STOP! He's Eleven Months Old!

Our little activity turned eleven months old today. Kaeley and I both really upset about it. Kaeley has told him to stop sleeping, because then he'll stop growing. I tried to take that perfect monthly picture, but he was so active that it was difficult. That's why I have lots of other random pictures on the post. I wanted to show you the effort we took.
Simon is by far the shortest napper of the four children. My other kids were two to three hour nappers a day. Simon's naps are about half of that. But after so many months of no naps or too many naps, no sleep at night to restless nights, I'm thankful for the shorter naps and finally the better nights. He still wakes up on average three times a night. We've pulled him into bed with us, because it's the surest way for me to get rest. That's better after almost a year!
His eczema is also much better! It just cleared up a couple of days ago. He's almost as soft as a baby's bottom. :) That's after two hazel wood necklaces, half a jar of coconut oil, a start of almond oil, and maybe a weather change. It's nice to stroke his legs and not feel patches of sand paper.
He is quite the jokester. He gets that from his daddy. :) He likes making jokes and soaking in all the laughter. The only difference between him and Brad and is that Simon doesn't laugh at his own jokes.
He doesn't walk yet, but is working on it. He's learning.
Simon also loves being outside. I think if we had a backyard I would just place him on the grass in the morning and call him in for meals. Kaeley, his second mother, takes him outside sometimes. She is an excellent older sister. He likes swings, crawling, eating sand, watching children play, going on walks in the stroller, etc.
We're trying to move on to finger foods, which means the dining room floor is always sticky. The trick is, I've learned from Brad, to always wear shoes in the house. Then you can see it, but you can't feel it. It is rather embarrassing when the other children walk into the kitchen to tell you something, but have to stop talking so they can pick something off the bottom of their feet, and throw it away in the trashcan. Yuck. I shouldn't have told you all that. Okay, next month I'll have the lies prepared. (My kitchen is always sparkling clean and smells of fresh baked bread. etc.)
PS. He still has blue eyes.

The Ballerina

After Alynna's ballet class we always go into the nearby Japanese garden to visit the coy fish and turtles. This week Nathan brought three Hot Wheel cars. There is a little ballerina who is always interested in Nathan's cool toys. This week she was lucky enough to get to play with one of the precious four-wheeled vehicles. This little ballerina, Brooklyn, knew exactly how to crash and throw and flip the cars. I thought for sure she had brothers, but that turned out not to be the case. You should have seen Nathan with this beautiful little girl. He watched her crash the first car. He stopped in his tracks, watched in silence, and then proceeded with a scream, "Wow! Awesome!" After that it was, "Hey, Ballerina! Ballerina, come here!" I think I might start saving for a wedding.

My Beautiful Boy

How I adore this face! I could just lick him up one side and down the other! Okay, back to business! Here I was trying to get him to do his new joke of shaking his head from side to side.

Baldie

There was a little misunderstanding in our house. Simon's hair had gotten quite long. It was actually getting wavy. However, it was a little uneven, so Brad and I agreed he needed a trim. Let's just say it wasn't it wasn't my fault. 

But he's so cute!

Isn't he sweet? He fell asleep on Brad's lap while Brad was on the computer.

Make Way for the King

Watching older children play with their little siblings are just precious to me. I love it!

Kaeley's Confession

Nobody tell Kaeley I said anything about this, please. I just thought it was so sweet I had to share. Last Wednesday we went to Bible study. The kids usually watch a movie. That night we got home and Kaeley found some time to edge close to me. She started holding my hand and hemming and hawing. She said, "Um Mommy... tonight we watched a movie with a boy who got mad and said he wished he didn't have a mommy." At this point she couldn't look at me any more. She got teary eyed. She looked away. She began stroking my hair, which she never does. She said, "Well. Um... When I was... When I was four I used to wish I didn't have a mommy. I used to say you were a rotten mommy and a bad mommy." At this point I was trying not to smile. Four years old? Try yesterday! Joking. I also remember being a kid and knowing I was an innocent child with devil parents. I know the feeling. I would never tell her that though. I tell her what I know now. "When my parents disciplined me I always said thank you for doing what you think is right."
Anyway. She goes on to tell me that not only did she think I was a rotten mommy, but she used to list all the things she could do if only she didn't have a mommy. I remember her at that age. I was sure that I could rent an apartment for her and visit her when it was time to do laundry.
Through tears she admitted that she sees now how much she does need a mother. Who would make her food in the morning? Through sobs she wailed, "Now I know, who would make us good dinners?" She gave up her  heart-filled apology for ever thinking she didn't need a mommy. I, of course, accepted and said I understand.
Now I'm glad I have job security. What would have happened if she didn't like my cooking? Would she think, "That boy has a point. Who needs a mommy when we have McDonald's?"
I make jokes, but it was very sweet to see her so convicted.

Two Years Ago Today

Two years ago today I was lying in a hospital bed recovering from my second nightmarish miscarriage. I had had IVs in both arms, a blood transfusion going through my neck, and a broken heart. God was so good to me through that time. It was so painful, but in the end I'm thankful God showed me what He did. Two years later I had an active little boy who likes to eat my credit cards and iPod. He pulls on my hair like he thinks I'm Rapunzel. He uses my clothes like a canvas for his painting of boogers, snot, and pureed food. And I am so thankful. I am just so thankful. My heart swells with thankfulness for all four. As Kaeley likes to tell people, "We really have six children, but two of them are in heaven."

