The Sweetest Thing

Okay, I'll be the first to admit to my obvious bias, but I truly think my boys are the sweetest things. It is amazing to see them interact so meaningfully with one another. Isaiah is sure to make his presence known to Braylon in anyway he can, typically waving vigorously and repeatedly saying hi to him. He continues to enjoy tickling him, and is very aware of the response he gets. Braylon at times laughs just observing Isaiah play, and loves any attention doted on him by his big brother. They are certain to grow up to be such good friends (though I know they'll have their rough times too). And apart from the odd time, Isaiah holds little jealousy for his brother. We're quite fortunate in that regard, as it tends only to be times when he is tired and irritable and Braylon needs to nurse. I've really got two very good boys to raise.

As of late, Isaiah is really starting to make headway with his speech. In the past few weeks, he has finally begun to use the vocabulary we knew he had stored in his brain. He's even working on proper two syllable words; instead of da-da, used anytime he heard the garage door open when Greg was due home from work, for example, he's now saying da-y (we just need to work that other "dd" in there). And Braylon, too, is continuing to be incredibly vocal, cooing and babbling away. Now if we could only make progress in the potty department with Isaiah; he was doing so well for such a young toddler, but recently he's been quite defiant of even sitting on it. Maybe Braylon will beat him to it!

As for Braylon, although Greg has yet to witness for himself, he has managed to roll over from both front to back and vice versa... despite much time spent on his belly. It isn't yet a daily motion, but he's done it now enough to notice this new feat. He continues to be very strong, holding himself up on his legs for longer and longer and propping himself up at 90 degrees when he is forced into tummy time. (I know, I'm such a mean mommy!) I never know if he's advanced in his growth or not, as I remember thinking Isaiah was compared to other babies I knew who were relatively similar in age, but I think having a big brother to look up to and observe all the time is helping Braylon do things earlier. Who knows?!

Anyway, it seems I've again just noted a few of the things they've been doing lately rather than share the particulars of our lives. But although I've not really stories to share - instead, I tend to give a vague update regarding their accomplishments - I think it worthwhile to post this stuff. I don't even know if anyone who reads this cares all that much about such minute steps, but I think it will be neat to look back with them to remember these moments in time. And I always mean to blog more often, but I think it more important to spend my time at home being with them so you will have to pardon my absence in terms of a daily upkeep of blogging. It will be awhile until I next log on too, as we're off on vacation for the first bit of July. I'm sure to have something to post upon return, so until then...

How in the world...

...Greg managed to get Isaiah to eat carrots last night for dinner is still beyond me. If you know our son, you well know he long gave up on vegetables and it has been a fight to get him to eat them ever since. Give him a stick of celery and he'll chew it to bits, strings hanging from between his teeth. He'll mush a green bean and think about squash and sweet potato. But he never swallows. Ever. Most often he allows the intruder (a.k.a. vegetable) to slide down his tongue, returning the enemy to his tray with true distaste. And he turns away from just about everything else. However, just when I was certain he was a mini-Grandpa, eating corn and corn alone (which is quite possibly the most difficult, and time consuming, vegetable for Mr. Independent), he shocked us by shoveling in mouthful after mouthful of carrot last night. Now my children are notorious for doing the exact opposite as soon as I praise them on my blog, so let me cross my fingers that we're finally on track toward getting his servings of vegetables in.

P.S. Dad, he also inherited your potato oddity; he loves his french fries, but he's no fan of mashed or roasted potato!

Braylon, too, has his own idiosyncrasies. Take, for example, how he automatically quieted into a zone just now, subdued by an interest in watching Euro. Greg is going to be happy to hear how he was fussy for cartoons but the second I turned the channel to Italy's game, he fell quietly into a relaxed state, watching the soccer match intently. I think he'll be our little soccer player! (As though I'm glad he already seems to show a preference of his own, he'll probably be pushed in that direction; he already has watched numerous games in his four months of life!)


