The Marathon Trip

We had a big weekend! Cortney ran the Derby Marathon in Louisville on Saturday. Simon and I met YaYa and Papa in Elizabethtown so we could all ride up to see Cort finish. He ran the race in 3.06.42, which qualified him to run the Boston Marathon next year. For more on his race, check out his Running Blog.

After lunching in Etown, our crew headed to Glasgow for our first overnight visit (anywhere!) since Simon was born. It went really well! Another big thing on Saturday was Simon's first experience with rice cereal. Although skeptical in the beginning, he caught on rather quickly.

Here are some pics from our weekend travels.

Simon, as he waited for Dad to cross the finish line.














Cort as he approached the finish line.














Simon didn't know what to think of that first bite!














As it turns out, we think Simon's going to be a cereal lover like his Dad.














Simon got to meet his Great Aunt Sue and Great Uncle Bubby.

Super Mario, Luigi...Simon?

When we last saw our little guy's statistics at his 2-month checkup, he was in the 3rd percentile for weight, 10th for height, and 15th for head size. Well, Simon has been bumping a lot of "?-cubes" a la Super Mario and finding a lot of growth mushrooms in the last few weeks! We are surprised that his super-sizing has not been accompanied by that digitized sound heard when Mario ate a mushroom and doubled in size.



Check out his vital stats for 4 months:

Height: 25 and 3/4 inches: 75th percentile. Mark this down: HE'S TALL!!!
Weight: 14 lbs, 14 oz: 50th percentile. He is right in the middle compared to kids his age.
Head Size: 17 inches: 75th percentile. With both the Vancehead and Bashamhead working congruently, this is not so surprising. :)

All of Simon's other systems were A-OK. He also got Round Two of shots, but he only cried for a minute.

The doc suggested starting him on rice cereal this week. He will slowly work in a little a day for the next couple of weeks. Then, around 5 months, he will start trying some yellow veggies.

All of us will be in Louisville for the Derby Marathon tomorrow! Dad will be running, mom (and YaYa and PaPa) will be cheering, and Simon will be strolling in the big city. He will also make his first overnight trip to Glasgow on Saturday night. Pics forthcoming.

To Laugh or to Drool?

Simon has really been talking and laughing a lot lately. Here's a short video of him while he practiced sitting on the couch.

Thumbs Up

Since our last post, Simon has attended his third book club discussion with our Friday night history of Christianity group. We are reading The Work We Have to Do by Mark Noll. It's a short history of Protestant Christianity. I think Simon seems to favor Wesleyan pietism over Reformed Calvinism at this point, but it is hard to decipher his doctrinal leanings between diaper changes. Truly, he usually stays awake for the first hour, but hour two creeps into his bedtime.

The big news is that Simon found his thumb last night! After weeks of chewing hands, knuckles, fists, and fingers, mom found Simon fast asleep with just his thumb in his mouth this morning. Hopefully we will capture a picture of that soon.

He goes for his 4-month checkup on Friday morning...which will include shots. Keep him in your prayers as that day approaches.

Pics!

Simon sports his new Cubs gear fresh from Chicago. Thanks, Ben! Per usual, the Cubs are off to a blazing 7-11 start. Wait 'til next year!















Simon in his tractor outfit (thanks, Sarah!) before church on Sunday. He peed on it.














Simon naps on dad.

His neck is getting stronger and stronger!!!

Horse Play

Simon has had lots of visitors this week. On Thursday night, our friends Mary and Irvin Sample, and their granddaughter Sarah, dropped by to visit Simon. Irvin had made Simon a rocking horse!! We were so excited -- especially Simon. On Friday night, we met our friends the Boyers (Brice, Julie, and Grace) and the Moodys (Clay, Kirsten, and Isaac), who were in town from Louisville, for dinner at El Mazatlan. After battling Scottsville Road at 5.30p on a Friday night, we had an enjoyable time! On Saturday, Nana B and Granddaddy came down and took us all to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Monday brought YaYa down to stay with Simon again -- I think they had a big time while Mom and Dad went to work.

Below are some pics from this past week.

Mary Sample, Simon, Sarah Riley, and Laurie.














Simon's new rocking horse -- made by Irvin Sample.














Hi-Ho, Silver! Away!














Simon with Kirsten and Clay Moody.














After his meatloaf dinner at Cracker Barrel, he just couldn't eat another bite.














Look at those neck muscles! Someone's been working out!

More Easter Pics

Here are a few more pictures, courtesy of Nana B and YaYa.

Easter Travels

We've had a busy week. On Wednesday, Cortney's band, Redfoot, played at Java City on Western's campus during lunch time. Even though the temperature was cooler than they'd hoped, they still had a good crowd gather outside to hear them play.

On Friday, Cort and Simon went to the best Mexican restaurant in town -- El Mazatlan -- with Brice and Grace Boyer and Glenn Gittings. Even though Daddy forgot the diaper bag, Simon was apparently a perfect little angel. :)

Saturday took us to Breckinridge County. After going to church in BG on Sunday, we headed to Glasgow for the afternoon. We had many great meals, saw lots of family, and loaded up on Easter candy. Below are some pics from our adventures.

Redfoot performing at Java City.














YaYa helping cousin AJ see Simon after a diaper change.














Simon and Uncle Dooney














Simon and his first Easter basket! (Rest assured, the Butterfinger and Dark Chocolate Dove eggs were for Mom and Dad.)














Our first family Easter picture.














Simon and his Great-Aunt Marjorie














Simon and Uncle David

Nana B, Simon, and me

A Week in Review

We have finished our first week of going back to work/going to the babysitter. Everything went well. Simon seems to have adjusted well, and we've seen no more tears from anyone.

In the past few days, Simon has had a visit from Nana B and Granddaddy -- this included his first trip to Fazolis and the mall. On Saturday, Cort ran the Total Fitness Connection Run for Children Half-Marathon. He set a personal record with a time of 1.27.06.

Monday was Simon's first day to stay with YaYa. She is going to be coming down on Mondays to keep him while Cort and I are at work. They had a big time. Sadly, we didn't get any pictures of their day together -- hopefully we'll get some next Monday.

Simon, Granddaddy, Nana B, and Cort in Sears at Greenwood Mall.















Simon has started rolling to his side!















Tonight Simon experienced his first major thunderstorm. He didn't think much about it since he slept through most of it.