Israel

I wish I could adequately describe the absolute sweetheart that Israel is. He is SO. PRECIOUS. He is still in that innocent, beaming, toddling stage that just makes your heart swell with adoration and want to squeeze him tight tight tight and plant kisses all over his chubby cheeks as he giggles helplessly. I saw a phrase the other day "chubby bumblebee" that immediately made me think of Israel. He toddles around with that wide legged stance, diaper rustling, mop of hair rumpled on his head, catching your eye and breaking into a HUGE toothy grin, making his happy "tssss, ttssssss" sounds that indicate pure enjoyment of life, or "nnn-tsss, nnn-tssss" that indicates he wants something.

He understands more words than he uses. He uses gestures and needy sounds more than words still. He knows when we are talking about "outside" or "shoes". He loves to go outside with Gabe, and can hardly contain the overwhelming joy he feels to be outside playing with his brother. He also loves to walk around in Gabe's shoes, or any shoes for that matter, but clearly communicates his frustration when he is DONE.

He is a great sleeper. He is very reliant on his sleep, and takes a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, and then is good and ready for bed at about 8:30 PM. He usually sleeps through the night, and wakes up around 7:30 or 8:00 AM. One thing he has been so cute on lately is when we are in his room and he is tired, he heads right over to the crib, his left forefinger pops right into his mouth as his rightt hand reaches in to clutch his blankets, and he leans against the rails tiredly, sucking away on his finger, shadows deepening under his eyes.
He LOVES his bed, and sometimes he asks to lay down just for a rest.
He is very responsive to "No"'s. The other day I was sitting on a chair in the living room, not even aware that Israel was venturing into territory that he shouldn't be in, until I noticed his unusual stillness out of the corner of my eye, and looked his way to find him gazing at me, big-eyed, one arm tentatively reaching towards the off-limits item, not going all the way, just waiting for the "no". When he hears a "no", he sometimes collapses on the floor in frustrated tears, but generally does not need many more reminders. A "no" from Mommy, followed by a stern "no" from Daddy is almost too much for his little heart to take, and his lip starts quivering and he will just cry and cry. I don't remember Gabe ever being that responsive to verbal admonition.

He loves to play with his brother, who alternates between wanting to play with him, and not wanting to share his items. He loves to copy whatever Gabe is doing, even if it is too dangerous for his Mommy's liking.

We love him to pieces, that kid. What would life be like without him? He is a blessing, a joy and a delight.