tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41968380383477368672024-03-21T20:21:30.904-05:00Simons SaysWe're a little family in Texas happy to share our lives with you!Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-73098438490354637502012-07-11T21:26:00.001-05:002012-07-11T21:26:26.192-05:00Stella's 2nd BirthdayWell, it has come and gone, but the fun memories...and let's be honest...some of the decorations remain. We had such a great time celebrating our sweet girl with our amazing friends and family. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4040.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4040.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />What waking up TWO looks like. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4041.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4041.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />My mom and Stella (and Uncle Jack - big day!) share a birthday, so we went over to surprise Mouschi with birthday donuts before she went to work. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4042.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4042.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Here are the birthday gals at their birthday dinner on Thursday. Super fun night celebrating with family and our awesome community group!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4043.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4043.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Lindsay came to dinner to share some birthday love. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4044.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4044.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Saturday was the actual party. Here's the cake table, minus the banana stand. ;) Stella loved the dipped bananas, but here's a tip if you are ever doing them for a party...frozen bananas that have thawed do not go back to regular bananas - they turn into the fourth state of matter - plasma. I was so glad I did a test run in advance. Hence, the empty platter. Don't pull them out of the freezer until the last minute!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4045.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4045.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The menu was finger foods that Stella loves: mini corn dogs, meatballs, watermelon, etc. <br /><br />I cannot thank my mom and my amazing sister-in-laws enough for all their help with crafting and setting up. Wouldn't have made it without you. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4046.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4046.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />That's 50 lbs of moon sand people. Good times. Special thanks to Uncle Russell and Aunt Chelsea for their masterful mixing! <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4047.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4047.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Puppies and puppy chow for our friends. Stella loves her a basket o' puppies!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4049.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4049.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />These are the doghouses that my dad helped me make. They turned out great, and Stella is still loving playing in them! Awesome Erica helped me make all the lanterns! Thanks, Erica!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4050.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4050.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Can you believe how cute this is??? And it was deeeelicious! I love our little Brenham Bakery. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4051.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4051.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />So does Stella. ;)<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4052.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4052.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Stella and her favorite cousin Nora checking out the doghouses. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4053.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4053.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />My party sweetie. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4054.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4054.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Life size posters! For $3! I may leave them up for a while because they just make me laugh. <br /><br />Look at all our awesome family who traveled to come celebrate with us!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4055.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4055.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Charlie and Grandpa<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4056.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4056.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Charlie, uncle Russ and aunt Chelsea <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4057.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4057.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Aunt Lael and Charlie<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4058.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4058.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Mimi and Charlie<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4059.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4059.jpg' border='0' width='242' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />It's great to be 2!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/11/4060.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/11/s_4060.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I really want my kids to LOVE their birthdays, and the fact that Happy Birthday seems to be her new favorite song indicates to me that I think so far so good on accomplishing that mission. I feel so blessed by all our friends and family that helped me put things together, and then came to shower my girl with love! <br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-27662957081072628422012-07-05T19:02:00.001-05:002012-07-05T19:02:39.030-05:00An Interview with Charlie, 6 monthsMe: Charlie, you're six months old now. Are you excited?<br />CJS: I am so excited. I can't stop smiling. I am pumped to start eating food, and practicing my layups. <br /><br />Me: What do you want to be your first food?<br />CJS: I am going to have to go with bananas. Stella seems to be obsessed. I've got to check it out!<br /><br />Me: You were sleeping through the night for a while there. I am not going to lie. It was awesome. Thinking of doing it again some time?<br />CJS: I'm considering it, but I don't want to do anything rash. <br /><br />Me: Mmmmm. Well, I guess we'll just see how you decide to play this one. Speaking of playing...what are some of your favorite things to do?<br />CJS: I love to play with baby toys! All those cool smarty pants developmental toys you got for Stella that she couldn't have cared less about? Love 'em. I can sit and entertain myself for whole minutes. I like the jumper pretty well too, and I love to army crawl and roll all over the floor. Except for when I accidentally roll under the couch. It's also a lot of fun to watch crazy Stella. I can't wait to chase her around. I am so close to crawling - I have almost got it. The next few months are going to be so fun. <br /><br />Me: I know! I love watching you play and grow! How big are you these days anyway?<br />CJS: At my 6 month check-up today I was 20 lbs 15 oz and 28 1/4 inches. Boom. <br /><br />Me: You're huge. That's why I have these awesome guns from hauling you around. So, which animal is your favorite, Charlie Bugs?<br />CJS: I guess I will go with the Honeybadger. I identify with it's strength and fearlessness. <br /><br />Me: Would you rather be feared or loved?<br />CJS: Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me. (Michael Scott anyone?)<br /><br />Me: I can't get over how stinking cute you are. I mean - man! It catches me off guard sometimes. Plus you are such an amazingly happy guy. I love your funny laugh! You are pretty much the perfect blend of my extrovert tendencies and your dad's incredible kindness. I am so thankful I get to spend my days with you Charlie. You are a JOY. I love you. <br />CJS: Thanks, mom. You should go get some sleep. Pretty sure I am going to feel like some middle-o-the-night cuddling tonight. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/07/05/3574.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/07/05/s_3574.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-19692162339207789862012-04-09T23:03:00.001-05:002012-04-09T23:03:15.621-05:00Charlie!It has been so long since I have posted anything, and with being off of social media for lent...I feel like I haven't shared nearly enough about my darling boy. Here are some recent iPhone photos and a little commentary. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4321.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4321.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />He is a big boy! It's always the first thing everyone says upon seeing him, and it's true. At his 2 month doctor visit he was 15 lbs 15 oz, and at three months he was 17 lbs 9 oz. Not only is he big, he's very strong, and active. He wants to stand and test his leg strength all the time. He figured out how to roll back to front last week, and after two days he was flipping like a pancake, and after three he was steamrolling off of his playmat. He holds himself up pretty well, and is already fairly easily sitting in the Bumbo. He likes it when you carry him facing out so he can see what is going on, and don't even think about cradling the little man! He is awake quite a lot during the day, and gets upset if he feels like he's been left out. He started sleeping all night during his 10th week, and has been doing it regularly since then. I am a Babywise believer! And I feel so much more human! He is still in our room right now, but we will most likely transition him out sometime in the not too distant future. