Watching Simon

Simon woke up from a longer than normal map this morning (we have had some long nights lately with his teething) and after nursing he wanted me to do the routine "sit and hang out with Mum". He doesn't like me to put him somewhere while I continue on with my cleaning etc for about 30 minutes after he wakes up.
I love to look at him.
I love to watch him examine a toy and study his fingers. I love his cheeks and the dimple on his right cheek. I love his reddish hair and his big blue eyes. He has a smile that makes all the problems in the world just disappear. I may spend a little too much time looking at him but I have a thirteen year old, I know how quickly it passes. The three loads of laundry will have to wait a few more minutes.
I often think of what life was like for our great great grandmothers, did they have time to sit and watch their babies? Perhaps they watched them as they dipped candles, made bread, churned butter, wrung out wet clothes. Perhaps they watched them while they were sleeping and they were mending clothes by lamp light.
Time to fold clothes while I watch Simon.

Giggle Baby

Here is a fun video of Simon enjoying the wrestling match between Bridgette and our dog Luna.

Simon Bob smelly pants.

Here's our Simon at almost six months. He is really impressed, as we are writing this he is letting one rip! These two photos are pretty close to Christmas and hopefully make up for us forgetting to take pictures of him then.

We didn't shoot this video so you could see Simon cry, mainly for the big pouty lip. Once you press play you have to look quick to see the pouty lip.

Christmas 2008

Christmas morning 2008 was a little more subdued, due to some of us being sick. So sick, we omitted getting a picture of Simon's first Christmas. They all had a good time and got something that they wanted. We stuck with our annual tradition of breakfast for dinner.

These are some of the characters at the St. Charles Historic Christmas parade.

Santa and Mrs Claus had a cushy ride.

Our annual trip to a tree farm is always a favorite adventure

We all have to agree on a tree. Compromises usually have to made though!!

The weather was great for December, there were a lot of people there. We had a wonderful day.

November, month of the Bridgette!

Bridgette was baptized November 30th. She was very excited and loved wearing her pretty white dress. It was a very special evening and we all felt the touched by the spirit. Rick baptized her and then confirmed her a member of the church.

Bridgette in her school program. She got a dancing part which she relished. She wore a boa around her waist unbeknown to us until they were up on stage. Is this girl ours?
She is a diva!!

Bridgette's 8th birthday party. She had a Fancy Nancy party and all the girls had a ball.

Our elementary school has pioneer days and everyone can dress up. Bridgette loved the bonnet and pinafore I made for her.

I thought a picture of something other than Bridgette for the month of November might be a good thing. A lovely tree in our neighbor's yard. Autumn colors were especially beautiful this year.

Halloween

Some of our very creative friends at the church Halloween party.

Rick was an Aussie yobo at the party and had fun with our biker friends.

Bridgette and Simon were the only children to dress up in the our home this year. Ammon has never liked Halloween and Ricky felt like 13 was a little too old to be trick or treating.

Rick and the kids carved up some very cool pumpkins.

Eckerts

Well this blog is going well! Here's hoping we will get with it eventually.

We went to Eckerts farm in Illinios near the end of October. We rode the ferry across the Missouri River and the kids loved that. We picked out a few pumpkins and had fun being out in the country.