Thanks.

Wow. He is amazing. Your family is amazing. Such a gift that you have given to him to celebrate him as he is and to support his life, by altering your own. For seeing that childern growing up really allow us, as parents, to really grow. Thanks for all that you share.

You and your family are truly blessed to have such a wonderful being around you and his name just happens to be Simon...continue to grow in your family and enjoy all of what life has to offer to you. I have enjoyed watching Simon grow...Thank you for sharing him with the rest of the world!
Peace & Happiness

FOUR?!? how can simon be turning four?

Thanks so much for sharing your moments with us ... I have a two year old boy that was born with a stroke so I can relate to struggles and taking each day as it comes ..he is our little shining light.. Its so wonderful to have support and guidance at times and others just to share the struggle and frustrations with ... thanks Ali from one mama to another !!

Your son, Simon and I share the same birthday on the 21st. Right? How cool is that! He is so sweet. HE reminds me of my 5 year old, Joey. Those gentle brown eyes .... they melt our hearts; dont they? May you always celebrate LIFE as it is and what it will become! You continue to inspire me and alot of others!

I would like to take a moment to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. Daily I find myself visiting to see what insights, quotes, new products, or inspiration you offer. I marvel at your willingness to share snippits of your life, your loves, and your gifts. Thank you.

Gorgeous kid! (and I'm not just saying that!)

What an absolutely beautiful son you have and what wonderful and loving parents he has. Thank you for sharing all you do. You inspire people creativly and emotionally - thank you!
Happy Birthday (very soon) Simon!

Thank you for showing us to appreciate the moments - the bits & pieces. Your post today is very moving. I'm touched by your strength, your wisdom and your ability to always show grace and be grateful...no matter what. The best of "moments" to you.
My youngest will be 2 next Sunday...and today I just held him close and he held me back, when it struck me the baby years are now behind me. My oldest being 18, I am well aware the hugs and kisses come less and less with each passing year. So while I held my soon to be toddler, I tried to absorb it all - his smell, the way his little hands pat my back when he hugs me, the little blonde curls of the hair we thought would never come...to etch that moment into my soul to recall throughout my life.
So thanks again for the reminder to cherish the moments.

you are amazing. thanks for sharing! he is beautiful.

Thanks for this beautiful post. I also shed tears. Been 9 years for us, but reading your diagnosis story brought it all back - very similar to ours.
I also wouldn't trade any of it. I love my son for who he is and we have become an amazing family because of our experiences with autism.
Thanks again for always being so inspiring in so many ways.
Katie

another, 'it's been a year??!!' He's getting so big! hugs!

Ali,
You have been such an inspiration to me. My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes this past year. She now takes 4 shots a day it is at a huge risk of health complications. So many times I have thought of you and how you have faced Simon's diagnosis with strength and courage. You are not just inspirational to me as a scrapbooker, but also as a Mom.
Thanks!

I always stop by to read your blog, never felt like I should leave a comment... but today, today is different because it just is. Ali thank you for being. While I am not related to anyone with Autism, I did have the delight to teach two very gifted children with Autism... of all my students throughout the years... I'll never forget my days with K and D. I learned so much from K and D... how to take notice in the lil' things life has to offer was the best lesson.

Ali - he is just plain beautiful - can't believe how GROWNUP he looks in that pic!!! Where does time go? Linda

Ali,
You touch so many lives with your passion for life, and your dedication in helping Simon. I'm a parent of a child with sensory processing disorder, so I can relate to some of your challenges, though certainly not all. You are a wonderful Mother - just hold on to this little piece of knowledge when you feel lost.

Ali, I just want to know what an inspiration you are. Just SHARING your story and your life with others is so rewarding and cathartic to those who read. My son was extrememly premature (born at 26 weeks) and had many issues that Simon has (sensory integration, feeding issues, language delay). In fact, we had him evaluated in August for PDD/Autism but he was not given a diagnosis. He has terrific non-verbal communication skills (joint-attention) and doesn't present any other PDD-behaviors. (Just recently starting talking quite a bit) We were fortunate but we are still struggling with the issues he does have from having such a low birth weight and being so premature. I just want you to know that I read your blog daily while we were going through the diagnosis process, and even though he didn't receive a diagnosis, your blog helped me through those tough times. I am always thrilled when you post a Simon update. Anyway, I am babbling, but I just want you to know that your blog has been very helpful to those of us with special needs children. Thank you.

a! i just want to take a moment to applaud you! for who you are! for how real you are! for how you have handled yourself as an individaul, an artist, a wife and especially THE best mom simon could ever have! being 'you' makes you all the stronger so cheers to being just that! thanks for sharing such intimate thoughts about you and your family!!! huge hugs!

i usually only lurk here (nearly everyday) but today i had to post a comment. i am a scrapper in southern california and that is what orginally had me visiting your blog but lately i have been visiting because of the wonderful thoughts you share. i have worked with individuals with autism for over seven years now. the talents, smiles, and heart in the people that i have grown to love are some of the greatest highlights of my life. thank you so much for bringing the wonders of autism to people who may never know what a blessing Simon, and others identified with autism, truly are in this world. you are a terrific mother and advocate. thank you so much for sharing your life with all of us.

You, your blog and your readers are such inspirations. This line "we have all become more us" resonates with me so much. Beautiful.

Ali, thank YOU for so much. Learning more about autism from you has helped me in my relationship with my own sister-in-law...her niece is the same age as my daughter, and she has autism. I was never quite sure how to talk about the girls, but now I'm not afraid, and I think she is relieved that I seem somewhat 'informed'. Thanks for that.

your little dude is AMAZING and sooo cute! Thank you for sharing him with us. Awesome post.

ah why do you do that Ali, make me cry! You capture it so well, this is the same way i feel about our son Anthony. thanks!
corinnexxx

Ali...I know that things this year have been probably difficult and exciting, hard, confusing, and wonderful all at the same time. But, I wanted to leave you with this...and you may have heard it before, or seen it before, but Simon is the person that he was intended to be. He is Simon. You are Ali, his mother. Chris is Chris, his dad. You are all the people that you were intended to be, and there has got to be something peaceful and great about that. Continue to live in your life and be who your are...it is not a bad thing that happened to you. It is a wonderful blessing having Simon in your life. No matter what he has..he is not autisim, he just has it. He is a great little, soon to be four year old dude, that just loves his parents and knows that he is loved as well!
have a great week!!!

I also want to thank you for all of your insight and endless resources that I've received from your blog. My son was diagnosed with autism late last year. We have good days and bad days, it is all very new to us...but I am thankful for every single second I have with my son, who will turn 3 on January 30th. You really are truly inspiring.