18 and 19 months old

I realized today that Isaac turned 20 months old. Wow! We have been busy so I'm combining 18 and 19 months in this update.

The funny things you say:
-you love to tell on people when someone has wronged you. You will come to Daddy or I and say the name of the person you had the issue with, pointing at them and crying
-you know a lot of Hungarian, we ask you to do things in Hungarian and you seem to be understanding. Every morning we ask you to go bring a diaper and you go to your room and grab the first diaper you see.
-you try to say every word we ask you to say. You are the cutest thing when you talk, you are loud and love calling out our names.
-My favorite thing you say now is "My Dada, My Mama" You don't say "My" about anything else. You don't like when we give each other attention and you run over saying "My Dada My Mama" and insist on giving us hugs and kisses.

Your favorite toys:
-You still love playing with anything that we are doing. You love to put your boots on and follow Daddy out to the garage. He gives you tools and you help him work. I have to save computer time for when you are sleeping because you can't handle watching me push buttons and you aren't allowed to.
-You are more interested in toys that make noise, you like your instruments and musical toys.
-You like to push your shopping cart around and collect things in it.

Milestones:
-You are very advanced in language. I'd guess you know and say about 50 words now which is about 5 times the average!
-You are able to focus on things for a longer time, I can now read through an entire book (sometimes) without you smashing the book closed a few pages in!
-You like to color, blow bubbles, climb and jump.
-It's amazing watching you, so many people make comments on how smart you are!

The naughty things you do:
-You don't like sharing your toys and holler at anyone who tries to take something from you.
-You try to get away with things we ask you not to do, like getting up from your chair and running around the house with food. Your pretty good at listening and when we give you a chance, you usually obey.
-Last week I was doing something in our room, when I went to find you, you were in the bathroom with a cloth diaper "cleaning" it in the toilet. You sprayed water everywhere as you put the diaper in and then threw it around. I was shocked but had a good laugh about it after!
-You love to get into things, if I turn my back for a second you seem to be into something! I don't blame anyone but myself for those things as you are just curious and are often copying the things we have done.

You are very outgoing and have a fun and playful personality. You are loud and active. You do everything with your full heart...just like your Daddy. You cry passionately, laugh at the top of your lungs and focus your attention fully on an activity you are doing. People really enjoy watching you because you are so full of life. You like to do everything with us, you never complain about going places with us but when you think you are being left behind you scream and come running. You don't want to be left out of anything and think you should be included in all our activities. We are very intentional about including you. Your Daddy always includes you. He lets you follow him around with tools, workout with him, shower with him, go to the bathroom with him, cook eggs with him, pretend to drive the car, basically whatever he is doing he will try to find a way to incorporate you. I also try to do the same. I'm picky about what I do without you, I try to keep it to a minimum and include you in most of my outings. We love having you around, you bring us so much joy! You really have made us a family. The three of us love doing everything together, we are truly blessed!

17 months old

Isaac has taken some huge leaps forward this past month. He has really started to become a little independent boy, knowing his likes and dislikes!
Today we went to the occupational therapist for an assessment through the adoption clinic at the Royal Alex hospital. I wasn't sure it would be worth going as I know Isaac is doing well and I really have no worries about how he is doing developmentally, but it was great to see him go through the testing! He did so well, the OT had him do a lot of copy cat games and I had no idea if he would go for it but he did! Every little game she had him do he would copy her and complete it. She was very impressed with were he was at and said he was up to par with where he should be at 18 months. Can you believe it????  Only 6 months ago this little baby was acting like a 6 month old, hardly able to sit up, unable to crawl and definitely not using his legs. I knew he could do all the games but at times he really did surprise me. She brought out a ball and showed him how to kick, to my amazement I watched as he walked up to the ball and not only kicked it but said "kick" as he did it! It's just all really amazing to me.
I had a moment in the car later on, just sat there bawling. It all hit me, God's grace, his protection, his favor. I prayed so hard for this boy before he was even born, I prayed even harder once I saw his face and knew he was waiting for us. I specifically prayed that Jesus would cover the time we were away from him, that he would watch over him. And it dawned on me in that moment that looking at Isaac today, it's like he was never in an orphanage at all. I often think of him when he was a baby just laying in his crib. It breaks my heart what my son had to go through in the most vulnerable year of his life. But today I realize all that Jesus protected him from and how far he has come since being in a family. It really floors me what love and a family can do. It's just a beautiful design. I was looking through some of our first photos of Isaac, when Arnie held him for the first time. He was looking right in his eyes like somehow he already trusted him, yes we had to earn his love, but I feel that God was preparing him for that.
So onto the little update...I'm changing some of the categories as I can't sit and list all his new words because there are a lot and some have stayed the same.

