Happy Birthday from Simon's Birthday Weekend

Just got this video from Colleen from the very end of Simon's birthday weekend. He loved being sung that song so much!

Leominster Visit

Alan's Uncles, Aunts and Cousins live in Leominster so on Sunday (the 21st) we took a trip out to see everyone. As always, Trisha had a ton of food ready for hungry pregnant ladies and there was even some left over for other folks. (I think I ate a whole tray of lemon bars.) We had a great time catching up and Simon had a great time playing with his cousins Jake and Abby. They are 4 and 9 and loved showing him around, teaching him how to play with their toys (Simon LOVED the cars and trains) and Abby even showed him how to pet the cat.

After catching up we all spent some time in the swimming pool. They have a ton of floaty devices and Simon swam for almost two hours! We had figured that he would have trouble napping anyway, so we didn't even bring the crib for him to try. We had a jam packed day of fun so I think it was a good call, but on the car ride home (about an long hour) he totally passed out. That happens so rarely that you know he is a seriously sleepy kid when it does.

Jake and Simon playing with cars.

Simon Flying! (with some help from Daddy)

Passed out on the car ride home.

Lots of pictures and more videos after the jump...

Baby sister

Today Simon asked for his baby sister to come out so he could sing her lullabies and hold her.

Train ride

Quick Train ride at the mall.

Bubbles with Auntie Lisa

More after jump...

BGB Update: Kick Kick Kick

We are now 6 months along (24 weeks) and BGB is the size of a grapefruit. She feels so very active to me that I was surprised that Alan didn't feel her kick until she was 21 weeks (the first week of July). Today was another big milestone, Alan SAW her kick. When she is active, if you give a little push to the belly sometimes she will kick right back. Alan did that today and she seriously kicked back and made my whole tummy jump. 

Things are going great on my end. I'm not sick or dizzy like I was for the first 20 weeks. I still get light headed if I move too fast, but a far cry from feeling it constantly. I feel much more pregnant than I felt at 6 months with Simon. I think it is because I popped so early, but I get tired rather quickly and generally don't move very fast. I am able to pick up Simon for short periods again which makes us both happy. My heartburn is awful and when we go for our next dr visit and ultrasound (next week!) I will check in about. Despite the 90 degree and super-humid weather I have had no swelling, which is awesome. 

We are starting to guess when she is going to make her appearance. She is due Nov 8 and I have a c-section planned Nov 1 (so Nov 1 is the latest she'll come). I think October 18th for no good reason at all. Any other guesses?

Here are a couple pictures from 4th of July weekend. Karen is due the day after I am and we were comparing bumps. Both of us are 22 weeks in these pictures.

Working day (Visiting Papa's office)

Today we started the day right, by making blueberry pancakes as a family. Simon cracked the eggs and then with some help from Daddy did all the dumping of ingredients and stirring. My job was easy - oversight, a bit of measuring and cooking. They turned out great. 

Then everyone headed off to work. Alan and I worked at Ken/Cindy's house and Cindy brought Simon to Ken's office where Simon helped solve some problems that had been bugging Ken for a while. Simon charmed everyone at Ken's office - no surprise! 

Play date with Tony/Amelia/Baby Natalie

We luckily got to spend a morning with Tony and his two girls Amelia (3.75) and Baby Natalie (10 months). While Alan and Tony went to grab some breakfast for the crowd, I watched the kids. Amelia and Simon played with chalk on Amelia's easel and I held a baby. Then the Daddies got home and after a quick meal Amelia pulled out her guitar and Simon rocked the keyboard. We played tons of new games and got to catch up with an old friend. It was a great morning of fun.

Simon drew circles, an S and a D on the chalkboard.

Adding a back beat.

A little help from Daddy and twinkle twinkle was the back beat.

Elefun (or something like that). The blue thing blows butterflies
into the air and the kids with nets catch them.

Tony getting mobbed.

Crescent Ridge (Ice Cream)

Crescent Ridge is a local ice cream place in Stoughton that has cows and goats and they give enormous servings of ice cream.  Simon loved looking at the goats and cows and (no surprise) loved the ice cream. I loved the ice cream too, which is also no surprise. 

Airplane Trip to Boston

I fretted and stressed about the airplane trip to Boston. I had gotten a ton of little toys and entertainment options for the plane ride, but with hours of sitting still I wanted to make sure it didn't get too crazy. Unfortunately about half of the fun new toys wouldn't fit in our carry ons. We had two suitcases and two backpacks and one toddler, which sounds like a lot of space until you consider work computers/accoutrements, toddler toys, nice outfits for rehearsal dinner and for the wedding, oh, and of course clothes for the trip. We could have brought 4 more bags onto the plane since we had 3 tickets, but with a day of travel and me not being able to carry Simon on the best of days we thought it best to err on the side of caution. 

I shouldn't have worried so much. For the hour and twenty minute train ride to the airport (we went to Midway) Simon just looked out the window and pointed out all the fun things he saw. He was so thrilled to be on a train he didn't even notice the time passing. The worst part was waiting in line to check our two suitcases, the Southwest line was pretty long. But security was fast, the metal detector was fun and then we started seeing planes out the window. We wanted Simon to eat, but he couldn't focus on anything but the planes out the window.

We got into the plane almost first, did you know that pregnancy is considered a temporary disability by airlines? We got all settled, turned on lights, opened and closed the window blinds, and finally we took off. After we were in the air for a bit we pulled out Chili Dog with the faint hope that Simon might nap. Simon took a few minutes to tell Chili Dog about everything that had happened so far and then it was time for books. Simon loved the new books Cat in the Hat and New Baby and wanted to read them both many times, poor Alan had to lean way over so Simon could hear the book so only had so many readings in him. We only pulled out one of my myriad of toys - Wooly Willy the magnetic mustache man.

We pulled out Simon's headphones and let him watch half an episode of Sesame Street and that was it for the flight. Cindy picked us up at the airport and we had a slightly trafficy but not too bad ride to their house. Much easier than I expected, though I wasn't the one leaned over reading Cat in the Hat 5 times so take that with a grain of salt. 

Something to note, we didn't want to back track with potty training so we kept him in his big boy underwear. Alan was great about bringing him to the potty when there was one and Simon was awesome about waiting for a potty. There were no accidents at all. After a bit more than a month and only a couple accidents at the beginning Simon is doing amazing with the potty. 

Planes!

Ready to go!

Light ON!

Turn light off!

Checking out the booklets.

Important Safety Information Inside.

In the air - Cheese!

Made scrambled eggs

This morning Simon made scrambled eggs. He cracked the eggs, put them in the bowl, then stirred and added cheese. I cooked them for him but he even served them to himself - both firsts and seconds. I think it's the first time the toast has ever gotten second billing. He was so proud! 

Worldwide Leader in Sports

Simon isn't all about reading and the arts... he's also a future three sport athlete.  In the past couple of weeks he's learned basketball (he can reverse jam on his little toddler hoop), baseball (he can hit and pitch), and football (with a little toy ball).

Boomshakalaka! He's on fire!

Throwing a mean fastball to Papa

Keeping his eye on the ball

Game face

Ready to hit that one over the fence

Chalk fun

Alan was painting the back steps this morning and evening so we went out front during the heat of the day and had some chalk time. Simon is sporting his birthday present outfit from Grandparents Sweeney and the shirt is already too short on him! Happily these shorts are one of the few pairs we have that fit him. This boy is long and lean!  In the last few pictures you can see that we were practicing shapes. (Stand inside the circle, etc)