Early morning laughter

This in from auntie Angela:

Baby Isaac Sol Wallace brought surprise and laughter to all the family when he decided to come a little before schedule. Jenn was going to go in for an amnio test to see if his lungs were developed and deliver him the 26th, instead, she started having regular contractions the night of the 24th. She was giggling, smiling and overjoyed that baby would come soon, but John was a little concerned that the time may be sooner than later. Jenn went in that night to figure out if she was having braxton hicks or was in labor. We were surprised that she was at a 6 or 7 and she was rushed for a c-section- since that was the plan and the healthiest option for Jenn with this pregnancy. Baby came out with full lung capacity. It was a wonderful birth. John and Jenn are visibly elated. Grandma Ruth, Grandma Sue and Auntie Angela were the privileged trio who braved the night and got to see baby first. All the family was called and are so happy. Immy still thinks she had a baby sister, but she was also full of smiles that the baby had come when she saw the pictures and gave the news to her cousins. Jenn and Isaac (laughter) Sol (answered prayer) are doing great. He came out weighing a healthy 9lbs, 4oz at 1:44am, Aug. 25th. Isaac is in NICU for a bit as they make sure his blood sugars will regulate themselves, but he nursed like a pro and is expected to move out of the NICU quickly.

Much thanks to everyone for their prayers and to the village time friends for their awesome gift of a cleaned house!

Imogen's lexicon or ImmySpeak

Prayers
Thank you God for Grandma, God for Grandpa...What else?    (Lately the prayers have started out: Thank you God for Uncle...She has added Great George and Great Auntie or Grandma's sister)

Spanish
I did it!  Lo hicimos!
NON GRACIAS!
Help me!  Ayudaman (Ayudame)
Come on horsey--Vamanos!

Common phrases
Hey look!
I save you.
You're home!  (this comes with a big hug and at any time)
I carry you
I so proud of you (this came mostly after potty training)
Such a big girl!
Something to make me feel better (pointing at candy)
Where is my hello? (phone)
Make it (For turn on the music)
Oh my goodness
What are you making?
It's very hot.
Too deep (this was in reference to snow)
It goes in there.
I can't believe it! Good idea!
NO THANK YOU!
Come on. (dance)
I reach it. I got it.  I like it. I need it.
I love ice cream!
What'ch you want your favourite colour? (drink, paints, anything!)
What'ch you got in your hand (mouth...)?

I right be back.  Don't worry.
I'm low.  I need juice box.
Do you need juice?  I go get it.  Don't worry.  I help you.

I need more poop! (on the potty)
(While I am taking my time in the washroom)  Do you need to poop?  Just POOP!

Mommy: Are you grouchy?
Imogen: No I'm Immy!

Mommy: Are you picky?...
Imogen: No I'm two!

Immy: Knock, knock
Mommy: Who's there?
Immy: Imogen
Mommy: Imogen Who?
Immy: Imogen Wallace!

Things my two year old says...

Trying to get something or slightly exasperated, "I can't believe it!"
Again trying to get something, "I need it! Insulin, I need it!"
"Come on..."
"It goes in there."

"Different one."
"My Mommy! My Daddy!" (You're going to have to share soon!)

18 months

So Imogen turned a year and a half on June 15th! What a hoot. She says a lot and I am no longer keeping track of all the words and expressions--I will just have to keep track when something funny gets said. She is able to do more and more by herself. I love this stage...It is great being able to tuck her in. I love the hugs she gives, the jokes she makes, the ability she has to express what she wants...I love knowing her more and more. She even repeats the names of her cousins in prayers.
*Ok I have to brag...at her 18 mo. immunizations Imogen did so well. After the first two shots, she pinched her own arm wondering where the next one would go. She reached out for the needle for the third as if to say "Let me do this," now the last one stung a lot and she did let out a howl but as soon as it was done...Imogen started clapping and laughing. I think she was proud of herself. You see she helps Mommy give her needles most days. Now she saw that she could take it too. Wow. I think my doctor was impressed.

