Isaac is 7!

One week ago, Isaac turned 7. We had a family crepe breakfast the weekend before, then threw a party for his friends at Amazone Playzone. He chose to go somewhere fun for his party, rather than get more presents and have it at home. I had mandatory training for work on his birthday, so we had a nice easy birthday supper of leftover crepes and bacon at his request. No cakes, no cupcakes, just crepes with nutella and whipped cream, and mini donuts for his party. Easy peasy just the way I like it.

He's the kid in shorts haha

Isaac seems so tall now to me, but is actually still fairly short compared to other kids his age (sorry dude, no tall genes here). He has lost four teeth, and is still waiting for one of his top to make an appearance.
                                  
He is in grade 2, and is still in the French Immersion program. He is an avid (and very good) reader in both French and English, a numbers whiz, and super curious about history and space. He has been especially interested in the world wars, the titanic, and rockets lately. He often chooses to watch YouTube videos about them, rather than Netflix when he's allowed screen time.

He also loves to build and construct things (lego, forts...) out of big and small materials. He once made a "research center" in his room, and put up a big map where he likes to identify different countries.

As of late he has also been working on his art skills (something he never showed interest in until 6 months or so ago). It started with an interest in drawing comics (thank you Captain Underpants), and from there snowballed into drawing cartoons of characters from pokemon, Star Wars, and video games. He has an entire "portfolio" of comic book creations and drawings.

He is enrolled for his second year in judo and really does well, even if sometimes he doesn't want to go. He has lots of other athletic interests (skating, tennis), so we'll see what he decides to do next year.

in the middle

Isaac birthday interview:
Favourite food: pizza and crepes
Favourite movie: Detective Pikachu
Favourite show: Captain Underpants
Favourite book: Captain Underpants (although I would say Diary of a Wimpy Kid is definitely a top place contender)
What do you want to be when you grow up?: A policeman, because then I'll have lots of money
What are you scared of: Mia
Favourite thing to do: play video games
Best thing about being 7: I'm old

In his Halloween Costume

                               
If you've read any of my blog posts about Isaac, you'll know that he has not been a piece of cake in the parenting department. There have been some real tough challenges that have made me question everything, and some that have required professional help. But I am happy to say that as we've been working together on some goals, our relationship has really changed in a positive way. We have less outbursts, less reactivity, more cooperation, more affection. There are still rough days, but I don't feel like I'm in a place of desperation like I used to. If you are there as a parent right now, and want some helpful resources, connect with me!

But I digress. Isaac loves to be in charge of everything (that is definitely in the genes haha), and always has a plan. He likes to know all plans in advance and hates last minute changes or unclear expectations (still in the genes).

Running his lemonade stand

He has been a lot more in tune with how I'm feeling lately, and makes a big effort to help if he knows I've a had a tough day. He is starting to notice and do the small things, like offering to help me carry bags in, or sitting with his baby sister so she doesn't cling to me. I love watching how his awareness of others is growing. That is something that hasn't come easily to him.

He is confident, witty, and loves to be right. He will avoid admitting he is wrong by any means necessary. He asked me to open a bag of cheesies that he got trick or treating. I saw they were the "flamin' hot" kind and I told him they were spicy. He insisted they weren't. Well we went back and forth and finally I relented, and he proceeded to pop one in his mouth. His eyes began to water and I asked him if they were spicy. He couldn't even open his mouth to reply, he just plastered a smile on his face with his mouth full of this spicy cheese and emphatically shook his head "no". As soon as I left the kitchen, he climbed on the sink and guzzled like a litre of water from the tap hahahaha.

I love this boy and all his quirks and energy. He keeps me on the tippiest tips of my toes, but also grounds me and humbles me. Happy7th year of making us parents!

B: a little update

After one, I don't update every month, but little miss B is still growing and changing so much, I felt like I needed a little refresher post.

She is 15.5 months now and is so much fun. She is sporting 5 teeth, of the giant variety, with 5 more in the works I'm sure. She is generally happy go lucky, but definitely has had her cranky moments-lately the middle of the night or waking up from a nap has been her time to be mad at the world.

Her and Scarlett can share some of the same clothes already, so I just force Scarlett out of them prematurely so B can have something to wear haha.

B has a social personality, much like her big sister Mia. She isn't shy, loves to snuggle, give kisses, meet new people, and be the center of attention. Sometimes she will go up to a person she has never seen before (at the library, at exercise class...), and sit on their lap, or give them a hug. If I try and keep her with me, before she has spent the time she wants to with that person, she will fight me persistently until she can go back to them. In almost every circumstance, those individuals have come up to me and told me they weren't having a good day and how much they appreciated her snuggles.

She loves her Auntie Devon and Uncle Alex, but most especially her Granny, who is not allowed to put her down at all whenever she visits.
                                                             
She loves to talk and can say "hi", "mama", "dada", "all done" (all dum), "go", "woof", "ball", "up", "cracker"...and others. She also makes attempts to say things like "there it is" or "what's that?", which basically just sounds like her mushing the words together.

Her favourite foods are CHEESE (she will whine for you to keep giving her cheese if she sees it on the counter), PASTA, yogurt, chocolate, bananas, cereal with milk, and avocado. She pretty much eats anything I make her though, unless she's in one of her mad-at-the-world moods. She also insists on feeding herself with a fork and a spoon.

She is my only baby to still have an occasional overnight bottle at this age (although we are finally getting out of this...I think). But also my only baby to not have a soother at this age. And let's face it-sleep is a hot ticket item in this house.
                                               
B finally started walking about a month ago. She had been taking steps independently for about 2 months, but still preferred crawling as her main method of transportation. Once she swapped that to walking, I called it official.

Her favourite things to do consist of being outside, dancing, using stools or baskets as walkers, having a bath, and handing me clean laundry to fold-she cannot see a laundry basket full of clothes (dirty or clean), and not chase me around with items in her hand for me to fold.

She is not a fan of sleeping through the night, getting put in her car seat, dad or mom not sharing their food with her, someone going outside without her, and not being allowed to go downstairs to hang out with her favourite people.

We (big brother and sisters included) adore this little munchkin.