SITTING UP AND SHOWING OFF FOR BUBBY AND POPPIE

Today's Friday visit composed of Amelia sitting up at four months old with an ocassional help from the pillow or from Poppie. She is ALMOST there on her own!

Bubby got to feed Amelia again as Poppie, the photographer, was trying to snap just the right photos. (I think he might need a few more photography lessons!) This time Bubby avoided getting "barfed" on today! Poppie and Bubby also got to sing along with Amelia as we listened to the music from the toys in the nursery. We all did pretty good as it has been about 23 years since we sang all of those nusery rhymes and songs to Uncle Aaron.

Today was another "NO CRY VISIT" as we spent our lunch time at the Raleigh Nursery School. She was really good and showing off for Bubby and Poppie as she was giving her good bye kisses.

We hope we will get to see Amelia again this weekend....after Dad gets to spoil her a little since he has been gone, of course!

HUGS, KISSES, AND CUDDLES ON FRIDAY

It is always a great Friday when we can celebrate the week being over with a school visit with Amelia. She is almost four months old now...Almost a half of a year old! Time flies!

We had a great time rocking and holding Amelia today. She only threw up on Bubby two times during this short visit.

Amelia is sporting a big, red BUBBY kiss from her 30 minute visit today. Check it out! Maybe it will last until her Mom or Dad pick her up at the end of the day. She also really loved showing off for Poppie as he shot a few photos. It looks like she really grew alot this week. She had lots of smiles and giggles for us today.

Here's hoping that Amelia and her Mom and Day have a great weekend outside in this 60+ degree weather.

JANUARY HOLIDAY WEEKEND

This three hour stretch of babysitting at Bubby's and Poppie's house sure was alot calmer than the last time! Bubby did not even get her first cup of coffee when Amelia and her Dad arrived or Saturday. Of course as soon as her dad left to go to the game, she decided that she was hungry. It took Wanda and Bubby a while to figure out how to heat the bottle of formula in the new bottle warmer. This new technology is a bit more complicated than when Bubby and Wanda had to do this on a regular basis!

Then we went into the bedroom for a "little catnap" and then Poppie and Amelia watched a few cartoons until the NCSU basketball came on t.v. We played in the bed for awhile, read a few books, played on the floor with my toys and did do a little swinging in my portable swing. The time passed by quickly. About 2:00 p.m. her mom came to pick her up.

All in all, it was a great few hours. No problems and no crying! We all look forward to the next visit.

Bubby's and Poppie's Visit to School

Today was a big day for Bubby and Poppie! At lunch time Poppie picked me up and we drove down Wilmington St. in Downtown Raleigh to visit with Amelia at school. It was her second day and she did great! They sure love her at school . Ms. Ferguson had just finished feeding Amelia when we walked in. Bubby and Poppie both got to hold Amelia if we promised not to make her cry. It was a great 30 minute visit! It appeared that she really knew who we were when we walked in, heard our voices, and saw us. She was having a great time and smiling and laughing a lot, which made us very happy. Bubby got a chance to rock Amelia and actually rocked her to sleep. We have never seen her so calm and happy. It appeared that she loved hearing the other children in the infants' room.

We were really impressed with the day care workers and the facility. It was so new and clean. A "FIVE STAR RATING" was proudly hung at the front door. Another good thing is that it is just a few blocks from where Bubby works and from their house .

We hope that we will be visiting Amelia often at the daycare center.

IT IS ALMOST A NEW YEAR!

It is hard to believe that another year has gone by. It was just about 10 or 11 months ago when we were surprised about the announcement regarding a new baby in our family. Maury and I are finally Grandparents! The nine months of pregnancy went fast... now three months of life is hard to imagine. Amelia is growing and changing so quickly. She will be dating and in college before we know it!

We are glad that we were able to spend some time with Amelia and her parents after Christmas and Aaron and Caren for the weekend of Christmas. Here are a few photos of Aaron's and Caren's visit, our visit to San Francisco and the Wine Country, and today's Raleigh New Year's Eve visit. It was special to be in California for Great Grandma Simon's 90th birthday. Great Gandpa Oscar Simon had his 96th birthday in November!

We love that Amelia is beginning to smile and recognize all of us. We are taking bets now on her hair and eye color. It looks like Maury is going to get his wish for a little red head!