Asleep but not in bed.

So Imogen is asleep behind her door right now. We put her mattress on the floor tonight in the middle of the room. Moments before this we heard a loud thud and a cry. Before that we just heard cries of frustration that she was in her crib. The thud came after she managed to climb out of her crib. I guess that toddler bed has moved up on the priority list. We did have fair warning however. My mom and dad told me that Imogen had escaped her playpen during naptime this afternoon when she was visiting Grandma and Grandpa. (After that she walked up to Grandma with a pen and paper in hand. She wanted the pen uncapped so that she could write something). Should have known that she would be ready to practice this new found climbing skill at home. So amongst other skills, escape artist is now on the list. Imogen seems to be doing so much lately and is super aware of everything. Here are some observations:

Imogen points to herself after seeing a photo of her as a baby. She loves to pull out the albums of her from the ottoman storage cube. She also pointed to correct shapes under Ms. Candace and Miss Andrea’s tutelage.

Imogen’s vocabulary is expanding daily. She now has: this, that, up, down, please, open, beep beep, okay, no, dog, dad, mom, some form of grandpa/ampa, hi, bye, apple, egg, cheese, fish, awooof, mine, shoe, the letter "I" on her door, beginning of the alphabet to around "h" and somewhat after, tea, giraffe, baby, Ivan, Mimi, Addy and Immy. Oh yes: "OW, WOW, OH-OH." I probably have missed some.

She loves games, hiding in her closet. She loves music, singing and dancing. She loves rolling her “rs” like a motor and lolling her tongue. She loves giving kisses and hugs to us and waving. She says “No” and points when Mommy and Daddy kiss. She loves the outdoors and almost always wants to be there bringing us jackets and shoes as a firm suggestion. She’s crazy about dogs. She loves her hats. She loves drinking tea. She likes yogourt, ice cream, revellos, fudgsicles, watermelon, strawberries, meat in general, pickles, cheese, soda crackers, cookies, dip, carrots in dip, broccoli in dip…. She looks when called by the CameraMom. She loves climbing into things: rides in the hamper, wagon and gets into baskets. She likes to be independent and tries to scale things on her own—the couch, the piano bench, chairs at the dining table—apparently her crib. She is becoming more active at story-time at the public library. She twirls, touches her toes, claps, taps her head, gets her name tag, puts up the felt pictures instead of eating them, and returns her name tag. She recently showed interest in the potty so we bought her one and she went in it twice and hasn’t since.
That’s our girl, our lovable, one and only Imogen Grace. We love ya babe!

Another month is almost gone

Looking forward to more sunfilled days,
longer evenings hours,
winter coats for spring jackets.
the sled for the wagon
we will take it all in.
For now just the hope of all that gets us outside.
Fresh air!

Our girl is well again. (She had a head cold that still isn't totally gone--over a month now, and a stomach flu for over a week.) She is talking non-stop and sometimes we understand what she is saying. I love her language. She is growing and trying new things--trying to be more and more independent each day. She loves to go outside and often hands me her ski pants to get out. She is funny and loves to laugh and play games. She is such a great kid.
Oh I love her so much!

Latest Imogenisms

"OWW! OWW!" This means "NO!" Although recently when she was around Josiah, she quickly learned to say "NO!" Previously she used, "OW!" because she had hit her dad once and he look at her with a scowl and said, "OW!"

She can complete her shape puzzles toys--if we turn it to the right side.

She goes and gets things when we ask her to.

"UP!" is a favourite expression and might even mean "Please."

I gave her a bit of a wagon wheel and when I showed her that it was all gone from the plate, (we were eating it over a plate), she took it to her face and started to lick it. Yes she belongs to John and me!

She is all cuddles. Recently she puckered up to give John a real kiss. She also blew a kiss in her old way (see last post).