Friday, July 30, 2010

Little Moments

As James slept on my chest, I thought about how long he will come to me for comfort and at what age will I embarrass him with a kiss or a hug. I wonder how much I will miss these moments when he is in high school.

rockingbw

rocking2bw

I kiss his tiny toes all the time and think about how I won’t be able to do that much longer. One day these feet will be calloused, soiled and covered with shoes.

toesbw2

toesbw

toesbw3

That one day this little bulldog

IMG_0347bw

won’t be so little anymore.

IMG_0352bw

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Trying new things

Each night when we bathe James, I say that he is getting too big for this tub and that it’s time we move him from the kitchen counter to the big boy bath. I was just looking for a bath picture of teeny tiny James, but remembered I never got the chance to take any because he screamed and cried throughout every bath. He’s grown so much that now he rarely cries!

IMG_0297

Even Lynyrd loves bath time now, because he can keep his eyes on his brother!

IMG_0306

IMG_0304

Lynyrd and James are becoming best buds, by the way.

IMG_0331

It seems like either James is staring at Lynyrd,

IMG_0209edited

or Lynyrd is staring at James.

IMG_0235

Lynyrd loves to give him kisses.

Lynyrdandjames

And when James goes to sleep at night, we sometimes catch Lynyrd sleeping at his door. Or by the monitor.

IMG_0196

As we all know, James has been trying solid foods. He’s had rice cereal, squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Today, James met the first food he did not like…

IMG_0312

… and that was prunes. I definitely don’t blame him. In fact, I felt guilty even making him try them. The doctor recommended it on the days he needs a little relief. :) So, I made some prune baby food yesterday and it smelled so gross! I mixed it with sweet potatoes this morning (about 70% sweet potatoes, 30% prunes), but I wasn’t fooling anybody.

IMG_0335edited

My boy loves to eat so, he continued to try it even though he wasn’t a fan.

IMG_0337

But just could not bring himself to acquire the taste.

IMG_0343

And could not seem to unfurrow his eyebrows.

IMG_0342

And eventually the battle went to the prunes.

IMG_0344

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Video??

Hmmm... I've never posted a video before. Here is a 7 second video that Josh took last time I was in Jax. It cracks me up... let's see if this works...

This is James watching TV. Make sure you turn your volume up for this one.

A day in the life

of James Wallace.

PLAY

4 month

IMG_0291edited

TIME WITH MOMMY

IMG_0263cropped

IMG_0270warmfly

TIME WITH DADDY

IMG_0280

IMG_0229edited

EAT

IMAG0289

IMG_0239

IMG_0288

IMG_0275

of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

PLAY

IMG_0188cropped

IMG_0187cropped

TIME WITH MOMMY

IMG_0242

TIME WITH DADDY

IMG_0285

IMG_0283

EAT

IMG_0272cropped

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Squash

As soon as the doctor gave me the go-ahead to start James on solid foods, I was SO EXCITED to make baby food. He loves rice cereal so much and now gets so excited when we put him in his high chair. He grabs the spoon as we feed him and tries to jam it in his mouth! Next we are supposed to introduce vegetables. Then, fruit. When I was making my first batches of baby food the other day (squash, carrots, and green beans), I couldn’t help but give him a little taste.

squash

He took his first bite…

IMG_0158

and was not sure how he felt about it!

IMG_0159

He gave it some time as it sat in his mouth…

squash2

then, decided he liked it.

IMG_0163

A lot.

IMG_0164

So, he wanted more.

IMG_0166

And more.

squash3

And more.

squash4

My friends tell me that solid foods will be “life changing” for me. That his belly will stay full a little longer, therefore he will sleep a little longer.

IMG_0199

IMG_0201

IMG_0181cropped

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Myrtle Beach

This past weekend we headed to Myrtle Beach with The Duprees and The Grangers. This trip was planned last year so, it came with big expectations.  Between our two families we had a full house of 10 (soon to be 12 as Amy and Erin are both pregnant!)  There was always a baby crying (usually ours), someone up in the middle of the night (usually us), and kids running and crawling everywhere (not ours!).  It was our first vacation as a family, and like most firsts, it was a learning experience.  We’re learning how to juggle our new lives as parents with our old lives as The Helfer Duo.

Chollet&Justin

Although it wasn’t a perfect weekend, we wouldn’t have wanted our first beach trip shared with anyone else.  Or our hectic routine (or lack thereof) shared with anyone else.  We are truly blessed to have our friends and family to make these chaotic memories with!

James’ first beach experience was less than ideal.  In his defense, it was extremely windy.  So much that we couldn’t put the big umbrella up, sand was in the air, and the wind gusts to his face… well, let’s just say, he didn’t take it so well.  “Our little beach bum” made it clear to the east coast that he, in fact, DOES. NOT. LIKE. THE. BEACH. AT. ALL.

IMG_3306

He did not like his toes in the sand.

IMG_3304

He did not like the water.

IMG_3351

He did not like the wind. (can you blame him?)

IMG_3307

After I tried to calm him, Vaughn tried to hold him, and Justin tried to help him, James could only be soothed by one person: our baby whisperer, Mrs. Amy Dupree.

IMG_3355

Back at the house, James again took to Amy.

IMG_1774cropped 

And also spent some quality time with Aaron Dupree.

IMG_1773cropped

Emory and Mr. Lynyrd spent some quality time together.  (Emory used to call Lynyrd “LIzzard” and out of the blue has switched it to “Mr. Lynyrd.”  We’ll see what his name is next week.)

She has learned the key to Lynyrd’s heart: Carrots. 

IMG_1767cropped

IMG_1771

Day two on the beach started off bad.  Inconsolably bad. So, James and I left the beach festivities for a nap and a full tummy.  Then we headed back out to give it one last try.  Glad we did, because third time was a charm.

IMG_1746bw

He dipped his toes in the sand.

IMG_1755bw

And in the water, too.

IMG_1760bw

IMG_1763bw

We kept it short and sweet given James’ attention span, but all in all he was a trooper. 

IMG_1741bw

IMG_3297croppedIMG_3298