Up Close with Simeon

Cuddly

Funny

Funny

Funny

Bold

Perceptive

Stubborn

Full of Pizzaz

Fast

Athletic

Engaging

Surprising

Short and Stout

All around a bundle full of mischief and surprises.  You just never know what this little guy will do and/or say.  He puts together the funniest sentences and often wows his audience with his specific and detailed requests.  He is by far our shortest boy...still in 18 month clothes at 2 years old (and Levi is in 6 month clothes at 3 months), but this little boys packs quite the personality punch.  I'm so thankful for this lithe boy and can't imagine my life without his funny antics and adorable expressions.  And, by the way, this cocktail of personality traits has most certainly added a new dimension to the wonderfully complex toddler years.  

always has a ball....and i mean always

blonde blonde blonde

did I mention happy??

long curly eyelashes

funny teeth

loves to give this innocent look....but don't be fooled!

 still has no neck

 chubbbbby cheeks

his version of "try not to get crumbs everywhere"

totally unaware 

proof

the 3rd really does get away with more than than the first
yes,
Titus-I'd never have dreamed of it, but I'm sure he would have tried it! However, I firmly believe I would have taken him aside and tried to correct the issue promptly.
Ezra-Most certainly tried it. However, I knew it wouldn't hurt him so I let it slide a time or two, then proceeded to correct and resolve this new love.
Simeon- tried it....loved it...and I sat on the couch and took time to video it. And maybe, just maybe I even put my feet up b/c I realized I didn't need to fix him a snack???

ughhhh-I Digress!

and yes, it's dog food from the dog bowl

18 month milestone

it's official...he's 1 and a half. How does time go by so quickly...and how does it get faster and faster with each kiddo? Simeon is entering one of my favorite stages of development and I am filled with so much joy and thankfulness. What a kind gift children are from a truly magnificent Creator.

Simeon is such a little bundle of energy. we never imagined that our 9 pound newborn would end up being our smallest toddler! But...my oh my...what he lacks in stature he makes up for in speed! This little boy can run and loves to giggle all the way. He smiles and keeps up with the big kids as though he was one of them. I truly believe he is insulted when I pull him out of the mix for his own safety! His newest favorite is towel flipping with his brothers...and what a crazy towel flipping strategy this kiddo effectively displays! I feel as though I am getting glimpses into my future with 4 teenage sons running around my house wrestling and creating enjoyable chaos for themselves!

He is almost past the temper tantrum stage...but I believe he will always be my most short-tempered. Not sure why I think that...but it is surely shaping up to be an area of sinful weakness that I pray the Spirit uses to draw him to Himself!

This is what Simeon chooses to wear when his brothers put on their sunglasses
...He truly must think these worker man glasses are the ultimate!

I'm still adjusting to being all by myself on Sunday morning now that Mark leaves early.
Easter morning I was greeted with Simeon's idea of a hearty breakfast:)
there were cheerios all over the floor...but he was one happy little man!

he loves to climb....this is what I found him doing while
I had my back turned doing the dishes after lunch one day.

Someone noticed the pile of dishes that was mounting in the sink.
He managed to pull this crate in from another room...climb on top
...and start moving dishes from one side of the sink to the other
...chattering to himself the whole time. Mommy's little helper/destroyer:)

my little "ball" boy.
Anyone who has spent any length of time around
this kid can attest to his OCD fascination with any type of ball.

Today marks day 1 of potty-training my 3rd little guy. Here's to new tactics for a new kid with a new learning style and patience patience patience! I am assuming he will take potty training to a whole new level as each individual kid does...but I am assured that Christ will convict me of sin and show me my need for Him in this area of parenting.

I simply must confess my thankfulness and humble adoration that God would steward such a treasure to us as He has in giving us Simeon D Brumbaugh. Each one of our boys is so precious and with each child...God has shown me my feeble ability to effectively parent; however, He has always extended such grace and mercy as He draws my heart and the hearts of my children to Himself each day. What a wonderful Savior and Sustainer...and the ultimate Abba!

