We've gone through 1/2 gallon of milk in 48 hours

This is why

Shame

Shame. It's a funny thing, isn't it? Babies don't feel shame, but as adults we feel it all the time. Sometimes it just shows up as self-consciousness.

Yesterday was the first time I've seen Isaac feel self-conscious in a major way. We were at the North Market with my mom and Ken, and Isaac and I had been upstairs eating while they got their food. When my mom opened the small container of Greek food to reveal something fried that looked like a large hushpuppy, Isaac got very excited and yelled "Wow!". We were definitely not expecting that and started cracking up at how adorable it was.

The thing is, Isaac didn't think it was funny. He didn't mean for "Wow!" to be a joke---just an exclamation of joy that maybe he thought we would share. He stuck out his lower lip and began to pout. Big time. He laid his head on the table, lip quivering, and began to cry. A shoulder-shaking, silent cry...and then looked up, lip still out, tears running down his face. He tried to get out of his high chair. To run away. To hide.

Apparently this is the age when kids start to develop the ability to feel shame. Which of course is a normal part of development and not something I can stop. But can I react differently when Isaac shares his joy? Sure. I can share it with him. Show him that he may be little, but he has big opinions, and they are just as valid as anyone else's.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

Sent from my iPhone

Is this thing on?

*dusts off the blog*

Yes, I realize its been a while. You all need to join facebook, you'll see a lot more that way. 

But until you do that, I'll catch you up. The past two months can be summed up in one word: tired. Of being sick, and also of well, not getting enough sleep. Tim and I have both had strep throat twice, and Isaac has had two (post ear tube) ear infections, which means he hasn't always been sleeping well. Sometimes hardly at all. I spent more than one night driving him around at 3 am to try to get him back to sleep. We were tired of cold and dark, and now we're tired of rain. We did get a few nice days of sunshine in there, but now the highs have been setting new records for being so low. Yesterday's high was 49. In mid-May. Ugh. 

Isaac turned 18 months old on Saturday and is such a big guy now. He is saying all kinds of things, including some 2 word phrases from time to time. A couple weeks ago he pointed to a blanket and asked "what's that?". Pretty darn cute. He loves to color, he loves to watch Shaun the Sheep, and he loves to brush his teeth (we'll see how long that lasts). He loves to be naked, so getting dressed can be a struggle. He loves loves loves to be outside, so much that he often tries to go for a walk as soon as we get out of the car. I reach for my purse and when I turn around, he's at the end of the driveway already. His curly hair gets noticeably thicker and longer by the day, but there are no plans to cut it just yet.....even if strangers do usually think he's a girl. 

no pictures today, we don't have a lot of them lately. He moves so fast that most of them are just a blur...