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4322.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4322.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />He loves my grandma. She is a Charlie-whisperer. He can't wait for her to move down here!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4323.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4323.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Charlie has already been to the zoo! He did really well, and enjoyed all the outside time.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4324.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4324.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Here are my babies in their jammies. It's hard to capture in an image just how very enamored Stella is with him. He is almost always the first thing she asks about when she wakes up ("charlie see 'em?") and when he is upset, she wants so much to make him happy. She now makes suggestions to me of things she thinks he might want, for example, "paci back?" (does he want his pacifier back?), "baby huuuuungry...", "poopy diaper?", "blanket?", or sometimes she'll just bring him a toy - "Charlie hold it." Very helpful. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4325.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4325.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Likewise, no one gets more smiles from Charlie than Stella does. He is pretty patient with her attempts to hold him, and really likes it when she is near. He watches her intently. I pray over this affection that they have for each other, that God would give me wisdom about how to foster their friendship and fellowship so that it would endure.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4326.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4326.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Here is Charlie hanging out with Papa Bob (aka Papa Stinko, as Stella would say - my dad). They are getting to be very good buddies, and dad can't wait to teach him to shoot stuff off the back porch. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4327.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4327.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Charlie enjoyed bonding with Uncle Russell. Russell, my brother, and my SIL Chelsea visited from Oklahoma last month and got to meet charming Charlie. He will adore Russell and all of Russell's hilarious antics one of these days. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4328.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4328.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Memaw and Grandad (my grandparents) also came to meet Charlie in March. We had a good visit with them, and Big Jack and Little Jack were very pleased with each other, I think. (My mother's maiden name is Jackson, and that's where Charles Jackson came from - my grandad calls him Little Jack). <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4329.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4329.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4330.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4330.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />He smiles with his whole body. It's impossible not to grin right back at him. He is really turning into quite a cheerful guy most of the time, and I just can't get enough of those cheeks!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4331.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4331.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4334.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4334.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />When I see pics like this it shocks me how big he looks. I tell him to just stay little, but he is most definitely NOT listening to me. I snapped the below picture while he was napping the other day. I want to remember these moments so very much. I am dangerously aware of how fast they are racing by. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4336.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4336.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4338.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4338.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Here he is lounging with one of his buddies at an Easter egg hunt. Next year he'll be part of the action!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/04/09/4340.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/04/09/s_4340.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />And here's one of me and my sweet boy on Easter with confetti in our hair! What a blessing he is to our lives. We love you so much Charlie, and thank God for you every day. <br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-9989755512719330202011-12-28T02:05:00.000-06:002011-12-28T02:05:49.727-06:00Happy Half-Birthday!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wFv5syF0tjE/Tvq_PK1tMoI/AAAAAAAAAqo/riqtrN-XX3g/s1600/DSCN0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wFv5syF0tjE/Tvq_PK1tMoI/AAAAAAAAAqo/riqtrN-XX3g/s320/DSCN0927.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning 2011. Discovering the new car. She LOVES it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Today our sweet Stella is 18 months old - and to celebrate, we will be meeting her baby brother later today! I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little anxious about how she will react. I have been praying over her for months now though for this transition, and trust the Lord's timing and His ability to prepare her in ways that I never could! I haven't updated the blog in foooorevveeeerrrrr, and so I thought I would spend a few minutes giving an update on our Stella...kind of a highlight reel of what she's up to and into these days. I'll start with her likes for now, with hopes of expanding onto another subject in a future blog. :)<br />
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It blows our minds at the way her personality and individuality have just exploded in the last couple of months. She is becoming more and more independent and opinionated, and we are really starting to see how bright and creative she is. She is FUN and beautiful and happy, and we are so blessed to have her in our lives!<br />
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She loves Sesame Street, particularly Elmo...who can do no wrong. I never really understood the Elmo craze, but she is wild about that red monster! She will spot him across the store - literally - and start calling out "momo! momo!" and waving like crazy. She picked out Elmo PJ's at Target for her daddy, and we wrapped them up and gave them to him for Christmas. He wore them on Christmas morning for her, because he is pure awesomeness, and when she saw in the flesh the living combination of Elmo and daddy I thought she would faint from excitement. Her favorite parts of Sesame Street are the musical numbers and the vignettes with the Muppets. She is not so into the animation or claymation parts. She loves to dance to the music, and any music with a good beat is likely to get her bobbing and spinning (her signature move).<br />
She also loves babies and all baby care activities. (I am hoping this applies to baby Charlie!) She cuddles them and hugs and kisses them and feeds them and changes their diapers. She also rocks them and takes them for rides in the stroller and the swings. Her longstanding favorite is a beat up old newborn Cabbage Patch doll ("Bebe") that was mine as a child. My mom brought over some of my old toys that she had saved when Stella was newborn, and this summer she found that doll in the box and it was love at first sight. She has a couple other small dolls that are also dear friends, but they are all lower case babies. I have a special new doll for her when she comes to meet Charlie at the hospital, so we will see where she fits in the mix! <br />
I think nothing would please Stella more than to be able to just live outside. She is so happy just being outdoors. Whether she is riding in the bike trailer with dad or just wandering around collecting acorns she loves it. My parent's house with it's 2+acre backyard and creek and cows might as well be Disneyland. She is always excited to go explore with Papa Bob, and they spend lots of time goofing off, as he says, outside. We have to keep the deadbolts locked now at all times. She knows how to open the doors, and is always trying the handles to see if she can escape! <br />
She also has a very special bond with our older dog, Farai. She is fascinated by both dogs and thoroughly enjoys them both, but Farai has that kind of legendary Labrador patience with children that Stella senses and relishes. She hugs and kisses her and lays on her and rides her like a horse and chases her and tries to put various articles of clothing on her, and Farai has only and ever responded with stillness and gentleness. It absolutely melts my heart to see them together. She basically thinks Saul is the class clown - which he is - and she gets a good laugh out of his antics, but she doesn't follow him around and try to hang out with/on him. She really enjoys throwing the ball for him, and squeals with delight as he runs to get it. He is an outstanding retriever, and she seems to appreciate that about him. She also has figured out that she can get a great game of chase started by trying to grab his tail, and so they do that a couple of times a day. It's highly entertaining. <br />