Let's Rewind

a minute or two of unsupervised lunchtime...and this is what greeted me:)
(note: this was a moment of slight panic seeing as how we have recently been
given a much taller dining room table and chairs...i think it is called bistro height??...
which we love -the boys feel like they are climbing trees each time they get into their chairs for a meal
...however,a tumble off of this would most certainly land us a very painful memory:)
Let's Rewind

dumping the candle out of the holder...

making the lunge from the highchair to the table

managed to grab the spoon and Ezra's vitamin before momma put him back in his place:)

what a mischievous sweetie:)...

for those who are wondering...I snapped the first picture and then had Simeon reenact his short lived adventure...which he was more than willing to attempt a second time.

happy as a lark...at the park

just had to post this cutie.pa.tootie pic of my big guy and his special new additions!

Sim is 9 months old and is a bundle full of love and energy.

He is busy with trying to keep up with his big brothers and
I'm busy squeezing all the love and cuddles I possibly can out of him before he starts walking (soon) and being an independent toddler.

He has transitioned to a bottle this week (Thanks to the 5 white additions in his mouth:)

and has actually started some baby food and formula in the last 2 weeks!!!

Time has just flown by and I'm thrilled with each moment
I have been given to serve this sweetie as he grows and learns.

Still have yet to get him to the dr. so I have no idea how much he weighs or how long he is...maybe this month:)

He LOVES the water...and as soon as he gets in he starts sticking his little lips in and starts blowing bubbles....I guess he loves his big brother swimming instructors. Too cute

I'm so blessed

Simeon's 6 month update

He will be 7 months in 9 days...but I had to share some of the moments from this last month. I have many many more...but these will have to do for now. This month was a busy month for us with all our travels...but we loved being together as a family and we LOVED watching Simeon change into a mobile baby! Sim D with Big D in TN

Bananas anyone??

A quick bath in Mamaw's sink

Scooting started...and he is quite proficient now!
If he wants something...he goes and gets it! Quite a ball of energy!

Sitting up before he was 6 months. He was QUITE proud of himself!
I am pretty sure that he is quite motivated to move and do because he is watching his older brothers have so much fun together!

...on the flip side...

We all know there are 2 sides to every story....

Simeon is just so stinkin' sweet -- literally

He got me on this one. Laying so sweetly and patiently as I tended to his older brothers...fooling me with tempting grins that were showcasing his chubby cheeks which were just asking for some kisses from mommy. I lovingly reached down, picked him up, and wrapped my arms around him for a big squeezy hug...and immediately all the sweet little visions in my imagination were interrupted with the balloon word GROSS being popped and flying out of my mouth with great exclamation. (hint-that whole balloon word line only makes sense to those of you who heard my story about swearing in labor/delivery with Simeon)

split second scare

I know we have all had them...but it is such a different story when the split second scare involves your own child...let alone your infant! I experienced one of these moments with Titus when he was a baby and have had several more with 2 little boys running around exploring every inch of every playground between here and Washington DC. However, I had my first one with Simeon while on the most recent "study evacuation" in Tennessee.

I was putting Simeon in his carseat and decided to lift the seat up onto a higher surface before doing all the buckles. As I lifted the handle...I thought it snapped into place...and as I hoisted it up onto my forearm, the seat flipped forward throwing Simeon face first onto the rug which covers a concrete floor. My heart ached and my words were feeble...but God was near to me. I was all alone in the house, so I called Mark and asked him to pray...Simeon was screaming so loudly that I couldn't hear Mark over the phone...but the Spirit was ministering and strengthening! Simeon calmed down and Mark asked me to send a picture of Simeon so he could see if he thought it looked like anything serious.

As I look at the photo now...it doesn't look like anything much (this was immediately after the fall...and the bruising didn't set in until the next morning), but it is obvious when an infant has a black eye...and he did for a few days! Thankfully, we are all back to normal......but I now double and triple check the carrier before I lift it up!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Since the chances of us getting snow in Virginia Beach this year for Christmas are not looking too promising. . .I had to work a little harder to get my White Christmas fix this year!

