One of the great things about being a parent is watching kids do stuff for the first time. Even cooler? Watching them FIGURE stuff out for the first time. Two recent examples made me realize this.

EXAMPLE 1: Isaac and the Rattle Ring

Isaac's Aunt Erica and Uncle Domenic got him a really cool toy for Christmas. Part of the toy is a tube with two discs on either end. In the middle are five or six different rings. To get them off you unscrew one of the discs and then slide them off the tube. Isaac's favorite, by far, is the one that rattles. So I decided to conduct a little experiment. I took off top disc off, slid the rattle ring to the very bottom of the stack and then slid the other pieces on top. I then gave the tube with all the pieces on it to Isaac, being sure to shake the rattle ring as I passed it off.

He squealed with delight and recognition and at first decided to take off one ring at a time. Then after one frustration pull, he tipped the whole thing over and all of the rings fell off, giving him the rattle ring straight away.

EXAMPLE 2: Isaac and the GIANT GREEN DUPLO

Isaac loves Duplos. Some he likes better than others and one of his favorites is the giant green flat piece. Problem is when the piece falls with the little lego dimples up the edge is perfectly flat on the ground and he can't get his tiny fingers under it. I watched him with this dilemma for a while. Then all of a sudden, as if struck with an idea, he used his legs to clear the Duplos away from the area in front of him. Then he opened his legs and pushed the green piece into his crotch until it stopped and then he pushed some more, got a bit of leverage, and the piece lifted off the ground. It was ingenious. And then he did it for Nanna and G-Daddy on iChat.

All in all, watching Isaac problem solve is probably one of my most favorite things in the entire world. Watching him work through things is just too cool.

Monica and Rob have been kind enough to check in on Isaac once a week via Skype. It is really cool to have them chat with their nephew/godson. One thing that is really funny is that Rob, for whom low energy has no meaning, does a great job of keeping Isaac's attention. Tonight, however, they were in synch. Rob would zoom close to the camera and Isaac would squeal. Then he would come into view from the side and Isaac would squeal. Then from the top and Isaac would squeal. This went on for at least ten minutes. Monica, Bianca, and I were rolling on the floor laughing (ROTFL for the text savvy). Then as the grand finale, Rob got a running start and DOVE OVER the camera (and computer) onto the couch. And Isaac squealed. He even tried to do the same thing, leaning into the computer and camera as close as his little Buddha belly would allow. It was pretty amusing. Isaac and Rob are just on the same wavelength--high energy.

As kids leave Isaac's room, new ones come in, the neverending (thankfully, the alternative would be awful) stream of children introducing Isaac to new friends. Well, the number of boys has tilted the room decidedly into the "little boy" camp. Colin, one of the older kids, and Gavin, another older kid, have cribs on either side of Isaac's. On Wednesday Colin and Gavin began shouting at each other when they were supposed to be sleeping. Isaac, being Monkey in the Middle, decided to join in. The little hooting and shouting woke everyone up that was sleeping and prevented anyone else from going to sleep. It got so bad that the teachers had to separate the three boys, thus ending a short-lived crib fraternity.

Today we were out and about, despite the chill sub-40 degree weather. We took a trip to Tower Hill Botanical Garden, in Boylston Massachusetts. The place was PACKED. It was the 49th Annual African Violet Club Show. We didn't know that was going on, in fact, I didn't even know they have African Violet Clubs (though I am certain most people are equally unaware that you can dish out big bucks for a flashlight). There were probably 250-300 old people and other 100 REALLY old people. We were by far the youngest folks there. The place is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful, curvilinear post and beam construction with an excellent meddling of glass, steel, and wood. The grounds are even more beautiful with over 20,000 daffodils, dozens of gardens, multiple fountains (including a pair of turtles shooting water at each other that enthralled Isaac). The only place I can think of that is more beautiful in Massachusetts is Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood and even then, they are running neck and neck (Copland's version of Simple Gifts pouring out into the warm summer Berkshire air could make a telephone booth striking...).

Isaac liked the place, lots and lots of light and a wonderful variety of things to look at while entertaining Mom and Dad. Here are some images:

Isaac giggleboxing with Mom:



1 second later:



Isaac and Mom admiring the plants:



And just in case your not SICK of pictures of his glorious blue eyes (I never tire of them):



And a few videos:

Isaac was introduced to eggs and that went MUCH better than his intro to peas, and VASTLY better than his intro to cottage cheese (he became what could only be described as a cottage cheese sprinkler).

So here it is, Isaac with Egg on His Face:



Here is an older video (like last week) of Isaac in "pure bliss" mode as he is in his exersaucer AND playing with bubbles:



I have a very good life.