4.5!

Our dude is 4.5.   Don't call him a little dude because this kiddos is constantly marveling at how big he is.

James's Special Day

Nana and Grandpa came to the concert and luncheon in James's classroom.  James was excited to sing, dance, and speak in both French and Spanish for the presentation.  He was such a natural in the languages, I think it surprised all of us.  He really felt special to have Nana and Grandpa visit for the event.

Just some of the reasons we love Momma

I love playing robot turtle with her
I love her hugs and kisses
I love going on walks with her, just the two of us
I love her belly button
I love going to the grocery store and getting a donut
I love it when she comes to my Open House at school
I love her dresses
I love riding in the car with her

Love, Alma and James

 

16 Months

 

 

James has discovered a love of hugging.  He gives the best hugs, circling my neck with such fierce love that I can barely believe.  I could just live in that embrace.  He hugs us before we lay him down in his crib and when scared (usually of men who are strangers or loud trucks). 

 

James is still completely ball obsessed and, at times, will wake up from naps crying softly for a ball.  Too cute.

 

Swim classes have been going well.  He is in an intermediate class with mostly 2-year olds and is usually the strongest swimmer, going under water like a champ, trying to swim from my arms to the steps and jumping in from the side of the pool by himself (from a seated position, because he cannot jump).  He has a great, consistent kick and loves playing with balls in the water.

 

For one week in the past month, James started screaming during every meal.  He would point at everything on the table, scream and scream and throw his uneaten food until we would take him out of his seat ... then he would continue to scream, seeming to indicate that he was hungry.  Needless to say, it was completely frustrating and confusing for us.  Then one day, tired of trying, we gave him a bowl of food and a spoon.  He got quiet and just worked with the spoon trying to get the food in his mouth.  Solution!  It seems like he just wanted to join the rest of the family in using a utensil. Mealtimes are much more peaceful now.

 

When we aren't dancing or building blocks, James still loves to be carried around as much as possible in the house.  It seems to be that he doesn't want me to go around the corner into another room without him.  He is also fully obsessed with my bellybutton.  He wants to hold it when being held ... yeah, it's as awkward as you might think.  It started around the time that I started weening him so I think he just wants to be close to my skin and holding my belly button has become a similar comfort for him. 

Even though he loves to be held and cuddled inside the house, once we are outside he rarely wants to be held.  He walks at Alma's pace (pretty fast) and loves smelling all the flowers of spring.  He has been having a great time digging in the dirt and is always on the lookout for birds. 

 

He is such a little silly sweetheart.  I love his spirit, curiosity and love of nature and our family. 

 

 

 

Star Wars Shirt

Baby Bubbee at 9 months

Utah!

(Photos courtesy of Erica's camera -- thanks darling!)

Ice Cream Truck

James at 8 Months

Mowing with Daddy

Gregory and James

My cousin Gregory and James enjoying a family birthday party.  (Why do I love photos of crying babies so much?  They are just too cute!)

Little Eater

Simon and James

See those dirty knees ... he's been crawling worming across the lawn.  And Simon may still be waiting patiently for James to throw the tennis ball.

0.5!

Happy Easter!

Three Months

Our sweet baby James is three months old today. 

* James has found his hands and loves to nibble at them.  He loves his pacifier too.  He just needs to learn how to keep these items in his mouth on his own.

* He can now track the dog and the cat's tail as he/it walks across the room.  Simon loves to sneak in licks of James' head whenever he gets the chance. 

* James is still not sleeping through the night.  Not even close.  He sleeps for a few hours while Joshua holds him at the beginning of the night and then in two hour stints (if I'm lucky) in the bassinet next to the bed the rest of the night.  However, he falls back asleep rather quickly.  The key is to swaddle him well so that he cannot break loose.  Once a hand gets out of the swaddle and finds its way to his mouth, he screams with frustration. Even though I would love if he slept more consistently, I'm not feeling as exhausted as it seems like I should.

 

* We love his smiles and his love for Alma. All day long he watches her intently and, when she goes up to bed at night, he spends the next few minutes searching the room for her.  And Alma adores him as well and still wants him to be part of everything we do.  We are so lucky to have such a loving and helpful big sister around to help us take care of him.

His silly baby faces are still one of my favorite things about him.