friday - lazy day for us

simon and dad gaze adoringly at each other during breakfast

then it's nap time for simon and mom

thanksgiving day at southwind ranch

rk and priscilla seals graciuosly invited eric, simon, dan (eric's step dad), patti (dan's fiance) and me to their home in blanco. we started the thanksgiving feast with cider and rum by the fire pit.

baby smurf is so happy in his cozy sweater knit by eleanor

eric estarda? no, it's christy.

rk - happy smiles

amara entertained christy with hugs and simon with kisses

simon watches nana bake

simon got to watch a delicious apple pie bake and his reflection at the same time in the lower oven - a very fun afternoon.

san antonio with nana and papa

we spent two fun days in san antonio - women's college basketball (uconn vs. texas), the zoo, el mercado, riverwalk...

simon slept through breakfast

the zoo right before a volcanic spit up that sent papa running the other way

simon hopped the luggage cart

papa sings and nana reads

papa was singing to simon in the family room - simon loved it. I did,

too, especially when I heard, " a jigger of gin..." thelonius monk, really?

nana reads to simon before bed - he's busy standing, but not too busy for dr. seuss's amazing abc's

simon plays patty cake

he claps, claps...he even claps when we ask if he wants more in sign language.

good morning - it's still dark

simon is awake, awake at 6:00 am. since the time change, he wakes anywhere between 4:30 am and 6:00 am. christie frequently carries simon to the front window to point out that no one else in the neighborhood is awake then...

simon smiles for nana

he loves his nana

national aia film at under tree house AND nana and papa come for a visit

national aia called christy and asked if they could interview her at under tree house and at her house. they were at the house from 9 am - 7:30 pm - a very long day. after a week of family sickness, exhaustion set in early, which may account for eric saying about the toilets (on film) that a person uses the small button for "number 1" and the large button for "number 2". hopefully they will edit most of christie's responses...

in between filming we chit chat and wait for the interview

christy gets made up - more makeup than any person should ever wear. it took this christie 3 face washings to get most of the make up off.

simon should have been interviewed instead of mom - he is such a great ham...

eric all made up and ready to sing christy's praises...

9 month appointment - so big

simon doesn't know that he is about to get a shot and

have blood drawn - he sings and laughs with dad.

the 9 month stats:
height - 29 in (75%)
weight - 23.5 lbs (90%)

9 months

standing on his own

crawling

two teeth

simon is 9 months and he has a bunch of tricks up his sleeve: crawling, babbling in questions, standing, clapping, climbing stairs, leap tall buildings in a single bound...