Uncle Gabe and Uncle Felix

Last weekend, as part of his Nebraska adventures, Isaac traveled to Hershey, Nebraska to meet Ricci's uncles, Gabe and Felix. When we drove into town, we were greeted by a parade down main street. Apparently the parade had nothing to do with us, but it did make navigating the small town of Hershey surprisingly tricky. Both Gabe and Felix had Isaac laughing and smiling during our entire visit. Isaac had a great time with his uncles, and we hope to see them again on his next trip to Nebraska.

Isaac and Uncle Gabe

Isaac and Uncle Felix

5 Month Photo Shoot

Months 4 & 5

I'm ridiculously behind on updating the blog. This update will be quick but should get everyone up to speed. Isaac is now just over five months old and he's an entirely different baby almost every week. First of all, he's a big guy. He was a little over 16lbs at his four month check up and is about 19 or 20 lbs now. He rolls over (from his back to his stomach constantly but only a couple times from his stomach to his back--he mostly just whines and waits for you to flip him when he's ready to be on his back again). When I'm trying to get him to go to sleep and he's not quite ready, he enjoys taking the pacifier out of his mouth, examining it at great length and then attempting, in slow motion and usually unsuccessfully, to put it back in his mouth. He also really sweetly (though sometimes he's a little grabby) touches our faces when we hold him, and he often grabs us around the neck now when we pick him up. He's also honing his reaching and grabbing skills in general, and if he can get his hands on it he puts it in his mouth. Overall, he's more aware of what hew wants and how he wants it to happen, and he enjoys letting us now with little shouts and the occasional screech. His favorite song is Little Bunny Foo Foo, his favorite book is Moo Ba La La La, and he very much enjoys chewing on his toes.

He's been through a lot of travel and one big change in the last two months as well. In August, we moved to a new apartment. While it's smaller than our old basement apartment, the new place is part of a complex of married student housing on the campus Ricci attends. There are lots of kids around and great outdoor space both in front of and behind our little townhouse. We have an actual entrance with sidewalk rather than an unpaved grassy hill and there are lots more people to see and talk to. Grandma Anne and Grandpa Gene (once again) came to help with the move. We totally couldn't have done it without them.

Just after we moved to the new apartment, we threw another wild card his way and flew to Arizona to visit Ricci's family. We had a great time and Isaac loves his Grandma Jenny. His Aunt Kristi also drove down from Phoenix to spend the weekend with us. One of the best parts of being there was the way Isaac's little face lit up every time his Aunt Vanessa came into the room. He followed her with his eyes constantly and gave her a big grin when she looked at him. I'll get some Arizona photos up soon.

Ricci headed out to his first clinical year rotation on August 16th. This rotation is in a pediatrics clinic in Southern Utah, so when he left for Utah, Isaac and I headed to Nebraska to spend the six weeks Ricci will be away with Grandma Anne and Grandpa Gene. I'll update lots more on Nebraska in future posts. So far the rotation seems to be going well for Ricci, and Isaac is enjoying having his Grandma and Grandpa around to do whatever he tells them to.

Below are some photographic highlights of the last 8 weeks in the life of Isaac James Soto. As always, he's a total rock star and we love, love, love having him around.

Spitting up for Grandma and Grandpa.

The new place.

Sleeping Fat Man.

"Yup. I totally just rolled over. On purpose!"

"Mmmm. Toes."

Isaac and Puppy.

Angie and Family

Recently Angie, Mommy's friend from high school, stopped by with her husband and her two little girls. Angie lived next door to Uncle Pete and Aunt Connie in Salt Lake City when Mommy stayed there in the summers to watch Jill and Eric. It's amazing that those summers were seventeen years ago. Angie's little girls are 2 1/2 and 1. It's always great to see them all and the girls get cuter and smarter each time we visit.

Zoo

Dear Mom,

The zoo does not impress me. Not even the porcupine. Nice try.

