A couple of videos...

Hi Joey,

I just wanted to post a couple of videos of you from today. Actually I was talking to your sister last night and she requested some videos and I told her I would take some today. So I figure I will post them here for her and everyone to see. You were getting very close to crawling today and I took some video of you on the bed trying. And another video of you hangin' out in your jolly jumper.





Joey's first "real" laugh!

Hi Joey, it's your daddy. Long time no post, but I will do my best to post more regularly from now on. Lots has happened over the last six months since you were born, and you sure are getting big! And today you had your first hysterical laugh! Rocky was running around the room with your stuffed Pooh bear and you just found it incredibly funny to say the least! You started laughing uncontrollably for the first time. I mean, you laugh quite often but not like this. It was more of a laugh attack and it was hilarious! I managed to get some video, but I missed the best part. I caught the end of it and then it just sounds more screeching, which you do a lot of too! Have a look for yourself:



Anyway, I have to get back to work. I will post more soon and just remember that I love your more than anything in the whole world! Well.... you're tied with your sister!

Love, Daddy

Super Sunday

Hola Joey!! Today is Super Sunday. It will be your first Super Bowl. We are going to a Potluck at Mom's Hotel to watch the game with all our friends. It should be a lot of fun!! We have been looking after you quite a bit lately. It is soo cool. You love to walk everywhere while I hold your hands. You also love to watch cartoons and you especially love to lie on our bed and play with Kramer or stare at the fan. You also love to stare at the photos of your mom, uncle and great grandma!! You can sit up now!! for about 1-2 minutes before you faceplant or fall sideways. It is soo cute. You certainly love your Kramer. Have a look at these pictures and you will see for yourself. Your Gramma has just started her own blog on the internet. It is Cathy's Natural Remedies at naturalremediesblog.net. I will be writing about the natural remedies that I know of that work really well and natural remedies that I believe will help others. A lot of them involve herbs. I am also volunteering at Angel Notion, which is a clinic for the poorer Mexicans. There is a huge garden there where they grow vegetables and herbs. I love working there. I volunteer at the Peanut Pet Shelter as well. We have cleaned up a huge piece of property for the 75 dogs!! Now they have a really nice place to stay!!

Boy, Have We Been Busy

It's been a while since I last wrote, I know, but you sure do keep us busy. You are 4 months old now. You've just had your first Christmas and New Year's and you've already traveled to Vancouver to meet the rest of your family and our friends. We have moved to a new condo near Grandma and Grandpa, so you don't have your Dr. Seuss room anymore, but that's ok, you've got plenty of other stuff going for you.

Since I last wrote, the USA voted in the very first African American President. Barack Obama will be sworn in this month, and we were all very, very moved when he was elected. It's given me a little hope, anyway. Here's a picture of you and Obama:


You were also spoiled at Christmas. Mommy might have to rent out a whole new apartment just to store your stuff. Here Mommy is living out of a few suitcases in Mexico, and you need a moving truck to move your stuff, haha. It's a good thing though, shows you how many people love you when they can't stop filling your life with fun stuff and cuddles and laughs and kisses. Here you are on Christmas morning with Grandma and Grandpa:

I love those little Candy Cane pajamas. Soon after, you had your first New Year's Eve. We made some good food and had a few drinks here with Grandma and Grandpa and then we went to Bar Ranita for the countdown. There were lots of people out and when midnight struck, I suddenly became very teary-eyed because you've made it the best New Year's I've ever had.

You are so special, Joey. You amaze me every day. Every day you've learned something new or picked up a new skill. It is absolutely amazing to watch you figure out that Rocky is not like us, how to grab your toys, to discover your feet and your vocal chords. Oh boy, Joey, can you screech. The last week or so you have been non-stop screeching at the top of your lungs, and not angrily, but with pure joy. We got a video of you doing this to Daddy's head:



You are a strange little boy Joey! You have also sprouted your first two teeth. They are the two bottom front teeth and holy crap, are they sharp. Here is a picture:


You sleep through the night most nights now and your favorite thing in the world is Rocky - every time you see him walk past you, you smile from ear to ear. He sure loves you, too. Just tonight I was lying in bed reading and Rocky walked in and stuck his nose in the space between slats in your crib just to see what you were doing and when he spotted you, his tailed wagged. You also love to walk when Mommy or Grandma hold your hands.

We have gotten some great picture of you Joey, you sure are photogenic. Here are a couple:



You are a very happy baby, as you can see. It's no wonder, you have a lot of people who love you. I feel so lucky to have you in my life and I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings. I love you so much Joe,

Mommy

Welcome to The World, Joey

Wow. Where to begin. Joey, for as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a Mom one day. I thought about names, and envisioned what my children would look like. I used to have dreams about babies that were mine and I would always wake up hoping these dreams would come true one day. Well, they finally have and I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it feels. It is truly overwhelming. You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, you make the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard and I can't believe you came from me. I am still having trouble wrapping my mind around this whole process. Mommy is feeling a million things all at once and it's amazing and scary at the same time. You are, by far, the most incredible thing that has happened to me and I can't wait to get to know you better and better. Here is my favorite picture of you and I:

Mommy and Joe by you.

I love you Joey. Welcome to the world.

Mommy

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Joey Simmonds!!

Hola Joey!!! You arrived at 5:35 yesterday afternoon!! You were great! You came into the world in a hurry and then were so calm. You are absolutely perfect!! We were all very excited and emotional!! Your mommy did a super job and is now a little lighter!! Haha. She had a tiny bit of champagne to celebrate!! She and your daddy were soooooo delighted!! They couldn't stop smiling. We all got to go into the little room one at a time to see you. You were all stretched out on your back and looked soooo relaxed. Grampa, Uncle Bobby and I came over at 4 and you were born so quickly. We went over to Centro Maya to get dinner and your daddy texted us that you were coming quickly so we ran back and voila!! We stayed until 7:30, came home and sat up til 11 talking about how wonderful it is to have you here!! Today, we are going to see you and your parents after lunch. You are coming home tonight!!!! Can't wait. Love you lots, Joey!!
Gramma

PS There is a hurricane coming fairly close to us - Hurricane Gustav. Will let you know what happens. It should start affecting us with rain and wind by Saturday!!

Well hello...

Well big guy, today is the big day, I am very excited to meet you, I am your auntie Carrie. I have been best friends with your mom for over 20 years now. Your mom is in the hospital right now and she is having regular contractions. I thought it would be kind of fun to keep track of all the text messages that I am receiving from your parents.

Also I have not written on here since it started, but here is a few tips. Your dad is going to try to give you delusions about HIS hockey team. But just so you know, the Canucks are really the tean to route for. Yes..they have not won a Stanley cup or done anything good in the last 14 years but that is really no reason to give up..it just means (our) team is getting ready to win the Cup!

Anyway, I will meet you in September when you get to Vancouver (where your parents are from) and I will give you gifts and love and cuddles!

Today's Text Messages:

7:33 AM
In Hospital!

9:16 AM
Regular Contractions!

Hours Later...

4:32 PM
Joey Simmonds was born @ 5:30 8 lbs!

Now obviously this message was sent by daddy, cause your real weight was 7 lbs 7 ounces ( Gramma told me).

Well thats it! Welcome to this crazy world and I will see you soon!

Love Auntie Carrie