Here's hoping for a happy and healthy New Year for us all. It will be a new year of employment transition for the Raleigh Grandparents and lots of family togetherness with Amelia.

Happy New Year to all family and friends!

PRE-CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Santa came early to Bubby's and Poppie's house for Amelia, Dad and Mom. Amelia got a great "Audrey" doll, an engraved silver cup, hand knit sweater, and they all got Amelia's "aquarium " high chair. It won't be long until she's up sitting at the table eating with the rest of us. Mom and Dad got a new 6 piece place setting of the dishes that they have been wanting. We enjoyed our pre-christmas pizza dinner. It was a nice little visit before Bubby and Poppie go tomorrow to Nappa Valley to the Spa and then on to San Fransisco to visit the rest of the Simon family for the week.

Here's a few photos of Amelia trying to hold a spoon for the first time and some other family photos. She is beginning to discover what her hands are for.... Amelia sure let us know that she was tired and needed to go home. Putting on her coat and getting strapped in the car seat is not her favorite thing to do.

We hope that they have a safe trip to Charlotte for the Christmas Holiday.

MOM AND DAD WENT TO THE MOVIES

Three hours is along time when Amelia isn't happy. We tried everything, but we all found that her "SIMON STUBORNESS" was coming through. Walking, rocking, the bottle, changing the diaper, music...nothing seemed to make her happy. She cried so hard that her first little tears streamed down her face...which of course broke Bubby's heart and made her cry! She finally gave up about five minutes before the parents came to pick her up and fell into a deep sleep. PLEASE make sure you bring over the "SWING" the next time Amelia comes for a visit! Apparently that is the only thing that she likes when she gets in one of her "moods". She surely earned the title of "DRAMA QUEEN" today! She definately had all of the attention!

Uncle Aaron agreed to hold her while that football games were on. Amelia dozed off for about 10 minutes, but then he was very willing to pass her off to Poppie Simon when she began to cry non stop again. She wasn't too sure about Uncle Aaron's winter beard or Poppie's way with girls!

I am sure that Amelia is at home in her warm swing watching the NCSU game today with her Daddy and Mommy while the rest of the Simon boys are off to Greenville at the ECU game and Bubby and Great Grandma were at home cleaning up from the Holiday celebration.

All should be back to normal when every one returns to work on Monday. It was good to spend time with family over the holiday!

2005 FIRST THANKSGIVING

It's been too long since our last post. Bubby and Poppie have both been sick and banned from seeing and holding little Amelia.

Today was a special day since we shared our first Thanksgiving together. Jason ran the "Turkey Trot" race and Aaron flew in this morning for the weekend. Grandma Emily has been here all week. She was especially happy since she went to the NCSU basketball game last night and sat behind the bench. Pretty neat!

We had plenty of food all day... appetizers, soup, salad, and lots of vegetable casseroles, turkey and fixings, Uncle Aaron's famous garlic mashed potatoes, and Mama Meredith's yummy apple pie and pumpkin cheesecake. Too much food! We will all need to go to the gym this weekend! Here's a photo of Bubby giving Amelia cooking lessons on Thanksgiving. It doesn't look like she is paying attention!

Amelia and Mama Meredith were tired and had to leave early but we hope that they will return in the afternoon for another Bubby and Poppie babysitting event on Friday during the day. Then we hope to all go to the Hurricanes hockey game tomorrow night and Poppie and Uncle Aaron will go to the ECU game on Saturday.

Hopefully we will be able to see Amelia more now that we are all well.

Thanks to all for such a great Thanksgiving Day.

Love, Bubby and Poppie

SUNDAY'S VISIT

After church we decided to go to the kids for a quick visit. Amelia still insists on being sleeppy during the day and likes to party at night. We were only able to visit for a few minutes because she was hungry again and needed to sleep. But, we managed to get in a few rocks on the porch swing and a couple of photos with Mowgli. The Steele grandparents will be amazed next weekend when they come for a visit. She sure has grown alot in two months.

FIVE MINUTES OF HOLDING

We stopped by on the way back from MHC and Greenville to see if Amelia, Mom and Dad were at home. We arrived just at the time she was getting a late afternoon "snack" and just in time for Bubby to practice changing diapers, again! Bubby loves seeing her in the "designer sweaters" that she is beginning to wear on these cool fall days. Bubby also loved signing and playing with Amelia as she was getting changed. She knows how to "melt Bubby's heart" with a smile or two. It is amazing how much she changes in a few days.

