Isaac is 2 years old, already?!!

Little Isaac turned 2 today.

Sometimes I can't believe that he is so big, but I also just can't really remember our before-Isaac-family. He is such a big part of our lives, it seems he must have always been here.

Isaac has so much energy. He loves to climb and explore; he seems to have no fear of bodily harm and is constantly testing the limits (we have dealt with his kind before, but it makes a difference when one's house is exclusively hard, tile flooring). This morning I had to quickly grab him when he decided to try going down our long set marble stairs, head-first--He had done this a few times on the set of 4 steps we have upstairs, and was successful, so . . .

Isaac loves books. He mostly loves to see pictures of animals inside of books. He will bring me a book "boot" whenever he sees me sitting on the couch. He just climbs up, flips through the pages for me, exclaims at every person or animal--saying "hello" for the people and generally "roar" for the animal--and when he is ready for another says, "awe done!", throws that one on the floor and goes to get another one. If no one is able to read to him, he find books just as thrilling to pull off the shelves and toss around the room--the possibilities really are endless when it comes to books!

Isaac loves stuffed animals--really anything very soft. My other boys like them now, but really didn't get into them as little boys. Isaac just can't help but squeeze and snuggle anything soft. Of course, he likes the real thing, too, and "gatto", the cat, often finds himself tackeled and laid upon by Isaac.

For his birthday today he received two stuffed kittens and the first thing he did was squeeze and breathe them in and give them a good welcome "meow". Then he took them to the cow trough we have in the kitchen, got inside with them, laid down, and used them as his pillows--he was content this way for quite some time.

Isaac loves his brothers. They each play a different role in his life, and each is important. He seems to have figured out a system of when to ask whom to play with him. Eli is his morning brother and his best outside-time buddy. Adam loves to play at job-time, and is great for monster play before meals. Gabriel is off and on all day--Isaac often grabs Gabriel during school-time and says, "Dabey! Play! Amals (animals)!" His world is a better one because he is lucky enough to have 3 big brothers to mimick, idolize, bother, and love.

Isaac, you are handsome, funny, exhausting, curious, adored, . . . and you've only just begun!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!