Isaac's idea of an emergency...

Tonight Isaac was using a piece of his Marbleous tower as a telephone (it's shaped like a U.)  Here is his one sided conversation:
"BabsiPop" (his grandparents, Babsi and Pop are apparently one person.)
"When you gonna come from Philadelphia and see me?
Hurry BabsiPop.  It's an emergency!  The very hungry caterpillar has a stomachache!  Okay!  THat sounds like a fantastic plan!  Bye!"

Then he went over to console his stuffed animal version of the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

She's the Best!

Abbie, just shy of 12 years old.  Look at those kind eyes.

I have had Abbie since she was a puppy.  She was born in late September, and I got her in December at around 10 weeks old.  She will be 12 next month, and that makes me kind of sad.  She is such a sweet girl.  She acted like a puppy until she was about 6 years old (hyper!) before she mellowed out.  Now she is just a gentle giant who trembles at the chirping sound that a carbon monoxide or fire detector makes when alerting you it is low on batteries.  She would never, ever bite a child, and that makes it so easy to have her around Isaac.  Isaac is the one I have to worry about.  He chases Abbie, but she just takes it in stride, hiding under her designated table.  She still gets her panties in a bunch at the mere mention of the words "park, walk, Julie's house, or treat."  Abbie has lovingly been called many things over her life.  Among her nicknames:  Abbie-Doo, Absey (Isaac's,) Abba, Abba Zabba, Zabba Dabba Doo, Rabbadoo, Abbs, Orfa, and Stampy.  Some of Abbie's signature moves include:  stamping for continued pets, nose dive through your legs for a butt pet, and grumbling.  She's also been deemed in wonderful health for her age/breed.  The vet told us last time that she was one of the healthiest labs (for her age) that he's ever seen.  SCORE!  If I could be guaranteed a dog like Abbie every time, my house would be a zoo (but a very docile zoo ;)  Cheers to Abbie, her loving nature, and her good health!

Well that was a relief...

So today, while driving Isaac in the car, he didn't like the song.  He insisted that we listen to "Champions" (He's obsessed with Queen's We are the Champions, Bicycle Race, and We Will Rock You.)  Anyway, I told him it was "mom's turn" and after this song, we'd listen to his favorite.  I explained patience.  Yeah....that didn't go over so well.  He immediately told me "you're mean, mommy."  Not once, but probably 10 or so times.  Ooooooooooh boy.  So it begins. 
However, I opened my email just now, to get my weekly update from Babycenter, and this was the opening paragraph:

"New this month: Backtalk

The ability to express emotions with words means that at around this age you can expect fewer tantrums. Instead of throwing himself on the floor in a screaming fit, your child may tell you, "Don't like it" or "Go away." But you may be unprepared for the "talking back" that can begin now. The good news is, this too shall pass. Comfort yourself with the knowledge that back talk is an inevitable and important step on the path to independence. If your child is talking tough, it's one more sign that his development is on track."

So while I am not psyched about his "backtalk,"  I must say it was a relief to read this.  He has been such a little contrarian lately, and that exhausts me.  However, the more I talk to other parents who have just entered or exited the terrible twos, the better I feel. 

Cheeky

Worth it?

We took Isaac to Thanksgiving Point for the first time last Tuesday.  During August, they have $2 Tuesdays.  Normally, each venue is $10 per person.  My take on it?
Isaac loved it all, HOWEVER, I would gladly pay the extra money to go to the Museum of Ancient Life on a day without masses of people.  I felt claustrophobic.  Isaac was harder to manage with all the kids and people.
The Gardens, however, were perfect  Everyone and their dog was at the museum, which left the gardens area totally accessible.  There were very few people, and on $2 Tuesdays, they open the gate between the Gardens, and the Children's Discover Gardens.  The gardens are stunning and left me with a tranquil feeling.  I am glad we went to the museum FIRST, then the gardens.  If you take kids to the gardens, bring something they can get wet in!

The obligatory photo which you must take if you go to this museum.  Of course.

Enjoying some raisins in the Gardens :)

Lucky Kid

I took Isaac to visit "Pa" last week at work.  My dad is the Energy Services Manager for Murray City Power.  He was able to take Isaac back to see all the big power trucks.  Isaac had so much fun, and is so well loved!  Last time we visited Pa at work, he gave Isaac a replica of one of the power truck on a much smaller scale, of course.  He asks to take that truck to bed with him often.  Boys and trucks....

Perfect Poopin' Log

I took Isaac up Big Cottonwood Canyon a couple days ago to enjoy the Silver Lake area (this is a GREAT place for kids to explore, by the way!)  I took Isaac there last year the week before school started, and this year too.  Tradition?
Anyway, amidst his explorations, he found a log that he could stand against and peer out at the lake.  I was thinking it was adorably cute, but then I became suspicious of his standing in one place for more than 30 seconds.  That's certainly not my boy.  Then I assessed the situation and OF COURSE!  He had his poop face on.  Apparently this is the best spot for pooping in the Silver Lake area.  Of course when I asked him if he had poop in his diaper, he denied.   Ah well!  Here's to poop logs.

