Our Two Little Munchkins

6 Months Old Today!

Simon is 6 months old today! He's not quite sitting up on his own yet and he is a long way from learning to crawl but he learned how to roll over really well a couple of weeks ago. He also spends more time on his belly and actually enjoys it!! We started him on solids a few days ago but he's not quite as excited as Isabelle was when she first started. Isabelle actually wanted to try new foods and accepted the baby cereal really well. Simon makes a lot of funny faces when I try to put food in his mouth. He also had a very strong tongue-thrust reflex a few days ago and has only just started figuring out how to push food to the back of his mouth. I also think he's a little hung up on breastfeeding still. We're going to stop for a few days and try again.

Hinamatsuri

Today we went to the Japanese language school to attend a Japanese doll festival called Hinamatsuri. We went with Holly and her Mommy and the two Monkeys had fun as always.

Standing next to the ornamental dolls.

Isabelle and Holly playing on top of the tatami before most of the people arrived.

Isabelle wearing the crown she made.

Take Cover!!!

Simon is so good at rolling now, he will roll right under the coffee table, so Daddy and Isabelle took the opportunity to hang out with him under there. I once watched him roll himself 4 times to get to a toy...it was pretty impressive.

Spider-Simon

Spider sense that warns him of pending danger!

Potty Training News Flash

If you've talked to us at any time in the past few months, you all know that we've been trying to get Isabelle familiar with the potty. We originally tried to get her going before we had Simon but since she refused at the time, we decided to postpone potty training until well after Simon was born.

When Simon was about 4 months old, we decided that it was time to give it a try again. I felt horrible about the monstrous pile of diapers we were throwing into the garbage each day and thought it was time. She was obviously ready to go; showing signs of knowing exactly when she had to go #2 by running away and hiding. We kept talking about it and let her sit on her potty but she never actually produced anything. I wasn't quite sure what we could do to get her going. We tried the sticker chart and the rewards (or more like bribery) but she just refused to go.

Then a few weeks ago, I told her that I was not going to buy any more diapers for her. She said she understood and we put her in underwear. We also stopped using her little potty and we ended up purchasing a soft seat that sits right on top of a regular toilet (she expressed strong aversions to the little potty and wanted to sit on the regular toilet). Over the past couple of weeks, she had a few accidents and would actually wait to go until we put diapers on at night or during nap time.

Finally one night, I was just determined to get her to go. I sat her on the potty and talked to her for some time. I also poured warm water (a whole bucket) down her front side to let her feel what it was like to go and... VOILA!!!! She went #1 for the very first time in the potty!! I have never seen her so proud of herself. It was a major breakthrough. The following day, there wasn't much success as we spent the entire day out with friends but the day after that, it was like a lightbulb clicked on in her head. She actually enjoyed going to the bathroom and spent the entire day telling me when she had to go #1 AND #2!! It was amazing!

It has now been about 4 days since that miraculous day and all is still going well but she is less enthusiastic about going. She also hasn't gone #2 since that day but waits until we put a diaper on her at night to go and then proceeds to tell us that she's gone. She spends all of her waking hours in underwear and continues to go #1 on the toilet so this small little speedbump in the grand scheme of things is not a really big deal. To me, she's come a million miles from when we first started and we are so proud of her. She'll eventually get the rest of it. Way to go Momomunchkin...you're a big girl now!!

Puzzle Pro

Isabelle loves doing puzzles. It is her favourite quiet-time activity. When she gets a new puzzle, it doesn't take her very long to figure it all out. Here she is at the table with her 24-piece Backyardigans puzzle that she can do on her own without any assistance.

New Haircut For Isabelle

Before (her hair was in a ponytail all morning).
During.

I took Isabelle to a hair salon for kids today. She gets to choose what vehicle she wants to sit in and then they have a television in front of each vehicle. She naturally chose the pink Barbie car over a motorcycle, Spiderman car, and an airplane. It was worth paying the extra money to get it done professionally...it turned out great and Isabelle never complained. :o)

During.

After.

Simon And Miss C Sittin' In A Crib...

We went to our weekly play date at Holly's house today and Miss S and Miss C were there too with their Mommy. Simon and Miss C had a nap at the same time so they shared Holly's bed. Miss C is only 1 month younger than Simon and a real cutie.

Who's That Handsome Guy?

Mackenzie's 1st Birthday

Today we went to Mackenzie's 1st birthday party at a kid's dance studio. Mackenzie is Cassie's little sister. Simon had fun sitting in the little red chair and watching all the bigger kids dance around and be silly. Isabelle was a little shy at first but thoroughly enjoyed her time dancing, dressing up like a fairy, and eating pizza and birthday cake. Thank you so much for inviting us...it was fun!!

Birthday girl, Mackenzie, in the front with the "1st Birthday" bib on.

Simon And Isabelle

Isabelle is always hugging and kissing Simon, almost to the point of smothering him with so much love. He occasionally gets upset.

Simon's First Swing Ride

This picture of Simon was taken a couple of weeks ago on a beautiful day. Holly's Mom took the picture with her cell phone because we both didn't have our cameras with us. Thank you for capturing Simon's first swing ride for us.

Tummy Time With Simon

Simon has been spending more time on his tummy lately. He is now also starting to roll from back to front. He still has great difficulty doing it (probably because of all the weight he has to throw around), but he gets it eventually. Isabelle loves spending time with him on the floor and Simon loves the company.