Out of the car seat!

I did a very embarrassing thing this morning. I took my camera out at Publix and started taking pictures of James. I know. It was planned, too. I’m only coming clean, because I want to share the pictures.

It was his first time out of the car seat and into the shopping cart! He gets to sit up like a big boy now! A very exciting moment for him, because change is entertainment through the eyes of a six month old.

And very exciting for me, because what mom doesn’t appreciate their child being entertained? Even if it is only for 15 minutes.

I’m really looking forward to James sitting in highchairs at restaurants, as well. Not that I don’t love him sitting on my lap, while I eat with one hand and push away all nearby objects before he grabs them. Or prying said object from his hand because he beat me to it, and this {like everything else James-related} is new to me.

After I was spotted taking pictures by an employee, I reverted to my cell phone to capture James holding on for dear life.

He liked sitting up, but was definitely a little scared.

So we grabbed a couple things, and headed outside, where James wondered why his Mom would take him out of his covered car seat on a rainy day.

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I can only imagine all the exciting things this fall will bring. First football game. First Halloween and Thanksgiving. Wearing shoes. Windy days and walks in the stroller. I just can’t wait. The first day in jeans was exciting enough for us!

Here’s to a wonderful fall season and all the firsts it will bring us!

All boy.

I like to make big messes and get food all over my highchair.  I usually have drool dripping from my chin.  And I love to put everything in my mouth.  I grasp anything I can get my hands on.  I ripped Mommy’s earring out the other day, and I love to tug on her hair.  I’ll even grab my own ear if that’s all I can find.

Wanna know my favorite thing to do? Blowing spit bubbles.

Sometimes people do it back at me, and that is so cool.

I love anything that lights up and plays music.  Toys like that are perfect for my attention span.

I’ve overheard people call me a Mommy’s boy, but really, I like to hang with Dad.

He doesn’t like to sit still for pictures either.

That’s cause we don’t like to stop playing.

Want to babysit me sometime so, I can show you all the new things I can do?

Six month update

James had his six month check-up today. He weighs 18 pounds 8 ounces, which is 70th percentile! I knew our boy was putting on some weight, but I was shocked! And proud. :) His head circumference is also 70th percentile. He is 27 1/4 inches long, which puts his height at 85th percentile! No wonder people are starting to say he’s going to be a football player! He had to get three shots today, which seems to hurt me more than it hurts him. He only cried for a minute, and the nurses said he did really well! He even ripped his SpongeBob Band-Aid off in the car. I mean, what big boy needs a Band-Aid, anyways?

The most bizarre thing happened this month. Day after day while out and about, random people started saying, “What a good baby.” And I would reply, “Thank you,” but I would think, ‘Yeah right, you should see him at home.’ I just realized last week that we have gotten over the hump, and James Wallace is now --- I’ve waited soooo long to say this --- A GOOD BABY!!

His acid reflux is gone. (or colic or whatever you choose to call it, but the thing that made him scream like someone was killing him) Completely gone.

He is now a happy and healthy baby.

He’s still a little high maintenance in the sense that he doesn’t do so well entertaining himself and wants to be held, held, held. But I can handle that! In fact, I cherish it a bit.

He is much more go-with-the-flow than before. Like when he sat on a pony at Cowboy Watson's First Birthday Party last week!

He was so tired, I thought he might fall asleep up there. But he did not shed one tear at the party.

He has started “daycare” a couple of afternoons a week with his Nanny Sasa and G-G now that dance has started back.

Shockingly, he does so well, that on the first day Justin said, “Ever since I picked him up from my Mom’s, he’s been weirdly happy.”

And we put him in the church nursery last Sunday for the first time. He didn’t cry when we handed him off to a stranger, and he got a great report!

As for new happenings, he is starting to sit up on his own. (Yes, he is bursting out of his 6 Month Beatles onesie.)

He can only sit for a minute or so, until something distracts him - usually his foot – and he topples over.

He has also learned to clap,

and is very entertained by it! (As are we.)

I am loving this distractible age. It is so cute, and makes life much easier. Our Sweet Baby James is growing up so fast. When referring to having a baby, I often used to say, “I never knew it would be this hard.” I couldn’t be more thankful to now catch myself saying, “I never knew it would be this fun!”

Baby Proofing

My house is not far from being turned upside down. James is rolling over, trying to crawl, and putting EVERYTHING in his mouth. Just to name a few changes that will be taking place: two of my dining room pieces of furniture will soon be moved to the garage, we will have baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, Lynyrd’s dog food won’t be sitting out all the time, and we will have plastic things in all of our sockets.

James is still pretty stationary for the time-being. However, I find that when I turn my head for a second, he often gets an idea.

And goes with it.

He doesn’t yet understand

the difference between right and wrong.

And I guess I’m not helping that situation by taking pictures instead of teaching.

You know who does know the difference between right and wrong?

Lynyrd (as he tip-toes past the mess)

But even Lynyrd can’t resist temptation sometimes.

Maybe I have mischievous babies.

Or maybe I have delicious paper towels.

Ever wonder

what they’re thinking?

Happy half-birthday, Baby James

My baby is six months old.

I cannot believe it.

This half year has been filled with long days and restless nights. With growth charts and parenting advice. A messy house and an unkempt Mom. Missed calls and skipped meals. With innocence and answered prayers. Lessons learned and toys that teach. With precious moments and tiny toes.

With love.

With laughter.

With memories,

I’ll never forget.

We love you, Sweet Baby James. More than you will ever, ever, know.

Auntie Alexandra

One of my very best friends, Alexandra, came to visit for the first time since James has been born. And let me tell you, they absolutely adored each other.

We had a fun filled weekend of shopping, overindulging in food, and catching up. It was a long overdue trip, and I was so excited to have such a good friend come visit. I am learning though, that although I am still loved, I am not the one to see anymore.

So, we took James shopping and out to eat and made sure to have plenty of play time. Alexandra is GREAT with babies, which was a huge help at bedtime!

She fed James his carrots. I slipped Zucchini in there, but nothing gets by him.

He got used to them though and was a good eater.

And Alexandra was a good feeder.

Then we bathed the baby boy,

and put him in his jammies.

We put James to bed (which he was not happy about) and were so excited about our girls-night-in, but couldn’t keep our eyes open past 10:30! Lame, I know.

While we were shopping, Alexandra found (what we thought was) the perfect Halloween costume. We couldn’t help but try it on him!

Even Lynyrd joined in on the fun.

But this little duckie remembered last Halloween,

and was less than enthused to reunite with his costume.

After the costume got stuck on James and then he choked on the fuzz, I decided this in fact, won’t be his Halloween costume. It was fun while it lasted though!

Thanks for coming to visit, Alexandra! We had a wonderful weekend, and can’t wait to come visit you in Atlanta… and go to the Farmer’s Market. :)