A Belated Happy Birthday To The Laughing King

Agh, it's hard to get back into the habit of blogging regularly again, especially when one has been both a) sick (just a cold, thanks for asking) and b) single-parenting most of the week (Josh was out of town at a conference). And there's so much to talk about!

For example, did I mention that Isaac the Laughing King, my wee tiny baby, the stubborn one who took his own sweet time being born, just turned *one* last week? ONE! YEAR! OLD! Manohman, it's so true what they say that the days crawl by while the weeks-months-years shoot down the runway like rocket-powered turbocars. (Or something like that.)

What a treat he is now, too…hovering on that wavery tightrope between baby and toddler (he's been walking for a couple months now, actually, but I don't think I've mentioned that, given my general lack of blogging). Much as I sometimes grumble that I can't believe I have to go through teaching someone to eat with a spoon or wipe his own butt again, I'm really enjoying watching Isaac achieve each new milestone now. He feeds himself finger foods, he dances, he flips pages in books, he grabs toys and shakes them to hear them jingle, he has a whole repetoire of burbly gurgly unbearably adorable noises. He's such an emerging personality now, so far removed from the little newborn blob he once was. He's getting to that insistent "I've just discovered my own independent existence and therefore my own independent will" stage, where he wants what he wants right now, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! He growls, he shrieks, he bangs things together, he cries when he doesn't get what he wants. But he's so cute and interactive now too. I love making him laugh (which is pretty easy with peekaboo or fake sneezes) or showing him new things to look at/touch/experience. He's certainly another happy Archer baby, just like his brother was--but with his own determined, willful twist. Watch out world, this one is no delicate flower…he is ready for any challenge! God, I love him.

I mean look, can you even *believe* the cuteness??

^ Isaac sitting in his high chair having a snack, all dressed up for his birthday party, and evidently quite amused.

Ok, there is of course way more that's been going on but I'm gonna have to ease back into this blogging thing in little bite sized pieces. This is Gold Medal Mama, signing out and going to bed.