I was expecting. The nest is gone. The dry grass and sticks are strewn on the steps of the ladder and below. The baby birds are nowhere in sight. They are not on the ground learning to fly as I learned they are supposed to be. I fear the ladder was a mistake and that perhaps it was just what a stray cat needed to get to its prey. I've been outside looking for the babies but I don't see any. The mama is chirping away on the power line, perhaps asking if any of her friends have seen her babies. I just watched her fly in to where the nest was, but when she found nothing, she came back out. Oh my heart hurts. I hope that little bird doesn't experience the same emotions we humans do!

You Were Right, Honey

Andre kept trying to convince me we should get a TiVo but I was skeptical. We had a VCR that basically performed all the same functions, but eventually I supported the decision. Well, I am not ashamed to say, I was wrong!!!! Honey, you were right! I LOVE Tivo!! We got it just in time for March Madness. I think we recorded every single game that was on tv and then watched the ones we were interested in at our leisure, commercial free! Now I am a TiVo junky and have to really use some self control to not watch too much TV. Andre still hardly watches any TV! If you are not already a TIVO user, I highly recommend it. It's very easy to use and once you start, you'll never go back!

Here's a list of what's on our Season Pass:

American Idol

Dancing With the Stars

Oprah

Live with Regis and Kelly

Everyday Food

This Old House

The Difference Between a Father and a Mother

The other day Isaac was getting ready to take a bath. Andre was in the bathroom running the bath water and I was getting Isaac undressed in his room. He likes to walk to the bathroom himself. So off he went. I watched his cute little naked body toddle towards the bathroom. He stopped just outside the door for a second. I thought he just wanted to look back at me and make sure I was still there but then I noticed the pool of urine forming at his feet. "He's peeing," I called to Andre, who had in the meantime come into the hallway. Just then Isaac started to walk again but as he stepped into the wet puddle on the hardwood floor, his feet came out from under him and he slipped onto his back, hitting his head on the rug just inside the door. Of course, he started to scream and cry. Knowing Isaac was scared but fine, Andre stood there, doubled over in laughter at the thought of slipping in one's own urine. My heart feared an injured son and I urged Andre to pick him up and comfort him. There is no way I could have stood there and laughed!! I guess that's the difference between a mom and a dad.

Welcome to the Blogosphere

Here we go!! I'm officially welcoming myself to the blogosphere!! I haven't told anyone yet that I'm blogging because I want to give it a try first and see if I can stick to it. The main reason for the blog is so we can keep our friends and family that live far away and in different time zones updated on our lives. Or more specifically, on Isaac's life. Let's face it, once you have a baby, that's what people really want to see pictures of and hear about! So here we go...