Grandma's visit

Grandma came out to visit again, which made Isabella very happy (and very sad when she left). We played hooky and took Isabella to the zoo. The train has replaced the carousel as the favorite ride (or at least as good) despite the train ride itself being pretty boring.

All the way through the River walk (which is a long walk for a small

person) she kept wanting to go to the park in the children's zoo. We did see the baby elephants playing in the water. Which has a couple slides and some things to climb on. Isabella actually petted and brushed the goats this time. She wanted to feed them, but they don't let you do that. Had a bit of a melt down on the way out because she wanted to ride the train again. But we did pacify her with popcorn.

Ian pretty much slept in the sling through the whole thing. Makes it easy to take him places. Isabella is coping fairly well and seems to be proud of her baby brother (at least she tells everyone "That's *my* baby brother"). She always comes and helps with diaper changes by letting Ian chew on her finger when he fusses. She loves to get right in his face and talk to him. She's always asking when he's going to get teeth, wants him to wake up so she can play with him or hold him, and tells us when he needs his diaper changed or munchies. She's been very gentle around him, and gives him very gentle hugs and kisses. Although she does tend to bounce near him (ok, she bounces all the time) and wants to wake him up when he's asleep. She's slowly getting better about sharing mom; it helps that I can pick her up now (which she missed a lot).

Grandma helped us sort out clothes - one big pile of girlie clothes for my friend with a new baby girl, and a pile of boy clothes. Where did they all come from? Grandma and Aunt Barb sent some new clothes for both kids; Isabella *finally* wants to wear different clothes. She really likes her new shirt/dress and tights combinations, which is a good thing because it's getting cold out. Even got her to wear socks and shoes. Somewhere in this pile there was a one-piece pajama suit, I think from Cori, which is now her favorite one.

Isabella decided she wanted a bath, not a shower. Which she hasn't taken in

a long time. She insisted on sitting in her duckie tub, which she barely fits in anymore. So she and Grandma played in the water for a very long time, until she was a complete prune. Grandma made her a necklace out of the bubble wands from the bubble bath bottles.