Father Knows Best

When we were in Texas, Isaac clung to me in a way he hadn't before--sometimes, even my sitting next to him feeding him dinner was too far away.  I was torn between joy (who doesn't like to have her baby close?)  and frustration (going to the bathroom is ideally a solitary activity).  What I didn't have to deal with at the time was any sense of rejection.

Until we returned to Wisconsin and Isaac decided that Daddy was better than Mama.  Instead of clinging to me, he sobbed when I held him and reached for David.  Here's where a picture's worth a thousand words:

The rational part of me knows that he'll go through multiple phases of favoring one parent over the other.  But the deeply rooted, not-so-rational maternal part thinks that my heart will break when Isaac cries when I hold him.

Then I got thinking--it's really great that Isaac has such a strong bond with both of us.  Unlike conventional or popular depictions of dads (like in the TV sitcom referenced in the title), David's an incredibly involved parent.  I never worry when he's watching David--in fact, it seems unreal that a mother wouldn't trust her husband to watch their kids.  I like to think that, when he grows up, Isaac will think it's perfectly normal that for both parents to share equal responsibility in the child-rearing.  And if Isaac continues to adore and emulate his father, so much the better.

As long as I can still hug him without him crying.

Brave New World

In answer to the question we get most often, Isaac isn't standing or walking yet (though you should see him cruise from one end of the sofa to the other--especially if he sees a remote control!).  Nevertheless, he's becoming increasingly adept at maneuvering around our creaky old house.  We've baby-proofed to the best of our abilities and the house's capabilities--for instance, we can't put a gate at the bottom of the stairs because there's a window there.  But Isaac the Explorer has discovered there's new places to go and things to see.  Here's what his explorer diary would read like:

After months of searching, I've discovered a secret door on the kitchen to a whole new world.  I've visited this mysterious room before but only in the presence of the Watchers, who often refuse my access to the most exciting elements in this chamber.  If I stand by one tall building, I can gaze into the calming waters encased in its center.  And if I reach down, I can even feel the water itself!  Across from this building is an ancient scroll of paper at mouth level that's wonderful to chew on.  But as I was experiencing this pleasure, a Watcher came and pulled it out of my mouth.  They have since sealed off this wondrous place.  I have tried to reopen the room, but it's difficult to do so without their interference. Why must they hold me back? 

They Might Be Giants

By all accounts, Isaac is a long/tall baby.  He's continued to measure in the 95% for height every time we go to his well-child visits.   Strangers express astonishment when I say he's only ten months old.  During our playdates, he's as taller (or taller) than the little girl who's about four month older than him.  Another friend said Isaac was roughly the same size as a seventeen-month old she had recently visited. 

But apparently that's not good enough.  Isaac wants to be a giant.

One of his new favorite things is to sit on Daddy's shoulders while he marches around.  He giggles and screams triumphantly as he enjoys the world from a new vantage point.  But Isaac thinks one of the best things is that he can look at me--and he's taller than I am.    

I tell him that he will, in all likelihood, be taller than his mama and his daddy--just not at ten months.  But he seems to like the practice nonetheless.

Storytime

Unfortunately we have no photographic evidence of this, but it's worth it nonetheless. 

Today, David put Isaac down for a nap--and as always, Isaac resisted.  After about twenty minutes of silence on the baby monitor, David heard some precious babbling from our angel baby, who clearly wanted to get up. 

Then he heard a crash.

David raced up the stairs, his heart pounding.  And what to his wondering eyes did appear?  The floor lamp, crashed into the bookshelf on the opposite wall.  While standing in his crib, Isaac had managed to grab the lamp and throw into the bookshelf. Need I remind you that Isaac's not even ten months old?

Apparently when David entered the nursery, Isaac was standing in his crib with an innocent but puzzled look on his face.  How did that happen, Daddy?  I think we're in for trouble ahead...

We're baaaack!

Hey folks--

Sorry for the delay--we've spent our holiday break relaxing, enjoying our time with Isaac, and visiting with family in Texas (who compose probably 99.9% of the blog's viewers).  Anyway, we'll be back to a (fairly) regular posting schedule now--tomorrow, I'll share Issac's "stats" that we got at his nine-month well-child visit.

Thanks for your patience!

~Amanda