Isaac's letter to his mother

My dad sent this to me a couple of weeks ago. Isaac loves the computer, and sometimes, when my dad is working, he'll put Isaac on his lap and let him pound on the keyboard for a bit. And he really does pound. The slams his fingers against the keys with something like fury, and you can see the intent in his eyes. Then he looks up at you and grins. It's the best.

Here's what Isaac had to say to his mom that day:

Xxqqqqqqqqqoi:Ll



‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ ‘
xuhkjhkhkjhkhkjhkjhfhddgfhgfhgfhgfhgfgfyfffgm

Ride that pony

Isaac forgot to show you guys one of his Christmas presents. His Grandma and Grandpa Wall got him this Radio Flyer rocking horse. It's pretty cool.






Now we have to go to town to get that baby some candy.

Right, Tasha?

Why do I keep wasting my money?

Yesterday, I bought Isaac this:
It's "Dapper Dan." Isaac has been kind of obsessed with buttons lately, so I thought he'd like it. You can button, buckle, zip and velcro about a million different things on this guy. I think he's totally fun and cool. Isaac did, too, while we were in the store.

When we got home, though, all he wanted to play with was this:
It's an advertisement that came in the mail Saturday for a new bridal shop in town.

Yup, my baby appreciates the simple things in life. He doesn't need fancy toys with buttons and buckles and zippers. Nope, he's way above that material stuff.

If I didn't love the kid so darn much, I'd swear off buying him toys altogether.

Haha. Yeah, right. We all know that's not going to happen...

But seriously, they should lock me out of every store in the city, whether it sells toys or not. Whether it sells anything kids and babies might be remotely interested in or not. Because, chances are, no matter the place, I'd find something in there Isaac just couldn't live without. And then I'd watch as he gleefully absorbed a toilet paper roll.

(P.S. Take notice of the crossed feet. I tell you, he ALWAYS sits like this. What a weirdo. Couldn't have gotten that fro his mom. Nope. No way.)

Ready, set...

On Saturday, at my parents' house, I put Isaac on the floor for a little tummy time and to encourage him to attempt crawling. I do this every day, and every day he just lays flat on his belly, his arms and legs lifted and flailing in the air, and screams.

Saturday, he did this:
He's on his hands and knees! This photo was taken later that same day, when I put him down on the floor again to see if he would stay on his hands and knees or if that one time was just a fluke. Nope, folks, the Little Man is gettin' ready to crawl!

Or, something...
He's just not quite sure where to go from here. And, as you can see, the frustration is mounting...

And here comes the screaming. He'd had enough. Right after I snapped this photo, I, of course, rescued him from the horrible situation in which I'd put him. Poor baby. At least we know that he won't be the last baby on earth to crawl. Not that it's really that big of a deal. I know I kind of make it seem like one here, but I'm really not that worried about him crawling and walking. I know he will when he's ready. And I'm sure I'll meet that moment with a combination of pride and dismay. And I'll regret that I ever wished for him to be mobile.

We spent a lot of time Sunday at John's, and I started thinking about how, this month, Isaac will be nine months old, and only three months after that, he'll be a year old! It wasn't long before I was whining to my son's father, "I can't believe Isaac is almost a year old! I'm not ready for my baby to grow up!"

He somewhat brought me back down to reality, reminding me that Isaac just turned eight months old and has almost four to go before he's the big "1," but still, I can't help but think that day will come too quickly. Yet another reason to remember to slow down and enjoy every moment of my son's immobility that I possibly can. It won't be long before he's crawling and running away from me. He's already begun to wriggle out of my arms when I hold him! You can see in his face that he wants to get down and get into everything, and, as soon as he can, he will.

So maybe I can put off the "go" part a little while longer...

Oh, Brother: Part 2

Brother is in Oklahoma City, preparing to take a physical exam and fill out mountain loads of paperwork that will semi-finalize his enlistment into the Marines. Yes, apparently culinary school is out and the military is back in. Not the Army National Guard as he had originally planned, but the Marines, because his friend/man crush is a Marine who just finished boot camp.

(Philip is a good friend and a good influence, and I appreciate that Brother has such a positive influence in his life, but I wish he wouldn't try to emulate Philip so literally. Pretty much everything the kid does, Brother wants to do. Hence, Philip is his "man crush.")

