Isaac Weekly Update: Week 45

This week Isaac got his first pair of shoes (Stride Rites- found at a thrift shop for $3)! He surprisingly took to the shoes with no problems. If anything they helped him to stand! Since he's not walking yet the shoes are more for when we are out and about than anything else, but they are fun to have! Ike is pretty good at keeping his balance and pulls himself to a stand with ease and does a lot of one handed "cruising."

Late on the 14th, was the first time Jake was able to rock Isaac to sleep. It was really sweet. Usually when Isaac cries at night I go in to care for him because I have the boobs. On the 14th I went in like usual, nursed Isaac, rocked Isaac, put him down and then he started crying a bunch. I picked him up, did the routine again and got the same outcome. I came back to bed with the sound of Isaac crying down the hall and figured we would just let him cry it out. Jake decided to get up and hold him and low and behold! He got him to sleep and STAY asleep when placed back in his crib! Way to go Dad. :)

Springsteen Grandparents

On Monday, the 12th, my mom left early in the morning, Jake got home at 9pm and then his parents got in at 10pm. Whew! It was kind of a crazy day.

We spent a lot of time hanging out at the house which is easiest to do with Isaac at this age since he's still taking two naps- one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Since Mike and Betty wake up earlier than Jake and me, they took Annabel and Isaac for a morning walks which both the human child and the furry child LOVED.

While Mike and Betty were here we got their professional help in decorating one of our walls with the walking sticks and family fish plaque that they had made for us a couple Christmas's ago.

When Isaac was born, Mike made him his own walking stick. Ike had a lot of fun with it (which was a little scary) before we got it mounted on the wall. 

The finished wall!

Later on in the week we made a trip out to my family's cabin at Fallen Leaf Lake. It ended up being kind of a dark day, but still lots of fun to show Mike and Betty the lake, have some lunch and take a little boat ride.

This is another one of those times when SO many pictures were taken that I decided to make a little video with them. It was so wonderful to have Isaac's Springsteen grandparents visit. He is a lucky little man. We look forward to seeing them again!

Grandparents

This has been the week of grandparents and it's been marvelous. It started with my mom visiting for the weekend.

Annabel was very excited to see my mom. She got to be held more and got more walks. :) happy dog, happy me.

My chatty Ike before bed...

Isaac Weekly Update: Week 44

This week Isaac turned 10 months. 

My mom visited this week and had a good time with little Ike. At one point things were a little stressful and this ended up happening...

It actually lightened my mood. He looked so perplexed, as if he was thinking, "I wanted some cheerios, but now how do I get them?"

He is still good with people, but his stranger danger is becoming more apparent. When we went my great uncle's memorial, my Dad came up to him and he was a little unsure. I felt bad for my Dad, but soon after my Dad was holding him during the service and Isaac was obviously comfortable and smiley.

He nurses about 3-4 times a day, but only acts really interested in the morning and evening. Otherwise, it seems more like a game to him. I am not going to try to wean him until he's a year, but even then I will still nurse in the morning and at night if he wants to. It will be interesting to see if he does...

And to finish off this post, here are some more pictures and a couple videos of Mr. Isaac. Still chatty as can be, crawling up on things, always trying to get out of his enclosures and staying cute.

David Warrington Sanford

My maternal grandmother passed away when I was in high school, from Lou Gehrig's disease. Since then, she remained alive to me through her siblings, particularly the two that were her full brother and sister, David and Margaret. At the end of August David passed away at 90 years old. He lived a full life and I am so thankful that I knew him. He was fun to joke around with and had a great wit, just like my grandmother. I will miss him and look forward to seeing him again some day. Love you David and all my love to the ones he left behind, particularly his partner for 45 years, Jim. He is such a sweet man. I can't imagine what it would be like to be with someone for so long and to suddenly not have them anymore.

On the positive side- like weddings, memorials bring family together and I LOVE family. It was so great to see my maternal grandmother's side of the family. After the memorial we went to the home of my cousin, once removed. It was beautiful and nice catching up with people that I haven't seen for years. Plus, Isaac did wonderfully, which always makes life better for me.

Here's some pictures that were shared by family...

Isaac Weekly Update: Week 43

Isaac finished off Week 43 still a little sick, but almost 100% better. He doesn't act sick at all, but his nose is still a little runny and once in awhile he coughs. He hates having is nose wiped, but sometimes it needs to be done!

This week we had Isaac's first well child visit with a new pediatrician since we moved to Roseville. Thankfully, we really liked Rainbow Children's Clinic and Dr. Del Mar and the whole staff was great. It is a smaller office than the one we had in SLO, which I really like. You don't realize you have a preference on stuff like that until you experience it! I thought I wouldn't mind having my baby in the hospital since I am comfortable in the hospital setting, but next time I will try to have my baby in a Birthing Center or possibly at home. It wasn't a bad experience at the hospital, but I realize now that I would like to try something different. Something similar goes for Isaac's pediatrician's office. The one in SLO gets rave reviews, but it was just too big and impersonal for me and thankfully we found one that feels better here.

Isaac got his first flu shot and did awesome. He truly takes shots like a champ- cries some, but recovers quickly. He's a little low on his weight- 20th percentile. That kind of blew. I feel like I feel him a lot and nutrient dense food, but I guess he needs a little more! So this week I've been putting a few more nuts in his diet and avocado and other fatty good foods mixed with peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, beef broth, yogurt, chia seeds, hemp hearts, etc. He's tried just about everything and will eat just about anything.

Jake's sister, Kate, sent Isaac some clothes this week which was great since we were in need of 9-12 month clothes. Here's a couple pictures in his "My Aunt Rocks" shirt. Thanks Auntie Kate!

And now I leave you with a little video I made of Isaac's 43rd week.

And here's the video that I used in the weekly video of Ike grooving as he eats. :)

Mrs. and Mrs. Hansen Curran

Today one of my best friends married the love of her life. We have walked with each other through a lot of changes, struggles and triumphs over our decade of friendship and I was honored to support her as she married her girlfriend of 4 years. What a time in history to be a lesbian! There are so many opinions and conflict surrounding peoples' choice to love one another, that it was a privilege to attend such a glorious celebration filled with love and support. The woman officiating began by discussing the mystery of God's plan as outlined in Ephesians chapter 3 and Paul's prayer:

14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,^e 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.^f 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT

As I listened to the words and truth of God, I couldn't help but beam from the Spirit igniting my soul with pride of what God gives us in Him and the honor of what these women are becoming together. It was so great to be a part of such an occasion.

Congratulations Megan and Emily!! You are bold and beautiful and simply two of my favorite people. May God bless your life together!