hey, mom... in case you forgot...

hahaha... did you get that, mom?... overall? 'cause i'm wearing overalls? get it? c'mon, laugh. you know you want to. {sadly, i have your cheesy sense of humor.}

so, i know i sometimes often break things. lose things. ruin things.

i know sometimes i whine.

i know sometimes i get cranky when you can't understand what it is that i want.

i know sometimes i make some pretty outrageous messes.

i know sometimes those messes are made on myself immediately after you bathe and dress me and are trying to get me out the door.

i know sometimes i throw things in the garbage that aren't garbage.

i know sometimes i get upset for no apparent reason.

i know sometimes i test you when you say not to throw food on the floor and i do it anyway.

i know this list could keep going.

but don't forget...

i play nicely with other kids...

i have not been put in jail {yet}...


i haven't even run away from home...


i'm only mischievous some of the time...


i'm mindful of the environment and i help keep the earth clean {unless you count my dirty diapers}...
oh... and i've never been an under-age drinker.


i'm mindful and respectful of boundaries...


when i fall, i always get back up...


i'm getting much better at not putting small choking-hazard objects in my mouth...


when i give you dirty looks, it's more of an experimental thing than it is a heart-felt thing... i'm just learning different expressions and emotions...


i'm learning to share...

and then there's the fact that i give you my pretzels, i learn the words you teach me, i say "mmmmm!" when i like my food, i never complain when it's time for bed, i love dada so much, i tell you your hair is soft, i help clean up my toys, i give you hugs and kisses when you ask for them... i could go on and on here if you'd like, but i think you get the point.

so when you start to forget that, most of the time, i'm just being a typical, sometimes-difficult 15-month-old and that i'm really a pretty good a very angelic little boy for the most part, just look at the rest of these pics and remind yourself of these things.

oh, and remember what dad said to you one night a few weeks back when you discovered i ripped more of the fabric on the couch...

"when i get frustrated with isaac and the things he does that irritate me or get under my skin, i think about what it would be like if he was taken from us... if, God forbid, he was removed from of our lives. i think of all the rips in the couch arms and stains on the carpet and broken cd cases and missing gadgets, and how if we did not have him anymore, they'd suddenly become my favorite things. then my patience is renewed"

he's right, you know.

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{thank you for the guest post, sweet isaac. i know. your dad is right. and so are you. thank you for reminding me how blessed i am to have you, even on the difficult days. mama loves you.}