Isaiah, on the other hand, just may take up yoga. I can't say for sure he knows his poses, but he has long mastered downward-facing-dog. (Maybe the 42 weeks in the womb spent doing yoga with mommy influenced his strange notions to all of a sudden hang in an upside-down "v" on the living room floor.) My instructor should begin mommy-and-me classes, I do believe, although he is far more flexible than am I so he might just show me up. See, mom, your genes passed through me and on to my son! (My mom is ridiculously flexible for 50; if you've never seen her do the splits, just ask!)

Yep, those are my boys. Always entertaining and each very unique. They have certainly developed their own personalities, and it's amazing to see how different Braylon is from his older brother! I know it seems like I tend to write about the same sorts of daily happenings, all somewhat blase (how do you make an accent on here?), but hopefully recording these observations and events will serve as gentle reminders when I look back in a few years with faint memory of days that pass far too quickly.

Change is a-Brewin'

So, should you not yet know, Greg was recently offered a position at Toyota's new plant in Woodstock - painting cars (although not quite like the car he and Isaiah are driving at left) - and he has accepted. The auto industry here in south-western Ontario has really been suffering lately, save for Japanese companies it seems, so some sort of change was really inevitable. And although it is good news, it is sort of bad at the same time.

Why?

Well, for one I like where I live. We've got a nice house - though it's not perfect, there are many things I would change were I to build again - on a nice sized lot in a town where Greg has countless family and friends living. We're fairly close to London, where we seem to do the majority of our activities and shopping. And I hate moving. I've hardly really had to do it - an entire house, that is - and I hate it. And yet I'm sort of interested in getting something new again that has the things I wish I had've stuck with in the first place with this build.

Anyway, I'll spare you the list of pros and cons, as it's fairly lengthy in my mind... but we are seriously considering moving to Woodstock, which would obviously be convenient for the both of us, as we'll both be working there come February of next year (when I return to teaching after maternity leave). I mean we could drive together when he is on day shift, though it makes for long days for our kids especially, as we'd be out of the house by 5:45 and not back until nearly 6 p.m.. And that would mean a continuance of some serious money spent on gas (when just I was commuting, I was spending a third of my paycheck on gas!), the cost of which is ever inflating in our part of the world.

So, I don't know. We'll weigh our options and see how it goes. I'm a fairly firm believer in "all things happen for a reason," even if I'm not much of a risk-taker. Stay tuned for the changes that actually take effect.

A Moment of Reflection on Childhood

Don't let the picture fool you; although it seems we've managed to capture Isaiah asleep in his big boy bed (a race car Nemo bed... what a clash of themes, Natalie), he rarely makes it through the night. Now I know we impressed toddlerhood on him prematurely, as Braylon needed the nursery for himself, but I'm longing for Isaiah to realize that sleeping through the night is unbelievably fantastic. (My, how I miss it!) It is a song and dance routine to convince him of sleep in the first place, and I'm unwilling to return the soother to him that we've successfully taken away. I'm anxious to take away the bottle too, but I think too much change is overwhelming for someone that age. However, the pitter patter of feet running to my side of my bed (and, on top of the fact that it is, I reiterate, MY side of the bed each night, it is oh-so-conveniently in-between one of Braylon's feeds, so I'm just nicely getting into deep sleep again) has got to stop!

Let me take a moment, though, to also praise him as a big brother, a role which he was meant to play. It amazes me at how gentle and loving he is with his little brother at a time when he is being forced to share our time, attention, and love just as he was realizing he was the star of the show. When Braylon wakes each morning, Isaiah is quick to say (well, perhaps say is not the appropriate word as Isaiah is slightly delayed in speaking; rather he shows a clear preference for a more kinesthetic apprach) hello to him, and relishes in the reaction he receives, typically a big gummy grin on Braylon's part. In fact, it is astounding to me how well they interact with one another already. Isaiah loves to play peek-a-boo with him, hiding just out of Braylon's line of sight, usually ducking beside his chair. He quite often plays "tickle-tickle" with him too (though I'm fairly certain that only I am able to decipher him saying tickle-tickle as he reaches his hand toward Braylon's ribs... I'm truly beginning to understand that parents really are the only ones able to decode toddler speech). I am hoping that they'll continue to grow up close; that's ideally why you have them so close together in the first place. Of course, in my case, I do remember countless incidents whereby my teeth were chipped or my forehead split open on the raw end of a physical fight with my brother, 13 months my senior, but I also know that we were and are still friends and I hope that holds true for my boys.

