A Future in Storytelling?

Ladies and Gentlemen! Now I bring to the stage, Simon Oscar Laven, with his rendition of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

July Joy

I figured I should do one more post before the end of the month, since we'll be away in Scandinavia for the first two weeks of August. This was taken July 5th after a shower. Nice new towel. This was taken July 7th. It could be one to display at the office. We told Simon to hold up Eliot, so look were he put his hands. He followed directions. For lunch we headed to Barrington to attend Roya Jimenez's first birthday party. Roya's mon, Sogol Jahedi, was two years ahead of mommy in residency. A little snooze in the car that afternoon. This was taken about a half hour later. On July 8th we went for some free entertainment at the Waukegan airport. We were treated by a flyby of a "fighter jet" (Simon's words). From July 10th Later that morning we went to swimming class in Gurnee. Simon got some new tracks from Mima, including a loop! One can never see enough sleeping baby pictures, right? From July 11th. No. 1's first -- and still only -- No. 1 in the potty. Glad we got it on camera for proof. Ladies and gentlemen, the new double stroller! Last weekend we visited mommy while she was in-house, and someone enjoyed a nice Snickers ice cream sandwich. Lookin' pretty good in the bumbo. Looks like he's got the handle of the loop Last Sunday evening I was out back, looked up and saw a "hot balloon" (as Simon says). On Tuesday great-aunt Liz came to visit. This was taken at Gurnee Mills. Same day, just a bit later. The next night we had a bad storm, and Theo couldn't handle it. I am not sure what hiding under the office desk will do, but... This morning, while I was trying to be a tennis star, mommy took the kids to Wadsworth Park. When I returned home from my hardcourt conquest, GG, Papa, great uncle Scott and cousin Sarah stopped by for lunch.

Simon Stats

Quick post as I am tired, so sorry that there won't be any pictures or videos (but hopefully soon). Simon had his 2 1/2-year-old checkup today and all is well. He now weighs just over 29lbs (50th percentile) and is 37'' tall (also 50th percentile).

H oly O zone, T heo!

Is this Dallas in August or something?!?!?! Sheesh it's a little warm out there, but we're making the best of it. Hope everyone's air conditioning is working. It's been a few weeks since there's been a post, so a lot has happened. Mommy went back to work last week and Simon started asking "why" tonight. Another era begins. On June 16th we had a very nice evening at Illinois Beach State Park. The next day Tia Robyn and mommy took the kids and met Nana and Saba for lunch at Apple Holler. Now on to other days. Taken on June 19th at home. Later in the morning mommy and Tia took the kids to the pool. And even later that day we have a smiler. On June 20th in the evening Simon wanted to hold Eliot. It lasted about five seconds and ended with him saying, "All done." The next morning out on the deck. A couple of days later in the morning. No clue what Simon was thinking here. Back at the pool on June 24th. It wasn't super hot that day and there was a breeze, so Simon got really cold and clung to me to warm up. Eliot's a lucky guy. More acrobatics. First time we had him facing out in the Bjorn. On Sunday we went to a carnival at the Jelly Belly Factory near Kenosha. Who was being more goofy? Just look at that temperature gauge. Yowzers! Taken just a few hours ago. Is there any doubt where the kids get their good looks from?