But Grandma....

Isaiah spent last weekend with him and as we were getting ready to go home Sunday (Halloween morning), he told me that he "wouldn't recommend Hesston."

I said, "Hesston is a nice place to live. It's quiet, the people are nice, and it's not too big."

"But Grandma, you don't understand! (insert expressive hand movement and intense facial expression) There's no Walmart! No movie feeater! Only food!"

As I tried (in vain) to keep from laughing, he said, "I can't do nuffin except get food there!"

Poor, mistreated little guy...

Isaiah updates...

Since Amy and Isaiah have moved on to greener pastures, I don't have as much fodder for my little blog. But, Amy gave me some really good stuff the other day when we were talking on the phone.

Isaiah has a tendency to "flap" his arms when he is excited or concentrating on something. That is somewhat distracting for others around him. It also is something that can be used as a method of teasing. Isaiah is so sweet and naive that he doesn't even realize that he's being teased when kids "imitate" him. But, his teacher is really sharp and she caught on very fast that other kids were making fun of him.

To counteract this, she had Isaiah come to the front of the class and explained to EVERYONE that Isaiah was born "special" and that sometimes he has body movements that he cannot control. His movements do not give the other students permission to make fun of him. That solved a potential problem before it got to the point where Isaiah noticed that others were making fun of him.

In addition, his teacher is constantly looking for ways to encourage and motivate Isaiah. She quickly learned that focusing on his POSITIVE actions instead of his negative actions and she's seeing marked improvement in areas where he had been struggling. This is really BIG.

Isaiah is also very close to earning his first Boy Scout badge. He can nearly say his pledge without any prompting.

One thing the teacher was very right about... He is special. Very special!

They're Tigers, Not Squirrels

So, I've never been a Boy Scout or Cub Scout. I didn't even know there was anything younger than a Cub Scout. Isaiah told me he was in "scouts" but couldn't remember exactly what they were called.

I asked Amy. Then, I promptly forgot what she said.

I told Ron that Isaiah was in "scouts." He said, "What is he?" I said I didn't know but I thought he was a squirrel or some other little animal.

Well, needless to say, I was wrong. But - Ron couldn't remember anything younger than a Cub, either. AND HE WAS A SCOUT. So - I don't feel too badly on that.

But, isn't our little guy just the cutest thing in a "Tiger" Scout uniform?

Learning how to swim

Isaiah has been going to the YMCA all summer and they have spent a lot of time at the pool, but he hasn't really done anything that involved putting his head under water for any length of time or required him to hold his breath. He worked really hard with his new dad this past week to learn how to swim.

He did a great job! He did such a good job, that when we went out on a catamaran tour and snorkeling trip, he was confident enough to get out in the ocean and snorkel.

He was looking like a pro out there!

McDonald's Best Meal

Rex says: Isaiah what did you have for lunch today? (yesterday at school)

Isaiah says: Well Sir, McDonald's best meal.....hambuger and french fries.

Back to School

Isaiah starts back to school at a brand new place on Monday. I wanted to do something for him to maybe brighten his day and to possibly ease the transition. Starting over is never easy for anyone and for Isaiah, it can be very challenging. Since he totally loves Star Wars, he got a new backpack and lunch bag for the new year. I had Amy send me a picture of it (and then I found a better one on Target's Website) and I used it as a model for my own version of it.

The original:

My card:

I didn't figure I did too shabby for someone who has never had an art class. It did take me several hours, though. Only for Isaiah...

Wedding Day

Saturday, August 7, Amy married her sweetie and Isaiah got to give her away. He was simply adorable and kept saying "I do" all wrong during practice. He'd point to himself and say "ME" (instead of I do), and he even pointed to Rex one time and said "he does!"

Isaiah was so excited to have new cousins, new aunts and uncles, and new grandparents. He had one of the disposable cameras and kept lining people up to take their pictures. "Nana, Poppa, Aunt Christie - get in line; say 'cheese' - no, say 'star wars'." Amy's not got them developed yet, but I'd sure like to see how his pictures turn out. He took a lot.

Here is my favorite little "model" pose:

Isaiah is one extremely happy little boy and I couldn't be happier for him. He has wanted a daddy for so long and Rex is doing an outstanding job of filling those shoes.

You can tell in this picture just how happy he is:

It was a wonderful day.

Tickled, just tickled...

I have two things that made me laugh so much that I nearly cried. Of course, I had to make sure that Isaiah didn't realize I was laughing (second story) because he was so serious.

First story:

Amy and I had to go to Michael's for some wedding supplies yesterday and Isaiah asked if he could come home with me. Since we work right next to where he goes for summer camp, I said sure.

