Christmas party

Mom's group had a Christmas Party. One of the leaders hosted in her house, which is very kind considering we all live in tiny houses and hers would be filled with many little people, snacks and crafts. We had a craft, read a story, sang a song and ate some yummy food.

 Joy didn't want to be in the picture...so we compromised, she stood behind me

 Trying to read a Christmas story, while Simon used me as jungle gym. 

 Making an ornament for the tree

 playing "pass the snowball"

And of course eating!

Simon is 16 months

What Simon is doing

• Simon is an active little guy. During this baking season he has learned to "enjoy" sitting in his high chair while I do things that are time sensitive (stir almond roca) since he is always trying to do the most dangerous thing. 
• He loves standing on things; the couch, the stool, boxes, baskets, chairs. He knows he isn't allowed to do it...
• likes to play independently 
• can use a fork and spoon 

What Simon is saying 

Simon understand so much of what we say to him and about him.

*ga: garbage  
*ck : means trash can or yuck
*ma ma: Mamma and MORE food
*da da: dog and daddy
* ba ba: bye bye followed by standing by the door and saying ba ba until we leave. He actually starts to bay ba ba as soon as I put pants on him after his nap because he knows we usually go out.
*naa: NO which he says so EMPHATICALLY. 

Teeth: 9 teeth..  This past month he got three molars (the fourth is on its way) and one more bottom tooth (the other is on its way too). It has been a painful (not great sleeping) month. 

Eats:

Solid food: Simon is a good eater but is super slow. He will only feed himself...which is very messy. He can use a fork and spoon for the first part of a meal and then abandons it. He pretty much can start eating dinner at 5 and still be eating off and on until 6:30pm. 

• Loves: most all food. Especially bread, rice, veggies, fruit. Pizza (he is my son)
• Verdict is still out on: will eat eggs now (but not with spinach in them like Joy does) but won't eat beans still....He also goes back and forth with chicken. Then the other day he ate two big meatballs with dinner.

Sleeps:   He wakes up at 5:30 or 6 (some days even 6:30am). The shift to one nap I think has helped his wake up times. With teething though (and sickness this month) he has had some bad nights. His sleeping patterns have shown me that not all babies are created equal in the sleeping department. 

For the last month he has been taking one nap at 12:15. It has been a bumpy ride. He usually sleeps until 1:30  but probably three times a week he sleeps until 2:30+ (today is one of those days). I leave him in bed until he reaches the 1 hour 30 minute mark if he wakes earlier. 

Weighs: 20.5 + Lbs

Likes: 

- Destroying whatever Joy is doing...

-Trash cans: points to and tells me about everyone we pass.

- Pushing around Joy's stroller: with his blankie in it. 

-The balcony; watching dogs people and construction (there has been plenty to watch outside)

-Being outside (playgrounds, walks, the roof) : Now that the weather is nicer we are going to the roof more. He would happily play there all day.

-Taking out the dog with daddy: Sometimes I think he wakes up super early just so he won't miss taking out the dog at 6am. 

-Shoes! He loves trying on daddy's shoe


- Books: Simon's interest is growing in books. He still loves lift/flap books and touch and feel books the best.

Dislikes: we can tell that Simon really wants to communicate and it is frustrating with him when we can't understand what he wants. He still wants mommy the most. Brad sings Simon this song whenever he screams because I'm too far away 

Favorite event this month: Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Ruthie come VERY SOON!! We are super excited. 

Dear Santa...

Brad and I will laugh for years to come about Joy's first picture with Santa. Maybe we waited too long as she is almost 3 years old. But the hysterical crying, flailing and the huge scene she made has made us laugh more than we've laughed in a long time. The whole mall was staring. At least we gave Santa some entertainment in his boring job.  Simon was cool as a cucumber. When Joy has decided she doesn't want to do something there is no amount of convincing / bribing I can do to get her to do it. 

While Joy doesn't like Santa she does love Christmas cookies. She had a great time at our annual cookie decorating/ exchange party. Simon went to visit Daddy at work while mommy and joy did the cookie thing. Next year he can join the sugar rush! 

Christmas craft

My friend Joanna is an early childhood teacher who is great with crafts and messy toddlers. Neither is really my forte so it is good we are friends :) 

We did a cute little snowman and baby Jesus craft. Not many pictures taken during because toddlers and babies and crafts need a lot of hands on deck ! 

Away in a manger...

The past two weekends have been very FULL. Last weekend we were going to attend the ICS annual Thanksgiving dinner (celebrated a few days early due to an international conference happening on the actual day) but Simon spent the morning in the ER (so we opted to crash our neighbors celebration instead). We are thankful for Simon's life and health and NEVER want to go back to the ER again. It was a good reflection on being thankful for our little people's health and all they bring to our family.  During this season of life when little kids seem to take all our energy and our lives seem run by little crazy dictators we can't imagine our lives without Joy and Simon. They add so much life, excitement and laughter to our lives. They fill us with so much happiness and continually show us what God's unconditional love looks like.  

