Boop!

It's good to see Simon enjoying their new toy.  He's usually pretty uncertain about anything new, but he was the first to hop in and explore it--a definite first for him!

Our good little boy!

River had another bout of GI stasis due to heavy shedding.  Simon wouldn't leave her side, which is saying something because he hates walking on tile floors.

This is a true first for him to just flop on the tile.  He takes his job as River's big brother and protector very seriously.

Our loyal sentry is even keeping an eye on those sneaky mirror buns.  Meanwhile, River is munching on a piece of paper bag instead of the copious amounts of hay strategically placed around the living room.

After finally getting her to eat some real food, River realizes that timothy hay keeps her GI system flying right!

Go, Simon, go!

It was cute--I captured River trying to teach Simon how to walk on the linoleum floor.  She patiently kept walking back and forth across it, then would stop and look at Simon as if asking him to follow her.  It's like she's saying, "You can do it!"
For those just joining us, here's the link to an earlier post about Simon being afraid of walking on slippery floors:  The bane of Simon's existence.

Simon decided to approach this new flooring from a different angle thinking that it would be easier to walk on from this direction.  Here, River is making her way back to the carpet as Simon army crawls his way forward.

Well, this is as far as he was willing to go this time.
Simon also learned that you can't try to turn quickly on a slippery floor because it makes you do a belly flop followed by a cartoon-style running in place maneuver until traction is attained and forward momentum is achieved.

The little guy is getting brave here and is attempting his new skill on the kitchen floor.  Still a bit shaky, but this is the first time he's tried walking on this type of floor since we moved in.  Oh yeah, here's a video of his achievement...

This is unexpected.

This is something I never thought I'd see.  Simon has always been afraid of walking on linoleum flooring because it was slippery.  He got all sorts of brave and ventured after River when she wandered into the kitchen.  Not only has he walked on tile, he's up on his hind legs exploring.  Talk about overcoming your fears!  A whole new world has opened up to him now.