Kaeley's Plan... I'm on to Her

The other day Kaeley took Simon into the bathroom with her while she brushed her teeth. She put him on our little step stool and then handed him her hair brush. He got all excited, fell off the stool, and got a nice blue bruise on the right hand side of his head.

Yesterday she put him on the little couch to play a game with him. He squealed in delight. She laughed until she gasped for air. It was very sweet. It was sweet until she left him on the couch to get herself water. He took a spill right into our coffee table. Now there's a nice size mark on his left side.

Yesterday morning she wanted to make a throne. She stacked up a small chair on top of a small table and let Nathan try it out. He slipped backyards, everything came tumbling down, and my poor little boy had a huge, long bump on the back of his head.

Friday night the kids were all sleeping in Nathan's bed. They began to get too raucousy. Alynna decided sitting on the side railings of the bunk bed was a good idea. She slipped and did a belly flop right on the hard floor.

Sigh... thank God it hasn't been anything more serious.

I was thinking about all the kids have had happen to them. I think Kaeley's trying to knock them all out so she can keep the parents to herself. That's my guess. Now I have evidence in case something happens.

Poor Simon the Giant

Brad took these pictures while I was out shopping one day. The three older kids are into setting up whole cities of Littlest Pet Shops mixed with plastic animals and whatever else they can find. While all children enjoy playing with Simon none of them like to have their cities knocked over by his curiosity. They will often yell, "Oh no! Here comes the giant! Shut the door! Quick!" Often the door will shut right in the baby's face. (We're working on that) Simon will cry likes he's been hurt physically. This morning Simon wasn't screaming. He was just rolling around in the hallway. Clearly he's trying to work out his rejection. 

Baking Naan Bread

This week we bought naan bread! It was a first for us, so we weren't sure how it would work out. We were very pleased with the results. The pictures are a little out of order, but just try to use your imagination.

Why would I take a picture of the empty stool and bread dough? 

Because of this little guy. Kaeley was doing her math in the dining room. The dough was sitting on the counter waiting to be popped into the oven. We had to wait a while for the oven to preheat to five hundred degrees! Kaeley was having a difficult time focusing. She would do a problem and say, "Mommy... remember when you said... " "Kaeley, finish your math, please. We can talk about this later." She would go back to working in her book. A few minutes later she would look up and, "Mommy... do you have..." "Kaeley, what did I just say?" "Oh, um, yes." She'd go back to working. A few minutes later she jumped up saying, "Oh!" I called her to get back to her math already! It turns out she had seen Simon's forehead over the top of the counter. That little stinker crawled into the kitchen, climbed up the empty stool, and was picking dough of the resting piles.

Here is the beautiful naan bread.

Kneading it.

Kneading it more.

This was Kaeley's idea. I told everyone to come into the kitchen so we could start our "school". Kaeley put Simon into the high chair and pushed him in front of the fridge. It was a cute idea, but since it didn't involve climbing ladders and the like his enjoyment only lasted for about five minutes. It was a good idea though.

He's wondering when he can dig in and help... by eating!

Isn't it too cute!?!

When we were trying to pick sticky dough off three sets of fingers I was thinking, "This is almost too much effort." Just at that moment Alynna turned to me and squealed, "This is so much fun!"

Here are the kids getting ready to start the baking process.  My kitchen seems just large enough for all of my kitchen toys. However, in this picture my kitchen looks minute! And by the way, have I mentioned that Simon can has figured out to climb up into Kaeley's bunk bed? Right. The bed with the ladder that's built in and not removable. 

Simon Screamed! We All Screamed for Ice Cream!

Last night, when most of the kids were asleep, Brad and I got our secret dessert. Tonight it was ice cream. Simon was still awake and crawling all over the living room and kitchen. When he saw that I had taken ice cream out he followed me into the living room screaming at me. He was one fussy boy, but you wouldn't see that in these pictures now would ya! Next time he fusses over teeth breaking through or something I'm getting out the chocolate chip ice cream! 

Oh, The Places You Find Simon

Simon and Nathan Watch Mickey Mouse Together

Simon Chowing Down on a Lemon

Aquarium of the Pacific

We're proud owners, once again, of annual passes to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Highlights of this particular trip: 1.) Certain creatures are either hiding most of the time or just sitting at the bottom of the tanks. This visit we got to see the sea turtle swimming and the octopus made an appearance! 2.) When Nathan wanted to tell me something about a certain fish in a tank he would say, "You know, the fish that swims like this..." Then he would move into the middle of the aisle and start dancing around to the fish swimming. He would wiggle his hips and open his puckered lips like a fish. He was funny. 3.) We visited the exhibit about water shed. You can push a button to make it rain on a model of the Los Angeles basin. Nathan had a great time pushing the buttons. I turned my back for a second only to find Nathan trying to crawl on top of the model! I yelled, "What do you think you're doing!?!" He said, "Well, I wanted a drink! Alynna's getting a drink!" I turn to the small pool of water that represents the ocean and Alynna's got her head in the water guzzling down a drink of refreshing recycled aquarium water!
Sigh. Why I leave the house I'm just not sure.