We were riding home, talking about various things.
I don't know what brought it up but Isaiah said, "When the policeman told Rex to slow down, I raised my hand."
The policeman said, ‘you have a question?’
I said, yes - that Rex drives fast all the time.
The policeman said, ‘Really? He should maybe slow down then, right?’
I said, 'yes maybe he should.'"

That brought tears to my eyes.

Second story:

Rex's mom and dad have told Isaiah to call them "Nana" and "Poppa" because they're going to be his new grandparents. He's very excited to get new grandparents, new cousins, and new aunts/uncles. He said he was going to call them Grandma Nana and Grandpa Poppa. I said that Grandma, Nana, Nanny, and Granny all meant "Grandma" and Grandpa, Poppa, Poppy were all words for Grandpa. So, if he said "Grandma Nana" he was really saying the same as "Grandma Grandma."

He was silent for a minute and then said, "Oh, but I like Grandma and Grandpa."
I said, "I know, but your name is Isaiah and you like to be called Isaiah. You don't like it when people call you Izzy, right?"
He sat there for a minute and then, very solemnly, said, "We have to write them a note. It needs to say 'Dear Nana and Poppa, I'm so so sorry that I broke your heart with this discussion. I will call you Nana and Papa. Love, Isaiah."

That one really had me in tears. I told him that he was fine and didn't need a note.

Lost teeth

For several days now, Isaiah has been sporting loose teeth. His two front teeth, to be exact. He's been very careful to not bite down on anything that would cause either of these teeth to fall out.

Until yesterday. First one fell out and then the second one fell out today. He was quite happy to get his money from the "toof fairy". He got four quarters for the first tooth. That equals "100" and he loves to think of things in terms of "100."

Kids only theater (a.k.a. fee-a-ter)

Last weekend, Isaiah and his cousins were in the spare bedroom watching a movie on his Cars television. With three boys and one girl - and a television going - it was quite loud. The adults were trying to have a conversation at the dining room table, which is just outside the room.

I closed the door and told them that we needed them to leave it closed because we couldn't hear ourselves talk.

A couple of minutes later, Isaiah opens the door...

"Dis is a kids fee-a-ter only - no adults allowed."  Shuts the door...

Door opens...

"You got dat guys? Kids only. No adults allowed in the kids' fee-a-ter."

Ladies' Man

Last night, Amy and I went wedding invitation shopping, so I suggested we go to IHOP afterwards. While we were eating, Isaiah was talking about girls at day camp.I said, "are you a ladies man?"

He said, "oh sure, I like the girls. I like Sydney, Cindy, the other Sydney, Skyler..." (and other names I can't remember - or understand his pronunciation of them).

He is so darned cute.

And the phrase SHOULD be...

"Guys, guys, you missed my reaction! Come see my new room!"

And, what he actually said...

"Guys, guys, you missed my erection!"

Talking to mom

Isaiah spent the night with us last night because Amy has school on Tuesdays and then I took him to the Y today for "summer camp" (their day care program for school-aged children). Since he wanted to talk to his mom this morning, I dialed her up and handed him the phone.

Isaiah: Amy? Is that you? This is Isaiah.
Amy: I know it's Isaiah. Grandma handed you the phone.
Isaiah: Oh, yeah, that's right.
Isaiah: I heard a telephone and it was Alexander Graham Bell!
Amy: What?
Isaiah: Mrs. Couch (who was his teacher in preschool - 2 years ago) showed us the telephone and it said "answer the phone! answer the phone!" It was Alexander Graham Bell!
Amy: Oh... OK. I have to go now so I can get ready for work.
Isaiah: OK, see ya later alligator.
Amy: After while, crocodile

Then, she hung up.After she hung up, he decided that he'd forgotten to tell her something. He said, "I have to tell her "in the street, parakeet."

So, of course, being the good grandmother that I am, I dialed her back up.

Amy: Hello...
Isaiah: I forgot to tell you something.
Amy: What did you forget to tell me?
Isaiah: In the street, parakeet!
Amy: OK, I have to go now.
Isaiah: Love ya, bye!

Terrific Tuesday

Isaiah had a great day today. It didn't start out as great and his mom told him if he didn't have a "green" day then he'd have to go to bed right after supper and his bath. When I picked him up from latchkey, I asked him what color his day was. He told me it was green, but then said he didn't want me to look, just in case he was mistaken and he didn't want me to think he was lying. Because, he said, lying is bad.

I told him that if he was honestly mistaken, then it wasn't a lie. If he was trying to get someone to believe a story, THAT was a lie. "Ooohhh..."

We got into the car and he opened his book bag. "I was right! I DID have a green day!" I said we had to call his mom to let her know the good news.

