Sunny and Sleeping in Seattle?

Simon grew almost a full inch and over a pound by his two week check up. And judgin by the way he's been eating the past few days, he's just getting started. Simon's belly button nubbin' finally fell off after two weeks and he could finally take a proper bath. Unlike his big sister, Simon seemed to tolerate the tub.

We enjoyed some unseasonably warm and sunny February weather in Seattle. Veronica took her little brother down the street to her favorite park. But Simon slept through most of it. Simon did partake in seasonably appropriate football fandom by donning Patriots gear for the Super Bowl. The game didn't start out so well, but picked up in the middle, and ended with a blargh. If you think that is bad buddy, just wait until you learn about the Eagles next fall.

We held a newborn photoshoot to try and capture the most fleeting of phases. Mama swears that these photos don't do him and justice and fail to capture him. Veronica insists that photoshoots aren't just for newborns.

Simon continues to sleep well, much to everyone's surprise, amazement, and eternal gratitude. He's been taking the bottle from Daddy at night for about a week and that's giving Mama a nice respite at night.

One day, two day, three days old...

Just as we were putting the finishing touches on dinner Friday night, Alison said "If I have another contraction like that, we should start timing them." The next two contractions were four minutes apart and Uncle Ben got a phone call to come get Vivi because we had to get to the hospital. After a week of snow and ice in Seattle, Alison thankfully went into labor during a regular ol' Seattle rainstorm. A fevered, but law-abiding drive to the hospital ensued, triage took way too long, before Mama's labor was finally in the hands of the delivery nurse Becky. We've long forgotten the name of Veronica's delivery nurse because we've been calling her everything else for the past three years. But Becky will always be Becky. She was wonderful. Dr. Bohmke ordered up the epidural nice and early and Mama travelled the final 6 centimeters under the spell of modern medicine.

The moment of delivery took 4 pushes and Simon was born just after midnight at 12:02 AM on 1/21/12. He came out purple and a little upset, but he pinked up quickly. He weighed in at 6 lbs 14 oz and stood, er... stretched out to 19 inches. Everything went as deliveries are supposed to go. Daddy even got to cut the cord this time.

We spent three nights at the hospital because the doctors needed to keep and eye on Simon for an extra 24 hours to make sure a strep infection didn't set in. Round the clock nursing care is nothing to turn one's nose up at and we didn't mind being required to stay. Simon met his big sister first thing Saturday morning. Veronica couldn't wait to snuggle her little brother and knew just how to settle him down.

Simon received visits from the Heaters, Auntie GG, Uncle Sean, Auntie Erin, Jackson, and Grayson. The trophy for best baby-warming present goes to Auntie GG. Although, Veronica might disagree. Simon greeted his big sister with an Ariel doll that hasn't left her hands too often. Not that she minded Auntie GG's present.

Thanks to the Heaters and Leary-Sebos for their Vivi-sitting over the weekend. Veronica enjoyed all the adventures in the 'burbs.

Snow Day in Seattle

A snow day in Seattle? It doesn't take much out here. The grass was still peaking out through the snow, but it was enough to leave us housebound all day. Veronica asked to make a Frosty the Snowman as soon as she saw the snow. Using the blueprints on the sleeve of her snowsuit (thanks Grayson), we were able to construct a masterpiece with a few pieces of charcoal, a carrot, and of course a magical hat.

New Years, same cousins

Veronica got a visit from the Girls of Bellingham Road to ring in the new year. Although it felt more like an extended Christmas with all the gifts. Veronica enjoyed a whole week with her cousins in Seattle. The girls enjoyed a Seattle Christmas tradition of the downtown carousel ride. Despite being a carousel veteran, Vv was uncharacteristicly cautious. But honey badger don't care. And then there were more presents. Veronica even took her cousins to her back favorite park for some fun in the unseasonal Sun. To ring in the New Year, the Leary-Sebos hosted a New Year's Eve bash that lasted all the way to a 9 PM countdown. And just as our holiday spirits couldn't get any higher, we all drove up to Snoqualmie Pass for tubing. Veronica was in awe for the first two runs. And really cold for the next two before asking to go find Mama in the lodge. And just as the week couldn't get any better, Auntie Mer finally saw the mountain. Loch Ness, you're next.

