Recording

Somewhere in the week my MIL was here, Simon turned from a newborn to a baby.  His schedule became a little more predictable, and he didn't cry as much for no reason.

That's all.  I'm sure I"ll say that again at some point.  But I had to write that down now.

Grandparent Invasion!

We are very blessed to have grandparents who love our kids and love on us.  My mom came a week before I was due and took care of us until 4 weeks after I delivered.  I don't know of many moms who would do that, but mine did.  I wasn't the most appreciative during her time here, but it was through no fault of her own!

Brian's parents came Memorial Day weekend (May 23 - 26), and we all had a nice time in the moderate PA weather!

Lots of photos, as can be expected!

This has been our only family picture so far:

My MIL generously offered for us to have professional pictures done.  For some reason, I did not feel compelled to do that!  SHOCKING!  For whatever reason, I am totally happy with the picture above.  It shows my family, as we really are with a newborn, at our home.

I couldn't deal with finding the right coordinating outfits for all of us.  I couldn't deal with dressing my postpartum figure.  I couldn't deal with cleaning my house if I decided to hire an on location photographer.  I couldn't deal with making sure my baby was SUPER asleep to do all those poses we all know and love for newborn pictures.  The thought of all of that stressed me out.

We had a similar family picture with Michael, and I am totally happy with this family picture for Simon.

Here we have several generations of the Besancon Dynasty:

I always joke that if the Besancons were Chinese, they would be a dynasty by now with all their boys.

Here's a picture of me with my momma:

Grandpa looks like he is asleep, but he's not!  For some reason, I do not have an "official" picture of Grandpa with Simon:

Grammy with Simon:

I did get some official pictures of my mom with Simon:

I'll have to get Grammy and Grandpa next time they are here!

Michael loved the extra attention.  Here's some playing in the yard with our smoker going:

I like that finger in the picture!  :)

Michael is playing with kinetic sand.  LOVE that stuff.  Feels totally cool.

And voila!  Grammy comes to visit in mid-June.  I'll eventually get to that in the blogposts!  :)

Saturday, June 28th: Michael's All Star Game!

Michael LOVES baseball, and he really puts his all into it!  This past winter, we signed him up for some winter baseball lessons with the Baseball All Star Academy in West Chester.  Michael's little league had a discounted rate set up, and we took advantage of it.

Well, the practice and lessons paid off because Michael was picked for the All Star Team!!!  SO proud of our little guy and all the hard work he has put into playing this year!  Out of the 12-13 players of the team, the coach chooses the top 4.  :)

The All Star Game happened after the awards ceremony.  Because in America, EVERYBODY gets a trophy.  Right?

Here's Michael looking awesome:

In addition to the trophy, you get a Philly's world series plastic lidded cup. I like that the bottom of it is small enough to fit in a standard car cup holder.  Michael just loves plastic cups.

With his team:

And the All-Star Game Commenced!!

Here's Michael laying out for an awesome catch:

I can't remember if that was during play or practice.  But it was great nonetheless.

Here's Michael playing catcher with his classmate, Liam, up to bat:

Here's Michael up to bat for the first (and only) time!

AAANNNDD...then I missed the picture with the hit because my stupid camera kept focusing on that coach there instead of Michael.

Oh well - he's off to first:

Waiting at 2nd base - all business:

Onto 3rd:

Making it home!

On the pitcher's mound:

It was a hot but breezy day.  Brian and I had a great time watching Michael play!

That evening, we hung out at the house.  These 2 spent the day in their Ranger's Gear:

What an All-American weekend!

P.S. - Yesterday (6/31), Michael asked Brian what sport he wanted Michael to play (basketball, soccer, baseball, etc).  And Brian told him:  Whatever makes you happy.  Michael said, "Oh good, because I want to play baseball."

P.P.S.  Michael's been at baseball camp the last two days (6/30 and 7/1).  It was FREE and put on by the All Star Baseball academy.  AND today it was a high of 90.  LOL.  Michael said he thought the camp was too long, but I think it's just fine.

P.P.P.S.  Today, 7/1 - we drove ourselves to Walmart after Baseball camp and purchased a slip n slide.

Alert Aggie

I've been having serious trouble taking newborn pictures of my own baby because at almost 2 weeks old, he is alert like THIS:

RIDICULOUS!

I was able to get a couple of cute sleeping baby shots, thankfully, for the birth announcement.  But for the most part, he never ever really fell into that DEEP sleep you need to kind of move them around for those cute newborn poses.

Instead, I have this super alert baby!  I am totally surprised, but I love this expression he makes.  He still makes it with his eyes super large and his mouth all small and super cute.  I just love this expression of his because it shows his curiosity in real life.  It's just adorable!

I know I'm pretty smitten with my 2nd.  With Michael, I was so overwhelmed and terrified.  I wouldn't exactly say I am more confident with this one.  However, I will say that I am more "present" with this one.  I'm enjoying all the moments, even through a tired stupor, knowing that this too shall pass. 

I know that during my miscarriages, I remember praying about how I wish I had enjoyed Michael more instead of feeling so overwhelmed.  For Simon, I definitely am enjoying these moments, and I'm so very thankful for them!

ONE MONTH! Pinterest-style...

One month!  One month!  Where has the time gone!

Well thanks to Pinterest, I have the great joy of creating projects like this for posterity:

Simon is probably the only 2nd child that will get to say that he has more pictures than the oldest.  

Somehow, we've made it to a month, and it's been great fun!  I've still got to blog a visit from Grammy and Grandpa, photosession with my mama, and his first outing at Walnut Springs Farm for strawberry picking.

Somethings to jot down right away:

• I don't know if it's too early, but Simon is smiling, especially when he sees his dad.  Today, he just coo-ed and laughed at Brian!  
• His hand wanders into his vision from time to time, and Simon thinks it's as good as Cheesecake Factory's tiramisu cheesecake.
• He is fascinated with his father.  He will stare and stare at Brian.  Simon also is very calm with Brian.
• Alternatively, he kind of gets wound up with me and/or my mother from time to time.  Imagine that.
• He is gaining weight well and nursing well.

Some things I want to jot down about my C-section recovery so I can remember:

• I drove today for the first time.  A full MONTH after my C-section.
• I really do need to rest and heal for two full weeks.
• I was told by the midwife at my Ob practice that I shouldn't even think about going grocery shopping and pushing a cart until THREE weeks after my C-section.  Considering I tried to do that in my first week, and then my body told me I was doing too much - I am going to believe her.
• I went shopping today for myself and went to Costco last Friday.  I felt up for this nearly a full MONTH after my C-section.
• Today, I went shopping with both kids.  NEVER again.  Simon is not nearly as easy-going a shopper as Michael.  Michael would just wake up to nurse and go back to sleep in the stroller.  Simon not so much.

Somehow I had forgotten how long the recovery took.  The only things I remember about Michael's birth recovery was that Michael was born October 17th and about 3-4 weeks later, we went to Bill/Ak's wedding.  Which meant, I had gone shopping and purchased a fancy dress for a wedding in that time!

Today, I dug out some of my old postpartum clothes.  Let's see how my 35 year old postpartum body fares with my 28 year old postpartum body!  EEK!

My mom leaves tomorrow - about a month after my C-section.  My house will never run the same again!  I could not have rested and healed without her.  She put up with my temper, my tired mood swings, and all the baggage that can come with being a daughter.  She nursed me back to health, drove me and my son around to all our things despite being out of comfort zone, and took care of my family.  There's no way our family could have made it without her!