We Are Young

Simon and Graham. 3 years old, 20 months old. Simon won't eat anything, Graham will eat everything. They love Pingu and Room on the Broom. Graham will fall asleep anywhere, Simon tries to bargain before bed. Simon makes us all hold hands when we say prayer. Graham loves to sing and dance with this ↑ hat and a wooden dowel rod for a cane.They refer to all dogs as "Buddy" because that's what Grandma's dog is called. They call Seve's school "Dada's house." They collectively love slides, trains, whistles, and flashlights. And books about slides, trains, whistles, and flashlights. They wrestle, they "help" make cookies. Simon's showing signs of being a germaphobe, Graham's kind of a slob. They're both often sporting temporary tattoos on their arms and legs. And one time, on Simon's nose. It was a bird, I let him keep it on for four days, including church. They wear matching skull and crossbones bow ties every week.

I love these two.

Separated

Changes! Changes! Changes 'round here! I officially separated "julesisaacs.com" from good ghost, so now one is a "professional design website" and the other is my personal blog, as it's always been, but now I don't feel so bad about bloating it with photos of my kids. And now I'm able to rant about stuff without the fear of a client raising their eyebrows. Not sure why I didn't just keep the two separate in the first place. Probably because I'm not really a pro-freelancer so much as I'm a "yeah, uh, I can design that, um, here's my web site? Oh, you just want me to maintain your Facebook? Yeah, uh, that's not really what I do . . . but banner ads, yeah, I do that . . ." kind of freelancer.

Maybe this means I'll post more often? Maybe? We'll see. I should be a more courteous blogger and leave comments on YOUR posts rather than fret over mine . . . I promise I'm reading, I've just become a lurker rather than a commenter these days.

If any of you followed good ghost or julesisaacs.com through Feedly, go ahead and unsubscribe from julesisaacs.com, because that post feed is now used as my gallery. All blog posts will now spew forth from this part of the internet. Hurrah.

The Big Leap

Today has been wild, so I'll leave you with this.

Don't make no deals with the devil

Some shots from Seve's production of Tales of Terror from the Tragic Valley. The annual show contains several vignettes all centered on a theme, this year's being The Twilight Zone. These particular shots are from a scene about a man unsuccessfully trying to kill himself after receiving immortality from the devil. He had tried to throw himself off a building, and when his wife tried to stop him, threw her instead. Thus, you know, jail.

K let's play GUESS WHO.

Guess who went to the wrong address for her new visiting teach-ee? Guess who walked up the driveway to find a man passed out in the yard? Guess who called out "Sir? Sir?" and when she didn't receive a response went up the rest of the way to ring the doorbell in case the man was just the teach-ee's wayward son? Guess who encountered a very unhappy Saint Bernard on her way back to the car when no one answered the door? Guess who called her VT partner in a panic over the whole situation once safely to her car? Guess whose VT partner was confused at her worry because she was picturing this girl trembling in fear at the actual dog of their teach-ee, a Pomeranian? GUESS WHO

Guess who ended up hating his Thomas the Tank Engine costume even though it's his favorite show? Even though he picked it out at the store, even though he's foregoed all titles such as "Mama" and "Dada" and instead simply refers to everyone as "Thomas?" Guess who's mother will now be going as a train for Halloween because she lost the receipt and can't return the costume and doesn't want it to go to waste? GUESS WHO

Guess who ate nothing but pizza and caramel popcorn today because it's my life why not? Guess who now feels like they want to die and throw up all over the living room and kitchen and bathroom and did I mention die? GUESS WHOOOOO

Well, that was a fun game.

ps HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Anyone's ghost

Had an awesome trip to Oregon a few weeks ago. Can't believe summer is already gone! Ah well, like any relevant blogger fall is my favorite season, so I'm not terribly bummed by summer's passing. But man, was it fast.