For those who don't know the whole story: He fell off the couch seat (Brad was right there in the living room playing with Joy and Simon climbs the couch all day long so we are not sure exactly what happened). His temple hit the floor, he stopped breathing, his eyes rolled back in his head, he didn't move for a few seconds. It was the scariest car ride to the ER, the whole time I was trying to keep him awake. The doctors said he had a concussion but the MRI showed no hemorrhage or skull fracture. Praise God! He was dizzy (kept falling over when he would walk) and a bit cranky the rest of the day but healed up just fine. Brad did so well under pressure .....I was a basket case. 

On actual Thanksgiving I cooked a small Thanksgiving dinner with a turkey breast and we decorated the house for Christmas. As you can see below Joy loves to play with her nativity. She thought that Noah's ark needed to come and see Jesus too. Since putting up the tree Joy has woken up everyday saying "its Christmas! We are going to see Grandma and Grandpa!" and every morning I tell her...well Christmas is still a long way away and grandma and grandpa don't come for a while (Dec 22!). Oh kids and the concept of time. 

Brad had Friday off so we took the chance to go to Disneyland on a week day (weekends are crazy busy with mainland tourists and Hong Kongers).

We all had a great time at Disneyland. We got there at opening so it wasn't too busy the weather was really warm and the kids did great. Joy got to ride many rides and LOVED everyone. We got to watch a show and the parade. Simon took a nap in the stroller. Joy got to meet Winnie the Pooh....she was so happy to get her picture taken with him.  She didn't want to leave....that coupled with no nap made for a pretty sad goodbye to the happiest place on earth. 

Simon watched Joy and daddy go on this one...I thought it was a little too high for this dare devil baby who likes to hurl himself off of high places (as you can tell we are still getting over the trip to the ER). 

Jungle boat tour...the animals were a hit...the ending with fire explosions made Joy pretty scared. Simon wasn't phased at all. 

Even though Joy loves the rides, she didn't want to ride a horse, she wanted to sit with daddy on the bench.

Dumbo ride (above) Slinky dog ride (below)

Joy fell asleep on the way home and then slept for over 12 hours that night. A fun fun day! 

Simon is 15 months

Simon is a busy boy. He is a quick and confident walker/runner and is into everything. He has a very affectionate and sweet disposition. He gives the greatest kisses all day long.

What Simon is doing

• Simon is everywhere and into everything.He is quite the explorer.  If he isn't trying to wake up Joy by banging on her door, he is trying to get into the trash can, scale a table OR trying to "pet" and "kiss" the dog...which the dog hates. 
• Stands at the balcony and waves to everyone passing by. 
• He stayed with the kids at mom's group for 15 minutes. 
• Like to put things into bigger containers
• Can maneuver all playground equipment (slides, stairs) alone 

What Simon is saying 

Simon understand so much of what we say to him and about him.

*ga: garbage  
*ck : means trash can or yuck
*ma ma: Mamma and MORE food
*da da: dog and daddy
* ba ba: bye bye followed by standing by the door and saying ba ba until we leave. He actually starts to bay ba ba as soon as I put pants on him after his nap because he knows we usually go out.

He enjoys the rare bath experience where he doesn't have to share with Joy (as you can see there is really only room for one in that bath...so usually they shower together). 

Teeth:6 teeth.. No new ones since July! ** update as of Nov 20 he has two molars popping through (one top one bottom). 

Eats:

Nursing: two months of no nursing. He loves cow milk and drinks an ok amount during the day.
Solid food: Simon is a good eater but is super slow. We usually think he is done and realize he is just slow.  

• Loves: bananas (he can eat 2-3 a day!).  green&keifer smoothies (he smiles and cheers the whole time I'm making them in the morning). Pasta and vegetables. Drinking with a straw 
• Verdict is still out on: beans and will only eat eggs occasional. 

Eating a hash brown with daddy at 6am...one of daddy's many schemes to help Joy and I sleep in the morning without Simon's noise!

Sleeps:   He wakes up at 5 am or 5:30am. He sleeps at night for 10-10.5hours. It is kind on the low average for his age but we can't seem to break it. He goes to bed at 6:45 usually. This last week we had three days where he slept until 6am and it was amazing. 

He naps at 9am and 1pm. 1-1.5 hours each time. A couple times this week he didn't want to take his morning nap but then still only slept an 1:10 in the afternoon and was unbearable in the early evening. If his schedule is shifting it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Weighs: 20.5 Lbs

Likes: 

- Doing whatever Joy is doing! Recently Simon really wants to be with Joy and play with her. However he doesn't quite understand the game she is playing and tends to just mess up her stuff. So there is some conflict these days between the two of them. 

-Trash cans: points to and tells me about everyone we pass. 

-The balcony; watching dogs people and construction.

-Being outside (playgrounds, walks, the roof) : Now that the weather is nicer we are going to the roof more. He would happily play there all day.

-Shoes! He loves trying on daddy's shoes

- Books: Simon's interest is growing in books. He still loves lift/flap books and touch and feel books the best.

Dislikes: He dislikes being very far from mommy.  He also dislikes it when Joy sleeping while he is awake. He as been sick a lot more than Joy mainly fevers and runny noses. He doesn't really handle being sick as well as Joy does.

Favorite event this month: First Halloween party!