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Thanks for reading! We'll post some pics of baby boy soon!Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-23568669360094588982011-07-02T15:45:00.000-05:002011-07-02T15:45:45.423-05:00Memory Lane: Happy 5th Anniversary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is our 5th anniversary. It doesn't even seem possible that 5 years have gone by...I still get "twitter-pated," as my friend </span><a href="http://julieforman.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julie</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> says, when he calls to say he's headed home. I can't even begin to describe the gratefulness in my heart to the Lord for giving me this great and luxurious love in my life. He serves my heart, strengthens me, makes me better, and brings so much joy to my life. I am looking forward to the next 50, Nate! And what an amazing blessing to know we are welcoming baby #2 this year! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here are some snapshots from memory lane in the last 5 years for your viewing pleasure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When Love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden…for even as Love crowns you, so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth, so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the Earth…all these things shall Love do unto you, that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge, become a fragment of Life’s heart…but, if in your fear you would seek only Love’s peace and Love’s pleasure, then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of Love’s threshing floor, into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears…Love gives naught but itself, and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; for Love is sufficient unto Love…and think not you can direct the course of Love, for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must have desires, let these be your desires: to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of Love; and to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate Love’s ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for the Beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">-Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet</span></div>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-35145266073748890132011-06-29T16:59:00.000-05:002011-06-29T16:59:39.751-05:001st Birthday Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We celebrated Stella's 1st Birthday a few days early, so that she could have a party with one of her best buddies, Max! Max's parents are dear friends of ours, and his birthday is only 4 days before hers. It was so much fun to work on this special party together to celebrate the big ONE! Here are some pics from the party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gumball cupcakes...mmmm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxl9V0ZBkq20Y6yjk5DqNXoF_SwVKzkZRjPPQeKGxDw6MBJIRCL56s8akv8ttTfb0z4JykVa3RV2qjmRy9gzBBjF97IL_hveyiEDANnjQ8RvIPPwgwaisK_bsQAEAJwaac6zChnKAJ6Ld/s1600/_6252103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxl9V0ZBkq20Y6yjk5DqNXoF_SwVKzkZRjPPQeKGxDw6MBJIRCL56s8akv8ttTfb0z4JykVa3RV2qjmRy9gzBBjF97IL_hveyiEDANnjQ8RvIPPwgwaisK_bsQAEAJwaac6zChnKAJ6Ld/s320/_6252103.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highchairs are ready for some cake smashing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLEvmxGEe9pI6QiLLbUu_mIe-0niTPU9KWW4dsIhtJqODiBYk6x2eiLtEQFJMh1Ku9Vle3aQh6hoWHNorcccS4vHKMnonOFt1tSuZM5oCmqFUdQ23IQ0saO2rW0PCAPwWnXOKPLNGtiVe/s1600/_6252091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLEvmxGEe9pI6QiLLbUu_mIe-0niTPU9KWW4dsIhtJqODiBYk6x2eiLtEQFJMh1Ku9Vle3aQh6hoWHNorcccS4vHKMnonOFt1tSuZM5oCmqFUdQ23IQ0saO2rW0PCAPwWnXOKPLNGtiVe/s320/_6252091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smash cake! A Stella signature matroyshka :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihuLg-dqJY6PPFfdAnpqICDEOM_xyXXBcTI8GvzKjUDdujxSDwsqV9ibfJpYEufAdukGjB9kpV2DY6BzS0JPhFBccP1WsSWdr1sWBjLm3uAkyQZ8Mlt-AqeBB_MMBWfq9rJ13DJsgVpv8/s1600/_6252095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihuLg-dqJY6PPFfdAnpqICDEOM_xyXXBcTI8GvzKjUDdujxSDwsqV9ibfJpYEufAdukGjB9kpV2DY6BzS0JPhFBccP1WsSWdr1sWBjLm3uAkyQZ8Mlt-AqeBB_MMBWfq9rJ13DJsgVpv8/s320/_6252095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sweets table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrLqbkureTUTDLaRUeHzDEm5GbR2mRNK0keegg87VFAzskwtpjtfgJJ0QtpdQqKyBmya6DXGI7Gek6Z3-pa0rK6-20YebnzT0USp4b0F8iIcsnbi9BOi1uB7yfYkIT04sWQydbEZwRJLx/s1600/_6252115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrLqbkureTUTDLaRUeHzDEm5GbR2mRNK0keegg87VFAzskwtpjtfgJJ0QtpdQqKyBmya6DXGI7Gek6Z3-pa0rK6-20YebnzT0USp4b0F8iIcsnbi9BOi1uB7yfYkIT04sWQydbEZwRJLx/s320/_6252115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrNyxRVi3J5Ncjx2nzLdtEbRnY5Mpg4fT2UnMESmsvy21x_tbtS6fgRc0QZnMcUUKXqBAskeQXjFk298_oO7acZKSXmuMzHDXKAHb34bHZN2oyG83CRRC5ajQipcKpM6VnvePlAIkPGUU/s1600/_6252104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrNyxRVi3J5Ncjx2nzLdtEbRnY5Mpg4fT2UnMESmsvy21x_tbtS6fgRc0QZnMcUUKXqBAskeQXjFk298_oO7acZKSXmuMzHDXKAHb34bHZN2oyG83CRRC5ajQipcKpM6VnvePlAIkPGUU/s320/_6252104.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still have yet to take down the balloon garland. I'm thinking of just leaving it up. It makes me laugh! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQirqrcTfiBgCq8AVOj8Y6weodBmGFEyjEsT4_mg82GtJRQkCuJajAWNmz3ERO7CCDLJC7lac2u-rrfc7Fdz012z-QEwM70bv9Slq1-JVdzxXSfSpyiQ8bPD0YsWy_Zfvgcq15NbXimh3/s1600/_6252096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQirqrcTfiBgCq8AVOj8Y6weodBmGFEyjEsT4_mg82GtJRQkCuJajAWNmz3ERO7CCDLJC7lac2u-rrfc7Fdz012z-QEwM70bv9Slq1-JVdzxXSfSpyiQ8bPD0YsWy_Zfvgcq15NbXimh3/s320/_6252096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 12 months of Stella </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max and Stella with their parents</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are really into hugging and kissing right now. She's about to kiss the cake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party girl on the loose! She had so much fun. She really likes all the attention...you know, people clapping for her, singing to her, clamoring for her affections, etc. I have no idea where she gets that from. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing in the ball pool was a big hit with the babies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6SfLuVGGFFC8uVfaIhmawlJBGhxs-M4MsJ72Mkn56f94V_p6Nelw97dZ9YuMZdlNoAY9AOe6FHDpowLtpQZWJSKz4Hkdr3Mbi5RTYgsLu7S4nQEt5XuxkyBeJD-To7aXNNpvVTKrCXv1/s1600/_6252098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6SfLuVGGFFC8uVfaIhmawlJBGhxs-M4MsJ72Mkn56f94V_p6Nelw97dZ9YuMZdlNoAY9AOe6FHDpowLtpQZWJSKz4Hkdr3Mbi5RTYgsLu7S4nQEt5XuxkyBeJD-To7aXNNpvVTKrCXv1/s320/_6252098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday wish table - to leave a wish for the kiddos. And grab a cookie favor!<br />
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</tbody></table>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-75546066750325587872011-04-27T11:39:00.001-05:002011-04-27T11:39:51.645-05:00On the move!Hello friends! At long last, sweet Stella is crawling. I may try to put a video of her second crawl on YouTube, but I need to figure out how to truncate it before I do it. We missed the first crawl on video, but did get to share it in person with Nate's aunt and uncle at their house in Houston. She had a captive audience! <br /><br />She crawled for the first time on Saturday, and by Monday morning she was basically proficient. She is on the go, people! It seems like she waited to crawl until she knew she could master it. This is definitely Nate's child...if you are going to do something, might as well be awesome at it. ;)<br /><br />I am just loving this new phase! It captivates me to get to know her in this new way. I finally get to see what really interests her (colors, textures, objects) instead of what interests her among the limited options I lay out in front of her. Plus, is there anything sweeter in this world than a baby crawling over of their own will and reaching out to you? Talk about melting my heart!<br /><br />She likes to follow the dogs, and I think she's pretty proud of herself when she catches them. One of the first crawling shenanigans was yesterday when she followed Saul into the laundry room and then dumped out his bucket of water.<br /><br />Here she is with her partner in crime. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/27/1678.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/27/s_1678.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Let the crawling games begin!<br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-49806950012002290762011-02-28T21:27:00.000-06:002011-02-28T21:27:04.510-06:008 Glorious Months<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stella is 8 months old today, and I just really feel like celebrating! I realize how fortunate I am that I have so very much enjoyed every day and every phase of her life, but the last few weeks have just been so very <em>fun</em>. I love it. I love being with her and being her mom so much. I am so thankful that I get to spend my days with her, and that my sweet Nate is so amazingly supportive of me being here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is our sweet princess. She was 22 pounds last week at Nate's office! She loves to eat, and gets excited about nursing or when she sees me preparing her food. I make most of what she eats at home, and she has liked everything I have ever made. I would say her favorite is blueberry applesauce. Great taste, no? We split a banana most mornings, and she loves bananas too. She has only ever distinctly not liked and not wanted to eat one thing - yellow squash with potatoes (store bought). I couldn't blame her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took a few pictures outside today. My spring fever is kickin' in big time y'all! My girl loves to be outside, and we had a great time together sitting out in the yard today. She also enjoys all sorts of toys, and just started yesterday actually tipping the toy basket in the living room on end and