Amy: Hello?
Isaiah: Hello, Amy.
Amy (laughing): Hi, Isaiah. How was your day?
Isaiah: Amy, you are never going to believe the kind of day I had.
Amy: So, tell me... what kind of day did you have?
Isaiah (holding the phone over his agenda book): See... Just look!
Amy (laughing harder): Isaiah, I can't see the page. Just tell me.
Isaiah: Oh, OK. IT WAS GREEN! I had a green day!
Amy: I'm so happy you had a green day. Thank you for having a better attitude this morning.
Isaiah: Oh, really, it really wasn't that big of a deal. You're welcome.
Amy: So, it wasn't that big of a deal, huh?
Isaiah: No, it was easy.
Amy: Then I think you can have a green day every day then, right?
Isaiah: Love ya, bye!

Isaiah's yearbook

Isaiah’s school yearbook came home with his mom on Monday. It’s a very nice book, lots of pictures, and lots of names. He wanted to sit down and have me look at the pictures with him. Silly me, I thought he meant of his classmates so he could tell me who everyone was.

Noooo…. He wanted to look at the WHOLE book. Every name, every picture, every event in the book had to be looked at and read. If I missed something, such as “Teacher,” he was quick to correct me. “That says ‘teacher’ after his name, Grandma.” If I mispronounced a name, he corrected me. If I said “Mr” or “Mrs” in front of a last name, he corrected me if that person just went by “Mr” or “Mrs” first name.

This child seems to know every person in the school, what grade they’re in, and who their siblings are (if any). I made it through the entire staff, support staff, kindergarten, and first grade. After that, I was finished. I told him that he would need to go from second grade on with his mother. When I told Amy, she laughed and said they’d already gone through the book and read every name.

Goody for her – she gets to do it again.

Happy Birthday!

Tuesday was Isaiah's 7th birthday. He started counting down the days about a week ago. "Crampa, do you know how many more days til my birthday?"

No, Isaiah, how many more days?

"It's only seven more days! Tomorrow will be six days, and then it will be five days!"

That went on every day until the 20th. He was so excited that day, but he did have a green day at school so that was totally awesome.

Since Amy has school on Tuesdays I planned on taking Isaiah out for ice cream and to let him open the presents I had gotten for him. Ron had other ideas and we ended up going to a local restaurant and they always sing to birthday recipients.

When I picked Isaiah up from latchkey, I noticed that he had a birthday "crown" that he'd been able to wear at school. I told him to go ahead and leave it on and that way the server would know it was his birthday. He was pleased with that idea, so off we went. When we walked in to the restaurant, the host/hostess staff wished him a happy birthday and called him by name.

"Hey, how'd you know it was my birthday and how'd you know my name?" he asked them.

They said it was because he had on his hat. "Oh..." When the server came to take our order, she wished him a happy birthday and he said, "Call me Isaiah. See, it's on my hat. I-s-a-i-a-h spells my name - Isaiah."

They said they would and took our order. There were many people celebrating their birthday that evening. Every time the servers would head out clapping their hands and singing the birthday song, Isaiah would crane his head around to see if they were headed our way. No, I told him that he had to eat his dinner first.

Finally, it was his turn! He was grinning from ear-to-ear when they came to the table with his birthday sundae. He ate almost all of it, too.

Crampa helped a bit, but he managed to do a pretty good job on it.


Happy Birthday sweet boy!

I need to talk

Yesterday after work, I decided to visit Kohl's to do a little shopping. I had a 30% off coupon and a $95 store credit that was burning a hole in my pocket. I only shop at Kohl's when I have a discount coupon and I only buy what's already on sale. I called Amy to ask her a question and said since it was the last day to use the coupon, she should bring Isaiah and do his summer clothing shopping. She thought that was a good idea, so about 15 minutes later she showed up.

I had to call Ron to tell him where I was (he'd forgotten "where" I was going although he did remember I was stopping somewhere) and Isaiah wanted to talk.

Isaiah: I need to talk to my Crampa.

Me: Why do you need to talk to him?

Isaiah: I have somefing to tell him.

Me: OK (and I hand him the phone).

Isaiah: Crampa? I need to talk to you. I need to tell you somefing. I have somefing very important to tell you.

Ron: What, Isaiah?

Isaiah: I love you! Bye!

Ready for his own Bible

Isaiah has been "reading" the big Bible today - one that has no pictures. He's finding words that he recognizes and figuring out how to say the chapter/verse combination.

He was especially thrilled to find that "he" was in the Bible! "Look, there's Isaiah! That's my name!"

I explained to him who Isaiah was in Biblical times and how he had been named from the Bible. He didn't quite get the difference between "Isaiah" in the Bible and the "Isaiah" that he is.

I think he may be ready for a book about Isaiah that he can actually read.

