These feet were made for walking!

Off he goes! Simon's first steps: March 23, 2009

Simon the Sweet!

I call Simon my Redeemer Baby! My pregnancy and postpartum experience with him were really difficult, but I have enjoyed his "babyness" beyond my wildest expectations. I especially appreciate this sweet time with him because God has really healed me since he was born, and He has given back to me some of the "motherly bonding" that I missed with Charis and Tate. Simon's physical appearance is even special because of his red hair! What a fun surprise! :) He is a complete delight. He is almost always smiling and incredibly laid back. He enjoys opening doors and banging on things. He would also really like to be allowed to splash in the toilet water and chew pieces of cardboard out of the trash. We just discovered that Simon loves to slide. Daddy Dan made him a special slide for his 1st birthday, and Simon quivers with excitement when he sits at the top waiting to go down. Priceless!

Tate the Terrific!

Tate is one of the most interesting people I know. He is completely obsessed with monkeys and the color orange. Specifically, he loves the Orange Lion Tamarin. He is usually dressed in an orange monkey costume that his Bibi made him for Halloween. If he's not dressed in his costume, he prefers to remain undressed. He is known for removing his clothing in public. Just this week, he chose to relieve himself in the middle of the zoo. He does not like to wear long sleeves and he is very bothered by an open toilet lid. His favorite things to do are climbing, playing with/being a monkey, and watching Alton Brown on the Food Network. I absolutely love to snuggle with Tate. We always snuggle before he goes to bed, and he often comes back for more in the middle of the night. You might think that I would get tired of this, but I actually look forward to midnight cuddling!

Charis the Creative!

Charis is almost seven years old. She loves to do anything involving art. She is a MAGNIFICENT story teller. She almost always talks like she's telling a story ("Charis said dramatically.") She loves Barbies, princesses, Hello Kitty, the color pink, American Girls, and Littlest Pet Shop. She hates being pestered and listening to people brag. She is very sentimental- she once cried over having to throw away a popped balloon. She is homeschooled this year. She really likes math, but could do without spelling and writing. :) I love her creativity- she can make anything! She once made a Barbie car out of an old waffle box. I think she could set a record for the number of items a girl can sleep with. We once counted thirteen!