Sachs Press

Dear Great-Grandma,

Thank you very much for your letters to me! I got two of them this week, and I enjoyed having Mommy read them to me. I like the puppy you sent me very much, and the ribbon looks like a lot of fun. I also really liked looking at all the stickers you sent me! The paper tasted pretty yummy, too.

I had a very exciting week! We did so much stuff I am not sure I can even remember it all. I think the very most exciting thing was the yard sale I went to on Saturday. We got up very early (well, actually, I guess we usually get up that early) and went to church, where they had lots and lots of tables set up outside with all kinds of stuff on them. It was very interesting! I loved looking at all the the things and all the people walking around. There was also a pig, and a goat, and a tall furry animal that Mommy said was called a llama, and five soft sleepy puppies. I didn’t get to pet the puppies, but I looked at them.

So we spent a lot of time at the yard sale because Mommy was on the committee and she was helping out. She kept telling people that they could have things for cheaper than they were labeled. Wasn’t that nice of her? I think they made a lot of money, though, and it all got donated to a place called the Free Clinic, which is a nice place downtown where people who don’t have much money can go see the doctor. I think that’s a good idea, because as much as it hurts when the doctor gives me shots, Mommy says it’s for my own good, and I believe her. So everybody should be able to go see a doctor like I can.

After the yard sale, I got to go to a birthday party! It wasn’t for me, it was for my friend Eleanor. She was a whole year old. I think that is very old. I can’t imagine being a year old. Anyway, she got lots of presents, and she got to eat cake, and the cake kind of got all over her face and hands. I didn’t get any cake, but it didn’t look all that good to me. I’d rather have milk.

Another thing that happened at Eleanor’s house was that I saw her puppy dog. It is a little hot dog–I mean, a dachshund. I thought it was so funny! I just giggled and giggled when I saw it. I think Mommy and Daddy should get a dog, don’t you? But then the dog barked, and that was a little scary. I don’t like loud noises. Maybe we shouldn’t have a dog after all.

On Sunday we went to church and I got to go to the nursery for the first time. I really needed a nap but the church service was just too exciting for me to sleep, so I got to go to the nursery and ride in the swing. I don’t remember what happened next, but the next thing I do remember is Mommy and Daddy coming to pick me up. So I didn’t get to do much in the nursery.

Today I helped Mommy water the garden. Well, I guess I kind of watched while she did it, but I helped her by not being fussy. She had planted the garden during my nap. I hope it grows! Someday maybe I will get to eat some of the yummy things that are going to grow in it. 

Oh, guess what Mommy and Daddy bought me! It is the most fun thing in the world. I am going to really like it. It is a Johnny-Jump-Up. It hangs in the doorway and I sit in it and when I kick my feet–I go up and down! It is the greatest thing! I am still getting the hang of it but every time they let me try it, I can jump more and more.

One reason that I like the jumper is because I get so frustrated these days when I can’t wiggle the way I want to. I can get my knees up under me, but I still can’t go anywhere. And I still can’t really roll over, although I did manage it once today. But I keep practicing every day, at least until I get too frustrated. I will probably be able to do what I want to pretty soon. But anyway, the jumper is nice because I can move a lot and see the world from the right angle without Mommy or Daddy holding me.

Guess what! I have discovered something new. There are these things down on the ends of my legs. Mommy says they are called feet. They have wiggly things on them that are called toes. The feet move around an awful lot, but today I managed to grab one of them. I tried to put it in my mouth to see what it tasted like but I couldn’t quite manage it. I will have to work on that one. See, there are all these things I have to work on. So much to do!

But everything is so interesting. When I sit on Mommy or Daddy’s lap at the table, I can see what they do up there. There are these white sheets scattered on it sometimes, and once in a while I can grab one of them and try to pick it up. But then it usually disappears, and I don’t know where it goes. Sometimes there are big heavy round things. I haven’t been able to get one of them yet. Every time I reach for one it moves farther away. Oh, I also like to grab Mommy’s hair! When she leans over me I can just reach up and get it, but she doesn’t seem to like it very much when I do that. So maybe I shouldn’t.

Well, I have a lot to learn, Great-Grandma, and it all tires me out so much. So I had better go to bed and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day. It is Mommy’s birthday! I plan to be very good for her, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. You know how it is, don’t you?

Give my love to Great-Grandpa Al and the people who come visit you! I am sending one of my wet sloppy Isaac kisses just for you.

Love,

Isaac

Dear Great-Grandma Faye,

Happy Easter to you! I never knew there were such wonderful things in the world. We celebrated Easter this week, and it was amazing! I don’t understand it very well at all yet, but at church we sang lots of beautiful songs and there were flowers everywhere. I could tell it was something special.

