So, Isabelle’s 5th birthday came and went, along with all the usual celebratory trappings, but I forgot to note it in a blog post.  Life is always busy in May, and especially so this year, it seems, but it matters to me that I take time to write about each of my kids on their birthdays.

With Isabelle in particular, and this year in particular, it matters even more.  Because this year has been tough on my Sweetpea, I think. She is in that unenviable position of not being in school yet, but not really needing my attentions to manage most of her day-to-day existence.  So, while the older kids have a built-in amount of attention in the form of teaching and directing in chores and answering school-related questions, and while Lucas is in that mode of needing constant oversight if I hope for the very structure of our home to make it through a day, Isabelle has, unfortunately, been left to fend for herself too much of the time.

On top of that, she was really hit hard by her Grandma passing away this year.  Even though her comprehension of it all was, I’m sure, a little fuzzy, she lost someone who lavished her with attention, who was always willing to answer a question, or let her water flowers and fill bird feeders, or be a glad recipient of Isabelle’s forceful hugs.  A void was definitely left in my little girl’s heart by this loss.

Nonetheless, Isabelle has paved a way for herself in so many things.  She persistently asks questions, and will volunteer to do ANYTHING, even things she just can’t quite do yet.  She has learned her letters and numbers and counting to a hundred and spelling her name, and so many random facts about things simply by being inquisitive, and without any prompting from me.

She absolutely loves singing and dancing and just performed in her very first dance recital.  She daily requests an audience for her latest Isabelle-original song or dance, which she always performs with great expressiveness and energy.

Isabelle is amazingly articulate.  She has an impressive vocabulary and is an exceptionally clear communicator for a five-year-old, although she occasionally struggles with shyness in unfamiliar situations, at which point she will staunchly refuse to utter a single word.

She is a born nurturer.  Whenever someone isn’t feeling good, she is quick to take care of them, and sticks with them throughout the day to attend to every need (which she does quite well).

Her natural personality is best characterized as exuberant.  She hops her way through life, bounces into hugs, gives the biggest, cheesiest grins anytime a camera is pointed her way, laughs loud (and screams loud).  She does everything with flair.  She LOVES playing dress-up and pretend. She is intelligent and determined and silly and strong and loving.

I am so thankful for her and I love her beyond words.

Last week, Lucas had his second birthday.  Two years has flown by, and now my baby isn’t so much of a baby any more.  He is in full-fledged I want to do what my older siblings are doing mode, from chores, to schoolwork, to playing games and building with Legos.

In many ways, Lucas has broken the mold of my expectations these past two years.  From his first year with constant spit-up, late teeth, persistent finger sucking, and uncanny physical strength and coordination, to this past year with his ability to defy any childproofing attempts, his tenacity against which I am woefully mismatched, and his acute intelligence which is only mildly veiled by his as-yet limited speaking vocabulary, my ability to predict his forthcoming strengths and challenges has proven to be lacking.

On one hand, he is intense and demanding and dissatisfied with anything that doesn’t completely meet his “requests”, but on the other hand, he has a compassion and gentleness towards someone who is hurting that was not evident in his older siblings.  He rarely says any intelligible words apart from Mommy, Daddy, and a few other staples, but will occasionally blurt out an entire sentence as clear as day.  He loves bath-time when the water is running, but hates it any other time.

Yet, still, there are the normal 2-year-old boy things, too. He loves cars and trucks…well, anything with wheels, really.  He runs and climbs and jumps and bangs his head on all kinds of things.  He has started loving books – his current favorites being Peek-A-Who, A Good Day, Froggy Goes to Bed, I Love it When You Smile, and God Bless You and Goodnight.  He will usually willingly go to bed at night, but insists on being picked up any time he wakes up (I have lost my will to stand my ground at 3am…for now, at least).  He loves going outside at recess time, and even knows to go grab socks from his drawer and bring them to me with his shoes.  He loves french fries, and bananas, and pretzels, and macaroni and cheese, and corn, and cookies…but there are many more things that he won’t eat without a fight.  He is silly and funny and loves to be the center of attention.  He needs to work on obedience, but has at least learned to obey stop! (the most important first step, in my opinion).

Lucas sometimes makes me feel like I’m in over my head, but his presence in our lives is immeasurably valuable.  His biggest of big smiles, the way he sort of gallops away when he’s excited, and the out-of-the-blue hugs and kisses are some of my very favorite parts of any day.  I have loved being Lucas’s mom these past two years, and I am so excited to watch him grow, and to know him more and better in the years to come.  He is loved beyond words.