By tomorrow evening, Brother will have all but signed his name away to the Marine Corps. He won't leave for boot camp until May 18 (he's got to lose 20 pounds before they'll even let him that far), and he's got until May 15 to change his mind. Which he may very well do. He's already done it so many times.

I liked the idea of him going to culinary school and becoming a chef because it seemed like something he would actually follow through with and be really good at. And, it was his own idea, uninfluenced by anyone else. It's the only idea he's ever had that wasn't a direct result of peer pressure or his friends' influence.

Philip, the Marine/man crush, was in town over Christmas vacation and somehow got Steven thinking joining the Marines was a really great idea. Who knows, it may be. But I wonder if, now that his friend has gone back to California and he's alone in a hotel room in another city, away from his family, it will still seem like a good idea. I talked to my mother earlier this evening, and she said Steven had already called a couple of times, saying he was bored (read homesick) and lamenting about the fact that he has to wake up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to start his PT test. I think he said to mom something to the effect of, "Oh well, at least it's only one day." And it's comments like that that make me wonder if he has any idea what the hell he's getting himself into.

I think he kind of thinks being a Marine will be really cool and easy. Like, his friend did it, so it must be easy and he can do it, too. I don't think he has any idea what's coming to him. I don't think he has any idea how difficult it's going to be and how hard he's going to have to work.

Who knows, it may turn out to be the best thing he's ever done. Or, he may get home tomorrow and have changed his mind completely. Again.

What 2009 has in store for me...

(According to astrology.com)

Year 2009 Career

This year, your great passion for money and success will intensify when you broaden your interests and transform your values. As you explore new ideas, you'll have a greater appreciation of your working environment, and it's likely you'll be expanding your resources and furthering your studies. People appreciate you as a great role model for endlessly working to improve situations without taking unnecessary risks.

In the springtime, you begin manifesting advanced ideas for progressive changes in society. You avoid trivial communication, and transformation occurs as you become aware of other peoples' needs to philosophize about their values. Your climb up the ladder of success is rooted in your positive value system and your ability to transcend old ways of doing things.

You discover new ways to develop your spirituality this year, which will also involve your scientific mind. You come to realize that your passion and talent can easily move in a new direction, bringing with it the success you desire.

Year 2009 Romantic

Through finding more creative ways to express yourself, your love life will blossom as well. This shift helps you become more comfortable with a loving and philosophical relationship, and your connection becomes closer. Your desire to prioritize a love relationship deepens. Although in the past you were proud of your individuality, you're realizing the importance a love relationship beyond just yourself and your immediate family.

As you learn to give yourself to another and have your relationship deepen, it helps you break through any discriminating attitudes toward relationships, and to have more confidence in your process. As you continue to accept yourself and enjoy life, you no longer feel the pressure to perform. The peaceful knowing inherent in your love relationship brings deeper meaning to being together, and the relationship brings you abounding joy.

You have abundant optimism and broad appreciation about your relationship. In the autumn, you may be drawn to marriage, as you begin to really understand and embrace the joy of having someone close to you.

We'll see...

Resolutions

I’ve never taken New Year’s resolutions very seriously. Now that I have Isaac, I take everything more seriously. But I hope to think of these less as resolutions, which are apt to be cast aside the minute they interfere with the convenience of my life, but more as goals for 2009 and years beyond.

1. Stop eating fast food.
2. Eat fewer processed foods. (Maybe in 2010 I’ll be able to eliminate them completely! Or 2011…)
3. Take more walks.
4. Run…? (Can you be tentatively resolved about something? If so, that’s what I am about running.)
5. Spend less money.
6. Use less stuff.
7. Be more generous.
8. Plant a garden.
9. Be more patient (especially when driving).
10. Send freelance queries to a couple of national magazines I’ve been eying for the past six months.
11. Stop being so lazy about it and get Isaac to sleep in his own bed.
12. Be a really, really good mom.

This is a lot, I think, for a person to put on her plate in one year. Oh, well. I’ve always been the ambitious sort. I’m keeping these on my blog permanently as reminders to myself. Sorry if they annoy you. :)