Where did September go?

Once again the month is over and I have more pictures and videos to share. I know I have posted everyday this week, but who is complaining... right? Anyway, here are more pictures and videos from September.

Miriam showing off her dress (one of the two favorites)


Simon is so cute.
He spent a lot of time waiting patiently for Miriam to learn how to go potty.

I found Miriam doing the laundry all by herself.

More of Simon at five months




A Walk to the park on one of the first cooler days

What will she say next

For the past few weeks I have been keeping track of funny things that Miriam has said. Her imagination has grown so much lately. She cracks me up all the time. I am amazed by all the things that run through her head. She is definitely a talker. She will talk all the time to anyone willing to listen.

When I asked Miriam what she wanted to be for Halloween she said, "Umm, Miriam". When I asked her what Simon should be she said, "Mom".

Miriam: (points to the radio) "I want to dance"
Mom: "But I just heated up your hot dog"
Miriam: "Dance first, hot dog next"

I am trying to get Simon to fall asleep on his own. It is hard because he shares a room with Miriam. After a few tries I finally picked him up to rock him again (because of a lost pacifier). When I brought him back in after minute or two I heard Miriam whispering. I went over to her bed, after I laid Simon down, and asked her what she needed. She said she was singing "Twinkle Star" so Simon will sleep. Isn't she the sweetest?

I hear Michael in the bathroom with Miriam during her bath:
Michael: We need to wash your boo boo so it will be clean and feel better
Miriam: No, don't touch it
Michael: (distracting) What else do we need to wash?
Miriam: My legs and toes
Michael: What else?
Miriam: My bummy, belly, and my armpits!

Miriam wanted the chapstick off the top of my tall dresser (which is where we have to hide all chapstick from her). I told her I didn't think she could reach it. She responded with "I can reach it. I am so big now". Sure enough she used a stool and got it herself.

While I was rocking Miriam to sleep I accidentally hit the wall. Miriam says, "No Mom don't hit the wall". I say, "Oh sorry, why shouldn't I hit the wall?". Miriam says, "You will hurt the wall".

Miriam: My food goes down my neck
Mom: That's right. Where does it goes next?
Miriam: To my tummy, then my bummy

At dinner Michael asked if I wanted to go to Kohl's when we were done eating. Miriam says, "I want to come. I like Kohl's." Unsure if she knew what we were talking about I asked her where Kohl's was. She responded, "Next to Target" (which it is).

Miriam: I have to go potty
Mom: Okay, let's go
Miriam: I'm just teasing
Mom: (Laughing) Teasing? Where did you learn that word?
Miriam: At Target

"I want a guitar for my birthday. Then I will sing to you guys."





Miriam loves Sunday. She gets to dress up in her pretty dresses and see her friends at church.

August Video Catch-up

Most of the video I take is for Miriam's viewing pleasure. She loves to re-watch video of herself. However, sometimes I do get some cute video of the kids that is actually worth watching. Here are a couple I meant to post a while ago. Better late than never.



Miriam Reading to Simon




What does Daddy do at work?

August Photo Catch-up

I have a bunch of pictures from August that I never posted. Well, today is your lucky day because you get to view my picture overload from August.




We headed to the farm one more time before work picked up for Michael.





We went to the park.
Miriam is getting very brave on the playground.





Miriam is learning to write her letters.
Miriam loves to pose for the camera after getting ready for church.





Simon is getting so big.
Simon puts up with our Sunday picture taking.

Stop! Potty Time

I am happy to say that after only a week of training, Miriam is now a big girl. She has been potty trained successfully! I knew for a while that she was ready, I just wasn't sure how to go about it. Miriam is pretty reluctant to change so I knew it would be a hard transition at first. We talked about it for a couple of days to prepare her for the transition. She has done amazingly well with only one accident. I am so proud of my little girl... and happy to be saving on diaper costs.

We spent a lot of time reading books in the bathroom.

She wouldn't wear her training pants without her cute panties on top.

Showing off the candy necklace.