taking them all out to survey. It was just way too cute to watch her do that. She looked like such a big girl! She loves the dogs too, and that just makes my heart so happy. She watches them as they come and go, and laughs and laughs when they lick her hands. She is not afraid of them at all, and I can see how she is beginning to mimic the way I pet them. The dogs are sweet to her and observe her need for space and gentleness. We are a happy pack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have also been in a great routine over the last few weeks, about since we got back home after the first of the year. We thrive on routine. She has been having more regular bedtime (between 7-8 PM) and naps, and typically sleeps about 10-11 hours at night. Such a blessing! It gives Nate and I a little time to ourselves in the evening after she goes to sleep. She takes usually 2, but sometimes 3 short naps during the day. She has a very distinct naptime "tell." When she starts rubbing those eyes, she needs to go lie down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We still haven't seen any crawling motions yet, but she is starting to be willing to flop on her tummy to reach out for something she wants. She does a good job pushing up (upward dog) when she is on her tummy, and sometimes she will wiggle backward a little bit. She is in no big rush to to anywhere though. That's okay by me. She's got the rest of her life to go-go-go. It is an act of personal discipline for me to not rush her, and this is one area in which I am practicing enjoying and observing and not hurrying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love seeing her sense of humor, and how she loves to laugh. One of the best things is the expression on her face when she knows that she is being funny. I laugh at her a lot, so I get to see that face a lot. Winner, winner! She also has a great nose crinkling grin. It is just so precious. Keeps me busy trying to think of things to do to make her smile and laugh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll close with this one for now. We love you so much sweet girl. You are a treasure to us, and I thank the Lord every single day for trusting us with special you. </span>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-45119498947826490212011-02-19T12:12:00.001-06:002011-02-19T12:12:50.866-06:00We ran away!Hello from San Antonio! We spontaneously ran away on Friday, and have had a lovely little get away. Here's Stella excited about the trip in our hotel room. She did have to point out that she was dubious about the authenticity of this chair, as she is unaware of such a thing as a red zebra. I mean, she is Nate's daughter afterall. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/19/1796.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/19/s_1796.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />It is misting this morning, but we had to get a couple Riverwalk shots with Missy Stella, as my mom calls her. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/19/1797.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/19/s_1797.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/19/1798.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/19/s_1798.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The Hotel Contessa was really nice! Last night was perfect on the river too. <br /><br />This morning we went to Lulu's to check out the Man vs Food-worthy cinnamon rolls. They really were as ginormous as Adam Richman promised, and good, but not as good as my dad's. Stella didn't finish hers. :)<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/19/1799.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/19/s_1799.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Here's a little Becca lore from the archives....<br /><br />We drove by the house my parents built when we lived down here. Below is a picture. I lived here when I was in 6th and 7th grades. It was fun to see how much things have changed in the area, and I realized that because of the way I grew up military that I have very few places that I ever go back to and can see the passage of time like that. It was sweet to walk down memory lane and share some of those fun memories with Nate. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/19/1800.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/19/s_1800.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I love Brenham for Brenham, but I also love how you can sneak off to the big city so easily. <br /><br />Adios from San Antonio!<br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-61622957944679818072011-02-12T10:46:00.001-06:002011-02-12T10:46:39.352-06:00Belly flops!Miss Stella has finally decided that maybe a little tummy time here and there isn't so bad. This week, she is belly flopping in the direction of things she wants. This is basically our first sign of any locomotion, and a definite change from her staunch avoid the tummy at all times stance! <br /><br />She's spotted her keys...here we go!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/12/1512.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/12/s_1512.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Reaching. Are you sure you don't want to just hand me those keys, mom?<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/12/1513.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/12/s_1513.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Mid-set break. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/12/1514.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/12/s_1514.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I've got 'em! Yes!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/12/1515.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/12/s_1515.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />And into the mouth they go...<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/12/1517.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/12/s_1517.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-31597357955426074742011-02-11T14:50:00.001-06:002011-02-11T20:33:32.064-06:00Valen-teenyI am having so much fun with Valentine's Day this year. Making cards, decorating, baking, dressing Stella in the most precious heart outfits every day. I am just loving it...and what's not to love? A holiday celebrating the wonderful gift of love that we get to experience. <br /><br />I was thinking about our first married Valentine's Day yesterday. I was in my 4th year of pharmacy school and Nate was in his second year of residency. We were both on the same adult medicine service that month, except that I rounded with the day crew and he was on nights. So, we didn't see each other much that month. On Valentine's morning, I walked into the report room and there was a bouquet of flowers waiting for me that he had left in there before he went home to sleep. So sweet, and such a funny surprise. I was in a really good mood pre-rounding that morning! I knew he would be coming home to go to sleep, so when I left that morning, I had left him a Reese's heart (his favorite candy) on his pillow with a card. Later that day when I talked to him, I thanked him for the flowers and he thanked me for the card. I said something along the lines of, "Did you eat the chocolate before or after you went to sleep?" He said he never saw any chocolate. I told him that there had been chocolate at one point. After a little looking around he ended up finding the remnants of the package hidden in one of Farai's lurking spots. Happy Valentine's Day to her! <br /><br />Hopefully, we will try to keep the canine-kind's chocolate consumption to a low level this year. Although, I have found Saul quite useful in cleaning up spilled candy pearls! Wishing you all a very happy day!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/11/2627.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/11/s_2627.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /> <br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-770591733305666942011-01-14T21:21:00.001-06:002011-01-14T21:21:19.996-06:00Happy 2011!It's been a while friends, but I would like to say Happy 2011 to you all!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/11/01/14/2975.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/11/01/14/s_2975.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Believe it or not one of the few things that guarantee a fuss-fest from this sweet thing is seeing me in front of the computer. Screen radar I guess. Therefore my computer time has dwindled down dramatically. Whatcha gonna do? I'm hoping to work in some more blogging into our lives this year...we'll see how it goes!<br />Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-49360676537137742982010-10-09T10:40:00.000-05:002010-10-09T10:40:42.191-05:00Off to See the Wizard!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Near the end of September Nate, Stella, and I ventured north...to the Emerald City (and beyond!). Nate's extended family is mostly in Washington, and we had been planning on making a fall trip to show her off when Nate's maternal grandmother passed away. It was decided to have her memorial service and celebrate her life up in the mountains she loved near where she grew up. And so the trip was booked and off we went on our northwestern adventure!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwXr3MYPvxUiwhlT6rGbpEODbv_A2ct4RuJ6Ks365EWENIBrv5QL78KVa19FYaKLBRH8z5KaslQ8HeFSUAK6QCoy9zXjOfcptOvobkuRUNjK-llmQObYJJ4Fb01DO23p9q-K6B7hhyx7n/s1600/DSCN0347.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwXr3MYPvxUiwhlT6rGbpEODbv_A2ct4RuJ6Ks365EWENIBrv5QL78KVa19FYaKLBRH8z5KaslQ8HeFSUAK6QCoy9zXjOfcptOvobkuRUNjK-llmQObYJJ4Fb01DO23p9q-K6B7hhyx7n/s320/DSCN0347.