Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!

Today is Simon's first Halloween. The bad news is; we're all sick at our house. The good news is; we went trick-or-treating last weekend in Rock Springs with our family. I'm glad we got to do something to celebrate. I'll still dress Simon up in his monkey suit tonight just so everyone who comes to the door for candy can see how cute he is. Here are some pictures of our Rock Springs celebration.

Here is Simon the monkey in the pumpkin Patch

This is Simon the monkey and his bat cousins Sydney and Donovan (Ryan's kids)

Walking on Sunshine

It's finally happened! At 10 1/2 months old, Simon can walk! He's taken 2-3 steps here and there, but yesterday he walked 8 steps by himself!
I guess before, I provided the wrong motivation. Initially, I stood in front of him and said "Walk to Mama!" That didn't do it. Yesterday, I held his stuffed bunny up and said "Walk to the bunny!" That did it. He took off toward the bunny.
Sadly, I didn't get video of the 8 steps, but this is pretty close. Sorry you can only see half of him. My camera can only take horizontal video and I have to stand close enough to him to get him to walk instead of crawl.

Presidential Election

Though we are only a couple of weeks away from the 2008 presidential election, I am completely torn on who will make a better president. Oh if only Stephen Colbert were still running, I would have my answer. If I cannot make a decision by election day, I will just defer to Simon's earlier decision.
That said, I received this link in an email from my mom yesterday and thought I should pass it along. Not only does it bring up an important point, but it is incredibly funny.
Perhaps from now on, we should require all voters to spend at least five minutes going over the issues before being able to submit their ballot for consideration.
This is a clip from the Howard Stern Show. I don't support or listen to the Howard Stern show (neither does my mom) but this clip is perfect, and I fear, sums up a lot of American opinion. I just hope I'm wrong.
Click here to view the clip.

Swim Class

Today was Simon's first day of baby swim class. Because this was his first time in a real swimming pool, he spent the first few minutes just staring around, not moving at all. When he got comfortable, he started kicking and splashing. He was having a great time until it came time to dunk him under water. The first dunk, he looked at me like "MOM! Why did you do that?" The second dunk he looked at me as if to say "I'm not so sure about this." I thought we were getting closer so I tried it one last time, per his teacher's instructions. By the third dunk he'd had enough and just started screaming. The rest of the lesson wasn't his happiest time, but after a few minutes of bouncing around the pool, he calmed down. I think for the remainder of his lessons, we'll skip the dunking or save it for the end.
Here is a picture of Simon right after his lesson. It's a bit fuzzy, but it was so cute I decided to post it anyway.

"My name is Ami Paulsen and I am a sugar addict."

I want to thank my mom for her support.

Recently, I realized I am completely out of control when it comes to eating sugar. It doesn't matter the time of day or the extension of my hunger; if there is sugar available, I'm all over it. I love sweet treats.
About two weeks ago, I decided things were getting a little out of hand. I made the insane decision to go on a sugar-fast for two weeks. Some people might thing "Wow. Two weeks really isn't that long;" but it is for someone who has never gone a day without some kind of sugar.
After making this crazy plan, I decided I couldn't go about it alone. Since my husband eats just as much sugar as I do but never gains a pound, I knew he wasn't the one to go to. I immediately called my mom who didn't even hesitate to say she would join me on my fast. It was so nice to have someone to report to at the end of the day and to share my cravings with. So thank you mom, for giving up sugar for two weeks, just to support me. You are the best mom in the world!

Now the two weeks are up and I have to say, I feel better. To break my fast, I had honey-bunches of oats for breakfast and 3 animal cookies after lunch. Though they tasted like heaven, that's really all the sugar I've had today and I don't feel much of a need for more. I think I may have broken the addiction! Here are things I've noticed since I gave up sugar two weeks ago. All these happened in the second week though as the first week was nothing short of pure torture (not really but it makes it sound more dramatic if I say that).

• I have been able to run farther than ever before.
• I can be around people eating sweets and not attack them, ripping the plate out of their hands and devouring it whole.
  
• I can walk past the bakery section of the grocery store into the produce section without examining all the cookies, brownies and donuts, and being angry they're not mine. Why do they put the bakery section on the way to the produce section anyway? Is that some kind of sick joke?
• I can watch someone bake sweets on the Food Network without attempting to chew on the TV.

I'm quite happy with the results of this fast and hope it has changed me permanently, though I may have to do this every 6 months or so. I let you know mom.

Now for the reason you all read this blog. Here are some really cute pictures of Simon. He insists we line his crib with a fleece blanket. He'll wake up several times during the night without the blanket. Since it's been washed so many times, it doesn't fit quite as tightly as it once did. Before Simon goes to sleep, he rips it off the mattress and situates it. Here are two examples of things he's done with the blanket once it is torn from the mattress. In both instances, we did remove the blanket to prevent suffocation; though not before we got a picture.

Happy October!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year; the first day of October. Fall is my favorite time of year and though it technically began over a week ago, it really feels official to me on October 1st. Here are my favorite things about this day/this time of year.

• The Cooler Weather: It really felt official this morning. I had to wear a long-sleeve shirt running and close the window because it was too cold.
• The Holidays: October 1st marks the beginning of what are in my opinion, the most fun holidays of the year.Today I went into the garage and dug out the box marked "Holiday Decorations." In our cupboard of decorations, we have about 10 boxes marked "Christmas Decorations" and then another box for the rest of the holidays. The catch-all box is full of Halloween decorations, a paper pilgrim hat and a turkey candle.
  
• The Colors: Red and Orange are my favorite colors (they were also my wedding colors). I love looking outside and seeing the red and orange leaves falling on the ground.
• The Food/Smells: When I think of fall food/smells, I think of pumpkin pie, spice cookies, apple cider, turkey, anything including cinnamon and of course....HALLOWEEN CANDY!!!

Last week, Jacob, Simon and I went to Bridal Veil Falls. For those of you who have never been there, it is a waterfall in Provo Canyon. There we saw the first signs of the leaves turning. It was so exciting. Here is a picture from our trip. Simon loved splashing in the stream.