We've recently been working on trying to get Isaac to talk more.  He understands plenty, but he doesn't say near as much as Leah did at this age.   His 3 favorite things to say are "Mama?", "Yes", and what sounds like "In HERE!" with a super strong Boston accent, but nobody really knows what that means.  I think he uses it as his filler phrase for when he doesn't think he can say what you are asking him to say.  Or for when he wants you to take note of something.  Or for pretty much anything at all.  For instance, the other day I was trying to teach him to say a simple grace before lunch (and yes, I am aware that many of you are most likely shaking your heads in my attempt to accomplish this task based on the fact that I just told you how little he can actually say.  But what can I say- we have [sometimes unreasonably] high expectations.).  It went a little something like this:

-Isaac, can you say "Thank you..."
-Da-doo
-"...for food..."
[Isaac gives blank stare]
-Can you say "for food"? Foooorrrrr ffffooooodddd
 ...[He pauses, and then in strong Boston accent-style]...In HERE!!
-Amen.
- Aaaaama.

You get the picture.  To say his pronunciation is a bit subpar would be an understatement. 

Every night when I put the kids to sleep, I tell them that I love them.  Tonight I started off by putting Isaac to bed downstairs and giving him the usual bedtime I love you.  Since he was still awake when I put Leah to sleep (and to be completely honest, I wanted to sleep in later than 6:15 tomorrow morning [he sleeps much later than Leah does when they are in separate rooms]), I moved him upstairs.  As I laid him down, he said,
-Mama?
-Yes, Isaac?
-Hoo-hooo. Hoo-hooo.
-You're a silly boy.  I love you, buddy.  Can you say, "I love you"?
-Mama!!! (smiling) Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!

Ohhhhh, I get it, my sweet little owl.  I love you, too. 

We recently went on vacation with some of my family in Topsail Beach, North Carolina.  The week leading up to vacation was rather stressful considering there was a hurricane headed straight for the house we were to be staying in.  The "we're going, we're not going" pendulum was swinging back and forth every time the Storm Pulse website posted a new update (which is every 3 hours, for those who are wondering).  

So when the storm passed through and caused virtually no damage to the island, off we went.  After an 8+ hour car ride with two small children (one of whom didn't sleep for more than 30 minutes on the drive down), our feelings of relief and utter joy were practically palpable as we put our bare feet into the sand.  

Joy is taking a step away from your every day routine and getting a new perspective on how beautiful life really is.

 

Joy is spending time with Oma and Opa, whose pockets are never too full to carry your endless supply of super-special-we-must-take-all-of-them-home-with-us seashells.

Joy is taking a moment to catch a snapshot of our family in its current stage of life.

Joy is watching my three favorite people in all the world relax and enjoy themselves on the beach.

Joy is relishing the simple things in life-- like your first ever powdered donut.

Joy is having somebody other than your Mommy or Daddy (like Oma!) read you a bedtime story (A joy for  the kids, AND for Mommy and Daddy, AND for Oma.  Win, win, win!).

Joy is having nothing else to do other than spending time with my two little ones.  No cooking, no cleaning, no obligations.

Joy is trying to get a stupid website to upload a picture properly twenty different times and then finally giving in and just posting it as is (insert copious amounts of sarcasm) spending every day with your best friend.

It's funny how vacation can be so refreshing.  Perhaps we need to go a little more often.  :)