Well you know my name is Simon

I know summer has arrived when I look at our calendar and every one of our weekends is booked for the next two months. So far we’ve been busy going to family get-togethers, visiting Christopher’s cousin Kristen’s new baby girl Claire, and making a trip down to Pittsburgh to visit friends. In the next month we’re going to our cottage vacation with the family (woo hoo!), a friend’s wedding and a couple of backyard barbeques. After being cooped up all winter it feels great to get out of the house and have some fun with Simon.

With great-aunt Eleanor

With dad and great-uncle David

With mom, Kristen, Claire, Laura and Hawksley

With Gramma and Hawksley

Overlooking the three rivers in Pittsburgh

About two weeks ago Christopher and I decided that Simon’s sleep issues weren’t going to go away on their own, so we implemented a plan. We got rid of the soothers and started laying him down in his crib awake. Every time he stood up we laid him back down until he finally fell asleep. The first time took almost an hour and he screamed the entire time since he’s used to me rocking him to sleep, but it’s gradually getting better. He goes down more easily and is sleeping for longer stretches. Neither of us can tolerate letting him cry it out so this is a good compromise. He cries, but at least we’re there with him. Teething, a cold, and vaccinations have all contributed to a few setbacks but we’re going to stick with it.

And speaking of teething, why didn’t anyone tell my how brutal it is? I thought it was bad when he was cutting his first two teeth but this is much worse. A lot of people swear by Camillia (a homeopathic remedy), but I don’t think it’s made much difference. So far rest and Baby Tylenol seem to be the only things that help, and they don’t help much.

Using mom’s chin as a teether

Face smush

We got Simon’s latest stats at his doctor’s appointment yesterday. At eight and a half months he’s now 30.5 inches tall and weighs 22 pounds 5 ounces. No wonder my biceps are huge.

-Leila