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trip began with Stella's first airplane trip. My dad, the pilot, would have been so proud of her if he could have seen her just relax and enjoy the flight. She's a natural traveler, just like me. Why is this the caption under a naked baby picture? Well, it has to do with the shock to the system I received on the flight from the disposable diapers! We use cloth diapers at home, and I was just mentally unprepared for the switch while traveling. I have never had poo leak from a cloth diaper much less be expelled from one with great force! Needless to say, I was glad to be able to give her her very first sink bath in Great Aunt Sabra's kitchen when we arrived.</span> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9x24DGt8UErGMsUwBvcxbhjLqwMNeHBOTQuHlxP3FNvSX4RnL1yco_0edD1Mo7DxV0wMsdlXLzWAwtuSv1H4Ql8l2nee5gqaw2YAzGz-OmbG9M0DlQj11rksL4GxMyR0FRm90UsCIDiN/s1600/DSCN0350.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9x24DGt8UErGMsUwBvcxbhjLqwMNeHBOTQuHlxP3FNvSX4RnL1yco_0edD1Mo7DxV0wMsdlXLzWAwtuSv1H4Ql8l2nee5gqaw2YAzGz-OmbG9M0DlQj11rksL4GxMyR0FRm90UsCIDiN/s320/DSCN0350.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here Stella is with her namesake, Great Grandma Pearl!</span> </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zGyTyKIYdHYPavf0qXqAyBzsNCfCAEGV3Hkkpau2GFRCIjVebnjYXJlpvSwBAI5JZCMGE0kmHpjB0yCaGE6fSX4e0OH2YP-DWH5XdE-Wq-G1_TOWaZb5SJQTRfGDsQsZw6ovDBxU2o2Q/s1600/DSCN0366.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zGyTyKIYdHYPavf0qXqAyBzsNCfCAEGV3Hkkpau2GFRCIjVebnjYXJlpvSwBAI5JZCMGE0kmHpjB0yCaGE6fSX4e0OH2YP-DWH5XdE-Wq-G1_TOWaZb5SJQTRfGDsQsZw6ovDBxU2o2Q/s320/DSCN0366.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stella enjoys her Uncle Jack tremendously. He is gonna be a great dad in a few months!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_zJ4PK_EwK2QhljZFlDD1lmCMlUb54012r1f8vxQm9J_MUZcjhy-wQvH_eoNaNP-molyG2QAAwLAJVIoWXzbQwNfCwmv5liFn5-dHzI57DLY-2r4lutuReH5ld2lPJxV6S4WErlbHEni/s1600/DSCN0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_zJ4PK_EwK2QhljZFlDD1lmCMlUb54012r1f8vxQm9J_MUZcjhy-wQvH_eoNaNP-molyG2QAAwLAJVIoWXzbQwNfCwmv5liFn5-dHzI57DLY-2r4lutuReH5ld2lPJxV6S4WErlbHEni/s320/DSCN0381.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad was so excited to introduce the baby to one of his favorite places ever! </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2xQOp21bbKcD0MFHW-fm2cpT3OJ6QU3jjXeyvRkPMaMnW_a82zytDv_uAIgTMi1sbl9EgwYFJq2mVxXp63jFJF-jaY5GQZTO-ki9ZbSSpLKKXprpF5SQKYA-BOqFofKlBZpSeESkum1D/s1600/DSCN0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2xQOp21bbKcD0MFHW-fm2cpT3OJ6QU3jjXeyvRkPMaMnW_a82zytDv_uAIgTMi1sbl9EgwYFJq2mVxXp63jFJF-jaY5GQZTO-ki9ZbSSpLKKXprpF5SQKYA-BOqFofKlBZpSeESkum1D/s320/DSCN0390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stella wrapped 3 generations of Simons men around her finger simultaneously! Great grandpa was smitten with her, "she's a born winner!" and "that's one cute baby!" he exclaimed. They cooed at each other for a little while...what a treasure to witness!</span> </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGt37zYT08c2MJ5wjDPDtLUZ-dp-dlQkR_ga7v9g2ut2YL_1UFzRf1-lJ_xXv7O6WkZ9U5mHR5ENakFJ-r9o3jqL1-J53uAXnAMnuxfmjDyPACnxPdhiSx1Nunwir4R19NHTG7ImNmNr4/s1600/DSCN0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGt37zYT08c2MJ5wjDPDtLUZ-dp-dlQkR_ga7v9g2ut2YL_1UFzRf1-lJ_xXv7O6WkZ9U5mHR5ENakFJ-r9o3jqL1-J53uAXnAMnuxfmjDyPACnxPdhiSx1Nunwir4R19NHTG7ImNmNr4/s320/DSCN0402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved watching all the wonderful people in her life getting to love on her, including Great Aunt Lucy and Cousin Paloma!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmEfoKJVfrXfHswlwHp_x50i4C7LNy7zWG2t75UPWYgQcAuswFivPfAbiclREWegWBZxveWOak8Lh0QqjcTfWfgLUJS96xl5Ec_z4VtfLr8H0Z4SmSmq2EU22yapcgz1IGrcrA4nCrO9x/s1600/DSCN0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmEfoKJVfrXfHswlwHp_x50i4C7LNy7zWG2t75UPWYgQcAuswFivPfAbiclREWegWBZxveWOak8Lh0QqjcTfWfgLUJS96xl5Ec_z4VtfLr8H0Z4SmSmq2EU22yapcgz1IGrcrA4nCrO9x/s320/DSCN0407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj5KXxWjUvsw4jzXLhEjsyIz4r7VqrWC3pKYnSLsojvZHJqRKvhPRFvcFp2ObZii8zdM7mlQVMGIYx9J4N3EvgnvKNtvqZyAjmF5N9ncF1NRBvegeLQJScuPoLJGOIpSQJ4DPNvb-an7h/s1600/DSCN0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj5KXxWjUvsw4jzXLhEjsyIz4r7VqrWC3pKYnSLsojvZHJqRKvhPRFvcFp2ObZii8zdM7mlQVMGIYx9J4N3EvgnvKNtvqZyAjmF5N9ncF1NRBvegeLQJScuPoLJGOIpSQJ4DPNvb-an7h/s320/DSCN0410.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baby's first mountains! Here we are near Snoqualmie Pass. My outdoor-lovin' baby was in heaven.</span></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfd_5tvYW4xjqyqcQmzivAlSFxuIqo2LnpctWKRG_KVrQ7dlXAApqSs28yOBWUBUW8MSTWYFAebazBSBTzSmCBEaoczgTw2RXOxzJiVZ49PjdZRPkuHRF__aiTZttl3eYFDSVedFvwr4Y/s1600/DSCN0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfd_5tvYW4xjqyqcQmzivAlSFxuIqo2LnpctWKRG_KVrQ7dlXAApqSs28yOBWUBUW8MSTWYFAebazBSBTzSmCBEaoczgTw2RXOxzJiVZ49PjdZRPkuHRF__aiTZttl3eYFDSVedFvwr4Y/s320/DSCN0417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was at a cabin in the Cascades where Great Grandma Reynolds' memorial service was held. It was a beautiful place to spend time together remembering how blessed we all are to have had such a wonderful woman in our lives. Stella is enjoying getting to know Great Aunt Teresa in this picture.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdPUslrpg9g1Vk2OsuEPKDRV2533cBUFsMvEcPck7jTOnqu_-jfK5Z8QsO3E-BhR8vg7xZBQY-URpUMHzbHAd3uNk7sPeMoE2rgb3EC6hEc2-r56M6V32S3HCRumyRyWHqrrz9bb2ur3o/s1600/DSCN0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdPUslrpg9g1Vk2OsuEPKDRV2533cBUFsMvEcPck7jTOnqu_-jfK5Z8QsO3E-BhR8vg7xZBQY-URpUMHzbHAd3uNk7sPeMoE2rgb3EC6hEc2-r56M6V32S3HCRumyRyWHqrrz9bb2ur3o/s320/DSCN0434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2ZQOW0yWnP4M6ObCyy6PC0c2LQQoLD4B7Aef868cCUWW181EzMPMG0f4JVY4BBEb-BMQZAcbGhPvPy2WlpLeo8X_mzilGNPVyYBsO84DWTk2HqoEvAO771yKncLYjd1Osg5ggjAJIxgS/s1600/DSCN0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2ZQOW0yWnP4M6ObCyy6PC0c2LQQoLD4B7Aef868cCUWW181EzMPMG0f4JVY4BBEb-BMQZAcbGhPvPy2WlpLeo8X_mzilGNPVyYBsO84DWTk2HqoEvAO771yKncLYjd1Osg5ggjAJIxgS/s320/DSCN0435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a couple of sweet baby and daddy moments I snuck up on while they were out on the deck enjoying the view. Priceless.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ4qAyqDP9sbWH-afB9recYbSyBT6BhKp1cRnlp0jgD5Mj7CSrLM5-q3oy3OB0cef-QTuYyfI7x1hPo_LNWLoIki0jCNScjxNRt2pTEG8kuiyqs0qGnQQSHEUMKuTfY_RXKHV14REfKd8/s1600/DSCN0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ4qAyqDP9sbWH-afB9recYbSyBT6BhKp1cRnlp0jgD5Mj7CSrLM5-q3oy3OB0cef-QTuYyfI7x1hPo_LNWLoIki0jCNScjxNRt2pTEG8kuiyqs0qGnQQSHEUMKuTfY_RXKHV14REfKd8/s320/DSCN0441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stella with two of her very favorite people - Mimi and Grandpa! She is such a lucky girl to have such awesome grandparents.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKmQRsTRiusyTw-27IIFNmnw4c5YVQBiCV_ANiMGE92xwpoCMhielUVIJtU6ZNKvALeEY0KFPpD239We05deVjXeA5ONVhjHPeHn6Sfp5v5RV5ZASbRxWyNxj0M5gbsA-9jn5Mey9gKl6/s1600/DSCN0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKmQRsTRiusyTw-27IIFNmnw4c5YVQBiCV_ANiMGE92xwpoCMhielUVIJtU6ZNKvALeEY0KFPpD239We05deVjXeA5ONVhjHPeHn6Sfp5v5RV5ZASbRxWyNxj0M5gbsA-9jn5Mey9gKl6/s320/DSCN0443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aunt Lael and Uncle Jack (and baby Nora - yay!!!) traveled back to Seattle with us via Chinook Pass. I love that drive, and I loooove these two crazy kids.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4_Iy0zYATKkARjDfz-4RmeMOXs-j_OLIublbaJlAeFht__Kax2PHfjBLdqimU6zA2W80YtyCa-uyNUiFpjuf9ErobLSaucgqNgpC67cGtYa4bd2nSKRmp-KzMoGqaJ9EPKDhRltTok3l/s1600/DSCN0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4_Iy0zYATKkARjDfz-4RmeMOXs-j_OLIublbaJlAeFht__Kax2PHfjBLdqimU6zA2W80YtyCa-uyNUiFpjuf9ErobLSaucgqNgpC67cGtYa4bd2nSKRmp-KzMoGqaJ9EPKDhRltTok3l/s320/DSCN0446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we are...gorillas in the mist.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ9XpNfmprW9_wx1YgWq1g3wgQ2uftId8v7-PxyIWzIOTet-ODpikBL8FkOeBa38XVVmdjD5A3ReL-dIlmRaiyOpE8keWASrKaRaNkGJNDzaTiIZxNf9IJEHGvd0nUltArocUtJqr54-b/s1600/DSCN0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJ9XpNfmprW9_wx1YgWq1g3wgQ2uftId8v7-PxyIWzIOTet-ODpikBL8FkOeBa38XVVmdjD5A3ReL-dIlmRaiyOpE8keWASrKaRaNkGJNDzaTiIZxNf9IJEHGvd0nUltArocUtJqr54-b/s320/DSCN0452.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lael finds a tree that's just her size!</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then later, so does Stella!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFycTrfIjFnv5WIyowsNaJ9pgA9QBBa_ZWhJDsC98oS1yZVCKpeZL9Fps0keaGFcINPeXHBh1ofhmxVDbUSW6v9bt1oX6QFc-C-kGwp2rBhhLgYPpG9DS7WeZul8meRYh930mDqbL0pht6/s1600/DSCN0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFycTrfIjFnv5WIyowsNaJ9pgA9QBBa_ZWhJDsC98oS1yZVCKpeZL9Fps0keaGFcINPeXHBh1ofhmxVDbUSW6v9bt1oX6QFc-C-kGwp2rBhhLgYPpG9DS7WeZul8meRYh930mDqbL0pht6/s320/DSCN0461.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg4V98vnc3Jr-BW0jpzLnkPkCNS5SDjNHcGcyH6aWpnt7xieRSMKhSoBXNsj1Di6A3StnWs88n5jvGtoJj_5KFUYugbtnP2l2kuKlHfvRS2Ex1qgz_RDr_ujE3lOS6lxCXy6i7PFgnI-B/s1600/DSCN0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg4V98vnc3Jr-BW0jpzLnkPkCNS5SDjNHcGcyH6aWpnt7xieRSMKhSoBXNsj1Di6A3StnWs88n5jvGtoJj_5KFUYugbtnP2l2kuKlHfvRS2Ex1qgz_RDr_ujE3lOS6lxCXy6i7PFgnI-B/s320/DSCN0470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We always like to prowl around the market when we are in town. We enjoyed some delicious gelato which Lael is nicely modeling. I have no recollection of what was actually being said...but I love this picture because it features a classic Jack-in-response-to-Lael face, equal parts surprise/delight/intrigue/confusion. Hilarious.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gNBUVr_yKSaRogvX0ix1mTHM7ZlP88DhofiCMnbM6wo5pvJQRkUqLqlraZ8ED3r2PZsKeTnhe1rUfDaYWaPqbDQr5w0jiyX9UCA1O_9wDTFqABX6v_-uYjihYY0CQPiLDjuXad-ZEvii/s1600/DSCN0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gNBUVr_yKSaRogvX0ix1mTHM7ZlP88DhofiCMnbM6wo5pvJQRkUqLqlraZ8ED3r2PZsKeTnhe1rUfDaYWaPqbDQr5w0jiyX9UCA1O_9wDTFqABX6v_-uYjihYY0CQPiLDjuXad-ZEvii/s320/DSCN0473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here Stella sleeps through a street concert, vendors yelling, cars honking, gulls gulling (or whatever those terrifying birds do), a Breast Cancer 5K, and mommy laughing and moving around. She is at one with the universe.