Going to be a shirt

I can't say 100% exactly how this conversation transpired because I wasn't there. Somehow, I'm sure some of it will be lost in translation...

Isaiah had to go to a babysitter on Monday morning because he is out on spring break and his mother didn't get him to the Y in time for him to go on the field trip for that morning. He told Jamie, his sitter, that Rex's name was "shirt" and he liked it - so he was going to be a shirt, too.

That's not quite what Rex's last name is. Close, but not quite.

Isaiah Shirt... has a nice ring, don't you think?

Grandma, I got a joke for you...

What's black and white with stripes next to it?

I don't know, what is it?

A zebra! Fooled you!!!

I got another joke for you.

What's great big, has big legs, big feet, and is huge.

An Elephant?

No...

A dinosaur?

No, bigger than a dinosaur!

I can't think of anything else that's bigger than a dinosaur.

Fooled you! It's God!! I tricked you when I said big legs, didn't I?

Well - actually...

When I came home from the hospital the other night, Amy handed me a sack from the local Hallmark store with a couple of items inside. She said that Isaiah had been shopping and picked out the two things inside. One was a Precious Moments character in a police car that he bought for his Crampa. The other was from the Henry elephant line. Isaiah and I both like elephants.

Amy said he'd picked that out and when they were at the counter asked if they could afford to buy it - meaning how much did it cost (it was on sale so they didn't know). I looked it over and commented on how cute it was.

The next morning, as Isaiah was getting ready for school I told him how nice the police car was and that Crampa would love it. Then I said I loved the elephants and thanked him.

He said (with one hand on his hip and the other extended with his palm up), "Well, actually - it's for me."

Well - actually... he cracks me up.

I'm busy...

Yesterday morning, Amy was trying to get out the door to get Isaiah to school and her to work. They were already late because she thought she was going to be able to take Isaiah to the hospital to see his Crampa, but I told her that since he was not in a private room she should not bring him up. Plus, Ron just didn't feel well enough to have Isaiah climbing all over him.

So... Isaiah was watching Noggin while sitting in Ron's chair. He's got his elbow resting on the arm of the chair and his head resting in his hand.

Amy says, "Isaiah, get your coat on. It's time to leave."

Isaiah replied, "Just a minute. I'm busy."

It was all I could do to keep a straight face and not snort. He didn't mean anything by it - he was being sincere in thinking he was busy and it could wait. Amy told him she thought he forgot who he was talking to...

He got his coat on.

Spring program

The first grade class had their program this past Thursday. Isaiah didn't have a speaking part but that didn't stop him from knowing all the words to everyone else's speaking part! He is so smart and has a mind like a trap. He knew all the words to every song as well. It was so cute to watch the kids sing and perform.

"We're moving..."

Isaiah came running into the house last night and told his grandpa that we were moving. Grandpa asked if he and mommy were moving, and he said that No, we were ALL moving.

Isaiah would sleep in his room, I got to sleep on the sofa, and "Crampa" could sleep on the floor by the sofa. LOL!

What triggered all this was a conversation I was having with Amy on the phone. Isaiah had a "yellow" day because his backpack was on the floor. I could not believe his teacher had him pull a card because his backpack had fallen off the hook and landed on the floor. Isaiah said, "I had a yellow day. I never put my backpack on the floor in Ms B's room. That's not good. Never, never, never put your backpack on the floor. She said I did but I told her I didn't. So she told me to pull a card."

He went on and on about he wouldn't leave his backpack on the floor. I told him that maybe it fell off and his teacher just didn't realize it, that accidents happen, and to not worry about it.

Secretly, I was upset that his teacher didn't think that maybe, just maybe it could have fallen off. So, I told Amy that we should all just move. So... Isaiah decided that we were.

Plus, on Sunday night, he sat on Rex's lap and said, "So, do you think it's time for you to marry my mom? It is time yet?"

LOL - Rex is going to think I put him up to it, or that Amy put him up to it. No matter he jumped on the "move" part.

Isaiah said...

"My mom had to pull my broken toof. I was not impressed. I cried. But the toof fairy brought me three monies so I guess it is OK."

Amy said, "Isaiah, where are you going?" He said, "To Neverland. I will be right back."

(About watching Avatar - and crying during the movie.) I don't want to see the blue people lose their tree. Their tree is their whole world. It makes me very sad."

"Grandma, did you know me when I was a baby in my mommy's tummy? Did God tell you my name was Isaiah? I fink He told you dat."

"Grandma, can daddies have a baby in their tummy? I want to grow up and have a little boy and I will be a very good daddy." (Had to tell him no on this one; he'd have to get married and only mommies could have babies in their tummies. "Oh...")