A New Merryman Park

One of my favorite parks is getting a remodel! The new Merryman Park will be intense, with a netted climbing thing, a play ground area and of course a swing area. Demolition starts this fall and the park is supposed to be ready for play in the spring. We will miss the metal slides that you can zip down, the usually empty park and most of all we will miss the ramps... but it will be nice to be rid of the wood chips and dirt.

Here's us playing today at the old Merryman Park....

Peak-a-book AND swinging, does it get better than this?

I AM GOING SO FAST!

SWING!

Daddy: "I'm coming to get you!" Simon: "Ahhh!"

Tire swings are a great time.

Also good for Daddy-Simon bonding. 

Night night, Simon

Simon has been learning lots of sounds and has been focusing especially animal sounds (as Jenn showed you in this video). He has been saying something similar to both bib and bubble, but since it's the same sound for both we're not counting it yet.

He pick up Night Night this past weekend.  He'll pull blanket and pillows from the couch and then rest his head on them and say night night while rolling around. It's super cute. Here's a couple examples...

Simon and his piano

We rotate toys out occasionally to keep our sanity and to keep the clutter down (same thing?). Simon's piano toy was returned to him after a 4 or 5 month hiatus and he loves it just as much now as he did before.  It is amazing to me how much he's grown, look at the difference a few months made.

Simon @ 7 months with his piano, using it to stand up.

Simon @ 14 months with his piano.

Simon @ 14 months playing with his piano.

Eskimo Kisses and Animal Sounds

Jenn got a great video of Eskimo kisses and animal sounds ending with a kiss for the phone. Also a bunch of great pictures. Thanks, Jenn!

Reading is the best!!

Simon has a new favorite toy/hobby/job in life.....Reading! (I wish I could do the cute sign he does to tell us that he wants us to cuddle up and read but I am unable to describe the cuteness, I will have to try and get a video) We love all of the books we have and have now transitioned for our weekday naps into reading quiet time right before we lay down with chilly (chili) dog and go night night. This is usually the only time Simon will lay back and enjoy the books, but usually he is the best page turner, spot finder, and book closer! We have found a few new books that we have picked up to read at some of our favorite play spots around town or on our playdates.....I wanted to mention them here in case anyone is in search of a Simon gift soon or wanted to contribute to Simon's new favorite hobby :)

First, we had a casualty this week with our favorite book....(I'm sure you have ALL read it to him)- Hand Hand Fingers Thumb   I think the actually do make it in a board book which is ideal for little fingers.
The Ear Book (so many dogs to pant at)
That's Not My Monkey (a fun touchy book and they have a whole series of 'That's Not My' books that are cute)
Hands Are Not For Hitting (Colleen's neighbor who we have become friends with suggested this series, she said they are great for her 15 month old boy)
We're Going On A Bear Hunt (loves this!)


I also wanted to mention a few new things that Simon has done this week...
He is getting so good at animal noises, especially when reading his books and meowing at the cat in the hat by his changing table. Some examples...
"Simon what does a cat/kitty say?" - Oowme (high pitched and adorable)
"Simon what does a dog say?" - HHHH (pants like a dog)
"Simon what does a bear say?" - Arrrgh (growl)
"Simon what does a lion say?" - Raarh (very similar to the bear growl)
"Simon what does a snake say?" - Ssssss (this one is new)
"Simon what does a lizard say?" - Sticks tongue in and out (we learned this today because he had on his lizard shirt and Jenn doing it was the funniest thing)
"Simon what does a cow say, can you moo?" - Mmmmm

and my personal favorite is that he now gives Eskimo kisses if you ask. He loves giving regular kisses and now will rub his little nose with yours and expect real kisses and lots of nose rubs after to get the tickles out. SO cute!

Trip to Boston: July 6-10

In early July we flew back to Boston for Auntie Lisa's surprise 30th birthday party.  It was the first time Simon had been on a plane since mid-February and flying with him was a much different experience for everyone than it was when he was smaller and less mobile.  He didn't get an afternoon nap since we were traveling to the airport, and we hoped that meant he would fall asleep in Emily's lap during the flight like he did on all the previous trips.  No such luck though... he was way too fascinated by the plane, and the sliding window cover, and all the magazines in the seat pocket, and the fact that people were sitting in front and behind us.  Those things were all much too interesting to let him fall asleep, but sadly not interesting enough to keep him busy for the whole flight (except for bugging the people in front of us - he would have been happy to do that all day).  But in general he was very quiet and well-behaved.  It took a lot of patience and Cheerios to get through it, but we landed on-time in Boston and met Grandpa Ken and Grandma Cindy who drove us back to their house.

They have peas here too?  I'm giving this place 5 stars on Yelp!

Tons of pictures after the jump...

Simon Says Banana

Jenn posted one video earlier, here's another of Simon saying Banana...