No potty training experience would be complete without a little reward. Miriam had a sticker chart to motivate her going potty. After 25 stickers she got a new sticker book and ice cream from Dad. After the next 25 stickers she gets new princess panties. Wahoo! Go Miriam!

Budding Photographer

Here are some more of Miriam's pictures that she has taken with her camera. I tell ya... once she starts it is hard to get her to stop taking pictures. She is even asking for a pink camera for her birthday. It is really cute when she takes pictures of Simon, she makes a clicking sound to get his attention. Then she says "my baby is so cute though". Maybe she will be the family photographer one day.

All of Us

When Miriam is taking pictures with her camera, she always says she wants a picture of all of us. Here are some of our lovely attempts at self portraits.

Sunday Best

We put Simon in his first tie for church today.
He received so many compliments at church.
What a stud!

with Miriam

with Dad

such a cutie

So Happy

We were so happy to get out of the house today. After a week of rain last week and a weekend spent at home sick, I knew the kids would be glad to get out. I decided to walk over to the park by our community pool. It isn't real close, so we haven't over there much. It is a hike carrying Simon in the Bjorn and pushing Miriam in the stroller. It was a nice morning (see I told you fall was coming) which helped. I think we will be able to head over there more now that the weather is cooling down. Anyway, here are some pictures from our outing. The quality isn't great because I just grabbed our point and shoot camera, but the kids are still cute.

Miriam snapped this picture when we got there.
I was trying to find shade, to rest.

As you can see it is hard to get Miriam to hold still for a picture.
Just the way it should be for a two year old.

Simon had his first swing ride.
I think he really liked it.

Long Weekend

Some long weekends are great. They are the kind where there is an extra day off work. You get to spend extra time with family. You go out and have fun doing long weekend type things.

Then there is the kind of long weekend we just had. You know, the kind where your two kids and husband are sick. You feel like you haven't slept in days (even though it was only 2 rough nights). Add in a not-one-person-got-dressed-in-anything-other-than-pajamas-stay-home-from-church kind of day and there you have it... a long weekend!

five months

Simon is five months old today! He is growing like crazy. I put away all his six month clothes a couple of weeks ago. He is now wearing a mixture of 9 to 12 month clothes. Colder weather really needs to come soon because Simon is struggling on the clothes front (thus the weird outfit in these pictures). Most of the clothes we have that fit him right now are for winter. Simon has accomplished quite a lot this past month. He is now a rolling machine. Remember when I wasn't sure whether or not he had help? Well, apparently not. Over the next couple of days we caught him rolling from his back to his front a couple of times. Soon after he figured out how to go from front to back. This is totally new to me since Miriam didn't roll until she was 10 months old then went straight to crawling when she was 11 months. We are going to have to keep a close eye on this little boy.

"I just rolled over"

We are practicing learning how to sit up.
He is getting stronger and closer.

He is a pretty calm baby.
He will just lay and play as long as he can see me or Miriam he is content.

Simon is still our blue eyed baby boy. His hair kind of grows like crazy (and just sticks straight up). We have already cut it 3 times. Simon is sleeping a lot better during the day. Those 30 minute naps just weren't cutting it. For the most part he sleeps eight to nine hours straight at night. He eats and then sleeps a couple more hours. Here are some fun pictures of Simon I played with in Photoshop (where I don't have very many skills).

Rise and Shout...

the Cougars are out.

one year ago

The month of August was such a crazy time for us last year. So much has changed in our lives since last August. It has been a great year. I organize my pictures on the computer by year and then within each year by month. It is fun to look back at what things were like a year ago. Here are some fun examples of the changes in our lives.

Miriam (ages 1 1/2 and 2 1/2)
It amazes me how much she has grown up this year.

Simon - age 4 1/2 months
(we found out we were pregnant in August of last year)


Last August Michael was finished with school/CPA exam.
We packed up moved across the country.
Michael was preparing to start a new job.

This August we are settled into our lives in the "real world" as grown-ups.
We actually have an income.
We love the time we get to spend together as a family.
We look forward to what next year will bring.