Poop Log

Poop Log

Silver Lake

This squirrel stole Isaac's "cheddar bunnies" when he accidentally dropped it.  He was NOT psyched about it at all.  He asked the squirrel to return it and threw a mini tantrum when the squirrel did not oblige.

If you live in the SL Valley, these canyons are a nice respite, practically in our backyard!  Go enjoy nature.

Well THAT was Embarrassing

Before you become a parent, it's very easy to think to yourself "I won't do THAT when I have a kid, obviously!" or "My child will not be raised to behave like THAT."  Now it makes me giggle just thinking that I ever presumed that the way I have raised a child would equal no embarrassing or inappropriate behavior from said child.  You do your best to teach your child good manners, the appropriate ways to interact with other human beings (as well as animals, bugs, plants, even objects for hell's sake!)  You model the best behavior.  Over. and over. and over.  You try to make them aware of consequences (both natural and parent inflicted.)  You even sometimes try to ignore less than desired behavior, hoping that not giving it attention will make it less powerful.  Well, ALL of these work SOME of the time. 
Isaac has very normal two year old behavior, and most of the time it's quite endearing.   There are times, however, when you may find me turning a little beet red at some of his shenanigans.    Here are just a few of his latest:
-  When?  This week.
- Where?  Murray Rec Center.
- Who?  Isaac, Dave, me, several Murray Rec Center staffers, onlookers.
- What? Dave is in the bathroom.   Isaac is running up the ramp toward the turnstile near the front desk after a good swim.  I'm pretty close, but fishing my keys out of our old, massive, and very tattered swim bag, hoping that my keys didn't fall out of one of the holes.  I see Isaac quickly approaching a panel of about 10 switches.  I see the bounce in his step.  I don't even need to see his face to know that he's planning on touching them.  All of them.  I shout, "Isaac Nooooooooooooooo, don't touch those!" as he proceeds to flip one switch.  I grab him just as he's about to flip the second switch down, and I  simultaneously flip the first switch he'd flipped back up (it's labeled "comp pool.")  At that precise moment, I see a lady behind the desk HOP the desk, come running to the switches and I very nervously tell her that he flipped the comp pool switch and that I'm VERY very sorry.  "I KNOW which one he flipped,"  she barks, "I SAW him!"  Then before I can profusely apologize again, she sprints toward the competition pool.  Oh.  comp = competition.  I glance down the long hallway and see that the once blaring flourescent lights are BLACK.  I hear a ruckus.  Apparently switching the flip back up does not equal light all of the time.  Only some of the time.  Hmmm.   I can't wait in there anymore, everyone is staring at the "comp" pool, then back at me.  Back at the comp pool, back at me.  I take Isaac outside with me to wait for Dave.  I can see that they have evacuated the comp pool.  The lights are still out.  There are wet, irritated people.  Dave comes out and I hand Isaac to him and say "Let's go.  now."  We make the trek to the car, get Isaac buckled in, and drive past the rec center (the sun is down) and I can see that they have yet to resolve the incident.  ooooooooooooh the embarrassment.
When:  Every day lately.
Where:  Everywhere we go.
Who:  Isaac, everyone we see (strangers or not)
What:  Dave has been working on the bathrooms, as you all know, constantly.  All summer.  He's been using all sorts of tools.  Isaac's been interesting in finding out what they all do, obviously.  He's been using putty knives and other sharp tools, which we warn Isaac are very sharp.  They cut things.  They are very dangerous.  So, of course everywhere we go, friends, the park, family, the store, restaurants, anywhere really, he makes sure shout out "I got a knife!  I'm gonna cut something!!!!"  He says it in a very enthusiastic, but aggressive sounding voice.  People stare.  I get some disgusted looks.  And I do want to say "he doesn't want to cut anyone, really" and proceed to tell my long story, but I don't.  I just try distract him with some other topic or toy.  And it......works......some of the time.

But I sure do love this kid.

On the topic of embarrassment, it's embarrassing how disastrous and tornado like our house becomes with a two year old it in.  Isaac dumped out an entire bin of toys (all of his small toys, of course.)  When I asked him what happened, he told me that Brobee was playing with all this toys. 

More Isaac-isms

This morning:
Mom, mom!  Guess what? 
me:  What Isaac?
My toys are wondering if you wanna go to the bouncy place tonight?!
Dave:  your toys want to know?
Isaac:  I love my toys.  My toys are part of our family.   Mom, Dad, Isaac, Abbie, Day-Z and my toys.

This afternoon:
Isaac:  I wanna watch a little bit of TV?
Me: No, Isaac, you already watched 15 minutes this morning.  Too much TV will make your brain rotten, remember?
Isaac:  I want to have a rotten brain. 

Also today:
I was eating something that had gotten on my face, and, in typical Isaac fashion.
"mom, you needa wash it off!  You need a napkin.  It's mandatory."