I'm quite sad because one of the good friends I made since moving here is moving away tomorrow. The news of which she only found out about two days ago. We were just to that point in our friendship where you share all your weirds with each other and bond over all the mutual weird. We were sharing books, our kids were pushing each other over, and she and her husband were about to move into our ward (or away for a job change . . . turns out they're going the job change route). We're having a pizza party tonight as our little fare-thee-well but all the pepperoni pizza in the world won't keep these sads at bay. Who am I gonna build ramps for now?

The Great Pumpkin

Had a great weekend with family to celebrate this little guy's first birthday. I can't believe it's fall already, can't believe we're back in Idaho, can't believe I'm the mother of a one year old. Each day of this year has felt slow, but now that I'm looking back, it all seems to have gone by so fast, like flipping through the pages of a book.

But goodness, we're to my favorite time of year now. First the falling leaves, then the crunching snow. Then the sandy beaches (family in Florida for Christmas). Wrap me up, 2012.

Simon at 11 months

It's not easy for me to focus on the 11-month mark without wanting to burst from the joy that I have an almost-one-year-old. I can't believe it! Didn't we just back from the hospital with him?

Simon's accomplishments:
Walking. Straight up WALKING. Everywhere, all the time, no more crawling.
Loves reading time. Always willing to curl up with me and read a book.
Dances to music, and head bangs. Really likes the Temper Trap.
Says "uh oh" whenever he drops something.
Doesn't like to be fed by us anymore, wants to handle and eat food on his own.

Simon's unfortunate accomplishments:
Refuses to take our hands when walking. Good, I guess? Being independent and all?
Loves the library. Bad because he loves telling me how much he loves it, "OH, WE'RE AT THE LIBRARY? G'UNH BLER BOPPDITTY BUH LIBRARY LIBRARY HI EVERYONE." Yeah.
Tries to take off his diaper a lot.
Had his first cold a few days ago. He was so miserable, I cried about as much as he did.
A lot more fussy lately. Between growing pains and the move, and I'm not always able calm him down.

Simon's achievements in nobody's eyes but mine:
His favorite toy seems to be his toothbrush.
Fascinated by all the cars on the busy street we live on.
Plays with this singing bear doll we got him; presses the paws constantly to change songs likes he's unsatisfied with the playlist.
These red skinny we got him. So cute.
He's constantly confused for a girl. I'm always told how pretty he is; that's what I get for dressing him so flamboyantly, I suppose. We're not wringing out hands over it, though.

Goof

I'd like to apologize, because the next few (if not the last few) blogs posts will be pretty Simon-centric. Tomorrow will be his 11-month post, so I'll finally be all caught up and able to put up his birthday post (one year old?!?! Gah!) on Oct 3rd. And this current post I couldn't resist: we found him sleeping like this last night about an hour after we put down him to bed. I'll let the picture speak for itself.

Simon at 10 months

The day before our move, we let Simon create some original works of art for the loved ones he was leaving behind. So he Pollocked it up in the driveway.

Simon's accomplishments:

Eats with a spoon (though he tends to dump the contents before they reach his mouth).
Can stand up completely on his own, without assistance getting up, for 2-3 seconds.
Only needs to hold one hand now while walking (in fact, he gets mad if you try to grab the other hand).
Biting has stopped, hallelujah.
Nap time has returned!

Simon's unfortunate accomplishments:

Knows what "no" means . . . and will often times do the "no" anyway.
Has started this fake crying thing when he wants attention. Sounds so different from his real cry. Sometimes I give in anyway (which is bad! I know!) because . . .
Has started to hate cuddling. This is terrible.
Fights sleep tooth & nail.
Hates it when I dress him. Would rather be naked.

Simon's achievements in nobody's eyes but mine:

Talks (and snorts) in his sleep.
Says "g'unh g'unh g'unh" all the time.
Will cuddle if a movie is involved.
Often makes "declarations:" yelling while holding his hand up, index finger extended.
Loves being outside and walking/crawling in grass.

Simon at 9 months

I think Simon looks like a golf caddy in that outfit. Seve says he looks more like a tennis player. Whatevs. Happy first day of August!

