Four years ago today on our living room floor, Laura pushed and heaved and worked and strained and BLAMMO, there was a baby in our house. My first words upon seeing this baby's face were, "It's alive!" and Laura's first words were, "It's a baby!". Our midwives looked at us kindly and said something like, "Um, yes, guys. It's a live baby. That was kind of the the whole point of this endeavor".
It was just the beginning of the shock I sometimes feel as a parent. Today Simon turns 4 years old. I have no idea how we got here, especially when I consider what an incredible journey this has been. Sometimes it has been what my friend Abby and I call "a puppet show" which is short for "awful puppetshow bullshit" (Simon went through a phase when those were his three favorite words it's now our shorthand for a total nightmare). Sometimes I've felt more connected and loved and cared for than I could have imagined. It's been one big crazy mix for *4* years.
Despite feeling like we might crack up from lack of sleep due to Simon having back-to-back illnesses, Simon turning 4 feels pretty awesome. He is an incredible little person. My Facebook page is peppered with his hilarious comments and actions. My thoughts of him (99% of the time, anyway) are filled with a sweetness and gentleness I never knew I was capable of. He is more verbal than ever and is excited about this birthday in a way he has never been. He has been saying "I'm almost 4" and "open some presents" for weeks now. Makes me grin every time.
This year, Simon will receive a remarkable gift. Tony Osso, a filmmaker from New York, did a short documentary film about our family as part of something he's doing called The Devotion Project. He decided to release our story on Simon's 4th birthday, April 9, 2012.
Here it is :http://devotionproject.tumblr.com/page/2
Tony tells the story of how much our family loves each other in ways I could never truly convey to Simon myself. I have all sorts of feelings about how we look and sound and are we so cheesy, but ultimately I am so grateful to see our story told with such honesty, care and thoughtfulness. It brings me incredible joy to know that Simon will get to have the love story of our family recorded in a way that he can access whenever he has doubts or fears or just needs to be reminded of where he comes from.
Thank you, Tony. This is the best birthday present I could ever want for my son.
It was just the beginning of the shock I sometimes feel as a parent. Today Simon turns 4 years old. I have no idea how we got here, especially when I consider what an incredible journey this has been. Sometimes it has been what my friend Abby and I call "a puppet show" which is short for "awful puppetshow bullshit" (Simon went through a phase when those were his three favorite words it's now our shorthand for a total nightmare). Sometimes I've felt more connected and loved and cared for than I could have imagined. It's been one big crazy mix for *4* years.
Despite feeling like we might crack up from lack of sleep due to Simon having back-to-back illnesses, Simon turning 4 feels pretty awesome. He is an incredible little person. My Facebook page is peppered with his hilarious comments and actions. My thoughts of him (99% of the time, anyway) are filled with a sweetness and gentleness I never knew I was capable of. He is more verbal than ever and is excited about this birthday in a way he has never been. He has been saying "I'm almost 4" and "open some presents" for weeks now. Makes me grin every time.
This year, Simon will receive a remarkable gift. Tony Osso, a filmmaker from New York, did a short documentary film about our family as part of something he's doing called The Devotion Project. He decided to release our story on Simon's 4th birthday, April 9, 2012.
Here it is :http://devotionproject.tumblr.com/page/2
Tony tells the story of how much our family loves each other in ways I could never truly convey to Simon myself. I have all sorts of feelings about how we look and sound and are we so cheesy, but ultimately I am so grateful to see our story told with such honesty, care and thoughtfulness. It brings me incredible joy to know that Simon will get to have the love story of our family recorded in a way that he can access whenever he has doubts or fears or just needs to be reminded of where he comes from.
Thank you, Tony. This is the best birthday present I could ever want for my son.
Then
And Now
30 comments:
So happy for you all and can't wait to watch the movie! Much love, xoxo
So happy for you guys! Much love from us all, xoxo
Thank you for sharing your story. I just watched Tony's video (courtesy of Momastery), and I am still wiping tears. You are three very brave people, and are so inspiring. Happy Birthday to sweet, sweet Simon!
Thank you for sharing your family!
Wendy
thank you for sharing your story!!
cynthia
www.legaldoulas.com
Beautiful story, beautiful boy. Happy Birthday, sweet Simon.
Love, A Monkee
So beautiful to see the sincere love and generosity between the three of you! Looking forward to following your story.
Mazel Tov sweet family. Hugs from the East Bay! You ROCK.
Happy Birthday, Simon! I loved getting to see your family's story. Thank you, all of you, for sharing yourselves.
What is remarkable about your family is just how unremarkable it is. And I mean that in the kindest way. This video is a testament to "it isn't gay marriage, it is marriage". You are not gay parents. You are parents. Good, loving kind parents doing right by your wonderful and lucky child.
Bless you and bless Simon.