At 17 months you like to play:
-you love to run and climb, you insist that you should walk everywhere we go
-you still love things like little bottles with product in them, your toothbrush, packaging, spoons and lotion
-as far as toys you now like to throw them around and think that is pretty awesome
-you literally want everything we have, we try and let you be a part of what we are doing as we think the best toys are real life hands on things.
-you like things that play music and love to sing and dance

At 17 months you say the silliest things:
-you have so many new words and you are starting to string words together like: "more snack!"
-you say "ah-de-da" which means "give it to me" in Hungarian. You make us laugh with this one! You told the OT to give you the marker she was holding, she had no idea but I knew what you were saying!
-you also like to say "an-ge-da" which means "let it go" in Hungarian. You walked up to Daddy and looked at the pens that were hanging in his work pants pocket, you quicked yelled at him to let them go as we often say this to you when you are grabbing pens!
-your singing is so beautiful, you have been trying more and more to sing. You love the song "If your happy and you know it", you grab my hands and say happy so I will sing the song, everytime I sing the word happy you open your mouth and lip sing the word!
-the Dr said you should know 6-10 words, we told her you knew 11 in Hungarian and about 30 in total, she was amazed at that!
-I find that when you start to love someone, you learn their name. You say the names,  Papa, ungle(uncle), annie (aunty), Bobby, ma (grandma), Annie Yoyo (aunt lois), Booky (brooky), Addie, Oli, Rollie, Audrey, Emmy, Nunu (Nini), Gucky (Dak), and of course you most favorite to say DADA!!!!! (Mama too:))

At 17 months you weigh 20lbs, wear 6-12 month clothes and size 3-4 shoes. You love to wear your puppy slippers and will often wonder the house in a diaper and those slippers.

My favorite moments recently were:
-I rocked you to sleep a couple nights ago after a few minutes you puckered up to give me a kiss then snuggled into me and fell asleep, I was so shocked that you did that, it was so beautiful and kind.
-you have been working in the garage and working out with Daddy, he lets you follow him around and go on his back for push ups or take some tools to "fix" things.

The naughty things you do:
-you decided to be like the dogs and lap out of their water bowl...I just can't convince you it's yucky!
-you like to pull kleenex and wipes from their box as well as unroll toilet paper
-when I try to rinse your diapers in the toilet you like to take the opportunity to dive your hands in the water which is so disgusting and results in a lot of cleaning!
-you still love to squawk for things you want...you will correct yourself with the words, "help" or "please" but we have to remind you a lot ;)

We love you so much, we love laying around playing with you. You are so fun and full of life! You really have lighten up our lives :)

We did a little fall family photoshoot! 17 months old in these pictures and just figuring out walking alone!

