Ages and Stages- Issie

Issie is 2 years old and a few months, and she is really something. She is definitely our most strong willed kiddo. She absolutely knows what she wants, although it does change moment by moment and often I am the only member of the family that is fully fluent in Issie talk to figure out what she really wants. She can say a lot and she will repeat ANYTHING you say, so you really need to be careful, but she has such seemingly random thoughts that you really need to spend the time with her to see what she is talking about.

She is are mathematician, she likes order and sorts things and has pairs of things or things she things should be paired together all over the house. She is likely our overachiever, she taught herself her ABC's using her sisters Barbie computer and she is constantly practicing picking out letters on signs and magazines. She is now teaching herself the sounds. I say teaching herself because she does not want help, she just uses little technology games we have had for Kadie and Jack and sits in a corner and practices. She is also potty training herself. She goes to the bathroom for all diaper changes and likes to sit there forever, only occasionally does she go in the potty but she is not open for suggestions on how this should proceed. It is really quite funny.

I know it probably sounds like we let her just dominate the family, we really try not to, but honestly it does happen at times. But usually her desires or plan are perfectly acceptable, just different from what our plans may have been to do the same thing.

She is still tiny. She has yet to gain a full pound in about a year. She does not seem underweight looking at her with her peers and she is not super skinning or boney, she is just a lightweight. She has been 25 pounds since she was 16 months old. She was running around the house with this little vest from Kadie's Paci Bear ( a build a bear outfit!) and crying because she wanted it on. I kept telling her, you are too big, it won't fit, you are too big. Then to prove it to her I tried to put it on her, and lo and behold she was not too big and it did fit, well kinda. She reminded me of one of the village people, she wore it til bedtime. So funny.

She has had some food and skin issues but we took her to a specialist and we are in the process of treating her for yeast and several food intolerances and it is really amazing how much of her attitude and "meanness" appears to be related to her food issues. She is so much happier and although she does not like other little kids coming up to her and trying to touch her in any way, she is considerably more friendly and if she initiates the move she will hug just about anyone. It is good to know she is feeling better and nice to see she can be sweet to people outside of the immediate family.
I decided to try to find some panties for her, trying to put my own thoughts in this potty training process. It is very hard to find tiny panties. She was obsessed with them, but they could not go on her bottom. She wore all three pairs at once, two over her diaper and one on her head. This is how she spent her day, saying "yeah!!! Issies panties!!!"
The funniest thing about her little potty training efforts is that she prefers to read Better Homes and Garden magazines over her board books. It is really hilarious. She is looking for letters she can spot. She has 2 issues that she likes the best and she will spend 15 min or more browsing them. Brad really thought this was sad, so I spent several days, convincing her to read her books so now she will look at Clifford or Bible Songs but I still think she would rather the magazine.

Issie is at that fun stage where she squeals with delight when you first come home.... "Daddy, daddy, daddy..." and runs to give you a hug. She loves to snuggle in our bed, although we both realize this is the ultimate stalling technique before bedtime and naptime. She love oatmeal and would eat it for every meal if we let her. She still loves for me to snuggle her before bed and she now sings along to her "Isabella" song. So sweet.

We are about to transition her up to Kadie's room. We are in the market for bunk beds as I type. She seems ready, although I may keep the crib available for naps, not sure about that one. I am so excited for her and Kadie can not wait. But I am totally grieving the finality of the nursery. No more babies, no more crib, and no more nursery. I really loved creating her nursery and it will be so sad to change it back to the guest room. But you just cannot keep them from growing up.

Love you Issie Bee.