Fishing Obsession

    Isaiah and Jonathan are obsessed with fishing.  They eat, sleep, and breath the words, "I want to go fishing with Dada."  Jonathan wakes up and goes directly to his fishing pole stored in the garage.  Isaiah quickly follows to make sure Jonathan is not touching his pole or  any of the dangerous hooks that will cause an "OUCH!"   Then they will stand there together and jibber jabber over Jaimes's rigged up fishing poles possessing eccentric tackle of wooden fish and plastic worms.  Isaiah will keep reiterating how if Jonathan touches the hooks he will get an "ouch and wow! look at the "wormie." And then the begging ensues from both of their mouths, "Mama, I want to go fishing with Dada."
    When Jaime calls to say hello from work all the boys can say to him is "fishing with Dada? or  "I want to catch a BIG FISH!"  I'm pretty sure they only see Jaime as their fishing guide these days.  It has become great encouragement for Isaiah to behave.   He was giving me grief today about not wanting to take a nap and all I had to say to him was, "do you want to go fishing with Dad later?"  and he quickly grabbed my hand to lead himself to bed.  He knows only good boys get to go fishing.

     So everyday we fish.  Isaiah and Jonathan throw numerous casts in our pool to prepare for Jaime's arrival home from work.  Our evening ritual has become fishing out at our community lake.  It has become quite the obsession that I never realized was possible in an nineteen month and three year old!!!

Welcome Spring 2013-Part II

Last Sunday we went to the ride the train and take in some amusement rides at Roeding Park.  We are already experiencing mid-nineties temperatures here so I feel like we are on a race against time to enjoy all these outdoor "Spring" activities before the heat becomes too unbearable and the only things we will be doing outside will involve pools and water.

Train Ride.

  

Welcome Spring 2013

What better way to kick off Spring than starting back up our frequent visits to the Zoo?  Isaiah, Jonathan, and myself enjoyed our visit so much the other week.  The warm sun was shining and there was a slight breeze that cools you down ...the type of weather that makes you want to LIVE outdoors.  All the animals were out to be heard and seen.  Spring was definitely in the air.  Jonathan now (turning eighteen months) knows how to say all the animal names and it was as though he was seeing the Zoo for the first time.  Isaiah was loving every minute of his little brother's new found excitement.  I was giddy myself seeing how happy Isaiah and Jonathan were enjoying two of my favorite things-ANIMALS AND BEING OUTDOORS.  It was such a great day!!!!

Step One-Enjoy feeding the ducks and geese outside the  Zoo.

These birds have NO FEAR.

I've never seen the elephants so close to the viewing  area.

Lunch time on the bench right in front of the giraffes' viewing area.   

Petting Station

Having a great time.

Here comes their second wind!

A cup of ice cream to finish off a great day.

Two minutes into our car ride home.

Jonathan at 18 months

-Talking up a storm.  His most common phases these days are:  "Whaa oo oohing?" (what are you doing?), "Air our ooo?" (where are you?), "Ishing" (Fishing),  "OOOO-Gross," and every time I change his diaper he likes to point to his penis and declare to me "penis, penis."  And if I am telling him to do something, he'll ask "Why?" or "What?"

-The other night after I had put him to bed he woke up crying so I decided I would rock him to sleep.  Having a precious moment with him; me looking down upon his ample cheeks and resting closed eyes, I sigh,  "Oh JohnJohn" and he replies in this deep manly voice, "What?"  Makes me laugh everytime I think about it.  Proof that  he is not my baby anymore.

-For the most part he calls Isaiah, brother.  Sometimes he will say "Saiah" but usually he'll say, "brother, brother air our oo?"

-While Isaiah is busy mimicking everything Jaime does, Jonathan is busy copying everything Isaiah does.  Just one example:  Isaiah recently got potty-trained so Jonathan likes to sit on the potty too. 

-He is obsessed with fishing too.  Every morning he goes to the garage door to beg for his "ishing pole."

-He has grown attached to his crib blankets.  He sleeps with an assortment of them, but in the morning when I go to get him out of bed he has been grabbing one of his blankets to take along with him.

-He loves wearing his baseball hat.  

-He still LOVES his bottles of milk.

-For the most part he sleeps through the night, but occasionally he'll wake for a bottle around mid-night.  He does night fight his sleep.  He is great about going down for his afternoon nap and to bed.  

-I've noticed his physical abilities exceeding to the next level.  He has started to run and take on the park jungle gym as though they are nothing. 

Turning into a running machine.

Creating havoc...that's my mascara all over his face.

His favorite time of the day-going fishing with his Dad and Big Bro.

Testing the waters-literally and figuratively.

He took my hat off so he could wear it.

Sitting on the potty like his Big Bro.

Fishing obsession continued.

Loves brushing his teeth.

Ready, Set, Potty Train

     The best advice I received about potty-training is when they are "ready"- potty training will be a breeze.  JUST WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE READY.   If you push them before they are ready potty-training will be your worst nightmare.  I thought Isaiah might be ready last summer (a few months after turning two) but he gave me attitude when I would continually put him on the toilet and he refused to wear big boy underwear.  And after he laid a huge turd in the front room  it became apparent to me he was not ready.  Every so often I would attempt to pull out his underwear but again it would be a battle of the wills.  My conscious would remind me of that word "breeze" so patiently I waited.   In the last few months Isaiah has become an expert at peeing in the toilet before getting into his daily bath (baby steps). And his confidence in dressing and undressing himself has taken a huge leap (another "ready" sign).  And I have read that three is typically the magic age for "stubborn boys" to let go of their diapers.  Not to mention at night before going to bed I would ask him if he needed a diaper change to which he would start to strain (make himself pee) and then reply, "yes diaper change."  After the third or fourth time of him doing this, there was no question in my mind, he was READY.  Now I just needed a solid week off (March was a busy work month for me) and the opportunity to be on house arrest.  Fortunately this last week of March we were able to do both and Isaiah has been successfully potty-trained and IT HAS BEEN A BREEZE!

No more Diapers for this Boy!

Chillin' in his "chonnies"

J has been paying close attention to Isaiah using the potty.

The smile Isaiah gave me when I asked him for one:)

Isaiah's Birthday Road Trip

Our road trip to Monterey was only enhanced by the incredible scenic drive along the way.  Casa De Fruta happens to be the mid-point stop from our house to the ocean.  On our way home we stopped in for ice cream and some entertainment.