New Little Leonhardt

Little Leonhardt 2.0 is due for release mid December.
Looks like a girl this time.

One Small Step

Actually, he took about 7 very easy, casual steps toward me today like he had been doing it all his life. We have a walker! He has been hesitating to walk because it must be very scary to realize that you are upright and mobile and that much further from the ground (further to fall). He is becoming more like a little adult (yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds). He knows how to climb up on the couch and sit next to me and today he kind of put his hands on his hips and sort of shrugged, like, "Now what?" He was clapping my hand when we were waiting in line and I was struck by how strong, controlled, and deliberate his movement was. He is so strong and will be playing sports someday soon. He loves to crawl up on slides and create new ways of going down them (surfing down..), he likes to go back and forth between his two rocking horses and compare how they move, back and forth, back and forth, switch, back and forth, switch, switch. Very silly. He is picky with food but today ate apple slices and yesterday ate frozen peas (one of my all-time favorite toddler snacks when I was little). He has about a million cute, loving, flirty, mischievous faces and tries them out at random, usually when he is playing hide-and-seek from me. he likes to "freeze" when he thinks I can't see him and then slowwllypeek one eye out to look at me, then that sneaky, slow grin. What a cutie pie. That's the news here. Bill posted a video of our "swim" lessons. He likes to see the other kids around and get out to do something fun. He is good at paddling and learning how to kick. I have lots to clean up, but we will post more later.

Kick Kick Kick

Nope, he hasn't started Kung Fu.
He did however start swim lessons this week. Twice a week. He seems to love it, but I think he mostly just likes watching the other kids. He just stares and stares at them. He does really well in the water though. Amy and I looked at each other very strangely when the instructor said, "Ok, now we're going to submerge our babies." It was a weird moment of trusting a total stranger when he says your baby will be okay. But sure enough Simon was fine. I think the kid next to us drank a bit of water during the submerge. He came up coughing with huge wide eyes staring at his mom. Eyes that said, "Don't trust the stranger next time he tells you to submerge me."

All in all it's been a good time. And one of the joys of my job is the flexibility to take an hour in the middle of the day to be at my sons first swim lessons.

Summer is starting soon. Simon will have several new "firsts" next month. First time on a plane, in New York, in the Carribean, etc. We're pretty excited, and very proud to celebrate Julie's graduation.

His top two teeth came in finally. 4 teeth to date.

Big Boy

Sorry it's been too long since I last posted. Seeing Simon every day, slowly growing and learning and changing takes the shock out of just how much he has changed during this rapidly moving year. I can't believe I had a tiny (OK, maybe not so tiny) baby just a year ago and now I have a boy. A big boy. Who likes to slide over things on his belly (including his toy car and his rocking horse) and is quite the detective, eager to learn how things work and is pretty precise with his hands, opening envelopes, putting peas onto a tiny tuypperware lid and carrying them around, turning knobs, petting the cats. He is so deliberate with such a personality. From bubbling laughter to serious stare in a split second. He is fairly independent, but very loving. And it has been amazing and fun to see him become more independent every day. Looking forward to this coming year. Now why don't you take a quick tour back to the beginning of this blog and see for yourself what I am talking about.

Merry Christmas

I did it and here's proof

Thanks for the cookie cutters, Megan. We have a cat, pumpkin, leaf, and moon here for Halloween.

Didnt I tell you?

Two Front Teeth

Well, he got his two front teeth by Christmas!

We've got news!!

Simon's first little tooth is starting to pop (creep) through slowly. You can see the jagged little top and you can feel it, but it's taking it's sweet time. Picture to come (as soon as we can get a good pic of it! hah). Simon seems to be so much more mature with each day (can you call a baby "mature"?) and he is making a new funny face. Actually more of a grimace. It cracks me up every time. He is in a much better mood now that he is over his first cold (though Bill and I are still trying to shake it) and I think he will have a good time dressing up on Halloween. Oh, I won't give away the surprise, but let's just say you'll want to come back and check this thing out again real soon.
Ok, Ok, I know I spoiled it, but it gets much better..I promise!

Simon got some more shots Thursday, and along with him teething, eating solids, getting more adept at rolling all over, and learning about the world, it's been a busy couple of weeks! He doesn't want to nap--just play instead. I often catch him on the other end of his crib playing with his musical toy. He's been a little fussy recently and I am not sure what it's due to--teething? Lack of sleep? Shots? Separation anxiety? Oy. He is growing well-in the 98th percentile but doc says he is big, not FAT (ahem). Simon is very grabby right now and is always pushing away from me wanting to grab things and throw them on the floor. Fun times. New pics to come soon!

Five Months

Sorry I have not posted anything in so long. Some days it was a struggle to find even a few moments to myself without Simon crying, let alone find the time to get my thoughts together to blog. But crying is the rarity now, and more often than not he is just playing away happily and I am actually bored! It's been a lot of fun along the way--Simon is five months old now and is changing so much. He is exploring everything, wanting to show off how strong he is by trying to stand and bounce, and learning about textures, light, and sounds. It's fun to watch him stare at something and see him learn about something for the first time, like watching his shadow on a door and trying to put his forehead against it so his head is up against the shadow of his head. Of course I think he is so smart, and even though I know he doesn't have a clue what he is saying, I still swell with pride when he says "ma-ma." Of course, "ba" is his other favorite "word," so maybe I shouldn't get too excited.

I know you are wondering, so we weighed him yesterday and he is 19 pounds. Yes, you heard me right.

Well, he is calling for me ("ma-ma!"), haha, so I need to go. Thanks for checking up on us. We will have new pics up soon.

Yes, I know you check it often and it never changes..

Hahahah

This is how you make him fart.















And this is how he feels afterward.