Family Age

It's been 6 months since we became a forever family. To say these months have flown by is an understatement...I feel like I blinked and here we are! We are feeling more and more of a bond with everyday that passes. Our love for Isaac keeps growing, I can't explain to you how much we love this boy. You know when you here a good sappy story and your eyes well up? You don't full out cry or form tears that roll but emotions bring your eyes to well up. I get that almost everyday watching Isaac. I hate being the one that is all fairytales and sparkle dust because the reality of adoption is usually not that...but sometimes it is. Sometimes I look at Isaac and he runs to me to pick him up and hug him all silly then he bursts out laughing and in those moments the tears begin to form. Now I will be realistic, he is almost 18 months and with that bring a whole host of other emotions...like how I feel after I explained for the 50th time that he can not throw his food to the dogs, or the embarrassment of the shrieks in public, "no, no, no!" But it's all coming together, this imperfect, messy and beautiful life as a family. We are feeling like one. Isaac has always been ours but I'm at a point now when we go in public that I am almost shocked if someone thinks he isn't mine. I was extremely aware of the fact that Isaac is our son through adoption for the first few months of arriving home, but now I just don't think of it all the time. Occasionally I am very aware like when I attend my mom and baby workout classes, I often feel like an imposer at these, but I am thinking of it less. Maybe the fact that Isaac is my son is finally beginning to sink in, it's been a while since we have referred to ourselves as auntie and uncle!
Lately I have been thinking a lot of our family age. I find myself comparing to others with 18 month olds, they tend to be able to leave them easier, worry less about what they eat or play with, carry them less and not baby them as much...but I remind myself that our family age is only 6 months. In many ways we parent as if we have a 6 month old at home. We have been labelled the overachieving parents, in love of course, but it is true to say that of us. When we go in public you will often see us fussing over Isaac, pulling on his clothes, cleaning him, feeding him, and just generally over concerned with him. While this be hard for some people to understand or look to most people like we are over the top, to us he is 6 months old. I find myself mentally trying to catch up to his age. Like when he started to walk with confidence it was hard, and probably harder than people would understand, after all whose 5 month old walks by themselves?? And while I love watching Isaac grow, it's hard to see him grow out of being a baby. Sometimes I still see glimmers of his babyness and I almost sigh in relief that it is not all gone. When I lay him down to change his diaper he curls his legs up to look like a baby or when I rock him to sleep he will snuggle into me with his bottle or when I snuggle him up in my sling, I see bits of his baby side still lingering and I am in no hurry to see them vanish. While most people have long since rocked their baby to sleep at 18 months, I still do it as if it was the first week having him home. I watch him as his eyes fight to stay open and then finally give in to sleep and close. In these moments he is my 6 month old baby, I sigh and think "oh how sweet". So when people suggest I do away with these parts, carry him less, rock him less and baby him less...I just think they really don't understand that to me Isaac is 6 months new...and not 18 months old.
Don't get me wrong, I love to see Isaac grow and reach new achievements, nobody is prouder than us! But we do struggle with it, we were in no rush for him to walk, we were ok with him crawling for as long as he wanted and this should explain why. I am beginning to shift from baby to toddler in my mind, admitting that he is becoming a big boy, but I will still let the little baby parts of him linger for as long as he needs them to. So bare with us as we now begin to think of what it might look like for someone to watch him while we go on a date or the fact that he still sleeps in our bed or even that we haven't allowed him sugar yet... Trust me we will get there, it just might take us a little longer then usual :)

16 months old

I always intend to update more than once a month, but I am finding that life is just so busy...so finally here is the 16 month update.

At 16 months you like to play:
-you are starting to make friends, you like your cousins and have started to learn their names
-you are starting to ditch your baby toys and play with more "grown up" toys
-you love water, we have started swimming lessons which you like to be a part of
-you love your puppies and really enjoy playing in their cage

At 16 months you sleep:
-not much has changed but you are teething which sometimes keeps you up at night
-your naps have gotten longer which has been great, you will sleep almost 1.5 hours now!
-we absolutely love when you fall asleep in our arms, sometimes you fight it which is hard, but other times you curl right up and fall asleep. I don't ever want to forget these moments so I a lot of sleeping photos on my phone ;)

At 16 months you say:
-hioul (Hungarian for bend over) you say this when you want off the potty, you bend over so we can wipe... it's ridiculously cute
-stuck
-eper (H for strawberry)
-eni (H for food)
-wawa
-ora (H for nose)
I'm sure there are more I am forgetting, you also understand a lot... you understand both English and Hungarian as Daddy and I speak both to you. You have started to try singing and sing the word "Na" which is also ridiculously adorable.

