under a fig tree: September 2012

Week three of Simeon's life has been a week of firsts and fists; fits and spurts; spits and flirts.

See below for details.

Grandpa and Grandma Wilson made the long trek
across the plains from Omaha

Grandma Julie held Simeon perfectly still
and when she wasn't doing that,
she was rocking the kitchen and a million other things

Grandpa got Simeon suited up for his first home Notre Dame game.
Now that Simeon's in the picture,
Grandpa will have someone to go to the games with.

His first bath in a tub in the kitchen sink,
or possibly an outtake from the Jungle Book

The significance of downing his first bottle:
1. mom can be away for longer than 15 minutes between feedings
2. dad can get a close-up look at the calm of Simeon's face in a "milk stupor"
3. there was no crying as Simeon made absolutely certain that not a drop of milk was spilled

There's a lot to learn in these weeks,
but he's catching on

We've been trying to get Simeon to spend a little time on his belly each day since pediatricians recommend this exercise to strengthen babies' necks. Simeon initially resisted this "tummy time," but has found a way to make the best of the situation.

He keeps a pretty full schedule of eating, sleeping, eating, sleeping, eating and sleeping,

so it's been hard to fit in time to work on his yoga.

Right now he's making it work by multi-tasking on the changing table.
Simeon striking the "Warrior pose"

As for this being a week of "flirts," Simeon has been exchanging some yawning pictures with Micaela, his new pen pal from DC.

They figure that if you're cute even when first waking up,
you must be pretty good looking.

With all these new things to learn,
sometimes he's not quite sure what to think...

...but usually things work out pretty well

Yeah, life is pretty good
(Micaela, Simeon wanted you to see this one of him smiling)

Indeed, life is good with family and friends continuing to pour out their love in warm welcome of this guy.

With love and gratitude,
the Wilsons

On Tuesday, August 28 at 6:48pm we welcomed Simeon Augustine Wilson into this world. We all greeted each other with tears, for perhaps different reasons, but it was nice to start off speaking the same language. And we've been getting to know one another ever since.

Welcome Simeon Augustine!

So happy to meet you

The first morning...and it was good

Thank you, Kristy, for helping us to a healthy delivery

Simeon soon met Grandpa and Grandma Doughton:

If Simeon was this comfortable in Grandma's arms already, just imagine how good
he felt sleeping next to her after multiple nights in a row of her watchful care

From far and wide, the Doughtons quickly rushed to South Bend to scoop him up, vie for the role of favorite uncle on the Doughton side, and secure his allegiance to either Auburn or Alabama:

With Aunt Sara and Uncle Webb

Aunt Sara had an instant calming effect on Simeon, day or night

Look at that sleeping boy in Uncle Webb's arms

Who looks happier? the uncle or the nephew?

Uncle John, with signature Doughton wave

Uncle John, a third year med-student, has a natural bedside manner,

even when he's not on rotation

Aunt Sara, a second year Master of Divinity student, keeping watch at all hours of the night with Simeon

"Grandma Susie, we love you!"

Simeon has also been making new friends:

MDiv classmate Jenn and her husband Joe

MDiv classmate Jess

Francis and children; Becky; Aimee and Collen; Tim

with Aimee and Collen

with John and Claire and Boaz, who Simeon is excited to meet soon

With Kathy, learning how to use all four limbs at once,
which will come in handy once instruments enter the picture

With Sheila, our dear peace-loving friend, who, contrary to her t-shirt,
is teaching Simeon how NOT to rise and strike, even when madly hungry

Meeting the Beckers, Simeon learned an early lesson in patience:
though tempted by the smell of the delicious saffron rice and
hershey-kisses cookies that they brought, these sundry morsels were for mom and dad

A few early family photos while at Memorial Hospital:

Everyone at Memorial Hospital treated us with such care, and still it was great to be heading for home:

We wondered how the transition to home might go...

Simeon took it all in stride

Mary Ann is a natural mama and Simeon is quite taken with her. They can be seen
together at any time day or night.

**Correction**: any time day AND night

Smiles all around

Ben and Simeon quickly discovered that they had a lot in common:
prior to Tuesday, neither knew how babies like to be held, washed, dried, fed,
put to sleep, carried, burped, or swaddled.

They've enjoyed their first week together immensely.

In addition to his inexpressible enjoyment of sleeping and eating, Simeon has devoted his precious waking moments to cracking us up with his facial expressions. Our interpretations of each, to the best of our ability, are below: