We’re trying to teach Simon to love books. So far, so good. He may need a little more direction in terms of primary purpose (but this is good too).

Recurrently dreaming that I am far away from home and that my only mode of transportation is a bicycle. (I have had these dreams since Simon was born. A quick Google search indicates that dreaming of riding a bicycle may signify a desire for balace. I’ll buy that.)
Drinking iced Toddy. Yum.
Wondering if the pediatrician has a flag on Simon’s file: “Warning: Crazy first-time parents!”
Enjoying reading about the adventures of little Kate.
Writing a bio so that Jason can finally launch our Red Bicycle site.
Reading A Clash of Kings, by George R. R. Martin, Atonement, by Ian Mcewan, and The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson. (I’ve been inspired by Rebecca to start reading more.)
Remembering that I still have in my trunk four bags full of shoes and jackets that need to go to the People’s City Mission. (Brookos, who has mad skillz in organizatiion started me on a decluttering kick that continues slowly but surely.)
Realizing that the two cookies I ate for breakfast aren’t going to hold me until lunch.
Deciding how many more cloth diapers to buy this month (while Milkworks has them on sale).
Loving that my little boy is a cuddler and that he’ll still take his morning nap in my arms.
Packing the diaper bag for a daytrip to Grandma and Grandpa Morehead’s.

Jason and I started dating on a Wednesday (May 26, 2004).
Jason proposed to me on a Wednesday (January 26, 2005).
Simon was born on a Wednesday (January 30, 2008).
Last, least, and not at all in the same category, but still pretty good: Project Runway airs on Wednesdays. Season 5 starts tonight. I’m excited.

A couple of weekends ago, we went to Camp Calvin Crest to celebrate Jason’s Grandpa and Grandma Kliewer’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. It was really a blessing to be reminded of and see firsthand the rich heritage of the family I’ve married into--a family much like my own in many ways.

The reunion and conversations sparked Jason’s interest in his family tree (his mom had put one together for the Kliewer family), and, naturally, he found a relevant web application to play with. We have been busily entering history into Geni. It’s pretty straightforward--it draws your family tree--but if you’ve ever tried to draw a family tree out more than a couple of generations, you can appreciate how handy it is to have all the (cyber)space you need to spread out. It’s been fun scouring family history to enter as many birth, death, baptism, and marriage (etc.) dates we can find, I’m looking forward to picking my grandma’s brain when we visit her next month. It’s a little like putting together a puzzle, and as I’m sure Jason’s mom will agree, it’s more than a little addictive (I see you adding names and details, Mom). You can go all kinds of crazy, especially if you start adding families connected by marriage (e.g., my sister-in-law’s family or my cousins’ cousins on the “other” side).

It’s been super interesting to make connections either by dates or by relationships, Here are a few of the fun facts we’ve discovered so far:

Jason shares a birthday with my Grandpa Carlson (February 1)
Simon shares a birthday with his Great-Uncle Loius (January 30)
My Great-Uncle Lawrence was married on the day President Roosevelt closed the banks during the Great Depression (March 5, 1933)
Jason’s optometrist is also his wife’s great-uncle’s wife’s sister’s husband

Wondering how I might revive my (yawn) boring,boring blog . . .
Waiting for yellow Jell-O to set (watch Needs More Butter for details)
Washing (always washing) diapers (he’s in his fourth outfit today. One, two, three, Fourth!)
Admiring Charity’s new photoblog
ReadingLast Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, a book recommended to me three times now
Dreading change, especially friends moving (stupid St. Louis)
Researching how to introduce solid foods
Listening to Liv playing outside
Thinking I really should straighten up before Community Dinner tonight
Wishing I had thought to start blogging earlier (munchkin calls)

Dear Simon,

Incredibly, you are already five months old! You are growing up so fast, kiddo, and the only reason I can tolerate that at all is because you just become more and more fun with each new day and each new discovery you make and each new thing you learn to do.

This month we took our first vacation as a family of three. We loaded up way too much stuff in the (borrowed) minivan, paid way too much to fill it up with gas, and headed out to Colorado to visit the Sittlers and the Classens. You were such a great traveler--you slept almost the whole time in the van, and if you were ever awake, you were your usual smiley, drooley self. You did get your first little sunburn the day we went hiking around. I felt so terrible about that, but you didn’t complain at all, and by the next morning it had faded away entirely. You are still too young to notice, but Mama and Shelli had a lot of fun counting all our boys and shaking our heads at the fact that we’ve been friends for twenty-three years.

You also went to your first sporting event--a baseball game. Now, as anyone can tell you, we Moreheads aren’t necessarily ones to enjoy the sports, but you tolerated it well. You entertained us by shouting over the noise of the crowd. And you saw your first fireworks but were unimpressed.

The only question of any real importance to you these days seems to be How can I get that in my mouth? You are learning to grasp things and are ever exploring your world by gumming it one object at a time. Often you’ll be holding a toy, and just when you almost have it in your mouth, you let go but continue to bring your hand into your mouth; inevitably, you let out a cry because the taste of your hand is not what you were working so hard for. It frustrates you, but, man, is it cute.

Another new trick you’ve been practicing is getting the star at the top of your playmat to bend to your will. You yell at it until Mama or Daddy switches it on; then you just happily kick while your bud the Star flashes at you and plays a tune that gets stuck in Mama’s head.

You are holding your head up steady, which has totally transformed tummy time--you practically like it now. You love to sit up (soon you’ll be doing it on your own!) or especially to stand--so many different perspectives to explore!  You are just about to laugh, and you are thinking about rolling over (check that. In the time it’s taken Mama to get this letter finished, you have started rolling from your tummy to your back. What fun you are having showing off your new skill!).

Simon, you have the most amazing, engaging smile, and you share it freely, although overall you are a pretty serious little fellow, You are becoming more observant all the time, and I love watching you study your toys and especially people. You are a great kid, and your daddy and I say every day how thankful we are for you,

Mama loves you, little man.

This pretty much sums up how we three have been celebrating this Independence Day so far. Happy 4th, everybody!