We started the streak of birthday celebrations visiting Grandma Gloria all the way out in Jarrettsville for her 94th birthday! Isaac was a bit shy upon arrival, but quickly warmed up after Uncle Tom shared some yummy pumpkin ice cream. He enjoyed chatting with Grandma, making small talk about different foods ("Do you know...pizza? How about squash?" etc.) As we talked about all of the upcoming birthdays, Isaac also impressed everyone by knowing his birthday is in March. Here's a VIDEO of Grandma and Isaac having a quiet chat before we left.
Later in the week Isaac got to celebrate both of his grandmothers' birthdays with Grandma Jean on the 14th and Mommom on the 17th. For Grandma Jean's birthday we had a yummy lasagna dinner at Aunt Kim's house where Isaac had a lot of fun sharing his cars with baby Greg. For Mommom's big 60th birthday, the girls went out for Paint Nite and lunch at Ciao Bella the week before her birthday. We had a lot of fun! Isaac seemed to be very impressed with Mommy's artwork, as he has been "caught" on numerous occasions sitting on the couch staring at it. When he was at Mommom's later in the week and saw her painting, he insisted that his mommy painted it and couldn't understand why my painting was at their house.
Then on Mommom's actual birthday we got to celebrate at the GIFT Christmas party at Jim & Barb's house. Being the only kid at the party, Isaac was incredibly well behaved, enjoying all of the yummy party foods, and watching the grownups play Pictionary ("What are you drawing, Daddy?") He enjoyed having the white board all to himself after the game was over, and happily drew Peppa Pig.
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| gingerbread birthday cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese icing |
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| baking with Mommom |
Then for Mommy's birthday we had takeout sushi and pizza at home followed by ice cream cake, and Secret Life of Pets. Isaac enjoyed the movie, but there were parts that the grownups laughed at and Isaac would turn around laughing in response asking, "What's so funny?? What are you laughing about?"
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| Isaac was very concerned at the end of the night when Mommom forgot her water bottle |
Earlier this month we had fun at Mommom & CharliePop's annual tree trim party. Isaac had so much fun running around with Declan. Perhaps the best part was when the boys sat at the piano with Mommy while she and Joe played Christmas carols. Isaac sat in Mommy's lap playing single notes at a time while Declan sat beside us and did some great grand endings to the songs. We got a little off track when Isaac started requesting Johnny Cash and Wagon Wheel. During the songs he would turn and look at Declan and they'd smile and laugh in the cutest way, and he would then turn left to look at Joe with the most serious look on his face!
One night we rode out to Sandy Point for Lights on the Bay. Isaac, who has been extra attached to Allie (often snuggling her and saying, "I love you so much!" and then looking at me with all seriousness saying, "I love her so much."), was very excited when we decided to let Allie tag along for the adventure. While we waited to get in, Santa came up to our car and gave Isaac a candy cane. He took one bite, spitting it right back out declaring it "yucky", but then proceeded to eat it anyway, then asking for more. Perhaps Isaac's favorite part was getting to get out of his car seat as we drove under 5 mph through the light trail.
On top of all of these happenings, we have made it a point to visit as many train gardens as possible! We started off going to the one at Kenilworth where Isaac had a blast walking around and around, pushing the interactive buttons and exploring all the moving parts. He was particularly amused by the gatekeeper that would go in and out of the door when he pushed the button, and he would laugh hysterically as we'd say, "Hello, Goodbye! Hello, Goodbye!" While we were there he got to talk to Santa again, and devoured a slice of pizza.
Later in the week we went to the train garden at Marley Station where Isaac got to have his first mall pretzel. This was an anticlimactic experience with Isaac insisting on having a cold pretzel, and then getting very upset when his pretzel fell apart as he bit into it. This lead to another first (for Mommy): dragging a tantrumming toddler out of the mall.
In the evenings and over the weekends Daddy took Isaac to many more train gardens such as the Arbutus fire station, Ellicott City, Highlandtown, and Dundalk. Some setups better than others, Isaac seemed to really enjoy his time wherever he went.
Of course we took an outing to "Santa's Wonderland" at Bass Pro Shop to go see Santa. On the way there Isaac asked, "So, which way is the North Pole, Mommy?", seemingly thinking that that was where we were headed if we were going to see Santa. When we got there, Isaac walked right up to Santa, and getting right to the point, shook his hand saying, "I want a train table." He answered all of Santa's questions and then begrudgingly sat on his lap, and tried covering his face for the picture.
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| Hmm...this looks like more fun than a train table. |
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| "Who is THAT guy?" |
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| writing a letter to Santa |
We also had a party at our house, for Mommy's annual Christmas choir rehearsal/party. Isaac was so excited to have a party at our house. While we practiced he'd sneak by the room on his little car, smiling at us, and then proudly came in with his Fisher Price nativity set to show the group. He even made "small talk" at the dinner table when we sat down to eat.
Isaac got in another visit to the Science Center, with Daddy this time. He explored lots of new things, including the bed of nails. After Daddy did it first, he couldn't get enough, saying that it tickled.
To keep the holiday fun going, we ended the day decorating a gingerbread house. Telling Isaac the icing was "glue" seemed to completely deter him from attempting to put anything in his mouth, and he was very focused on putting everything in place, looking at the picture on the box for ideas and making his own interpretation of what he wanted to do. With only light guidance from Mommy, Isaac "designed" the house all by himself. However, when Daddy reached in to help, Isaac looked at me and asked, "Why is Daddy touching my gingerbread house?"
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| "Welcome to my gingerbread house!" |
And here are just some other random moments from the month.
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| playing hopscotch |
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| a monumental first: first potato chip sandwich! (Mommy's fave!) It's all about the crunchy smush! |
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| Wheel barrow ride |
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| No words for this one |
Taking his pancakes into the other room...as Allie follows close behind.
Mommom sent a Christmas card addressed just to Isaac. He was thrilled to have mail, and just as thrilled with the sparkly wise men card saying, "I want to watch a show with my wise men!"
He helped himself to some greens from the broccoli plant in the yard, chomping away on the hearty green leaf saying, "I'm having some salad!"
His nativity set plays "Away in a Manger". This morning he insisted Daddy & I both sing it to him. This is him sticking his tongue out in delight as we obeyed.
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