Simon Says "Monday Morning with Monkeys on My Feet!"

Monday mornings are hard ... especially when you're getting back from a three-day weekend and especially when you flew in an airplane to another state and especially when you had so many new faces and surroundings and a change in routine! It was fun, but we are all still tired out! MiMi got home even later than we did but we just started our week off knowing we'll catch up with a few naps here and there. She brought me a new outfit and it was so cool here in Baltimore this morning that I'm wearing it right away. You may have felt like you had a monkey on your back a time or two, but I've got some monkeys on my feet that I can't seem to shake. Maybe when I wake up they'll be gone. Have a great day!

Simon Says "We're Off!"

MiMi here I am ... all ready to go ... we're off for our BIG adventure! MiMi and I will have lots of stories to share with you all when we get back next week. Have a really wonderful weekend too!

Simon Says "Five More Years "

Here's the spot where I am able to sit during the last days of August this year. But MiMi tells me that there are only five short years until I will be joining all of the others for the fun of finding my seat in a classroom! Did I tell you that I get to fly on an airplane? Yep, we are going to visit with Aunties Lauren and Rama! Mommy and Daddy are going to the wedding of Mommy's friend and I will have fun playing with Kobie, Oliver and Max (two dogs and a cat!!!) MiMi has her own fun planned ... she's going in an airplane too! She will be in New Orleans playing with her sister, my Great Aunt Patty! So you can see our summer fun hasn't ended yet. How about you? Do you still have exciting things planned to do before this summer is really all over?

Simon Says "Here We Are ... Thanks To A Kind Stranger"

We were out for our usual daily walk through MiMi's neighborhood and a very nice lady passing by happened to notice MiMi's camera ... yes, as usual, pointed at me! She offered to take a picture of the two of us and so we couldn't pass up the chance to share the moment with you!

Simon Says "Look Who's Seven!"

On Saturday I turned seven months old! MiMi had me over for my first slumber party! My Auntie Kerrian was there too. She played with me until it was bath time and then a bottle and bed. It was all just too exciting so I wanted to see them again at 2:00 and 4:45 and MiMi figured we'd just start our day when I called her at 6:30! Really the problem is that I roll myself over and wake myself up and it's just confusing! Hope you had something new and exciting happen over the weekend too.

Simon Says "We Had A Pool Party for Two!"

I don't know about the weather where you live, but yesterday it was hot, hot, hot and muggy. MiMi said that the only place to be was inside with the air conditioner on high or sitting in the pool. Boy, everyone else must have picked air conditioning because we had the whole pool to ourselves! When we got out to have a fruit snack, we had to look back and see if there was any water left in the pool or was it all sucked up in my diaper! Well, if you've been waiting all week to hear my surprise ... now I can tell you. Tomorrow my parents are going to their ten-year high school reunion and MiMi is going to have a slumber party for me! This is the first time I'll sleep overnight and Mommy and Daddy will remember what it's like to wake up on their own! MiMi says when we do this in a couple of years there will be popcorn and ice-cream and movies and lots of games. For now she has plans for playtime, a bath, a story, a bottle and then a prayer that I sleep through the night!

Simon Says "If It 's Thursday, We're at the Farmers Market"

Do you have the same wonderful local produce markets to enjoy during the summer? MiMi loves the bright juicy tomatoes and other vegetables, the sweet fruit, the beautiful flowers and plants. I like the sights and sounds and strolling around with MiMi. We usually meet up with a friend or two and sometimes I get to visit with Oma too. When the season is over MiMi and I will miss these trips into Towson, but for now we have a few more weeks to enjoy all of the treats. I hope you'll go find your local markets and if you're like MiMi, you may even throw in an ice-cream treat! I can't wait until Mommy says I can join in on that!

Simon Says "Call Me a Cookie Monster"

Mommy found just the right teething cookie to add to my menu and I am liking that! They don't have any chocolate chips in them or creamy filling so MiMi says I don't have to worry about them being too much of a temptation to her. MiMi and I took a walk to the bank yesterday and she was so happy that she had her camera so she could share something with you ... and no, it's not another picture of me. Along a street in Rodgers Forge on our way to the bank there is a wild tomato plant growing out of a crack in the gutter on a street corner. We actually saw it back several months ago and now it is huge and has tomatoes to be enjoyed right off the vine!

Simon Says "Look Who's Got Some New Threads!"

I arrived at MiMi's Monday morning looking smart! MiMi picked out this new plaid shirt and Auntie Kerrian got me some big boy shorts on one of their trips to Target ... they can't seem to by-pass the children's department anymore. This is a whole new look for me. What do you think? I could pass for 9 or 10 months old right? Next week we're taking a big trip ... it'll be my first airplane ride! We're off to Atlanta and we get to stay with my Aunties Lauren and Rama. I'm so excited about all of the new things ... a plane ride, visiting a new state, staying in a cool loft, and meeting Kobie, Oliver and Max. I don't think a little boy has ever stayed with Lauren and Rama before so it'll be an exciting first for them too!

