Intense Skyping with Auntie Amy

Auntie Amy reads stories to Simon while they Skype. This is him listening to one this weekend.

Bday present from Great-Aunt Kathy

Simon got a package in the mail the other day - it was a birthday present from my Aunt Kathy. I recorded most of his opening. I had to help a couple times so was required to stop. He LOVED the present and I didn't know that he knew what a whistle was! He played with his new train (Salty) all day yesterday and this morning when we came downstairs to eat breakfast he decided he wanted to play instead of eat (which I totally let him do while I straightened up). Thank you Aunt Kathy!

GG & Auntie Sharon visits in Stow

Simon luckily got to go out to Stow twice to see his Great Grandmother while we were in Boston. He loved playing hide and seek - GG was very good at finding him! She sang him songs and read books and even let him play with the coasters on the table. Simon also got to see his Great-Auntie Sharon during the Saturday visit. What a photogenic crew!

BGB 25 Week Visit: Heartbeats

Last Thursday we went in to my doctor to get our first Growth Ultrasound. Our little girl is doing great and growing strong. We got a couple more pictures of almost all of her and this is the last time she'll be small enough to fit mostly in one ultrasound picture. We are 25 weeks and will be doing growth ultrasounds every 4 weeks or so, meaning we have about 2 or 3 before we get to hold her! We talked to the doctor again to confirm the c-section date. If we can wait long enough she will be born at 11am on Friday, November 1st. Other than that it's just keep doing what we're doing because all is going well.

Like every other time we've done an ultrasound she moved around most of the time we were in the room, but that's a sign that she's growing strong arms and legs. In addition it is really fun to watch her moving around so much and we felt like we were really getting to know her. Most of the time she was curled up into a ball with her hands in front of her face, so I wonder if she's going to end up as a tiny little side sleeper?

We brought Simon to this ultrasound so he could see a picture of his little sister and hear her heartbeat. Happily Jenn came a long and watched him in the waiting room while we talked to the doctor before the appointment so we could focus on her. Then when it came time for the ultrasound Alan brought Simon in and we watched the pictures. We expected Simon to tire of it pretty quickly but he stayed the whole time. Asking the technician over and over to do the "Heartbeat again? Please?" We listened to the heartbeat a bunch of times and Simon became pretty entranced by the idea. Later that night Alan taught Simon how to listen to his own heartbeat (hand on his chest) and how to listen to other people's heartbeat (ear against their chest). Simon has been listening to lots of heartbeats the past few days.

Profile and her fist close to her chin. 

Both hands up in front of face - it looked like she was rubbing her eyes.

Remembering the heartbeat of his little sister.

Muddy morning at the park

Last night Colleen spent the night so this morning we can go out to breakfast when Simon woke up (letting Alan sleep in). So Simon, Colleen and I went to an early breakfast at a place a couple miles north and then we went across the street to the huge park up there. We pulled out our blanket, Dinosaurs, and kickball and immediately started playing with them.  It wasn't long before Simon started getting distracted by all the other people walking around and started watching them instead of playing with us. There were a few other kids his age and he played really well with a little girl named Evelyn ( we will Playdate with next weekend ) and then he saw a girl covered in mud. She was running around and generally being a little wild, as you would imagine a girl covered in mud would be, before she sat down not far from us to eat a snack. Simon followed and played with her for the rest of the time we were at the park and then it was time to head home and take a nap. 

Yes, he is staring at that nice little girl's snack

Luckily I had a snack for him too but he still couldn't stop watching her 

Finally he followed her into the mud, but he was still suspicious of her muddy hands. 

So proud to hold his own handful of mud!

New clothes!

Simon got a package in the mail from Grandpa Bart and Grandma Kiki. He loves opening presents and especially loved the colors of his new outfit. He immediately tried on the shoes and the sweater. He almost even got the zipper on the sweater. I know some adults who can't do that! He is, after all, quite advanced for his age. 

Testiment to tall and skinny

Note that the gate is elevated about above the molding, so 3 or 4 inches. He's standing on his toes, but he definitely is reaching the lever. He would have figured this gate out for sure given some time left unattended.