One Small Step for Most, One Giant Leap for Her

Our home is only one level so Isabelle rarely gets practice with steps. We have a step down at the front door, into the garage, and at the patio. Now that she is walking everywhere, we have been encouraging her to take the steps too while holding our hands. Going up the steps was no problem and if we aren't there quick enough with a hand, she just crawls up. Going down terrified her even with helping hands offered. One day Isabelle was playing in the patio and I was lucky enough to catch this video.

Talk about gutsy especially while holding the basket! I think I was pretty gutsy too just watching!

Then attempting going up with that can do attitude even when she fell and coming back down with the nondramatic response after falling! I was expecting the worse. If only she would do this every time when faced with a step or any obstacle, for that matter! Sometimes I just want to show her these videos to remind her that she is capable of going down the steps without help. At least she is no longer terrified feeling helpless standing on top of a step. Isabelle continues to improve on going down these small steps with our helpful hand. Just goes to show that letting them figure things out on their own is sometimes the only way for them to learn and hopefully I won't cringe too much in anticipating disasters.

Giddy-Up, Zebra

After visiting a friend in VA who had this zebra and seeing how much Isabelle enjoyed it even then when she was much smaller, I was thrilled to find it at a consignment store this fall. I finally got her room rearranged and found a place to put the zebra in there. She does pretty well when someone sets her on it. She originally just rocked but she now also spins. Maybe the actual jumping will come as she gets taller.

It was rather impressive how she was able to dismount so gracefully even though she was still a little short when this first video was taken a month ago.

These more recent videos show her also spinning and another dismount. Isabelle isn't always confident in her ability to dismount so again pretty impressive. It will also be nice when she can mount herself on the zebra too.

Another great purchase made to help Isabelle get some energy out.

Playing Mommy

Isabelle has started to really take to her dolls and stuff animals. I guess she has picked up on some of my motherly tasks too. On this particular day she carried her cabbage patch doll, Erika, all over including the window to see the puppy. She also was nice enough to feed her and entertain her with music.

Ok, so Isabelle did accidentally drop Erika but every baby falls at some point. She was just preparing Erika for the real world.

Sleeping Angel

Every night before I go to sleep, I slip into Isabelle's room to cover her with a blanket and turn off the light. One night I found her asleep in this position where she looked like an angel with her arms up like that.
I managed to take this picture without waking her up and now can share a picture of our sleeping angel.

More Outside Fun

With quite a few days of nice weather, Isabelle got to experience outside even more. She continues to adjust to the elements: walking on the grass, touching the grass, and getting dirty. In these pictures, she is easily amused by the neighbor boy who purposely performs for her. Looking closely at the other two pictures show her dirty face especially around the mouth. All this outside play has led to more baths which thankfully she is enjoying again.

Got another video that day. Isabelle was still reluctant to fall on the grass but was at least willing to pick up a piece to give to me. At the end you can see all the dirt on her hands too.

When I tell Isabelle to get her shoes, she actually gets them and gets very excited since that means she will be going outside. On nice days, we go out shortly after breakfast and again after nap for about an hour each time. It is so engraved in her personal schedule that she even gets her shoes or goes to the patio door before I mention either. Even all the pollen and sneezing as well as the gnats bugging her haven't kept her from going outside. Sometimes the gnats are so bad that they get stuck in her hair and I have to blow or pick all of them out. Feels like monkey grooming, but I don't eat them. One time it was dark and she was insisting on going outside but didn't get to. Another time it was a chilly day yet she insisted on going out. I put her jacket on, plopped her outside, and went to get my sweatshirt. When I returned she quickly retreated back inside. I guess she has adjusted to being in Florida.

We don't have any outside toys yet so Isabelle has been enjoying the beach and pool toys, mostly the buckets and balls. Either she places the balls or grass in the buckets and wonders around with them. She finally accepted sitting in the grass too.

Here's a little bucket playing, pointing at the frogs on the decorations, and cleaning up the toys. When she finds a "job" to do, she is one busy girl. Easter egg hunting this year should be fun.

Once Isabelle gets accustomed to sand, she will have a great time playing with these toys at the beach also. As much as she loves being outside, there will be many more fun outside pictures to come.

Eat, Sleep, Play, Repeat

Isabelle has started to handle her fork and spoon during meals. Just as Ariel in the Little Mermaid, I think Isabelle confused her fork for her comb. At least Isabelle then puts food on the fork and eats her food properly. Although it looks like she is just having fun playing with her food, she is learning.

On another occasion, the inevitable finally occurred. Isabelle fell asleep while eating. When I was getting her out to lay her down, she stirred a little and reached for some food. So amusing!

After nap time, we went outside to play. Isabelle had never walked on grass before. Being St Augustine grass, which is quite stiff, as well as having some what new lumpy sod made that a bit of a challenge. I love hearing her "wow, wow, wow" at many different things and seeing her point too.

When Isabelle faces something new, she often resists the consequences. She loved walking on the grass but couldn't stand falling on the grass, touching it, or getting dirty. When she did fall on her bottom, she got so upset when I wouldn't help her up since she still uses her hands to stand and they would have to touch the strange grass.

Here Isabelle points at the dog and a bird, does a little jig, and celebrates being outside.

This video showed her walking on the grass better then the other one and her excitement about being outside.

Isabelle loves being outside and continues to get better walking on the grass as well as dealing with the other consequences of being outside.

Bawling Belly Boo

These videos may look a little familiar back to the magnet videos. Just wanted to post these separately as they show other Isabelle characteristics. The first one Isabelle is upset that I won't let her have the camera so you get a little taste of her tantrums. She quickly recovers from that and tries to play peek-a-boo with her shirt. She had done that before with her dresses which are quite easier to do. Isabelle often shows her belly and sometimes even finds mommy's or daddy's. When playing peek-a-boo with her hands, they only get as far as covering her mouth.

This video you can hear her say "dere it is" which she often says when revealing hidden things or herself.

Already she plays these simple games and continues to learn everyday.