Simon is 1 years old!

Dear Simon,
I know I say this every month, but I really can not believe you turned 1!!!! It seems like yesterday you were born. Our lives have changed beyond our wildest imagination and it has been the most amazing year.
I have so many wonderful things to tell you about this month. For now i'll just talk about the month of May and then i'll write later about your first birthday celebrations!
This month we celebrated my first Mother's Day. Your Uncle Patrick and Aunt Viviane were here from Belgium so they came with us to the Lincoln Park Zoo. You have been there before, but were too young to really see anything. This time was different and one of the most exciting parts was before we even got to the zoo. We took you on your first El ride! You were such a big boy on the train. You loved watching the trains go by and looking on the window on our ride. Once we got to the zoo, your favorite thing to see was the Sea Lions. It might have been because you wanted to jump in the pool and swim with them, but either way you loved it. It was a wonderful visit and we will be back soon!

This month you started eating a lot more solid foods. Your absolute favorite is
watermelon. You can not get enough of it. I think that part of it is because it feels good on your gums since you are teething, but you do love it. Speaking of teeth, you have two on top and two on bottom. It is so cute when you smile and we are expecting more soon. Anyway, back to the watermelon. You love it so much that we can't show it to you at the beginning of a meal or you won't eat anything else. you demand more even before you've finished eating the last piece (it started with grunting, but now you sort of say "mel") The bigger the chunk we give you, the better. And if we give you a slice still on the peel, you stick your fingers in it to poke holes. Needless to say, eating is very messy these days.

This month we got a jump on your college applications by going to the University of Chicago. Just kidding of course, but you did go there to participate in a research study for the Center for Early Childhood development. They video taped you interacting with specific toys and seeing if you could find hidden ones. It was nice to know that we could do something to help others. As you know, we sometimes call you "The Professor" and here you are in some photos at U of C looking very studious and professorial.

Here you are at the college of admissions. We like to say that you are telling them, "i'll be back" (we won't tell them you are pointing the wrong way)

It was a wonderful month capped of by some amazing birthday celebrations. We could not ask for a better baby. You eat and sleep like a champ. You have the sweetest and funniest little personality. I love every moment and looking forward to the next month!

Love with all of my heart,
Mommy

Cousins

We had a playdate with all of the cousins and Simon loved it. He loves being around bigger kids.
It was very hard (I repeat, very hard) to get a picture with all 5 together. They are very busy boys on the move!
Here was the best we could do:


We did manage to get a few pictures of them playing separately. Love all of these boys!

Busy Boy

Simon has been quite the busy boy with activities over the last few months.

First he started at "Let's Play on Francais". This is a class in our neighborhood where kids get to sing, dance and play in French. The best part about this class is the teacher....it is Simon's Nonna!
Here he is ringing the bell to wake "Frere Jacques". He loved ringing that bell so much each week that most of the time he had to hold it for the entire class.



He has also been going to Gymboree with his cousins. Here he gets to crawl all over the place without worrying about getting hurt because there are mats everywhere. He loves it!





He also started a class at the Old Town School of Folk Music called "Aloha Baby". The teacher is part Hawaiian and part Maori from New Zealand. So, we have been busy learning songs and chants from both countries.
Here are a few cute pictures:

Simon is 11 months old!

Dear Simon,
Just one more month and you'll be the big "1"! We can't wait, but in the meantime you've had such a wonderful month.
You love "walking" anywhere you can. You can walk along all of our furniture and pull yourself up on everything. You can even turn from one piece of furniture to another and step in between. Your Daddy and I both think you'll be walking by your first birthday.

You are talking up a storm! It is still mostly babbling, but you can say "mama", "dada", "cat", "nonna", "ball", "dog" and "up". It is amazing how quickly you are finding your words.
Daddy and I took our first trip out of town without you. We missed you so much, but we brought the Ipad with so we could skype with you everyday. You had such a great time playing with Nonna, your cousins, Auntie Stephanie and Uncle Mark. Thank you so much to Nonna for watching Simon. You are amazing!
Popo also came to visit this month. It was just a few days before his birthday so we got to celebrate with him which was a lot of fun. We seemed to have so much fun that we forgot to take any pictures, but we'll make sure to get more next time.
You are still loving baby food and not solid food as much. You eat a few kinds of crackers and grapes. But, if it were up to you (which unfortunately it isn't) you would be on an all yogurt diet. You love it! Some times you even complain until you get a second container of it.

This month we did our first fundraising walk. It was the March for Babies for the March of Dimes. Our team was able to raise over one thousand dollars to support research and treatment for premature babies. It was a truly moving experience and we are looking forward to making it an annual event.


Your spark shines through with everyone you meet my little angel. I love you more everyday (if that is even possible!) There are big changes coming for you this month my love. Whether it is eating, walking, or talking, I can't wait to see what you've got in store.

Love Always,
Mommy

Simon's 9 Month Pictures

Here are a few of Simon's 9 month photos taken back in March. He is such a great little model. Always happy and such a trooper.

Simon is 10 months old!

Dear Simon,
Another month has flown by and now you are 10 months old! You have turned into such a big boy this month. You are crawling around so fast. If you see Zoe, you crawl even faster. And you are now pulling up on everything! You can stand against every piece of furniture we have. There have been a lot of tears over the last week or two because you think you can walk and when you let go you fall down. I know that this will be a short phase and you'll be walking safely very soon. You also started standing up in your crib. I couldn't believe it the first time I walked in your room and you were standing there facing me. You are such a big boy!

We had our big trip to California. You had such a good time with our California family and we can't wait to go back. Once you were "approved" for carry on, we were on our way home to more adventures.


You still love your baby food and are just now starting to want to eat a little bit of table food. However, you still only love vegetables and not fruit as you can see below.



You started using a sippy cup this month. Though you really like to play with it more than drink it at this point.



Your friend Landon turned 1 and we went to his party at the Kohl's Museum. You had a blast and we will definitely go back.



Here you are on St. Patrick's Day (plus a few more cute shots)







I love watching you grow and shine. Your personality is so funny and warm. I love you more everyday and can not wait to see what the next month brings.

Love Always,
Mommy