Isaac is 3!!!

Isaac was thrilled it was finally his turn to get a cake and candles!

I worked hard to make it a good day for him. He got to watch a lot of the Little Engine That Could when he woke up. That's his favorite movie. We went to the zoo at 8 after letting James get a little nap and we rode the carousel and went to the children's zoo. (These things are free before 9.)
Then we paid $15 to ride the train! What a birthday treat. We made the mistake of sitting in the very front, though, which was too loud and Isaac had much more fun when we switched to the middle.

(too loud!)

After that we made our way back home and James got a nap and we did presents! Lots of things a 3 year old loves. After his nap we all went swimming, which really isn't that unusual since we've been almost every day since moving here. We had the friends over for dinner and we let Isaac and Benjamin just play instead of eat. I made Isaac a blue balloon cake, but I did it all wrong. I showed him the cake in the shape of a balloon and he said, "No, balloons on it!" so I blew up little water balloons and put them on and he said, "No, big ones!" Oh well. He still lit up with a big smile when we all sang happy birthday and he spit trying to blow out his candles.

I just want to say that Isaac is a really good boy. He's a very good older brother and likes to give James kisses and gives him toys, "Here go, James." He always wants to please Blake and I and is very seldom disobedient. He always asks permission to do things, "I go outside? Yes, dat's fine?" He's picked up on some movie phrases like "Train tracks? That's weird." He's beginning to play interactively: "Mom, I'm the scary train. You're the blue engine. I want the boy back!" and then I'm supposed to say "You can't have him!" (These are all from The Little Engine that Could.) He still won't eat meat but he will eat half an apple a day so he can eat a cookie. He likes wearing his Thomas and James underwear and Mickey-mickey diapers at night (has a mickey and minnie on it). He loves trains and trucks and sometimes likes to read books in a big long stint. He's graduated from board books and likes The Little Mermaid, the Prince and the Pauper, The Little Engine that Could (of course), but sometimes he'll go back to old favorites like Little Quack Counts or Red Train. He loves to play in the sand at our apartment and loves to swim and go under the water. He's getting so tall and is talking so much. I love him to death and I'm so glad he's part of our family.

Yes, you read that right: Isaac is wearing big boy underwear! He's doing a really good job, but we haven't quite got the #2s down yet. I know it's only cute for me to see him in his undies, but I'm posting a picture anyway.

The questions I'm asking myself are: Is is better to throw a diaper away that has pee in it or clean up pee on the floor? Is it better to wipe a poopy bum and throw away a diaper with poop in it or wipe up a poopy bum and gingerly throw poop from little train undies into the toilet and then scrub the undies in the sink? I know he's learning a life skill, but it's hard getting there. And he is doing a good job learning. It's just hard. I thought it was going to be magical.

throwing balloons at our beautifully lush and green new townhome. we love it here!