Basque to the Future

Monday, August 6, 2012

Chompers

For the past few weeks Simon has been rather grouchy (for him) and hasn't been napping quite as well. Jenn was the first to think to check the teeth. I thought molars didn't come in until they were 2, but our son is very advanced for his age and getting his first set of molars now. He has his right top, left top and right bottom first set of molars already broken through. I think the bottom left is coming soon ... if not already poking through - Simon doesn't love letting us shove our fingers around in there to find out what's going on. Last successful check was early last week, subsequent queries have met with clenched jaw.

We are using the poor napping as a trigger to shift to a one nap schedule. We started the transition a week or so ago with a gradual movement of the first nap later and the second nap more a calm activity than an actual nap. Or at least that was the plan. Small children scoff at plans. This weekend Alan and I successfully managed two 1 nap days.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Kentucky Visit June 19-23

The 7 hour drive to Kentucky was going great... even Simon was cooperating; though not nearly as sleepy as we'd have hoped, he wasn't screaming. Then the deer changed everything. Our 11 year old honda took the hit like a champ, we didn't swerve or hit the semis that were all around - just that deer. The deer died but all else were safe and sound, though the nervously awaited screaming from Simon did happen. Who can blame the kid though? I wanted to scream, too. Luckily a volunteer fireman stopped right away and called the deputy out to meet us. Even though the hood was crunched the car still managed to make it to the truck stop about 2 miles further down the road - with it's first police escort. Mom met us at the truck stop, we moved all bags and belongings and very, very tired one-year-olds into her car, and Alan took Honda and the lead while we tried to get the Honda closer to Mom's house. The honda drove great and did not overheat on it's 30 minute trip to The Body Shop in Versailles, KY. We were all happy to be home around midnight (original estimated arrival was around 9:30 or 10).

The trip got much better after that. Grandma Patty was prepared with a swing, a kid sized chair, high char, SO MUCH FOOD and a little pool for Simon to play in. She even banned the dogs from the house for a few days and cleaned like crazy so Alan stayed there with no allergy issues!

We spent the trip eating lots of great food (yummy garlic bread) and playing in the pool with the baby. We introduced Simon to cats and horses and he met more dogs. There were so many birds and trees and new sounds that Simon was wide eyed most of the time.

We rented a car for the ride home. Thankfully that ride was uneventful. (And because I posted this so late, I can tell you that Wonderful Nanny Jenn picked up the car the weekend after 4th of July.)

Story in picture form after the jump.

"I know this thing comes undone..."

"I think they do something with this plastic thing..."

"Squeeze? ... Pull? ... Pinch? ..."

"Wait, did it come apart?!"

"SUCCESS!!!!"

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Umma

Simon started saying his third word this weekend: "Mama". He hasn't quite gotten the hang of pronouncing the first "M" most of the time yet, so it usually comes out as "Umma". But he keeps trying and is getting better at it. He definitely knows what the word means... if he and I are downstairs playing and he hears Emily walking around upstairs or starting to walk downstairs, he'll stop what he's doing and hurry over to the gate saying "Umma! Umma!" while watching for her. And it's really sweet to see him run up to her and say "Umma up!" so he can snuggle.

As you can imagine, Emily is *loving* hearing him say this.