Love,
Isaac

Three Months

Isaac hit the three month mark on June 18th. We look at him every day and marvel aloud to each other over just how big he's gotten (15 lbs at our last short-notice pediatrician's visit). Recently, he's begun sleeping six to occasionally eight(!) hour stretches at night. He smiles often and now even frequently gives something very near a real laugh. His digestive system continues to be...boisterous (see a fore mentioned, last minute pediatrician visit), and Mom is now avoiding not only dairy but soy. She can assure that there is soy in almost everything. He also continues to love the fish on his mobile, laying in his crib talking and laughing at them for minutes on end. Other current hobbies include full time thumb/hand sucking, being held upright against Mom's chest so he can look over her shoulder, and, recently, kick boxing with the monkey that hangs above his play mat. We love, love, love him and even though three months have seemed to pass so quickly, we can hardly remember a time when he wasn't with us. Isaac rocks.

Travels with Isaac

Ike and Mommy took their first big trip the first week of June. We flew to Albuquerque so Mommy could work on the research for her dissertation and Isaac could meet some of Mom and Dad's Albuquerque friends.

Day 1: Baby in a Bag
Isaac proved to be a much better traveler than Mommy. Mommy missed the exit to Connie and Pete's house, putting them behind schedule from the start. Then, when Connie dropper them off at the airport, Mommy left two full bottles and her cell phone in the car. Luckily Connie spotted them and saved the day, and possibly the trip, by chasing after her with them.

At the airport.

Isaac loved the airport and loved seeing it all from the vantage point of his carrier sling (yes Leslie and Rekha, Casey bought a sling--the one baby carrying device she used to mock mercilessly. She finds it indespensible, if a little hard on her back). We ran into a little girl waiting to board the same flight and when her dad saw us, he said, "Look. A baby." To which the little girl replied, "A baby in a bag!" Sling, bag, whatever.

Isaac slept through take off and was a trooper during landing, cuddling up against Mom, sucking intently on his pacifier and looking around suspiciously--but no tears at all.

Day 2: Bubbas!

Bella and Ike

During our time in Albuquerque we stayed at Isabella's house along with her mom Cara, her dad Steve and their dog Vale. Bella is 11 months old and she loved Isaac. She was also kind enough to share some things she's grown out of, including her car seat, her pack n' play and her bouncy seat. Bella called Isaac "Bubbas" and loved to pat him and point and wave at him. She was a little disappointed the time she clearly wanted to hold him while he was in his bouncy seat but was thwarted by her mom.

Isaac was also thrilled to meet Stacey. Stacey likes to read this blog as if Isaac is writing it. Isaac likes that idea.

Day 3: My First Babysitter

Isaac loves Gia

Isaac had his first babysitter when mom left him in the capable hands of Cara and Gia. They went to Flying Star (Mom was jealous, but she did get some Satellite Coffee while she was out doing her research interview), and then Isaac showed Gia just what he's capable of in the diaper blowout department.

Sophia, Isaac, and Isabella

That evening Isaac met Sophia, who is nine months old and beautiful! This was Mommy's first meeting with Sophia as well and both found her completely awesome. Rocky and Renee, her mom and dad, are also very cool. Unfortunately a stomach virus knocked out several of Mommy's friend while they were in town, but Ike looks forward to meeting them the next time he's in Albuquerque.

Day 4: Bowser and Miss Kitty and the Flight Home.

Marta, Isaac, and Jeremy

On Saturday, Isaac met Jeremy and Marta and their kitties Bowser and Miss Kitty. Jeremy told Isaac all about the fishing trips they will take when Isaac gets a little bigger, and both seemed very excited at the prospect.

The trip ended with a surprise encounter at the airport with Miss Dorothy, one of Mommy's very favorite coworkers for her old job in Albuquerque. The flight home went just a smoothly as the flight out and Isaac and Mommy were greeted by a clean car thanks to Uncle Pete. We love Uncle Pete.

Heading home.