Anyway (I'm notorious for getting caught up in random tangents, should you be reading my blog and not really know me in person), back to praise. Braylon too is worthy of some serious doting; he's an unbelievably good baby. Okay, so he's not quite sleeping through the night either (my kids just aren't meant to sleep, nor reward me of that luxury), but he's a million times better than was Isaiah at it (although every time I praise him, he tends to do the opposite the next night... so who knows what I'm in for tonight?!). He's just a very happy-go-lucky baby. Sure he cries, and sometimes it is very difficult to calm him down, but he tends to be good natured, even when Isaiah is putting far too much weight on him in a hug or accidentally hitting him with a toy or book. Must be why he gave me such an easy time pushing him out in comparison to Isaiah (let's not relive that horror on here... or ever for that matter).

Very often people ask me if I'm crazy to have kids so close in age, but I wouldn't have it any other way. At times I cannot help to acknowledge how difficult and trying it can be, but it is so much more than that. My children are a blessing (though I'd hesitate to say from God, since my faith in that direction has long since wavered). They are my pride and joy. We've had growing pains along the way, but we're really coming into our own, fulfilling the roles we've been cast in. I'm certain my grade 11s from last semester would be quick to say how much I love being a mom, as witnesses to a teary-eyed message from me about parenthood during one of their presentations, and it is true. I can't even picture a world without my rugrats. I am not a perfect teacher, nor am I a perfect wife (I just can't seem to comprehend the drop-everything-and-play-poker itch) - in these roles I am growing all the time; I am not a perfect mother either. But I think I'm a pretty good one. Regardless, I cherish those three roles above all else right now.

Anyhow, before I get off on a completely different tangent (since it seems I'm headed in that direction), I think I'll sign off for today. That, and Braylon's head has grown rather heavy resting on my arm (just so you know, I've had to finger type with my right for some time during this post), dead weight as I've coaxed him into a longer afternoon nap that he'd originally intended to take. So, until next time, whenever that may be (when I should, someone remind me, take a minute to praise my husband, who is equally deserving as are my sons).

Blatant Disregard of Parking Perk

Although ideally I should lodge a complaint via an editorial in the London Free Press, I think for now I'll rant my annoyance via my blog. So without further adieu, here's what I think one particular London-nite:

To the man who took advantage of premium parking at the mall, even though he was not with child;

Just because you had a car seat in the back of your car, that does not entitle you to the "Expectant Mothers and Parents with Infants" parking spots at the mall. Your ignorance is intolerable. Those of us with young children such as I - 2 under two, in fact - really do need those designated parking spots to load and unload our children. You stealthily snuck into the last reserved location today and I watched as you surveyed for witnesses who might notice you did not have a child with you. You did not see me, but I noticed you. I saw you. I watched you wait in your car until the coast was clear (not so clear afterall, though, eh?) and then quickly walk into the mall (emphasis on the walk - you could physically tolerate parking further down the row, that I know). Instead, you clearly disregarded the purpose of those spaces so you could park in a prime location, as close to the mall door as possible. It is true you are not alone in doing so, I well know others are guilty culprits of this violation, but your action is rude and wrong. And you were caught in the act. I hope you know how much you put us - expectant mothers and parents WITH infants - out by swiping one of the few spaces made available. Next time don't be surprised if a black Equinox is blocking you in.