Isaac-Half Birthday

Steve made me laugh the other day when we were talking about how Isaac was just about to be six months old and he said, "we've survived six months with two children!"  Well that's the truth! 

Reflecting on the past six months a few thoughts have occured to me:
1. I cannot imagine life without Isaac...he has brought so much laughter to our home and I thank the Lord constantly for him (and Karis too!)
2. The first few months were very difficult (especially because of many milestones Karis was going through such as getting several molar teeth at one time the first month after Isaac was born and Karis deciding to be potty trained a couple months later)...but we've passed that really tough phase and I'm getting better at loving and managing two kiddos.
3. The Lord has provided in ways we never could have imagined and sustained us through what could have been very difficult times.
4. I have been refined in ways I never imagined through having two kiddos!

Isaac is now six months old and we have been thankful for each and every day we've had so far with him.  I have enjoyed these first six months - especially the past three - I didn't get to be home with Karis full time until she was ten months old so I feel like I'm experiencing so many new things and getting to see his new tricks first!  I consider this a priveledge. 

• His stats: 15 lbs, 11 oz (25th percentile); 26 3/4 in (50th percentile); head circumference 42 cm (10th percentile).  Every category has gone up two points since last visit!  We joke about how he's going to catch up (in weight) to his sister soon enough (who is currently 24 pounds!)
• Isaac learned to sit up on his own this month and really enjoys being upright and playing with his toys
• He continues to eat, a LOT!  We feed him solids three times a day now and he's added several foods to his menu.  He has even tried (just this past week) the little puffs that basically dissolve in his mouth.  He likes when he can pick it up and get it to his mouth all on his own
• He is rolling back to tummy now and so he rolls all over the place, earning himself the nickname "rolly polly"
• Other nicknames he's inherited have been: Big man (although I call him my lil man), chunkaroonie (or as Karis says, chunkaNoonie!), brother bear, honey bun, cheeks, chubs, chugalug.  You might notice a pattern of his names...he is a big boy!
• When he wants a toy out of reach, he will roll to his back, push with his legs and scoot backwards (on his back) and then roll back to his tummy to see how much farther he has to go in order to get his toy.  We've seen him attempt to get his knees under him a couple times but no sign of crawling yet.  His roll and scoot method works for him so I'm not sure he'll think crawling is worth it...yet!
• He has a couple new noises and can get loud!  He will definately let you know when he is in the room if you don't give him any attention!
• He started to sleep through the night some during month five and than at the beginning of this past month reverted to wanting midnight snacks.  Finally he's getting back to sleeping through the night and goes from about 6:45pm-5:00am (most nights).  Nice thing is after his five o'clock feed, he will fall back asleep till around 7:30am most days!
• One of my goals during this past month was to get to where he didn't need to be swaddled...he still really liked being swaddled but was growing out of the swaddle blankets.  I refused to buy bigger ones and so he no longer needs to be swaddled with arms in but still likes his legs wrapped up or sleep in a sleep sack. 
• He has begun to play peek a boo by holding a burp cloth in front of his face, and won't move it away until you ask, "where's Isaac?" to which he then moves it quickly showing his smily face!

Here are some pictures of our little man during the past month:

We received some hand-me-down toys.

Isaac was happy to finally have toys for boys!

Isaac loves his siter, anytime she's around he's a happy boy
(note: This picture was taken just days after Karis fell
out of a shopping cart...thus the black eye)

Snuggles with sister

His added mobility by rolling, has now allowed
him to "get into trouble" more!  I caught him
pulling on the curtains in our living room.

Sitting up, still use a pillow behind him for when
he falls backward so he doesn't bonk his head.

yummy toes

waking up from a nap, this was when I discovered he knew
how to roll from back to tummy

Isaac at big sister's 2nd birthday party, with daddy

Enjoying food

Meeting papa for the very first time

Papa and his two Valentine grandchildren

Isaac is the only grandson so far, my dad
was so excited to be here and get to spend
time with both he and Karis

Papa and Isaac watching daddy grill our dinner

Isaac's first trip to the beach

he was a fan

He spent most of the time (at the beach) in his
little sunshade tent

These next two pictures are my Dad with Karis (right) and Isaac (left) when they were both around 6 months old.  Couldn't help but have another comparison picture of the kiddos at similar ages.

Family shot (Isaac 6 months and Karis 2 years)

Papa and his only grandson
(Steve and I have often said we think
Isaac favors the Lemaster side-and this
picture I think shows that)

Haha, we couldn't resist putting something in
Isaac's shirt pocket like Papa.  Resemblence?!

Isaac truly lives up to the meaning of his name:
He laughs/He will laugh/Laughter/He will bring laughter

our big boy

This last picture is special because on Isaac's six month birthday
we found out Aunt Lala and Uncle Rob are expecting twins! 
From this picture, it seems Isaac is happy about this, maybe
we'll add a couple boy cousins to play with our little man!

Finally, a little fun fact for Isaac's six month post-his half birthday is on his Aunty Amy's birthday.  So even though this wasn't from when Isaac was six months, I wanted to include it:

  

Isaac and his Aunty Amy (taken when Isaac was 4 months)