18-month Checkup

Simon visited Dr. Fraser today for his 1.5 year checkup. All systems were a go and he even avoided shots this time (unexpectedly!). He'll get more shots at his 2-year appointment.

Let's go to the tape:

Height: 32.75 inches. This is near the 70th percentile for height, so he would still have to be considered "tall." I have no idea how he's doing this. Must be those "Nana" genes coming through!

Weight: 23 lbs 0 oz. About the 20th %, which is up from about the 15th % last time, so he made up a little ground in the weight department. He really liked standing on the "big boy" scale. When it was over, he pointed and asked for "more."

Head: 49.5 cm. HUGE dome. 95th %. I think Bashams and Vances alike can take credit for this.

So, tall, thin, and a giant head. Yep, that's Simon.

Simon Helps Daddy/Lexicon 4

Simon "helped" daddy for the first time in any concrete way yesterday.

On Tuesday, Laurie was cooking dinner while I took a shower. Simon was going from one place to the other (he is fascinated by the shower, by the way). Anyway, I shut off the water and reached for my towel. It wasn't there...but Simon was. I had left the towel laying on the vanity across the room. Laurie HATES a wet floor, so in an attempt to avoid dripping water everywhere -I said: "Simon, can you get the towel and bring it to daddy?" First, he looked at the towel rack on the back of the door where the towel would normally be. Not there. "Simon, the towel is on the sink. Can you bring it to daddy?" He walked over, grabbed the towel, and carried it over to me looking very proud of himself. I thanked him profusely as it 1) preserved a dry floor, 2) got me my towel, and 3) gave him a real chance to help. He clearly understood that he had done so. Good times.

He also is getting better with names at church.

PRISCILLA: lilla
JOSH: josh
JON: non
BETH: beff

He clearly knows most everyone, but some of the names (Kendall, Brandon, Kacie, etc) all come out as some form of "da-da."

Other words:

KNIFE: miiiiife
NAP: map
PASTA: dass-TA
TURTLE: tuh-tuhl
WALL: wull

He also can identify and say several colors! Video of this coming soon.

BROWN: brow
BLUE: bloo
YELLOW: lella
BLACK: bap
PURPLE: pupple

Outdoor Recreation

Last week, Cort and Simon got our first watermelon of the season from our local farmer's market. Simon kept loving on the watermelon until we cut it.















This weekend, we walked to a neighborhood park with our friends, the Wilsons. Below, Simon swings with Jacob.















On Sunday afternoon, we headed to our friends, the Rountrees, to take a swim. Simon tolerated the adult pool for a little while, but was much happier playing with his buddy Kendall in the kiddie pool.

Quack Quack

Simon and Cortney have made a couple of trips to Basil Griffin Park lately to feed the ducks. Here's a video of his first experience with his feathered friends.

Celebrations

On Saturday, we made our way back to Murfreesboro to help celebrate Henry's 3rd birthday! Below, he enjoys his chocolate cupcake and ice cream!














On Sunday, we headed to Breckinridge County to celebrate Father's Day with Cort's family. Below are all the Basham men -- Papaw Basham, PaPa, Uncle Dooney, Cort, and Simon.














While at PaPa and YaYa's house, Simon entertained everyone with what has since been referred to as the "Door Dance." This consists of opening and closing the front door, and then dancing afterwards. :)

Vocabulary Quiz

Cousin Henry quizzes Simon on his vocabulary. As you can see from Simon's expression, the last word was difficult!

Pool-phobia

We bought Simon a pool to help him conquer his fear of cool, non-bath water. Last week, he actually sat down and played in the pool. It's been a gradual thing -- we started with barely any water in the bottom, and have progessed to what you see below. He's getting there!



















Of course, he had to take several breaks to go look at the "fow-VAH" (flower). (Thank you, YaYa!)

Parties

Last Saturday, we decided to celebrate my dad's birthday a little early. (His birthday was actually yesterday -- June 13.) Below, Nana B reads the train book to Simon, Henry, and Ada.

Seeing Nana B read to the grandkids made Dad feel nostalgic, so he read his kids a story for old times' sake.

On Sunday, we all attended an open house at Siloam Baptist Church, to help Uncle David and soon-to-be-aunt Kelly celebrate their upcoming nuptials. They were so excited they broke out in song. With jazz hands.

Simon got to enjoy his first taste EVER of punch. (Thanks, Aunt Marjorie!)

Afterwards, Simon and Ada enjoyed some play time with Uncle Jason.

Lexicon 3

More words...LOTS of words. He also signs eat, drink, bath, done, more, sleepy, cereal, and milk. Also, all women are "mama" now and all men are "dada." He also will kiss anything that moves, so beware the next time you see him.

ANGIE: dah-jie
BACK: ack
BOOK: boopf
BOTTOM: mahmel (I know...sounds nothing like it)
BOWL: boowl
CHAIR: cher
CRACK: kack
COW: dow
DOWN: down
HAMMER: mammer
HENRY: NEH-neh
JESUS: deh-chez
JUICE: joooooose
NOSES: dehsses (rubs noses)
PAPAW: papaw
MAMAW: mamaw
ROCK: ock
SARAH: sa-ra
SHOES: shooooose
STINKY: dinty (holds his nose)
WATER: wahber
WHEEL: whuhl

Cruisin'

Lately, Simon and Pooh have been cruising in their new car (thanks Aunt Nikki and Uncle Dooney!).

Dinner Entertainment

Happy Birthday(s)!

The past week has been full of birthday celebrations. First, Cortney turned 32 on May 26. With it being Memorial Day, we invited both families down for a birthday/holiday cookout. It rained a bit, but it all turned out well.

The birthday boy gets some quality time with Simon and Ada (while Simon contemplates how to steal Ada's kisses).














On Thursday, May 29, our niece/cousin Ada turned 1! So, on Saturday we headed to Murfreesboro to celebrate with family. Below, she tries to figure out what all the fuss is about.