I got 2nd place!

The mommy board I frequent is having photo contests and I entered Simon.  Normally I'm not into this sort of thing, but this picture is so darn cute I couldn't resist.  I just feel like showing off a bit.  The gals at church can't get enough of him.  My boy is already charming the ladies.  I know he's charmed me.  I also hear about what doting parents we are.  But come on, how else could we be with such a sweet baby. 

Our Saturday

We had such a busy day.  I got some cleaning done... the really nasty scrubbing the bathroom floor around the toilet.  I can't imagine why I loathe it so much.  Then I did a photo shoot with my favorite subject. He was in a decent mood but wasn't really in the mood to smile.  But I took lots of pictures and experimented with the camera a bit.  With the flash the pictures are at least in focus and clear, but the colors are neon and the flash is too harsh.  But I defy anyone to get a non-blurry photo of Simon without one.  So I was covering the flash with various amounts of cloth diaper.  Mommy needs a better camera.

After that we went to the mall to find a white Oxford.  He was in such a good mood.  He likes the mall, I guess.  Me, on the other hand, could do without it.  Too many kids, I say.  Bah...  We did score a victory in our last store, Baby Gap.  I cringe at the thought that I went in there, but I was desperate.  And now Simon can look like someone who works for Old Man Johnson in his Oxford and tie.

Toys R Us!

We went to Toys R Us tonight.  I have no doubt that Daddy had more fun than anyone.  Simon still doesn't care much for toys.  But Mommy accomplished one goal: Simon now has a real honest-to-goodness teddy bear.  They're actually a bit hard to come by.  Other sorts of animals are a dime a dozen, but for some reason the bear seems to have fallen out of fashion.  Daddy also accomplished one of his goals: a plain red bib.  Let's just say it's to wear with a Superman onesie and red shorts.  Photos are no doubt to come.

Dear Simon

My Dear Simon,

I love you so much and am so glad you're here.  I'm grateful you're strong and healthy.  I was reading about a mom whose son was born with a bad heart and he didn't live long.  The two months he was on earth were spent in the NICU hooked up to all kinds of machines.  I don't think I could handle that if it were you.  There are too many moms that only get to hold their babies for a short time.  It's sad to hear about but it also makes me appreciate you more.  Sometimes I can forget how lucky Dad and I are.  You're so good-natured and sleep so well.  Sometimes I grumble to myself when you don't sleep past 5:00.  But there are moms who would be thrilled their baby slept 8 hours.  And there are moms that would be ecstatic if their babies were still here to wake them up at any hour.  Thoughts like that make it easier to deal with getting up at 5AM with you.  Thank you for picking us to be your parents. 

Love,
Mom

We went shopping!

Today Simon and I went out with my visiting teacher.  We took in a sort of farmer's market.  It wasn't quite the sort of farmer's market I was hoping for.  I'm more into the locally grown sorts of foods.  I was hoping to find some veggies to start making Simon's baby food, but just wasn't feeling it.  It was hot and crowded and there were car fumes everywhere.  Then we went to a Mexican bakery.  I'd never been to one before.  I've never felt so Gringo in my life.  I picked a few things, not really sure what I was getting, and some churros.  I was told the tortillas are excellent so I grabbed a bag of them.  On our way out I had to get a photo of this case of Fud.  It's apparently a brand name and it was all over sausages and meats and I don't even know what.  I didn't want to feel like a friggin tourist so I quickly snapped a picture without looking at everything.  My husband will appreciate, as fud is one of our kinda inside jokes.

At The House of Pies

Then we decided to get some lunch.  So, sorry daddy, Simon got to go to a restaurant for the first time without you.  We went to the House of Pies.  Mommy had fish n chips and Simon had a bottle of their finest formula.  They did have to ask me what kind of potatoes I wanted.  I thought, "I did order fish n CHIPS, no?"  So I politely said fries.  Simon was very well behaved.  He only fussed a bit when he was hungry and Mommy practiced eating with her left hand.  It brought back memories of Mr. Steak and the little fuzzy animals with clippy arms they'd put on your straw.  I totally had a koala.  It also reminded me of House of Flavors by Grandma and getting red pop sherbet.  Good times.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Simon loves his bath time.  He kicks his legs like a mad man the whole time and lately it's gotten kind of out of hand.  He gets a very serious and determined look and kicks with everything in him.  It's adorable.  He never does it as well when the camera comes out.  He's definitely a little camera-shy.  But we have a joke around here that I need to get one of these slickers for when I bathe him.  Water ends up everywhere.  It's a great way to get some wiggles out just before bedtime.

I'm teething.

Sophie the wonder teether!

Yesterday Simon gave Daddy all the business and then some.  Of course when I got home he was all smiles for some reason.  Then this morning he was also giving Daddy a hard time.  Grandma Leavitt got to babysit today and she (along with Grandpa) said Simon is definitely teething.  That might explain the rotten mood yesterday, the constant drooling, the spitting up more than usual, the omni-present fist in the mouth.  The thought had crossed my mind, especially with the drool, but I didn't expect that until later.  That's the good thing about having people watch Simon who have actual experience with these things.

So, right now Daddy's out buying Sophie and Mommy gave Simon an extry-long bath.  I figured he could use a little more time in his happy spot.  Let's hope Sophie does the trick.