Simon Says "Here's My Weekend Ride"

Here's how I get around on weekends ... I can see so much better way up here! MiMi had some new clothes for me, so we stopped by quickly on Saturday to pick them up ... and then my Daddy got to see MiMi's new car. I had a nice surprise at MiMi's ... my Uncle Charley was there so we got some guy-time in too! Oma and PopPop had me for a couple of hours on Saturday all to themselves ... we had to load up on hugs and kisses because I'll miss them while they are away. I think MiMi and I will have some big news for you by the end of the week, so stay tuned!

Simon Says "MiMi Noticed Something"

MiMi figured that she had better put this up here today, on a Saturday, when we usually don't share, but by Monday she might forget to ... but look ... when she made this picture of me in her new car a close-up, she noticed that it shows off my new teeth!

Simon Says "I Had a Dream ... and MiMi Says Dream On!"

"Hey, Oliver, Harrison, Lila I've borrowed my MiMi's car and thank goodness I found you listed in her contacts on the phone ... want to go have some fun?" Now that's what MiMi calls a nightmare NOT a dream! So it is the weekend again, but there won't be any nonsense like that going on for me. We'll take walks, maybe go to the pool, do our usual weekend stuff, but we'll have two whole days together - me and my Mommy and Daddy! Now that's the stuff dreams are made of!

Simon Says "Even at 60 MiMi has had a 1st!"

MiMi has a new set of wheels! And this was the first car she has ever bought on her own! This is a Hyundai Tucson. MiMi really liked her Acura but it was ten years old and a bit of a gas-guzzler. Isn't the smell of a new car great? MiMi will hope that I don't give that too much competition! Don't I look just right behind the wheel? What are my chances of MiMi having it in 15 years? She says pretty good because she doesn't want to go through the big decision again any time soon. You should see the smile on her face though ... I know she is happy!

Simon Says "MiMi Don't Get Too Close"

MiMi and I got out early this morning for a nice long walk around her neighborhood because it's looking like we will get some rain around here later. There's nothing like a relaxing walk to tire a little guy out, so when we got back I was chillin' and on my way to a nice nap, but MiMi decided that you might want to share a little bit of our day. I'm so used to seeing MiMi peering at me through her camera, but fair warning MiMi, if you come in for the close-up you'll be in snatching distance!

Simon Says "Me and My Best Buddy, Daddy"

You can tell, can't you, that my Daddy and I have loads of fun spending time together on the weekends. We can make fun out of almost anything we do. Here we are on the MacKenzie's deck overlooking Miss Deborah's beautiful gardens and all we have eyes for is each other. He can make me laugh out loud and who doesn't like to spend time laughing?!

Simon Says "A Picnic For Mommy, Me and Our Cousins"

Mommy & Me, my 2nd cousin, Imaris, Mommy's cousin, Ali, & my 2nd cousin, Lila

On Friday MiMi had a playdate set up with Mommy's cousin, Alexis and her three children, my second cousins Imaris, Ethan and Lila. Lila is 10 days younger than I am and Ethan is almost four. We had a great picnic at the playground across the street from MiMi's house. We had the nicest kind of weather for a picnic and Ethan seemed to have so much fun running around enjoying the great playground. In a year or two, Lila and I will be right beside him! At MiMi's house Ethan spent time reading books to Lila and me ... he did a great job and we really liked it too! Mommy was able to spend her lunch time with us because her office is so very close. Thanks MiMi!

Simon Says "It's Goodbye Again"

MiMi and I had a nice surprise visit from my friends, Miss Deborah and Mr. Bruce. They are leaving for two weeks to drive all the way to Maine. Mr. Bruce's family owns its very own island ... pretty cool. Maybe one day I'll get to go see it for myself. My Uncle Charley has been there ... MiMi has a beautiful painting he did for her during one of his visits to Indian Island. Miss Deborah says you have to like "camping" with no running water and no electricity. Seems like if I go soon, being in diapers will take care of one of the "problems" ... and a flashlight or camp lantern will take care of another. Hey, what little boy doesn't like the sound of camping out? Safe travels and call us when you get home.

Simon Says "Maybe I'm Going to be an Airplane Pilot"

One thing is for sure ... when I go up high I just get the biggest smile ... I can't help it. MiMi says she wonders if her friend Claudius did this when he was a baby because now he is always happy to be up in his plane. Mommy told MiMi this morning that the second tooth came through last night! Soon you'll be hearing me say "I'll have steak tonight please!"

Simon Says "Look What Came and Went While MiMi Was Away!"

Two things happened while MiMi was away for her time at the beach. The biggest news was that I got my first tooth on the first of August! Yep, and the second one is just about here too! I had to do show and tell this morning so MiMi could oohh and aaww over it! I had a great time with my PopPop and Oma and MiMi is so glad they helped out spending the time with me too. The second thing that happened was that the baby house wrens that were growing up in the birdhouse outside MiMi's front door seemed to have made the big move out of their home while MiMi was gone! Yep, they flew the coop! We hope they have a good life and find lots of worms and new homes along the way!

Simon Says "Hey, Something is Missing"

And that something is my MiMi ... well, she promises she is returning tomorrow, so I will have a flip to go with the flop! Safe travels hopping home MiMi!

Simon Says "MiMi Sent Us The Beach"

Some days you just have to have the beach, so here you go! Anyone care to guess? Just where is my MiMi?