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxZ3fda47zzCAOxLYEALZhiVrSaUNH0gSkvT33uB3kRyrJnQODV_nZJuM6MxobUvMjdww0yvevIBoIkjlQoJ4QnHeqy1CZHV1bUNllEcTdkKFSF_9dtn5g35zoU3SbkX9BFxTUKEu3WsQ/s1600/DSCN0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxZ3fda47zzCAOxLYEALZhiVrSaUNH0gSkvT33uB3kRyrJnQODV_nZJuM6MxobUvMjdww0yvevIBoIkjlQoJ4QnHeqy1CZHV1bUNllEcTdkKFSF_9dtn5g35zoU3SbkX9BFxTUKEu3WsQ/s320/DSCN0496.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One last family dinner before heading back to Texas. Stella enjoys some more bonding with Great Aunts Sabra, Tory (below...the infamous stink-eye!) and Leslie! She has no shortage of awesome aunts, that is for sure.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vvftmTJcD9cFZ3IuP0DzaVy7nc2H5rXlplEm41wLkLNQC3Iz8HsfVbpCDsQTg-bwarn0ESRs1JwAq4v-9A5FQBGw0PbnfvP9KFH-evzKyH7erO1COovGn22xFUiFeRV4jw7VAYJhg7fh/s1600/DSCN0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vvftmTJcD9cFZ3IuP0DzaVy7nc2H5rXlplEm41wLkLNQC3Iz8HsfVbpCDsQTg-bwarn0ESRs1JwAq4v-9A5FQBGw0PbnfvP9KFH-evzKyH7erO1COovGn22xFUiFeRV4jw7VAYJhg7fh/s320/DSCN0499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gIRt7yqN-MW_EaowinKFMKcAIKuelCd71yHtAZcMG2dHXevHjoUagH1sFlsRX0ym5m2bMfK6qq29WR0m5qwli-YeG8eYsA3IPa-EAh_xnG7D7X6Lax55FRrMHXsNyyAFqwzin_GPCk1A/s1600/DSCN0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gIRt7yqN-MW_EaowinKFMKcAIKuelCd71yHtAZcMG2dHXevHjoUagH1sFlsRX0ym5m2bMfK6qq29WR0m5qwli-YeG8eYsA3IPa-EAh_xnG7D7X6Lax55FRrMHXsNyyAFqwzin_GPCk1A/s320/DSCN0474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I will close this post with a slightly blurry parting shot of the Oklahoma branch of the Simons clan (minus sleeping Stella) with Great Grandpa.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVOU4zyvjjMAqHZ5c_cJjTIdcWpZVWUw_kDb1d6_2UTAvsnay2xNxXrBOZYob8CrOuPHxrBC-en-sYzhY9e68BDA0TmlPs_E7Tkyfkf_-s-8kyvYIHR2-iac5HuWm5rLgjDwx9kw_5t5Z/s1600/DSCN0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVOU4zyvjjMAqHZ5c_cJjTIdcWpZVWUw_kDb1d6_2UTAvsnay2xNxXrBOZYob8CrOuPHxrBC-en-sYzhY9e68BDA0TmlPs_E7Tkyfkf_-s-8kyvYIHR2-iac5HuWm5rLgjDwx9kw_5t5Z/s320/DSCN0507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-25769750522768978232010-09-14T14:00:00.001-05:002010-09-14T14:09:26.568-05:00August 2010 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The people have spoken! (Okay, really it was just JB...) Here are some pics of sweet baby Stella from August 2010. I apologize in advance for the spacing. I hate the way blogger does photos! Enjoy!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnghY-3e0kxRAIFCDO0LgBdHaU-eDM5oasr9OfCaxyfp4WkCYKfWSs3E3MVGzn2T3j4s2nSVSAnho0XonxBoRIVPRnZpmzOGyiRYSYBEwAxSicBh9UMp85vX1GOFIKycfoleQyDy22CUE/s1600/8.19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnghY-3e0kxRAIFCDO0LgBdHaU-eDM5oasr9OfCaxyfp4WkCYKfWSs3E3MVGzn2T3j4s2nSVSAnho0XonxBoRIVPRnZpmzOGyiRYSYBEwAxSicBh9UMp85vX1GOFIKycfoleQyDy22CUE/s320/8.19.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Play time with daddy</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAvljFMLeJuG5wktkD8F5SwYgqYR8BXtU8WqJhCyCPpuDaWy296mvI7rUgVfY2CXhLzbgIn1BRhbst-rt2gYrFki-w1O_DGVQ8NcAZ6QuIm4ZNsAoy72Brkhapi8pyK3O4NUhCanXHSQ/s1600/8.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAvljFMLeJuG5wktkD8F5SwYgqYR8BXtU8WqJhCyCPpuDaWy296mvI7rUgVfY2CXhLzbgIn1BRhbst-rt2gYrFki-w1O_DGVQ8NcAZ6QuIm4ZNsAoy72Brkhapi8pyK3O4NUhCanXHSQ/s320/8.2.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love wearing her around. I can't think of anything that snuggling <em>doesn't </em>improve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E25qNd__Y8X1w88FKxcWKbQ2i_JODjTbaRRCpzf-pdBDh_a_kF2SnAs2QzCTlINMRF3ItpZJVAkIrHntVrnzHcZ0HjTAKN4PJ-Ul9U4w0hyCm2akh1-vPTSSH8vOCE6HsJ7Krs6yP8E/s1600/8.18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E25qNd__Y8X1w88FKxcWKbQ2i_JODjTbaRRCpzf-pdBDh_a_kF2SnAs2QzCTlINMRF3ItpZJVAkIrHntVrnzHcZ0HjTAKN4PJ-Ul9U4w0hyCm2akh1-vPTSSH8vOCE6HsJ7Krs6yP8E/s320/8.18.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Showing off her poodle skirt at the diner!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuY_PGbQ9azMx90QX41hmfUCy18VTneHTi6w8TVZZChTWa-Sk3NvZRfk5Mhe2xdBMOsTikQbP_MncR6La6QtgY8VxU_ZAF9JrPdcI_yyAF3EcrRX8PxSpWzGXN7zf7-JlgkLaUrXzJkE/s1600/8.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuY_PGbQ9azMx90QX41hmfUCy18VTneHTi6w8TVZZChTWa-Sk3NvZRfk5Mhe2xdBMOsTikQbP_MncR6La6QtgY8VxU_ZAF9JrPdcI_yyAF3EcrRX8PxSpWzGXN7zf7-JlgkLaUrXzJkE/s320/8.1.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were so excited any time she had those pretty eyes open early in the month. It wasn't to often...so we grabbed the camera!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAdlSeJjMYNikKQoYG3GIv-U4MkJOfCI4LHbyy0lyI2m4Kv97fOOHE1l9P6vYRml0YOdYhyphenhyphenmJG_NENTmU09_X8bRvtzRWmGO68CEqfjuD09In1PgZX3ioyttBCqHqSPojb2_JA50GY3Y/s1600/8.4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAdlSeJjMYNikKQoYG3GIv-U4MkJOfCI4LHbyy0lyI2m4Kv97fOOHE1l9P6vYRml0YOdYhyphenhyphenmJG_NENTmU09_X8bRvtzRWmGO68CEqfjuD09In1PgZX3ioyttBCqHqSPojb2_JA50GY3Y/s320/8.4.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She loves having her hands up by her face. I love it too. Do I sense a flair for the dramatic?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9GdNU2wjU_1hexVNtFxgJmHyY0nMZL0nXZCMkl79-DHNyeexHvsNjEtOln6XbzK7C5lZ-hMoWhrDEBr7-bV_ETGOOBJqeAZmPl56Dco8vdUZ9et2wAeEA-tUtEnKOZy9f97HVUjJLR8/s1600/8.5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9GdNU2wjU_1hexVNtFxgJmHyY0nMZL0nXZCMkl79-DHNyeexHvsNjEtOln6XbzK7C5lZ-hMoWhrDEBr7-bV_ETGOOBJqeAZmPl56Dco8vdUZ9et2wAeEA-tUtEnKOZy9f97HVUjJLR8/s320/8.5.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's been so good at restaurants so far. It's a blessing. This day we were at good ole El Charro T with the Parker's.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv0rL2oXGNv0sYAuPQnXaUTVofG8e-rd4v6Iw2cIWDVTnxhGiUMTSL7Wum3cpR3SNRB7YlCU1KZSqE5IZzuPyO7YtukxuRaJaLYQOLzwjS5o9rg-PxRIxxgBOMs370ZB59tNtoYRTdrU/s1600/8.6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv0rL2oXGNv0sYAuPQnXaUTVofG8e-rd4v6Iw2cIWDVTnxhGiUMTSL7Wum3cpR3SNRB7YlCU1KZSqE5IZzuPyO7YtukxuRaJaLYQOLzwjS5o9rg-PxRIxxgBOMs370ZB59tNtoYRTdrU/s320/8.6.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A day out with her buddy </span><a href="http://www.busybevers.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Max</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYZ0u6d1j7PGfaxF4uZFm9yJA7g2F7FKWIx6lzwgs2Uoho42jW0HMH96jZSVZuNIFukh4pFK_jXUsXPG0yMUIcL7Tkb7GO2eX0QyPqk3DpsMzUVhfcf5pjTXqLc0rTR22aCE2xNlPEaw/s1600/8.7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYZ0u6d1j7PGfaxF4uZFm9yJA7g2F7FKWIx6lzwgs2Uoho42jW0HMH96jZSVZuNIFukh4pFK_jXUsXPG0yMUIcL7Tkb7GO2eX0QyPqk3DpsMzUVhfcf5pjTXqLc0rTR22aCE2xNlPEaw/s320/8.7.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes she gets to "help" daddy work. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQo_ZiG4JV_Fn3NDwpqcBY0959WkhuJAEFG2gYsut4IDqwGJ1fv81UVFsMdLAh6xn-I7T9OPakx0RPOjhoDwUzX_1vzCwOny9AlI1FUfRoagwFnKdsYj1saCZSX87OhK3m7kEZ3TFE8Ns/s1600/8.17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQo_ZiG4JV_Fn3NDwpqcBY0959WkhuJAEFG2gYsut4IDqwGJ1fv81UVFsMdLAh6xn-I7T9OPakx0RPOjhoDwUzX_1vzCwOny9AlI1FUfRoagwFnKdsYj1saCZSX87OhK3m7kEZ3TFE8Ns/s320/8.17.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She loves to bat the bugs on her bouncer</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZBtJm8rshU-5jSxr8JSFwalSwr3fhcD66zyW28QVHvnEM4cNuXk7TI8jgseG4ghLJPFwkrt9dNIrbmSOpathV-QgIjVIy-l2CePO69J5mMUv0GlBRPK8GCRiRM5U4qG1iiubU6Dok_g/s1600/8.3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZBtJm8rshU-5jSxr8JSFwalSwr3fhcD66zyW28QVHvnEM4cNuXk7TI8jgseG4ghLJPFwkrt9dNIrbmSOpathV-QgIjVIy-l2CePO69J5mMUv0GlBRPK8GCRiRM5U4qG1iiubU6Dok_g/s320/8.3.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first bunny ears!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZuOW8dv-wLgAEZbnA7x5y3pdYhoHJT0gRPSn2fj4IxxPupEQ_QcZY03Yj1Xn1fA-091vipxM7GQI09hqGstoCO9iP9K5w5yvJWBkfXc1i54QeYyFnd3_p3f4l4aAhok-EBgKp78WTr4/s1600/8.16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZuOW8dv-wLgAEZbnA7x5y3pdYhoHJT0gRPSn2fj4IxxPupEQ_QcZY03Yj1Xn1fA-091vipxM7GQI09hqGstoCO9iP9K5w5yvJWBkfXc1i54QeYyFnd3_p3f4l4aAhok-EBgKp78WTr4/s320/8.16.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Sometimes </em>she likes her carseat. She loves to ride once she gets in the car though.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18Nj3g6uYm41NidOZDVMLO8j9Oxur20aNboODeu76dr6ncEUtAEeZ1iRO5QSOuT6uUY0IRAvHAq3rxATEMz-RPMX-u15J31gox6OhIZfrdFb5P5zjNEw_utyaRA6Sl0yKeOAruq12uII/s1600/8.8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18Nj3g6uYm41NidOZDVMLO8j9Oxur20aNboODeu76dr6ncEUtAEeZ1iRO5QSOuT6uUY0IRAvHAq3rxATEMz-RPMX-u15J31gox6OhIZfrdFb5P5zjNEw_utyaRA6Sl0yKeOAruq12uII/s320/8.8.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BOOMER!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcIu7-EsC958Rv2Kqh3B5uPa3LBvQmc57CUE_HwM_oEv5EyGThfIFFrAzUbZxcDbtqoger0PQyFt0DzHeX2I-IiPTxrXexXaCsgsSOVcYD4DlxDmv4Fjoa8tCQcBCu-E4z74gLDkLJfM/s1600/8.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcIu7-EsC958Rv2Kqh3B5uPa3LBvQmc57CUE_HwM_oEv5EyGThfIFFrAzUbZxcDbtqoger0PQyFt0DzHeX2I-IiPTxrXexXaCsgsSOVcYD4DlxDmv4Fjoa8tCQcBCu-E4z74gLDkLJfM/s320/8.12.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so glad sweet baby smiles are a part of our lives now.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Avy9-Xdz3vsRlt62S8lRJy9xj8QFRdvMB19hvMvawDsUi40OygwDWeWu6sIAwEt22i_89BTkdByK8mxTjrNVWUXTIkAEzry-_ZsMOtAAX6MFgELnE8i9C15ulo8zCYN2eafMS5PSqX8/s1600/8.14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Avy9-Xdz3vsRlt62S8lRJy9xj8QFRdvMB19hvMvawDsUi40OygwDWeWu6sIAwEt22i_89BTkdByK8mxTjrNVWUXTIkAEzry-_ZsMOtAAX6MFgELnE8i9C15ulo8zCYN2eafMS5PSqX8/s320/8.14.