My Grandma and Grandpa Gonzol came to visit for Easter. They brought an Easter basket for all of us to share. It had two chocolate bunnies, a bottle of horseradish sauce, a little toy rattle with cars on it, and best of all, a very soft lamb that plays “Jesus Loves Me” when you wind it up. I like that lamb a lot, especially when someone winds it for me! I love listening to it play. Sometimes Mommy sings along, and that is nice too.

The picture I am sending you this week is Daddy and me all dressed up in our Easter clothes. I think we both look very handsome, don’t you?

Something else that happened while Grandma and Grandpa were here is that I got a bath in the kitchen. Something is happening to our bathroom, and I am not allowed in there right now. (Note from April: We are painting the bathroom walls, so of course we don’t want Isaac in there till the fumes go away.) So I got my bath in the kitchen instead. I have a big yellow duck tub that they filled up with water and I bathed in it. It was kind of fun! Grandma said it was kind of like when you were a little girl and took baths in the kitchen, by the stove. Except my bath was nearer to the dishwasher than the stove. Did you have a dishwasher when you were little?

I still talk to the boy in the mirror, but he never talks back. He sure does get excited when he sees me, though! He smiles and waves his arms all around and sometimes he reaches out for me.

I am also getting better at holding onto toys. It takes so much practice! But Mommy and Daddy are very patient with me and hold them in front of me while I try to grab them. The rattle that Grandma and Grandpa gave me is nice to practice with. It fits well in my hands.

Last night we all went to someone’s house and there were lots of people there, maybe about ten or so. A nice man who wasn’t Daddy held me for a while and I fell asleep in his arms. Then I woke back up later and smiled at everybody and they all thought I was very cute. Then I got tired so we went home. (Note from April: This is Isaac’s version of our Bible study group!)

Today I went with Mommy to the bakery she used to work at, and we visited the people there. They were happy to see me, and Mommy bought some good bread. At least she says it is good. I didn’t try it.

It has been cold this week. It snowed last Friday night! There was snow on the ground for Easter. And the rest of the week has been cold and sort of rainy. So we have not done very much outside lately.

I can’t think of anything else that happened this week. I don’t have a very good memory yet, although it’s getting better. But I hope you had a good week. I think I did.

Lots of love and kisses,

Isaac

Dear Great-Grandma,

Hello! I hope you are doing well this week. I have been enjoying the nice weather. Mommy keeps taking me on walks outside, and sometimes I sit in my chair while she hangs laundry on the line or digs in the garden. Did I tell you Grandma came to visit me this week? Let me see, that was on Tuesday. Maybe Mommy told you already. She and Grandma dug in the flower beds and did some other things together. I think Mommy was tired that day because I kept waking up in the night. But I couldn’t help it!

Mommy and Daddy are planting a garden. They have told me all about it. They are going to plant onions (I don’t think I like the sound of that) and lettuce and lima beans (that doesn’t sound too good either) and zucchini and tomatoes and some herbs. I think that’s all. It won’t be too big because they don’t have a lot of practice yet. So they are going to start small and see how it goes.

I have been practicing doing something new lately. I like sitting up to see the world, so Mommy or Daddy will hold onto my arms while I try to sit. I am not very good at it yet so they do most of the balancing for me but I am slowly getting better, and I do enjoy it. I am sending you a picture of me practicing with Daddy.

I also am getting to play with toys some more. You know what, Great-Grandma? I have hands! They are really neat! I have been looking at them a lot lately, trying to figure out what all they can do. It is still really hard to make them do what I want, though. A lot of times it is easiest if I catch one hand with the other one and then bring them both up to my mouth. That way they both stay put a little better. It is so frustrating when they just go flying around and don’t do what I want! But I am learning to make them cooperate, and it is really exciting when it works.

I have also realized that Mommy and Daddy are funny! They do such funny things and they are starting to make me laugh. I used to just smile at them because I loved them but now I am laughing too. They make me so happy. I do have such very nice parents, although they don’t always do exactly what I want, any more than my hands do. How long will it be till I can make my parents do exactly what I want them to?

Something else I have discovered lately is this shiny bright thing that Mommy calls a “mirror.” You know what? There is another Mommy in that thing, and also somebody else who looks like they are about my size. They both smile at me, so I smile back at them, but I am kind of confused about who they are and why there is somebody who looks just like Mommy but isn’t. I know she can’t be because while I am looking at the Mommy in the mirror my real Mommy, who is holding me, talks to me and points at the Mommy in the mirror, who points back. Are you confused yet? I am! What is this mirror thing? I don’t get it.

Anyway, I am learning a lot and growing a lot. I think it is a good thing to be alive and to have people who love me and talk to me and take care of me. Someday I might have to take care of them, and I hope I can do as good a job as they are doing for me.

Love,

Isaac