I've been reading your blog and watched The Devotion Project video today. Great stuff. You have a really lovely family. Best wishes for continued health and happiness.
Hi Laura! We sang for Betsy Rose at Cal together, I think. I watched this film via Momastery and my jaw dropped to see you in it. You have a beautiful family. You are a beautiful mom. Blessings, blessings, Anastasia
I came over from momastery. Beautiful story, beautiful son, beautiful family. All the best to you all.
I just watched your video after following the link from Momastery blog. WOW! Your story brought tears to my eyes. What a great family--precious little boy and two parents who love him and each other. Thank you for sharing your story.
You are all so amazing. I read about you on Momastery and your story made me cry, lots of happy tears fell down my face. This is what real LOVE means. I love you, and lots of love from the Netherlands, Sofia.
Found this link through monastery. Absolutely love, love, love the video. I am so inspired by all three of you. Sending love and prayers from Maine! You guys rock!!!! xxoo
Found this link through monastery. Absolutely love, love, love the video. I am so inspired by all three of you. Sending love and prayers from Maine! You guys rock!!!! xxoo
You three are amazing!!!! Love, love, love the video!
So inspiring! Sending love and prayers from Portland, Maine!
That I love your family more than I ever thought I could. You've taught me more than I ever knew you would.I love you.Simply, truly, love you.
I loved your movie! It's nice to "see" you after all this time reading your comments on Momastery. Love to all three of you.
:)MK
Gorgeous story, beautifully told. Gorgeous boy. Here's wishing you all a very richly deserved happy birthday!
So i just saw the video and it brought tears to my eyes! You are such a fantastic loving family! I mean WOW, What a blessed little boy to have such a loving and supportive family to raise him. You are all gifts to eachother. Thank you for sharing your story!!!!
Thanks to Glennon for introducing the Monkees to your beautiful family. Mazel Tov on four amazing years with Simon and prayers and blessings for a future filled with good health, laughter and much joy. Your love inspires!
Libby
Popped over from Momastery.... You have a beautiful family, and you are very lucky to have each other. So much love there.
I'm here because I saw the video. So wonderful! Thanks for sharing personal details of your life with us.
I just saw your video, linked from Glennon Melton's blog, and if you are halfway as wonderful as shown in the video you are a very lucky family. And quite frankly, if anyone can see that short film and NOT believe in marriage equality? They are pretty much an asshole. Congratulations to both of you and your sweet boy on "number FOUR" as my own four-year-old says it, and thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family.
Just found your video on facebook and wanted to tell you guys that I loved, cried, laughed and smiled. Simon Lev is SO lucky to have such amazing parents who love him and love each other. I work with kids w/special needs in LA and if you ever come down to LA, we'd love to have you and your family at our events.
Happy Birthday Simon and Happy Pesach!
A friend of us forward me the video and I just wanted to let you know how inspiring and hopeful it is. My wife and I are expecting a baby girl that was diagnosed with a CHD. As we get closer and closer to the delivery date, anxiety and fear are taking a toll on our relationship. We know this will only get worse if we don't change (especially because we have an 18 month old boy). Again thank you for inspiring us to be strong together and make sure that love is holding us together.
Hello there
I just sent you a comment ( we are the couple expecting a baby girl with a CHD) on your latest post and as I kept reading I realized that you guys are seeing Dr rosenfeld at Oakland's children. We would love to talk to you (if you can spear some time) and chat a bit about doctors, hospital, logistics, etc, etc.....
Please let me know how I can contact you. My emails adri.breitfeld@gmail.com
Please keep blogging and inspiring us
Adrian
I was linked to you through Momastery... but I've stuck around and kept reading. Man - Simon Lev is so so so lucky to have you both. Your love. Your DEVOTION. Your honesty. You willingness to find laughter in the midst of chaos. I stand (well, sit...) in awe of you.
Love wins. Plain and simple.
In one of your you-tube videos (the one where he's saying GD over and over... lol!!) he keeps talking about puffer fish and sea anemones. Do you have the book "Over in the Ocean"???? If not, you should totally get it. It's my favorite of all of our children's books.
Our son is 3 and has struggled with his speech. One night we sat down to watch Lion King with him and he kept asking for the "F*%&ing" movie. We were so confused - no idea where he got it from. We immediately got the video camera out (no sense wasting such a pivotal moment!). It took me 3 days to figure out he meant "dragon". Not sure how that became f&%*ing... but it is still hilarious. Sometimes we ask him about something with "dragons" just to hear him say it again. Parents of the year over here.
Anyway - thanks for being so inspiring. I will keep lurking to see what other inspiration you all have to offer the rest of the world... :)
Blammo. Hee hee. Love you Jaime. Was blessed to be and blessed to be here now. Wish I was there more often! Will be there more often. Love you Fitcher and J and SLFJ xoxoxo
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