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All dolled up for church</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GGQg8KCEpbDXXyckzPzw4SORlkdZK8AA6eUJQYdb9ZqMOAmc99AWEbpRbHW5AUgfbgswBNHn6OLxaF2rNzpKmAls-spxtYCPWILXEMmQYsXIK6NnnFRXG1azfgu3GXu3PcnukHZSrpM/s1600/8.22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GGQg8KCEpbDXXyckzPzw4SORlkdZK8AA6eUJQYdb9ZqMOAmc99AWEbpRbHW5AUgfbgswBNHn6OLxaF2rNzpKmAls-spxtYCPWILXEMmQYsXIK6NnnFRXG1azfgu3GXu3PcnukHZSrpM/s320/8.22.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving her playtime with her Mouschi!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEgM3gP5UgCuISnGrdL1WYO8wwvuF3e9393HiT9_wE70WQJfe9bRUK9F3aTAzCD8mOEBzk1riSLfbP7sbMQmDi3R-jCjFAzLX9VKHP2Eftu4a9TV59c7zDEVB-eDJGyZ_4pniyhGaTok/s1600/8.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEgM3gP5UgCuISnGrdL1WYO8wwvuF3e9393HiT9_wE70WQJfe9bRUK9F3aTAzCD8mOEBzk1riSLfbP7sbMQmDi3R-jCjFAzLX9VKHP2Eftu4a9TV59c7zDEVB-eDJGyZ_4pniyhGaTok/s320/8.11.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She learned to read! haha </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMcmXchaKywgGZTrpXzspg_uRjCnFfPdkU-faaFnNak14IGsY8VsB9XA-QjhPLLqxySab_vh8MCHtrYa9q8k4Ewfa_s6oy8AW9dHGy0HU2WR_MPoY-BWoFP7l2hXZ8u5_bbTn9Y3CvVc/s1600/8.13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMcmXchaKywgGZTrpXzspg_uRjCnFfPdkU-faaFnNak14IGsY8VsB9XA-QjhPLLqxySab_vh8MCHtrYa9q8k4Ewfa_s6oy8AW9dHGy0HU2WR_MPoY-BWoFP7l2hXZ8u5_bbTn9Y3CvVc/s320/8.13.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's ready for her close-up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTSfp7w6Iv5WH3KejG76tOU_5Jw9e88kq8CRMGAN4KOqPqARNSLopwVI-fr4CBDnv2BdQO_6OBQDJ-gT80isMocradv4t2NdDvehlqBYTsk9hCDXie-FT7-YJdoJ8ICQccnKZlTk0hk0/s1600/8.9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTSfp7w6Iv5WH3KejG76tOU_5Jw9e88kq8CRMGAN4KOqPqARNSLopwVI-fr4CBDnv2BdQO_6OBQDJ-gT80isMocradv4t2NdDvehlqBYTsk9hCDXie-FT7-YJdoJ8ICQccnKZlTk0hk0/s320/8.9.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's starting to hold her head up so well!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FCwzXVViajLAXj5f5hHi_5AOBPzXGMt4mst-AZ3XOZi7ZzsTAWvWJJtWcUz3NhZWpc59XKZ994oP1OdJESpOX9y8ctlF6Cv5TMqgSrOuIHWYTzKfB2sxORjVcDSwU7TEC5lscaqs2j0/s1600/8.23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FCwzXVViajLAXj5f5hHi_5AOBPzXGMt4mst-AZ3XOZi7ZzsTAWvWJJtWcUz3NhZWpc59XKZ994oP1OdJESpOX9y8ctlF6Cv5TMqgSrOuIHWYTzKfB2sxORjVcDSwU7TEC5lscaqs2j0/s320/8.23.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuY_PGbQ9azMx90QX41hmfUCy18VTneHTi6w8TVZZChTWa-Sk3NvZRfk5Mhe2xdBMOsTikQbP_MncR6La6QtgY8VxU_ZAF9JrPdcI_yyAF3EcrRX8PxSpWzGXN7zf7-JlgkLaUrXzJkE/s1600/8.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuY_PGbQ9azMx90QX41hmfUCy18VTneHTi6w8TVZZChTWa-Sk3NvZRfk5Mhe2xdBMOsTikQbP_MncR6La6QtgY8VxU_ZAF9JrPdcI_yyAF3EcrRX8PxSpWzGXN7zf7-JlgkLaUrXzJkE/s320/8.1.JPG" /></span></a> </><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">She's a happy girl!</span></></div></><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's only one Oklahoma...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Raisin' her up right!)</span></td></></tr>
</tbody></table> Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-66645992502518622192010-09-12T20:14:00.000-05:002010-09-12T20:14:42.094-05:00The Perfect 10!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...10 week old that is! This has been a huge week for our sweet girl! She is ten weeks old this week, and has made huge strides! Probably the most exciting ones are related to her social skills. She has been smiling for a couple of weeks here and there, but this week she has been smiling in response to you smiling and talking to her. It is irresistible! Let the silly smile solicitation begin! Now you can find me doing things all day long trying to get her to smile at me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She has slept well all night each night this week, despite having her first little low grade fever this week on Wednesday. She has been kind of fussy for her, worst this weekend, and mostly she just wants to be held. She's sleeping right now, and so I am sneaking a minute to try to post some of these sweet things about her. Oh, and by the way, when we went up to see dad at his office this week on Wednesday she weighed 14 lbs 7 ounces. She's a growin' girl!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is following objects consistently now, though not for long. Also, she's becoming a pro at batting the bugs that dangle in front of her on her bouncer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently went to a consignment sale in Houston and got her a floor activity gym. I wasn't sure how she would like it, so I was glad it was cheap, but she loves it! It has a little star that lights up and plays music at the top, and she kicks her legs and moves her arms and smiles. She gets so excited...it's hilarious! One funny thing though is that she doesn't like to be left alone on the mat. She only really likes it if you sit down on the floor by her. So, I fold my daily loads of laundry during gym time and it makes the laundry much more entertaining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She and I also like to dance lately. I turn up the tunes in the living room and we boogie! I think she likes the motion and being able to look around, and of course the music! She has always been okay with music and noise. I think she grew accustomed to it in utero between my loud music in the car on my long commute, dad's pager, and the doggies barking...it's a good thing. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is been such a wonderful week. I am so looking forward to what she'll do next!</span>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-47448636461787263282010-09-09T12:45:00.002-05:002010-09-09T12:45:57.444-05:00So long, farewellWell today is my last day of full-time employment for the foreseeable future. I am entering the world of full-time mommyhood with so much joy in my heart. I am so thankful for a husband who really values and supports me being here with our little girl. It is interesting that today she has her first little low grade fever. I am glad that I get to be here with her to watch her myself and overanalyze her every grunt and wiggle.<br />
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I have really enjoyed the working world. It's a good thing since Lord knows I spent plenty of time training to do my job! It was fascinating, fast-paced, and engaging, but in a deep place in my heart all my training and education always kind of felt a little bit like a placeholder of sorts. A placeholder for this adventure of my life of which I am just now on the precipice. I will most likely do some PRN work as the Lord presents opportunities, but I am so thankful to be here right now. I am thankful that unlike my brainiac mom who had to wait until her fifties to get to really challenge herself with advanced education I have had that luxury. <br />
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I guess the rain and the HR paperwork and the little fever has just made me feel like expressing some gratitude today. Thank you, Jesus.Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-43860250264982647582010-08-25T12:00:00.000-05:002010-08-25T12:00:35.545-05:00Farai turns 6!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allow me to introduce Farai Shadow-dagger Simons. Farai turned 6 years old Sunday! She is a glorious black labrador retreiver. I actually started this post then, but am just finding the time to finish it today. My philosophy is that it's never to late to celebrate!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmVYQceC70X7jrNKpq338FyfAkQ0cXcWDxDbt-pwzL5RGiPrpOj51GUympUuplq6ODOjVmPS7tXiI5Hjzl223hGWSc8RJlXeGxboeqeGBqBt5deTAPqUHPFUdS1JE1b7QonWarc_Y5y8/s1600/farai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmVYQceC70X7jrNKpq338FyfAkQ0cXcWDxDbt-pwzL5RGiPrpOj51GUympUuplq6ODOjVmPS7tXiI5Hjzl223hGWSc8RJlXeGxboeqeGBqBt5deTAPqUHPFUdS1JE1b7QonWarc_Y5y8/s320/farai.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I adopted Farai and brought her home when she was 10 weeks old, and she has been my faithful companion ever since. I think I will do posts dedicated to the dogs sometime in the near future, so I will stick to the party for today. Suffice it to say, the dogs are family to us. Furry, cuddly, adorable, zany, and sometimes exasperating family.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had Farai's party the week before since my family was in town to help celebrate. They have been a part of these celebrations for several years, and no longer find it strange. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zpxYPL65JTlN4fM3ZL731N9DqqQdGIebksFumhF9F0PLWZsH5tXv-w7_kq1ei-oDUT7Y_6nojMADSKb-oEp8DU0fdtVkDTuGDEJjWEVaLpIA2rEUlEPptz0G4xX3RrMPQTHc_mJYFhM/s1600/saul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zpxYPL65JTlN4fM3ZL731N9DqqQdGIebksFumhF9F0PLWZsH5tXv-w7_kq1ei-oDUT7Y_6nojMADSKb-oEp8DU0fdtVkDTuGDEJjWEVaLpIA2rEUlEPptz0G4xX3RrMPQTHc_mJYFhM/s320/saul.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Solomon, or Saul, as we more commonly call him, was Guest Numero Uno. He is a 3 year old chocolate lab with about as much zeal for life as can possibly be contained in his 90 pound frame. He still retains a lot of his puppyish features, and I still think of him as my puppy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdEnpGroAVr1_XXaGaQ9ipemxEKlZHaIc6g8tBijP306PW2rsyTd32_LLbir5BVUSqBLpCwV8g5qL9zi_XduhQhCwsOHxeQ2zhLTgzpbW5oBOfPChnck7uwzmlNDex8X02qYOSscS4Xg/s1600/_1011584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdEnpGroAVr1_XXaGaQ9ipemxEKlZHaIc6g8tBijP306PW2rsyTd32_LLbir5BVUSqBLpCwV8g5qL9zi_XduhQhCwsOHxeQ2zhLTgzpbW5oBOfPChnck7uwzmlNDex8X02qYOSscS4Xg/s320/_1011584.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the canine guests being corralled for a picture. I forgot to take a picture before I pulled the cakes out, and they completely lose their minds when the cakes come out! Thanks for helping get a party hat pic, babe!