Simon's accomplishments:
Goes to bed the SECOND I put him down. Same bedtime as always . . . it's magic.
Has started sleeping in til 8:30! Must be the growth spurt.
Waving, clapping, pointing. More importantly, high-fiving.
Imitates really well, from noises to gestures.
Sits still and actually listens to bedtimes stories now . . . or maybe he's just tired.

Simon's unfortunate accomplishments:
Nap time is kind of gone . . . both of them . . .
Still only in size 3 diapers, he's so tiny. But he eats! Eats and eats and eats!
Tries to eat his baby tooth brush, in fact.
Becoming a picky eater, though. Won't eat certain things unless I do too.
Has figured out how to de-baby proof our best laid plans.

Simon's achievements in nobody's eyes but mine:
Finally splashing in the tub!
Laughs whenever dad sneezes. Like, CRACKS UP.
Has a foot/shoe fetish.
This crazy Mr. Magoo smiley face he does.
Waving his arms like a lunatic every time he gets excited.
Getting so blonde.

Simon at 8 months

I'm so behind in posting these! In about 2 weeks Simon will be 10 months old, so the rest of his monthlies will be pretty back to back until I'm all caught up.

Simon's accomplishments:
Loves his walker . . . when he can steer it.
Saying "Mama!" now, though I'm pretty sure he thinks it means "food."
Loves his kiddie pool. Crawls out of it and onto the grass, then back in, then onto the grass, back in, repeat.
Great around strangers/people he's meeting for the first time. Very smiley and sociable. Loves his Uncle Ed.
A lightening fast crawler/cruiser.

Simon's unfortunate accomplishments:
Pinching, pulling biting. UGH THE BITING.
Had this brief screaming phase . . . happy or sad.
Grinding his teeth. It's nuts. He has 6 of them now.
Getting into drawers and cupboards, which of course means pinching his fingers.
Always sticking out his tongue . . . so drooly.

Simon's achievements in nobody's eyes but mine:
Sleeps on his tummy. Been doing since 3 months, thought I'd mention it now.
Holds up his arms to show me he wants to be picked up.
Talks to himself. All. The. Time.
Does that "buh buh buh" thing to his own lips now.
Loves playing with the phone when Grandma Soni calls . . . and hanging up on her.
Prefers tart to sweet flavors. Really loves lemon.

The Bum Diary

BREAKING NEWS: We got Simon a kiddie pool.

p.s. For some reason this hat n' trunks combo reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson. Just needs some aviators.

Pictures I meant to post 2 weeks ago

Simon loves a good walk in the park. Also, Ben's shirt says "Mark Train Freight Twain." Try saying that three times fast.

Simon at 7 months

Simon begins his 8th month today! Here's a recap of his 7th month:

Simon's accomplishments:
Can climb up and down stairs.
Eating more solids: peas, bread bits, puff cereal, etc.
Cruising furniture to stand/walk - moves from couch to coffe table to stool, etc, all "walking."
Picks up binky and pops it back in his mouth whenever it falls out.
Loves the sippy now! Though he can't quite get a good grip on it . . .

Simon's unfortunate accomplishments:
Can climb up and down stairs.
Burps and farts sound like that of a burly adult male.
Wiggles like a maniac during diaper changes and when I get him dressed - he will hold still for no man.
No longer sleeping through the night. At all. Wakes up at random times, several times a night. Awful.
Screams when happy . . . sounds like a tortured duck quack. Big smile through the whole thing.
Clearly understands the word "no" . . .

Simon's achievements in nobody's eyes but mine:
Has "anime eyebrows," as my mother likes to refer to them. They move up and to the side like windshield wipers. It looks more normal than what I'm describing . . .
Absolute fascination with dresser knobs, shoes, and trash cans. I've got his first birthday in the bag.
Doesn't understand the concept of splashing; nevertheless loves baths (especially his rubber ducky).
Does this creaky attic door noise with his mouth when he's daydreaming . . . have no idea how to explain this.
Loves being part of the family at dinner time and out at resturants in his high chair. Always manages to prop a leg up on the table.

And we'll have fun fun fun