Enjoy!

Simeon D Brumbaugh
1 Month

the photo opp progression. . .
anyone with children will completely
understand this sequence of photos!

"...baby, it's cold outside..."

Smug Snowman

Frustrated Frosty

Meltdown!

Welcoming Simeon D Brumbaugh

Simeon D Brumbaugh

November 19, 2009
11:46pm
9 lbs 21 1/2" long
chest 36cm
head 35cm
a big healthy blessing!

we laid the boys down for their afternoon nap and
then left for the hospital. These 2 big brothers were
super excited for baby Simeon to be born...
so that they could go to Grandy and Mimi's house.

Mimi meeting Simeon

while big brothers waited outside climbing trees and playing spiders.
I'll be sure to post pics of the boys meeting Simeon.
They can't wait to see him in a few days....our hospital here has adopted the
"no visitors under 18 years of age policy due to the H1N1 flu"
...so they have seen him over skype...
but the real life version of Simeon meeting the elders has yet to take place!
Won't that be a memory:)

a special visit from Aunt Nina...

Of course, Mark had work to do...so Simeon got his first dose
of Eschatology (End Times) shortly after his arrival.
Maybe the next baby will be born without any
seminary projects looming over us :)
and for those of you who are wondering ...the birthing jacuzzi is the big grey thing next to the rocker.

Mark adding Simeon's footprints to the wall near Ezra's

it's official and on the wall:)

their names and prints are connected on the wall
right next to the room they were both born in

RM#3422

before

after

a special addition to the board of babies born this month at the Midwifery Center.
Simeon is 3rd from the bottom...as you can see, the 19th was a busy day for the midwives!


feeling great and happy to be headed home with our little man. This is the first time I was discharged during the day...usually I have to leave around Midnight...but this time we got to leave and run a few errands before heading home for a nap!

All ready to go home.
This is the hat, mitten and sweater set I crocheted for Simeon...however, I was expecting him to be a bit smaller...so, I more or less squeezed him into the sweater and was glad that I had neglected to add the buttons! The mittens were a tight squeeze as well...but it was oh-so worth the work to make this special gift for my 3rd gift from God! So many prayers were prayed for my son as I stitched these for him. My heart was overwhelmed at the goodness of the Lord in allowing me to carry this young man and my anticipation grew with each stitch. God was so near to me as I prepared for Simeon's birth...and I can honestly say that labor and delivery were a special time of communion between my heart and the One who stewarded me with this treasure! What a blessing and joy to be in a personal relationship with Simeon's Creator and life-giver!

The birth story:
All my labors have been so uniquely different. When I went to my 39 week appt. Thursday morning...I was happy to hear that I was almost half way done with labor (between 4-5cm)wahoo! However, this alarmed Mark a bit b/c of his fear of not making it to the hospital in time for this birth. My midwife asked me if I wanted to come in and get the IV antibiotics in me before I went into labor. She knew I had a slim to none chance of getting the medicine in me once labor started...b/c it takes 4 hours and I have yet to have a labor that is that long. Mark was relieved to hear this option...and after he finished work that day, we laid the boys down and headed to the hospital. I got the IV antibiotics from 4:40-8:40pm while Mark and I enjoyed a quiet and relaxing dinner and nap. . .
water broke at 8:42pm. So we walked around for a bit and watched some TV.
Labor contractions started around 9:45. . .so the TV was turned off and Mark and I started getting excited about meeting Simeon soon!
Around 11:00pm I looked at the clock and thought...this was going to take a while b/c my contractions didn't seem long enough to be moving me along. At 11:30 I felt the contractions strengthen and I told Mark that if we were at home I would probably think it was time to leave for the hospital...but boy are we glad we were already there...b/c Simeon arrived 15 minutes later and our drive to the hospital would have taken 30 minutes!

To God be the Glory - Great things He has done!