Now Entering Parenthood...

Everyday we are closer to one year old, and everyday I am losing my little baby to the independent toddler who roams my house looking for cabinets to open and things to climb. Only cuddly when he wants to be, Simon has become a little man with a mission to find new and yet undiscovered things to slobber on or to hurt himself with.

At potentially the most squirmy and restless point in Simon’s existence so far, we decided it was time to up the ante, test our patience and take him on some new adventures…

Little Man, Big Adventures
First stop, Boston!! I was traveling to Boston for a conference and decided it was a good time to bring Simon out to Massachusetts to meet his Great Grandma Giles and the Monkley family. It was also a perfect time to catch my friend Alyssa before she moves out to Spain to continue her fairytale romance and marry the man she met on our trip to Portugal together.

Tom did the first flight alone with Simon, who was giggling at strangers up until the descent. The pressure got to him and he had a little meltdown. He arrived to Boston passed out on Tom’s chest.

After a few days of trying to do a more adult vacation (nice restaurant, sight seeing), we took Simon to a children’s museum where he could crawl and chew on everything. He was as happy as could be. And I have decided that I need to open a business that combines the drink menu and food selection of a fancy wine bar with the full wall to wall padding of the crawler room at Boston Children Museum. Pop your kid in the water bed pit and get served a nice Malbec with prosciutto pizza.

Lessons learned… Avoid restaurants that might mind their floors covered in half eaten finger foods. Obey at least one nap a day and you will be better off for it!!! And after toting around a toddler in the city, mom and dad will need one anyway.

Next was a train to Southwick, where Tom figured out how well the baby bjorn fits over the back of a seat, and does an amazing job keeping a baby happy and out of trouble. All in all, Simon did pretty great traveling. It’s hard to keep him entertained and still, but at least he was happy and smiled at any stranger that would smile back.

Scared to Stand?
Our second big trip this month was to Amy’s parents cottage in Ohio, right outside of Sandusky. More laid back than busy Boston, we got to just enjoy the company of friends in a cozy cottage by the fireplace.

What was extra exciting about the trip was that Simon decided to stand (with no support!!) for the first time in front of the room full of people. Once people cheered, he got a little freaked out and promptly sat back down. To be honest, I think Simon is afraid to stand and definitely afraid to walk. He is strong enough, but the minute you try and help him stand his body goes limp and he sits down. But I guess I should be thankful for that :)

I can’t believe how fast this is all going. That I am now the mom with the BIG baby in the room, rather than the small petite newborn. And when are you actually ready to do it all over again? Only time will tell!!!