PREPARING FOR HALLOWEEN AT THE SIMON GRANDPARENTS AND COUSIN VALERIE'S VISIT FROM SAN FRANSISCO

Amelia had a little field trip today with Mom, Dad and Bubby. We went to the "PUMPKIN PATCH" right down from Bubby's and Poppie's house. She wasn't too happy about sitting on the cold, wet ground in this silly little Haloween outfit Bubby bought for her. (Bubby thought it was really cute!) We did buy a couple of pumpkins and pretty neat gourds. Mommy Meredith will have fun with Amelia carving some cool faces on the pumpkins that they will put on their front porch!

Then Mom, Dad, and Cousin Valerie left Amelia to go to Todd and Katie's Baby Shower. Even though she missed them, she had lots of fun catching up on her sleep since Dad and Amelia stayed up most of the night last night. She likes staying at Bubby's and Poppie's house. Bubby took Amelia for a visit across the street to Wanda and Jerry's house, and then a walking tour of Westlake Reserve where they live. She got to meet some of the neighbors even though Amelia slept most of the walk. Poppie began to wonder where "the girls" had gone! The part Amelia liked best was sleeping on Poppie's belly as we both watched the ECU game.

I bet Amelia will have fun tomorrow w/ Cousin Valerie. If the weather is nice, I hope she will get a walk or two in the new stroller.

Amelia has a lot to look forward to this week. She turns one month old on Monday. I cannot believe that it has already been one month! Plus, she gets to visit her pediatrician on Thursday to see how she is doing. We feel sure that she has gained some weight since she likes to eat all of the time!

Thanks to Meredith, Jason, Valerie, an Amelia for such a great weekend!

Love, Bubby and Poppie

FIRST BABYSITTING EVENT WITH BUBBY @ AMELIA'S HOUSE

Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bubby, you haven't changed a diaper in over 23 years! Are you sure you remember? (OK, I have to admit, Jason told me that when he got home from work and after I left from my first babysitting assignment, I had put on the pamper disposal diaper backwards! Oh my! Remember, I raised two boys who could care less for many years how they were dressed. ...And now with a grand daughter, I guess I will have to be more careful! Perhaps the diaper fashion police will not permit me to change diapers! Maybe that is a good thing!!!!

Well, as soon as Meredith left this afternoon, Amelia knew that she could wrap Bubby around her little finger and get what she wanted...another good bottle of formula! Not only did she have one...but 2 within 1 1/2 hours! What a little pig ! I guess she is trying to grow! And I was beginning to "sweat it" since I did not have the "right stuff" to "supplement the bottle....I sure hope that Meredith will teach me how to mix up the formula for an emergency next time!

In any case, Amelia was not too sure about Bubby's ability to change the "poopy" diaper immediately after she had her lunch! You can tell.... she had doubts...just look at her expression! Pamper's changed their engineering since Uncle Aaron wore diapers! But, I managed without too much trouble.

Amelia and I did just fine today! We look forward to her visit at our house on Saturday when Mommy and Daddy go to Todd's and Katie's shower in North Raleigh on the weekend!

Bubby sure has enjoyed cooking for a bigger family this week and helping out a little. I hope Amelia will enjoy learning how to cook some of Bubby's specialities when she gets bigger.

TWO MORE SPECIAL PHOTOS

MY BUBBY is not too good at editing her blog site. Here's two more special photos that she likes!

ALL THE CHILDREN IN MY LIFE

It was wonderful that Aaron came to visit the Raleigh and Columbia family. He was able to meet Amelia for the first time. It's hard for me to believe that this was the first moment that he has ever held an infant in his arms....it seems as if it was just yesterday that I was holding him the same way...Maury and I have fond memories of Jason's and Aaron's childhood. It was good to see Aaron smile and seem to enjoy being with family as his family surely enjoyed spending time with him. We were even able to spend a few hours with Jason's and Aaron's Grandmother in Columbia for her 80th birthday.

Here are a few pictures of our weekend in Raleigh, Columbia, SC, and Charleston, SC.