4 Years of Isaiah!

This birthday, was the first time Isaiah was truly aware of all that birthdays entail. Last year, we got away with telling people "No gifts please" at his party. This year, he is obsessed with TOYS! He had special cake requests and asked for all things Paw Patrol! Having his brother's birthday 10 days before his was nearly unbearable for him, so we spread out the birthday present fun by letting them unwrap something every day between their birthdays. Thank you, family and friends, who sent and brought gifts to lengthen their celebration and Birthday Season! It's been a super exciting month.

It's funny how much more likeable some ages are than others. Isaiah's been in a bit of a tantrum stage for... how many years has it been now? I've lost count. But although he still threatens to punch you if you do something he dislikes, he seems to be coming out the other side of the Tantrumy Twos and Threes fairly unfazed, right as his brother is heading in. Praise the Lord for recognizing my limitations as a mother to whiny toddler boys and alternating their moodiness.

I often hear it said that the things that drive you craziest in other people are usually the flaws you recognize in yourself. I suppose this is fairly universal or people wouldn't keep repeating it, but it doesn't really resonate with me. What drives me a bit nutty about Isaiah is his unhurried pace and contentment with his current situation. Do you like how I put a positive spin on his meandering, unmotivated approach to life? I don't think many people would accuse me of having a lack of drive or energy, he's definitely not my mini-me like his brother.

But where Isaiah's personality is a bit slow, his mind is not. Watching him learn is my favorite thing. When he reads a book on his own, or asks for another Bible story, it literally makes my day. Listening to him make up songs is music to my ears, even if the songs leave something to be desired in the music department. When he enchants adults with his conversation skills, it's just too much! And when he prays out loud, it melts this mama's heart.

Some nights, when I carry him to his bed after he falls asleep, I struggle to lift his solid 40 pounds of adorableness. Putting him down is almost as difficult, knowing that these cuddly days are short-lived. I drink in his sweet soft smell and steal a kiss before tucking him in.

I would be more reluctant to let him grow up if he weren't growing into such a smart, funny, handsome, entertaining, little boy. Now, I pray that we can also teach him to be kind, the most important trait of all... 

How many Paw Patrol toys (and a dinosaur) does it take to help blow out 4 candles?

Cute brother hugs in our house are almost always the result of an offense that required an apology.

Sneaky guy found a way to be almost as tall as Angie. (Note the coffee table underneath him.)

Giving up traditional naps means stealing some non-traditional ones.

We should probably set a goal for him to stop sucking his thumb. Is 10 years-old good?

Paul and the Tremendous Twos!

I don't want to condemn Paul's next year by calling it the Terrible Twos, but at the same time I'm not quite optimistic enough to go with Terrific either. I thought Tremendous sounded about perfect, as he is bound to continue to do everything with huge emotions, hopefully more often with enthusiasm than angst, but he is getting better at lying down on the floor as he masters the classic temper tantrum. Where it was clearly innate with Isaiah, it appears to be more of a learned behavior for Paul as he struggles to get the steps right for how to be convincing in his fits of anger.

We took Paulie into our beloved pediatrician today for his 2-year checkup and discovered that while his speech and hair growth are a bit behind for his age, his growth, potty-training, and motor skills are right on track or ahead. He weighed in at 30 pounds even, which is exactly the same weight as Isaiah at his 2-year checkup! He's just about 3 feet tall and his head is just as big as it looks!

I regularly tell Paul that he's my hero. This kid is pretty much everything I want to be when I grow up. It took me until just about now to figure out what it is that he has that I admire so. It's initiative! If initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it, this guy has got it coming out of his ears. It's both impressing and blessing my socks off! Although he can't communicate with us well yet, he is constantly listening, picking up on what we are saying, and taking action! If anyone gets hurt, including himself, he makes a beeline for the freezer to get an icepack. If we even mention the word haircut, he races upstairs to retrieve the haircutting toolbox! Need a drink, ice, a fork, socks, shoes, a stool, nail clippers? Just say the word and he's off on a mission. I pray this plays out as internal motivation, drive, and getting things done without procrastinating as he matures. 

His allergies are doing amazing! As far as we can tell, they're all cleared up, but we haven't quite made the full switch to Cow's Milk. He seems to be self-regulating and taking dairy slowly, still hesitating on pizza, lasagna and such, but his first taste of Cheetos was a complete success:

"Mom, where have these been all my life?!?"

 

Donut hole powdered sugar.

His smile slays me!

Helping serve at Southeast Christian Church

I pray with him most nights as I snuggle him to sleep that he will grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) I should probably start praying that his hair will fill in, but even if it never does he's pretty much perfect in my book. It's such an honor and a privilege to be his mommy, I can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the coming years...