Simon is still eating relatively non-stop but he has come up with something new: he grabs a fistful of his shirt and yanks himself to the right or to the left while rolling to his side; it appears as though he is forcefully flinging his body back and forth (he really really wants to roll over).

In further news, at some point in the past two weeks we stopped needing to help Simon steady his head.

Simon won't stop eating. When he comes up for air, maybe he'll have time to do something interesting.

Don't become too attached to my hair because it's not staying!

Simon's hair is turning into little puffs of fuzz and falling out. Seems like he might end up like Mom -- bald for the majority of babyhood.

Sunday we removed all of the 0-3 month clothes from Simon's bureau and started him on 3-6. Amazingly, he fits into 3-6 really well (except holding up his pants - he's pretty thin in the waist); perhaps we waited a couple of weeks to long to make the switch? In any case, Simon seems pleased to have his entire wardrobe shift over night. Hava wishes she could be so lucky. In other news, over the past two days Simon has been completely content to look at, grab and swat things on his play mat; he no longer needs a parent to keep him involved.

Simon had a friendly weekend including a visit from Dennis on Friday and Jen and Curtis on Saturday. He's becoming a regular socialite.

Breakthrough! Simon grabbed a toy this morning, yanked at it for a while, and put it in his mouth. Self entertainment is just around the corner.

During Simon's weekly outing with his friends at RLG, he proved that you don't have to be blonde or female to get a big grin -- he handed them out to everyone. Maybe he was in a good mood from the nearly six hours of sleep (in a row) last night. Of course everything comes at a price and the price for continued sleep was keeping Mom and Dad up until past midnight and finally only falling asleep in bed with them.

Pyloric Stenosis - something Simon doesn't have *whew*

Simon taught his Mom and Dad the difference between vomit and spit-up. Dad didn't really experience the difference the first time so he had to repeat himself and then Dad understood but didn't seem to really appreciate it so he showed Dad - right in the kisser! (good thing Dad didn't have his mouth open). Simon is very good natured about all of this projectile vomiting but the advice nurse thought it wise that he be brought in. Dr. K told Mom and Dad to expect a lot of screaming while she checked for a blockage in his stomach. The screaming never came. In fact, Simon was all smiles once she finished. Official diagnosis: "What a good natured baby!" Oh, and the vomiting? "Probably gas."

In other news, Simon found his feet yesterday and watched them move close and then away and then close and then away for ages (20 minutes of focus on one thing counts as ages for a seven week old). He only notices his feet when he is in a seated position with Mom or Dad. It is a good thing he is being held; he tries to dive-bomb his toes to get a closer look.

Congestion? No more! Thanks to the cool mist humidifier (and possibly the new hepa filter vacuum).

Simon is seven weeks old!

Simon and his parents had a sleepless night and Hava isn't feeling so hot. A real update will be added just as soon as we are fully functional.

More useful Simon lingo:
Visiting the Elephant - getting a diaper change (see nursery images for why)
Curdish Refugees - the little curds that constantly escape from Simon's mouth

Simon has only flashed his wide-mouthed gummy grin at two people besides mom and dad -- both were attractive women with longish blond hair. We wonder if this means anything. Today, Simon had lunch out with friends Mike and Cindi. Mike was particularly fascinating to look at; again with the long blondish hair thing.

In other news, Simon has made peace with the binkie and will occasionally give in to artificial non-pinky pacification. (He hasn't made any further strides on getting his thumb away from his fist -- almost as if he has given up hope.) Simon is getting really good at the standing thing; Dad thinks he will be standing before he can roll over.

Sleeping has been a little odd since Simon broke the five hour mark. He now falls asleep at 9 pm instead of 10:30 BUT he wakes up at 10 pm and won't fall asleep again until midnight. He then wakes up at 4:30 or 5 and can't fall asleep again until 7 by which time Hava and Matthew are awake.

Update from an earlier news story: Hava now actually enjoys nursing Simon. This happened about two weeks ago once it stopped hurting and he stopped eating constantly.

Simon slept for five hours and fifteen minutes in a row last night (11:30 pm to 4:45 am). More proof that he is, indeed, perfect.

On the unscientific adult scale, he weighs 11 lbs. and he is already too tall for all of his 0-3 month night clothes (but still too small for 3-6).

The Sign of Simon: i. (forehead mark)

Simon is allergic to the world outside the womb. Shortly after he was born he started sneezing and his first night was plagued by a runny nose. Now Hava must suction out his goobers a few times a day so he can breathe and eat at the same time. This makes him VERY angry. Matthew bought Simon a humidifier today to help alleviate night time stuffiness. Apparently these allergies are because of his newness. They should get better as he gets use to whatever it is that irritates his nose. Until then, he does a great impression of a little piggy.

In less interesting and more disgusting news, Hava and Simon are working to get his green explosions back to yellow. We have a hind-milk fore-milk problem which just means he is getting too much 2% and not enough half-and-half. Oddly enough, there is just too much 2% available in front of the half-and-half at the dairy. Hind-milk makes poops yellow, less explosive, and it makes them happen less often. We're also trying Pampers instead of Huggies to try to keep all of his clothes from turning green (as well as our clothes, his bedding, and the couch); so far so good.

