California Dreaming

A few weeks ago Simon and I went to California to visit his Auntie Gabrielle, David and Buster. We had an amazing trip. Simon was a perfect angel on the plane. When he wasn't sleeping he was busy charming all of the other passengers.
Buster and Simon adored each other! Buster would lick Simon's face every chance he had and our little angel would laugh and squeal.



We spent a morning on a hike at the Griffith Park observatory. The views were amazing and we can't wait to go back when Simon is walking so he can hike himself.
Here is Mr. Hollywood (see the sign in the background?)


We also went for a picnic at Zuma beach in Malibu. It was so fun for Simon to watch the waves and he loved the seagulls.






Simon also got his first haircut while we were there. He did really well and looks very handsome. Special thanks to David for taking 150 (that is not an exaggeration) pictures of this milestone event. It made it really hard to pick which ones to post because they were all amazing. Here are a few...make sure to check out his cool ride (yes, it is a Ferrari)!





Thanks again to Gabrielle and David for hosting us. We had such an amazing time and we will be back soon! We miss you and love you!

I miss my Auntie!

Simon and Mommy visited Auntie Gabrielle (plus David and Buster) last week in Los Angeles. We had an amazing trip and will post some more pictures soon, but here is a sneak peek.



We love you!

Simon is 9 months old

Dear Simon,
My little nine month old boy! We have had a very fun month.
We went to visit our good friends the Kelleys in Dallas for the weekend. It was a great trip and you were such a good boy on the plane. Ethan was born two weeks before you so it was great to see you interacting. You played with toys (although you both had some issues with sharing......we'll have to work on that). Ethan even let you borrow his car. We went to Fort Worth for the day where you saw some real cowboys and even got to ride a longhorn! And you both loved playing in the park and riding the baby swings. Special thanks to the Kelleys for hosting us. We can't wait to see you again soon!









We celebrated our first Valentine's Day.



You got your first tooth this month too! It is on the bottom in the front. It is just starting to get big enough to see in a picture so we'll try to get one soon! You are really feeling the pain from teething and we keep hoping more with pop through so it will be over.

In other news, you started crawling this month! It started with a slow scoot and now you are really moving. Just the other day I left the room for a minute and when I came back you had scooted to your toy basket to get some toys out.



Then I left again for another minute and I came back to find you had pulled yourself up! I can't believe how quickly you went from crawling to pulling yourself up. You were so proud! We have always suspected you would be an early walker because you love the walker so much and you practically run when we hold your arms. We have an exciting few months ahead.



It has been amazing to watch these big changes. Your are so excited to be doing more and moving around. We can't wait to watch those things happen, but it is bittersweet because our little baby is gone and you are turning into a little boy. And the most adorable little boy you are!
I love you with all of my heart, angel.

Love,
Mommy

Island Baby

A few weeks ago we went on a trip to see our family in Hawaii. Simon had an amazing time. From swimming to playing to meeting new friends and family it was action packed from beginning to end. There will be a lot of pictures in this post because there were just too many cute ones to choose from. Special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for having us for the week. It was truly wonderful and we can't wait to come back!

All the family together at Grandpa's 60th Birthday party


Ready to Swim Mommy!


Meeting Bob Fong at the Knight Family Care Home (Victoria House)


Relaxing in my floatie


Happy Family


I love to swim!


Simon with Grandma and Ada


Reading the book that Janeth bought me. It is about Kittens (I miss Zoe!)





We spent the day at the beach and Simon had so much fun. He played in the sand with his sand toys and even went for a "swim" in the Pacific. It was so much fun that Simon had to take a snooze in Mommy's arms after all of the excitement.



















The weather was amazing and Simon was a perfect angel on the very long plane ride. It was hard to come home and sad to leave Grandma and Grandpa, but we are happy they are coming to visit in the summer! Unfortunately we weren't so lucky when we got home and there was a blizzard 3 days later. It was the third largest blizzard in Chicago's recorded history.....Simon just had to take a peek at the snow.

Simon is 8 Months Old!

Dear Simon,
Another month has flown by and it was one with a lot of excitement. We went to Hawaii to visit the family (more on that in another post).
You've continued progressing with speaking. You are constantly babbling with a lot of "ba ba ba" type sounds. The biggest news is that you now call me Mama! I was so excited the first time I heard it. At first I didn't "count" it as your first word, but it has become clear that you are calling me Mama. You say it most when you are sad or tired and that makes it all the more endearing.
You also started sitting up this month and you love to be such a big boy. Now you can also ride in a shopping cart up front with me. You love it! Anything that makes you part of the grown up group makes you so happy. And you sat in your first high chair at a restaurant when we went out to breakfast a few weeks ago.


You and Jackson are getting cuter together everyday. You always hold each others hand and you "talk" to each other too. Jackson had been taller than you, but you had a big growth spurt this month and it seems you are taller than him (for the time being).



You are really eating up a storm these days too. Lots of cereal and vegetables. I thought you were really ready for teething biscuits because you are always grabbing for our food when we eat, but take a look at these pictures.






As you can see, you really are not liking teething biscuits so far. I'm sure you will come to love them along with all the new foods you still have to try.

We have had a wonderful month with you. I have a lot to share and tons of great pictures from Hawaii, so more to come.......

I love you with all of my heart!
Love,
Mommy

Big Boy and his cousins

Simon started sitting up on his own last Saturday (January 8th). It happened so suddenly. He had been able to do it for a few seconds, but then tip over. That day we went to a very fun indoor play place/coffee house near where we live with Auntie Stephanie, Dennie and Jackson. I think Simon was so busy playing and watching the big kids that he forgot to tip over! He could suddenly sit forever and he LOVES it! Such a big boy!
Here are some pics from that day and later that night when Mom and Dad went out for a party.

Simon's 6 month pictures

These are already one month old, but thought I would share......







Love that boy!