At 16 months you eat:
-you eat whatever we eat, you like to beg off others and can't stand if someone has something you don't . The other morning Daddy gave you a banana and ate one himself, you put yours in one hand and reached the other out to Daddy's, you cried and whined because you wanted both bananas!
-you still dont eat sweets but last night at family dinner you snuck a mouth full of  whipped cream, we all laughed at how much you enjoyed it!

At 16 months you are developing:
-you can walk now!!!!!!!! You started to take your first steps. You still like to hold a hand to walk but you are slowly working up the courage to venture on your own
-I took you in to get properly weighed and you weigh 19.1 lbs,  you are still pretty little but very healthy so we aren't too worried.
-you sprouted your 7th tooth
-you love to climb at play places and parks
-you also like to help me with laundry and dishes, handing me each thing one at a time!

You friend, Emerson(10 weeks old), and you. 

I feel I need a new category now... the naughty things you do!
As you are gaining your independence you are learning what you can and can not do. You like to squeal when we take something from you or pick you up from something you are doing. You don't like if another kid takes your toys and will yell at them if they do so. You also like to touch everything, if mommy or daddy is doing something, you insist that you have to do the same. You have tried out swatting a few times, but we don't let you get away with this. You know when we say "Sapen" that you need to tough nicely.

We took you to Ontario to see your family, you loves seeing your aunties and cousins. You loved the beach and building in the sand. We enjoyed our time at the cottage. You did great on the airplane, thankfully a fairly short flight.

Sometimes we still worry about attachment and wonder if you feel safe, if we are overwhelming you with people or if you are ok. You started calling strangers mama which broke my heart but you seem to be getting over that now. You call "MAMA" about 50 times a day and I love it. We pray for wisdom as we try and put your needs above our own desires. We have missed some swimming classes and playdates to stay home and lay low. We are trying our best and pray God covers our mistakes!

We love every single day with you, you are the cutest thing we have laid our eyes on. You bring so much joy and make us laugh continually. We praise Jesus for giving you to us as I write this I have tears from my gratitude. We are so blessed!

15 months old

Well a month has gone by, I've been meaning to blog here and there but lately Isaac has needed me...a lot. He is growing into his toddler body and mind which means he has become very demanding :)

At 15 months you like to play:
-you still play mostly independently but you are starting to be more aware of others
-you notice when another child is over and they play with one of "your" toys...you immediately go over and start whining to have it, we are working on sharing!
-you love to be outside in your little playhouse slide and pool
-you love the swing at the park and the little driving wheels
-you enjoy bike rides and never complain about going in the chariot
-you still don't watch TV so we try to occupy you with other types of play, it's been so nice out so you have gone to the park many times to play with friends!

Adoption Playgroup!

At 15 months you sleep:

-you have had a few sleepovers with your cousins and friends

-you still sleep in our bed (we aren't ready for you to leave yet;)

-you have started to fall asleep facing me and snuggled right up next to me instead of your usual facing away from me...I really enjoy this time we have together

-you still fall asleep faster for Daddy but you actually enjoy bedtime as we always stay with you until you fall asleep so you have nothing to be afraid of

-you love to fall asleep in your ergo still which was great when we went to a wedding, we put you in your car seat and stayed out until 1030 (you know your parents when...)

Sleep over with cousins Rollie and Oli

Asleep at your first wedding...your so good to us

With your Ethiopian friend, Eli

At 15 months you say:

-hot

-NO (ugh...this one is getting tiring)

-Wee (for the slide)

-alma (apple in Hungarian)

-up (you spit on the p sound)

-ow don't do that (you learned that from biting me too many times!)

