Simeon turns 3

today! 

He’s happy to be a 3-year-old.  We had a party today – not a big one, but he didn’t mind.  It was lots of fun. 

Tess slept through most of the fun.  She was held by many of the partygoers.

One gift Sim got:  a knight costume.

Knights do not smile for the camera.

It was also Hannah’s Baptism Anniversary.  So we sang to her, too.  It was also the local uncle’s birthday.  (He’s not 3.)  So we sang to him, too.

Naomi didn’t have a special occasion today, but she was happy to bask in the party spirit, anyway.

Sim opted for dirt cake with gummy worms.  He may have liked the gummy worms more than the cake.  The dirt cake was a joint effort:  Gramps made the cupcakes (and pretty much all the party dinner, too!), Hannah crumbled them and added the decorations, and I provided the frosting, which looked like worm castings.

If you don’t know what worm castings are, they’re what they sound like.  Hey, don’t blame me, it’s dirt cake!

Sim’s godfamily joined us for the party, too.

They’re good friends.  It’s totally cute.

Dirt cake:  good. 

Another year off to a good start.

1 month?

Really?  How did that happen?

Here’s what happens

at dinner after your babysitter takes you on a long walk to a fun park in the afternoon:

Pictures!

Standard response

Naomi has discovered the joy of a standard response.  Of course, the response she’s chosen is a bit over the top, but perhaps she’ll refine it over time.  For now, though, any time she’s corrected or thwarted, here’s what she says:

“Nobody loves me anymore.” 

Then she turns away and sulks. 

I’m actually at a loss as to where she got this.  Maybe she came up with it on her own.  I don’t know, but when she asked to be excused and we told her to eat a bit more first, that’s what she said.  When I told her not to put her feet in other people’s faces, that’s what she said.  When I asked her to go to the bathroom and then insisted that she go when she tried to resist (I am the Potty Ninja, you know), that’s what she said. 

She doesn’t seem to actually believe this statement at other times, so in her world, her family goes quickly from loving to not loving several times a day.  It would be exhausting to keep up with if it were actually true, I’m sure. 

Tess is over 2 weeks old

How did that happen?  At her 2 week appointment, she was 8 lb, 14 oz.  So she gained nearly a pound in her first two weeks.  She’s doing well.  :)

Here are some photos:

Sim loves holding Tess.

So does Hannah, but for some reason, we don’t have pictures of her holding Tess in this batch.  But she did enjoy having electronics lessons while Dada was home.

Naomi specializes in singing Tess to sleep in the carrier.

Pink!  Pink!

She fell asleep with her little face all snuggled into Michael’s neck.

You can see she’s already done some good work on her double chin.

Sleep smile captured!

Tess smiles in her sleep a lot, and I managed to catch it this morning:

SO CUTE!

She’s also a deep thinker.

And she has the hearts of her siblings.  Simeon came into my room this morning, saw Tess sleeping there, and said, “I love our new baby!”

Naomi’s favorite thing to say about Tess is, “I can’t believe you gave birth to such a beautiful baby!”

The kids LOVE her tiny feet.

Hannah has decided, after observation, that she’s willing to change wet diapers but doesn’t want to be put on poopy diaper duty.  She is always first in line for holding Tess.  “Oh, man, she’s nursing.  Can I hold her when she’s finished?”