It was a wonderful week. The only thing that comes close to taking a week long vacation is hosting a week long vacation. It's always wonderful to tune out the work-a-day world, take some time, kick back and relax.

First things first

We've had a lot to be honored by, thankful for, merry about, yet happy to see 2011 behind us since the last post. The holiday season has come and gone and thankfully left a new laptop to replace the broken one. Technically, the new laptop replaced the stolen laptop, but we won't dwell on that.

Mama and Daddy shared the honor of being godmother and godfather for Henry at his baptism in November. Henry's biggest fan congratulated him on performing all of his baptism related duties spectacularly. And the baptism clearly took because he was humming hymns last time he came to visit.

Veronica celebrated Thanksgiving with her Mimi in Sammamish. She had to share Mimi with Jackson and the pies with the whole family, but the whipped cream whisk was all hers. Veronica may have had so many whipped cream whisks Thanksgiving weekend that her excitement for them faded... nah.

Then it was on to Christmas. Veronica took a much more active role in decorating this year. The ornaments ended up a little bottom heavy on the tree and had to be redistributed. But there was no stopping Veronica from decorating the tree. She put anything she could on the tree. So festive. Grammy and Grampa celebrated Christmas in Seattle with Veronica. Grammy even got to read the most important of all bedtime stories.

Veronic thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Eve cookie decorating. The cookies came out fantastic and there is little doubt as to who was responsible for that. Veronica focused her attention on eating as much icing as possible. We have an ongoing battle in the house when Veronica eats toast that she isn't allowed to just lick the jelly off and we "have to hear some crunches". But it's hard to enforce the same rule when it comes to christmas cookies. So we ended up with a lot of soggy sugare cookies stripped of icing.

And then there were all the presents. And after that, there were more presents. And just when there was nothing left to unwrap, there were more presents. A very heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to spoiling Veronica this Christmas. I know she was not only a good girl this year, but is in fact the greatest girl ever. And it's nice to see everyone else noticed too.

Veronica asked for a crown and she got three, plus seven princess dresses. Her new umbrella was a huge hit and the walking & barking dog is endless hours of fun, but the scissors from Santa may have topped them all. Santa knew Veronica was ready for scissors and she has been using every piece of paper within arms reach to prove Santa right. The Grinch also made a powerful entry into Veronica's Christmas experience. It took a few days to comes to grips with a story about a guy who doesn't like Christmas and would lie and steal to stop it from coming. Between her affinity for the Grinch and the Abominable Snowman, Veronica clearly has a soft spot for the bad boys of Christmas.

Pink Fairy Halloween

We tried to get more pink on her, but we couldn't find anywhere else to put it. From head to toe and as high as she could reach, Veronica was pink. Veronica spent all day in her pink fairy costume. There was a Halloween party at Rosita's and suburban style trick-or-treating in Sammamish. Veronica braved the cold with her local guide in the foreign land of cul de sacs and three car garages. She filled her pumpkin and called it a night.

Veronica is growing ever more independent. She is dressing herself in the morning before school, unlocking the front door when we get home at the end of the day, and even singing to herself at bedtime. Here's a sampling of her greatest hits. Now call Mimi and tell her the good news.

Oh, to turn 3 again

It's hard to determine what is the best part of a 3rd birthday. The presents are great. Partying with all of your friends is certainly at the top of the list. And could anything be better than pink cupckaes? Or is it the fact that Veronica turned 3 three days ago, but started partying with her friends four days ago, is still getting presents in the mail, and will be eating cupcakes for another few days?

It's been nearly a full week of fun for Veronica and the clock is still ticking. Grammy flew out from Pennsylvania and brought a football jersey from Gramps in the wrong shade of green. Oh well, at least it's not black and gold. Veronica didn't want to put the jersey on until she was introduced to the concept of tackling. You don't want to face this going over the middle.

The birthday party itself was held at gymnastics. 17 of Veronica's closest friends came to celebrate and run wild for two hours. The party somehow went off without a hitch, although the guidance of experienced parents and gymnastics chaperones my have helped the two clueless parents constantly asking questions like "Should we do cake now?" and "Where are the candles?"

Happy Birthday Veronica. Now could you slow down so the next one doesn't come so soon?