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIHnx8uVb1v241T3528J8PKgt9wa6pzQdVYAiwoswLmsPdekZKHVNkq9JqreGDjEglTf8s21NcGnv5qll3SaD-C2_605z3Zv14Qx8h_WC9d58Dwv1JZ1hOeJJjz100WznGWlNpo0rqNE/s1600/_1011592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIHnx8uVb1v241T3528J8PKgt9wa6pzQdVYAiwoswLmsPdekZKHVNkq9JqreGDjEglTf8s21NcGnv5qll3SaD-C2_605z3Zv14Qx8h_WC9d58Dwv1JZ1hOeJJjz100WznGWlNpo0rqNE/s320/_1011592.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The scene was set! Decor at dogs-eye level, naturally.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HSbGJRptG4utfQm3QT4A2HqKHkwASzsi2RuMDwGfb6TGPwTfWDRHrwttpJgqITJ5_95ULZ3gKK4nzdYeT818zTQEpTEwqq_KbT0dArF0Sx8LrM3db73v2AIKlY5qtT8u1xa406CZSmw/s1600/_1011567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HSbGJRptG4utfQm3QT4A2HqKHkwASzsi2RuMDwGfb6TGPwTfWDRHrwttpJgqITJ5_95ULZ3gKK4nzdYeT818zTQEpTEwqq_KbT0dArF0Sx8LrM3db73v2AIKlY5qtT8u1xa406CZSmw/s320/_1011567.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here were the cakes. (Human at the top, ha.) Farai's cake was chicken which I shaped into a dome and then "iced" with greek yogurt and decorated with a marshmallow flower. It was delicious according to the dogs. Saul got his own cake without a flower.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP9QuB9Z54aXFISBE4S-Zjhr8o9brL7ACLL0k7LcEblAFDI0e-QNGAz_hAuAs7rUgqQY4BUfL90Ct20PKIwMyLoJfEwfIwXuKQdUzo2xZBroe0WCudVB89bg8dpkV7cFnb4KCpT6e1_8/s1600/_1011597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP9QuB9Z54aXFISBE4S-Zjhr8o9brL7ACLL0k7LcEblAFDI0e-QNGAz_hAuAs7rUgqQY4BUfL90Ct20PKIwMyLoJfEwfIwXuKQdUzo2xZBroe0WCudVB89bg8dpkV7cFnb4KCpT6e1_8/s320/_1011597.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait until she's old enough to throw dog parties with me! And oh my gosh, am I excited about the birthday spectacular that we'll host for HER first birthday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEbTYYNzMhvBCZjQj2CzmKwyn1_0tDtXjRX8EjXmIW8ZFOa6Ex3BAgbR0tY_QPeL5sfMUfWCHWJMc3xCykhQFv47lOzITUGArS8sgYlENRclHJaWRmQyRs0olZP6ou-h1DRs0rINMgXY/s1600/_1011610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEbTYYNzMhvBCZjQj2CzmKwyn1_0tDtXjRX8EjXmIW8ZFOa6Ex3BAgbR0tY_QPeL5sfMUfWCHWJMc3xCykhQFv47lOzITUGArS8sgYlENRclHJaWRmQyRs0olZP6ou-h1DRs0rINMgXY/s320/_1011610.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was so glad that my mom, brother, and his girlfriend (below) could be here to party! They are awesome!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjuWaemsDppsajOf02jQDj-E1FvWI0Xo0oSeSTIT4V3qMCjcTBGhD0qddaseUsp7fMi7DyY5Kg5Ax8e_0RjhDCBwjA4MnMqtDbWzFxtD4zORnhZoJaSdq9fp59NxqIinFL2JDgWZnnuo/s1600/_1011581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjuWaemsDppsajOf02jQDj-E1FvWI0Xo0oSeSTIT4V3qMCjcTBGhD0qddaseUsp7fMi7DyY5Kg5Ax8e_0RjhDCBwjA4MnMqtDbWzFxtD4zORnhZoJaSdq9fp59NxqIinFL2JDgWZnnuo/s320/_1011581.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UBQ0VpIYmb3kCg8yKoC902cT2a0jg4LTlcFUf8xWxbYftkrKy0QIGz9m6cbtwsP0bUH6gppFsUhFnSftIYfNZj-vrysNAZjVyOKnm2tg2wvcJdtWW_j1hdgQkFwNqrcmoFCaZeB7B68/s1600/_1011600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UBQ0VpIYmb3kCg8yKoC902cT2a0jg4LTlcFUf8xWxbYftkrKy0QIGz9m6cbtwsP0bUH6gppFsUhFnSftIYfNZj-vrysNAZjVyOKnm2tg2wvcJdtWW_j1hdgQkFwNqrcmoFCaZeB7B68/s320/_1011600.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll wrap up this post with a picture of me and my girls. I am one happy momma.</span></div>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-68164116248000095092010-08-19T13:57:00.000-05:002010-08-19T13:57:06.909-05:007 weeks and counting...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI9ZDYIugzYSpjrBO4sSEKVcrO1uU0tw1pMD_m_GvkaDPspaZGK5hB9aeKo9kzVyAUSZEvan964-sd49sNCy5Pxf7SC5RAoTeSyg7E4BMu5dIhuGtA5FhcFFaOwSXmgPwdVVb2JCgodY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI9ZDYIugzYSpjrBO4sSEKVcrO1uU0tw1pMD_m_GvkaDPspaZGK5hB9aeKo9kzVyAUSZEvan964-sd49sNCy5Pxf7SC5RAoTeSyg7E4BMu5dIhuGtA5FhcFFaOwSXmgPwdVVb2JCgodY/s320/photo.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week our funny baby is 7 weeks old. She is just starting to share her first few social smiles over the past week. She has one of those smiles that just lights up her whole face! It's magical. Here's a little grin that dad caught on camera today. It's a cell phone picture, but I love it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She is holding her head up more and for longer and longer periods of time now. She is so strong. It catches me by surprise sometimes when she kicks those legs or looks around or arches her back in a big cat stretch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I took her up to her dad's office last week to weigh her, and my jaw just dropped when we saw the number on the scale was 12 lbs 1 oz! She is really thriving, and focusing on developing her cheeks! They are just <em>so </em>kissable. I can't resist them. Clearly, the girl is eating well. I am so thankful for that. She is also sleeping really well. Starting the end of last week she began sleeping through the night occasionally. Three times in the past week she has done it! (I consider sleeping through the night to be more than 7 hours of sleep.) So I am just continuing to do what I am doing, and hoping that the frequency of these nights continues! I love you, Babywise!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She is also transitioning from being a serious sleepyhead to being more and more wakeful during the day. She has stayed awake almost all morning every day this week. I love to see her looking around and absorbing her surroundings. We walk our dogs, our two labrador retreivers, in the mornings and she just looks up at the sky and the trees and all around her. I love to watch her take it all in. I watch her. She watches the sky. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She also really likes to look up at the ceiling fan in the living room. It is dark bronze with dark wood blades on a white field. She is mesmerized by it. I guess she likes the contrast. She also likes looking at the books on her bookshelf. It looks as though she is searching them as she gazes at the shelf, and then slowly stops and fixes on them one at a time. So funny. I love the wonder with which she approaches the world. It inspires me, and I have found myself asking the Lord to renew my heart and increase my wonder at the world and at the works of His hands in my life.</span>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-90555298365227174392010-08-07T17:05:00.009-05:002010-08-08T20:59:14.831-05:00Human Puppy<div><div><div><div><div><div>We welcomed the first human puppy to the pack on June 28, 2010. I had a planned c-section out of medical necessity (there will likely be more on this at a later date - not a fan). So, we arrived at the hospital at the appointed time, and before I could even wrap my mind around what was happening I was looking into this tiny face and falling absolutley and completely in love. Here are a few behind-the-scenes photos of the big day. </div><div><br /> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503215358765258194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ7MfcWp4VPPIe5XHaMJAcwwrUirie96bZAt63r31kqNjZLfv2_7RwzuxXAtMeK6QyB1H3RBgUpE_qoIwHTay0XhSkGWciECdYncZVXsRlyTHIAio9J4bWRQCycgxjC-3_lLVlYbs5Dc/s320/DSCN0106.JPG" /> <div>First pictures daddy took. Talk about a <em>new</em>born! I was hearing her cry across the room and was in awe. Nate came over and whispered "twelve-eleven" to me sweetly and gave me a kiss, and in my stupor I thought he was telling me her weight, but he was really telling me her time of birth. I had a momentary freak out until he realized my misunderstanding and clarified. Whew. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503215364199094402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_brcZSPQdYnhjUHH0346AZWdBcUzuCQrMI4rB_NeWkfGlf8xvyeThVMDfKGm8VDyOTi84j9p5Rgzqjj9d6l02F3rrMgFM3JdPDrZpdm5LX1EsOrdlzdBKs_vHYhS68ohobcIuUOf75MQ/s320/DSCN0115.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>First family picture. First time I got to see this little wonder we'd been waiting on and dreaming about. </p><p> </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503215376500919554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhcSE994OMyxKc_9I3bH5sF2v3mbBMWxqNw7l_gnUubFPM_CPcQL3UsNjy07swGOPc7SojMaM08SX07MmVJ1eSkFahQOwlUBNSHyjmABETWYgMPfEuf0k5Bm4KRlULbx2DqgsdfmhHCk/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" /></p><p>That's my wonderful recovery room nurse in the nursery scooping our baby for us so we could have her in recovery. Thanks, Magda! That time in the recovery room was so special to us.</p><p> </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503215395028007266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGOEux-JkOM5F5nHWcrJR9jL6qz24lea_830n6oXqrGG_51jxNvO607nYzjzbXhdeoluLPb3fBxA43-n7Uo473Rns2QYTEAT5-qHW57tqQzFbU6l_d2TRDjE4LTLFYviz2eIMpu1tG-k/s320/DSCN0174.JPG" /></p><p>The end of a long, wonderful day is just the start of this journey we've been waiting our whole lives to begin. Welcome, little girl. As daddy sang to you this morning before we left for the hospital, "you've gone and stole my heart and made it your own."</p>Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196838038347736867.post-50082944790286847582010-08-07T16:39:00.003-05:002010-08-07T16:57:59.741-05:00Hello world!I didn't think I would ever get into the blog scene. I'm not that hip. However, recent events in my life have opened up the opportunity, and given me something, er, someone, that I LOVE talking about! I have come to accept the fact although I find caring for the critically ill a fascinating and stimulating challenge, I am mostly met by blank stares when I talk about work. This blog will revolve around my new career as a homemaker and mother, and will hopefully feature an occasional post by the new daddy. Thanks for reading!Simons Sayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09332643686876657998noreply@blogger.com1