The sixth-week growth spurt has started. Baby Simon has a case of the crankies. Hava has a case of the munchies. Winslow has a case of the screamies. Matthew has a case of Diet Pepsi (caffeinated).

That face, that face
That marvelous face
I never should begin
Those cheeks, that neck, that chin
Will surely do me in. (Lyrics From The Producers)

Simon slept for 4 hours and 45 minutes in a row last night shattering all previous records. He then slept all morning and afternoon, waking up only for food. Perhaps it was developmental overload or exhaustion from meeting new people: Aunt Tonya, Cousins Amanda and Sarah, and, later, friends Paul and Michelline.

Simon found some hands at the mall and they turned out to be his.

Yesterday Hava and Matthew spent the entire day at the mall. They never used to go to malls but Hava needed new clothes because she is *cough* larger. Anyway, it turned out to be a great day. Simon and his future friend baby Martha were able to inspect each other and their parents were able to communicate in adult speak. At some point Simon realized that his hands are able to be controlled by his brain. Unfortunately, he is now more frustrated than ever since that darn thumb won't stick out from the fist. In the meantime, Simon continuously licks his fist in hopes that the thumb will come out and make itself useful. Maybe by next week he'll be a thumb sucker.

Simon's sleep schedule in the past two days hasn't been ideal. So un-ideal in fact that the nights are a bit too fuzzy to remember. There is always a three hour session and a two hour session; anything more is gravy.

Simon's social calendar has been heating up. Yesterday he spent the afternoon meeting Hava's coworkers at the RLG picnic and the evening before he spent time with Calvin, the older boy three doors down (older by two months). Can you guess what effect this has on Simon? Sleepiness. Of course everything seems to have that effect on Simon.

Last night's crib sleep schedule (and the night before too!): 10:30 - 2:45, 3:30 - 6.

Yesterday Simon was taken to his first movie, Spiderman, at a special showing for parents with babies. Simon slept through most of the movie and bounced on Hava's lap for the rest. Hava and Matthew have decided to keep Simon away from movies and TV for the first couple of years once he notices the screen. We'd like to see him interact with toys, the outdoors, and people rather than develop a glassy-eyed screen stare.

Simon has slept almost all day and all night for the past two days and we wonder if this is a sign of the impending six-week growth spurt.

Last night's sleep schedule: 10:00 - 1:00, 2:00 - 5:00, 5:30 - 6, 6:30 - 7. All crib sleep.

Simon is finally becoming a real boy and less like a love sponge. His diaper tabs are getting farther and farther apart (our indication that he is growing), and everyday he is a little more vocal, smiles back, and holds up his own head (most of the time). He clearly recognizes Hava and Matthew and watches them intently as they move in and out of his visual range.

Last night's sleep schedule: 10:30 - 1:00, 1:30 - 5:10, 5:45 - 7. All crib sleep. Matthew's pinky not required.

Things that Simon likes: the music and lights of the bouncy chair, having his face touched, staring at trellises, skylights, being rolled over and over and over, standing "on his own", being walked, swung, danced, giggled, and bounced, checks, stripes and plaids, music, being outside, noise, baths.

Things that Simon doesn't like: pacifiers, direct sunlight, being to hot, too cold, hungry, tired, or bored.

Last night's sleep schedule: 10:30 - 1:45, 2:30 - 5:45, 6:10 - 7. All crib sleep. Matthew's pinky used four times (all between 10:30 and 11).

Last night Simon slept in the crib (11 pm - 2 am, 2:45 am - 6 am, 6:45 am - 8 am) and it was gooooood.

Credit for this sleeping magic is due to Matthew's pinky (used several times during the night), Hava's ability not to respond to fussing, and lullaby CDs Simon was given before his birth.

Why is this important? As his pediatrician mentioned, there is a scent that gets passed from mother to baby and/or from baby to mother which causes them to wake up and feed. Waking before he is really hungry means less sleep for both Hava and Simon.

It is also nice for Hava and Matthew to spend time without Simon -- even if they are asleep.

Shhhhh, the baby is sleeping.

Hava discovered something very important this morning. Simon doesn't like to sleep alone (this we all knew) so he will wake up and cry when he discovers he is alone (we knew this too) however, given less than five minutes of fussing and crying, he will fall back asleep on his own! In fact, he seems to still be asleep while fussing and crying *hmmmm*. We're still learning over here ...

From the second month photos, you can see how well the pacifier went over; we did get him to suck on one of them for almost an entire minute.

Simon is one month old!

Today Simon met his pediatrician. He now weighs 9 lbs. 12 oz. and is 22 1/2 inches long. Dr. K says that Simon is using Mommy as a pacifier and recommended buying one so Mommy doesn't have to sit still for so long each day. She also recommended putting Simon in the crib (in his own room) - not even in the bassinet! She thinks this will help him wake up and eat less often. Hava and Matthew went out and purchased three different types of pacifiers which are currently being sterilized.

Dr. K also recommended that Simon get a bottle every day or every other day from now on so that he won't get stubborn and decide not to take it once Mom goes back to work (August 23).