Every baby needs to have a bath in their sink at least once

At 15 months you eat:
-you still aren't picky but you have shown more interest in some foods than others. You don't really like raw lettuce but Daddy makes you eat it anyways!  You will eat spicy food, sour food and just about anything else. You made your first sour face at a lemon...so cute!
-you love bananas so much that we can't leave them on the counter or you will beg for them
-the only issue we see arising is that you want everyone's food, if someone has something you want you will take it from them or at least try to!
-you still haven't had any sugary treats ;)

you love corn, bananas, peaches

 At 15 months you are developing:
-you are almost walking! You took your first falling step...we aren't sure it counts but you are getting close!
-you haven't grown too much in the last month but I can see some new chunk on your thighs which makes me very happy!
-you have started going on the potty! You poo every morning and every time we put you on the potty throughout the day you either pee or poo! Lately I have had to clean very few poopy diapers which is so amazing! We still can't believe you use the potty before you can walk!
-you are understanding a lot more words and Daddy has been speaking only in Hungarian to you which you are catching on to.

We continue to thank God daily for you life. Although this is a demanding time and you require a lot from us, we remind ourselves that a day will come where you won't need us anymore. You grab my fingers and make me walk with you wherever it is you want to go, sometimes I am so tired but I always get up and go...soon you will walk on your own and you won't need my hand to help you so I am enjoying it while it is here. You love being carried still and will follow me around saying, "up,up,up". We all feel very attached to each other...sometimes you reach for strangers which breaks my heart but it reminds me that attachment takes time. You love Dada and shout for him whenever you hear the door open, you also learned that Daddy drives a white truck, if you see one on the street you point and yell, "Dada"! You also love me, there was a time I wasn't sure you did...but you have made it clear that I am your Mama. We have a special bond, when I feed you your milk and rock you to sleep we have so many great moments...they always remind me of the first time I held you...you were mine and always will be.

14 months

I am writing this a few days early... I have time now so I want to make sure I get it done!! Again the time is flying past, I wish we could make it slow down somehow :)


At 14 months you like to play:
-you figured out how to go down a slide. We went to Cafe o play and you figured out how to crawl up the baby slide stairs, get yourself in seated position at the top and then push yourself down the slide. A friend brought you over you very own slide which you love playing with in the backyard!
-you also love being driven in cars. Daddy bought you your first car and you love climbing all around in it. You figured out to motion and call out to me to pick you up, once you are in my arms you point and call for me to put you in the car! Smart little boy!
-you love playing in your pool
-you have gotten a lot more brave and will crawl all over the yard now. You want to crawl at the park and climb on things.



At 14 months you say:
- today you learned the sign for snack, I showed you once then a while later asked if you wanted a snack...to my surprise you signed the word after only being shown one time and hours earlier.
-your cousin Dakary was here for two weeks visiting, you learned to say Duck and sometimes call her Guck!
-When I say silly face, you close your eyes and make the cutest little face
-When I say angry face you frown and shake your head like you are stressed out. We laugh so hard when you do this as we have no idea where it came from!
-we think we heard you say "no" but not sure if it was an accident

Silly face

Angry face

At 14 months you sing:
-We sing "no more monkeys jumping on the bed" When I get to that line you shake your finger and try to sing but your words come out "dadadada"
-you fall asleep to Jesus Loves Me or any hymn I can remember the words to
-Pat a cake
-sleeping bunnies

At 14 months you sleep:
-one to two naps a day of about 1 hour each
-12 ish hours a night
-you have been waking up twice for water, you drink it and fall back asleep

At 14 months you have grown:
-you now weigh 18.8 pounds
-you have been especially whiny lately... and then we noticed a tiny white spot on your gums! Your growing your 5th tooth!
-you have been doing more standing for a few seconds on your own, but you don't like to do it
-you turn yourself around at the top of the stairs and go down them! Again, Dada showed you one time and you learned how to do it!

At 14 months you like:
-your mom and dad. You have been showing us more and more affection lately...putting your head down on our shoulder, hugging us and kissing us. Just tonight you were in the tub with Daddy when you pointed at me to come to you. I came over and you leaned over the tub to kiss me on the lips! You did it five times. I had tears in my eyes, I can't believe you are showing us this kind of love already. You are such a brave boy to trust us the way you do. You now cry if you see me leaving the house, I rarely leave and if I do it is to run a quick errand usually. We honestly can't get enough of your cuddles, kisses and hugs, we cherish everyone you give.