Three handsome gentlemen

Walking video

Here’s my little weeble-wobble walking {and falling} this morning in his robot jammies.  And then saying his new favorite word: cracker.  What a chunkster.

To the doctor…

Since James turned one, we have been to the doctor each week.  First, at his well-check he was healthy as a horse.  Three days later he got a double ear infection and was put on his first antibiotic, amoxicillin.  (Something I was a little sad about, but thankful that we had a very healthy first year.) 

Then, he woke up yesterday with a little rash on his stomach.  As the day went on, it spread to his back, arms, hands, neck and face!  So, back to the doctor we went.  They’re not sure if it’s an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin or a rare rash from his Chicken Pox Vaccination two weeks ago.  Either way, the doc said it’s not serious unless he starts wheezing or swelling, and it’s not contagious.  Just makes for an itchy, fussy baby. 

It’s pretty sad though, because he’s obviously itchy, but can’t quite figure out how to scratch.  It’s a good thing James doesn’t get sick often, because I’m sure I would spoil him.  It just makes me want to stay home and hold him all day. 

I love you, baby James.  Feel better and lets kick these bumps and germs to the curb!

On a mission

This video was taken two weeks ago after James got his “big boy” one year vaccines.  Justin and I were just talking about how there’s nothing spectacular about this video, but that we love it.  It’s typical James.  He’s on a mission, as usual, to get to my water (translation for “ahhhhhh”).  In the process, he throws down a calendar and our coasters, but it happens so fast that you may not even notice.  And I love that this video shows his little Mickey Mouse Band-Aid from the first time he ever got a shot in his arm. 

Blogpress

I've been wanting to try my new app from my iPod. Here's a very short video of James playing his favorite game, Peekaboo, with his shoes at his 12 month check up. (I thought I was taking a picture.)

Thanks, Erin!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Forgotten Photo

How could I leave this out of his 12 month blog???

12 months old

It is hard to believe that one year ago, I was meeting my precious baby for the very first time.

The moment I heard that first cry, I was taken over by emotion. And I knew right then, that I loved my James more than life itself.

Just 12 months ago.

15 minutes old

Justin said, “This has been the fastest, longest year of our life.” And I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Looking back, this has also been the best year of our life.

One month old

At 12 months old, James, you are talking up a storm. (This started about a month ago.) A lot of what you say has the inflection of a question. Some of your favorite words are: ball, bye, Lynyrd “yeh- yed”, yogurt “go-gurt”, quack, vroom, dada, book “kuh”, and cracker. But your most often used word is no, especially if we take something from you or do something you don’t like. We get an earful of “na, na, na, na, na!” sometimes accompanied with a little {or big} fit.

Two months old

At 12 months old, you are trying to climb everything. From the stairs to a person sitting on the floor. You get hurt daily {hourly}, and wear yourself out just by playing at home. You can climb to the top of the stairs in about two minutes if I let you. You are all boy. You’re my little explorer.

Three months old

At 12 months old, Sweet Baby James, you are going through a clingy phase. (This started about two months ago.) You’re not doing well in nurseries where you have divided attention. My friends tell me this will pass, and you will learn to play independently. One day I will probably miss this.

Four months old

At 12 months old, you have just begun walking! You are taking two to four steps at a time and are very proud of your new accomplishment. So proud and excited, that you usually tip right over.

Five months old

At 12 months old, you love to make people laugh. You hide your face (or just your eyes) in your lovey, and then quickly move it away. You expect someone to say, “Peek-a-boo!” and then you give that big JW grin (that one day, I don’t doubt, will win over all the ladies).

Six months old

At 12 months old, your favorite thing to do is read. You pick out a book, hand it to someone and say, “heh?” or “kuh?” Your favorites are your Llama Llama books and touch and feel books. If you need a distraction, I say, “Do you want to read a book?” and you scurry to the pile of books.

Seven months old

At 12 months old, you are trying new foods and liking new textures more and more. You recently went through a phase where you did not want to eat anything from a spoon, because you like to feed yourself with your fingers. (This makes it difficult with many dishes!) If we give you a bite, you often take it out of your mouth and put it back in, just so you can be the one to do it. Some of your favorite foods are yogurt, crackers, cheese, bananas, turkey deli meat, applesauce, cheerios, muffins, and now barbeque!

Eight months old

At 12 months old, you weighed in at 90th percentile for height, and 90th percentile for weight! I even checked that with the doctor, because it’s hard to believe! (With a head circumference of 65th percentile, which nobody cares about but me) My little tongue-tied, reflux newborn has climbed up the ladder to be quite the big boy!… physically speaking.

Nine months old

At 12 months old, you are a great sleeper. Although you gave Mommy and Daddy a rough first six months, you started sleeping long stretches at night a long time ago. For months now, you go down at 7:30 and sleep until about 6:30. (This goes with variations, hiccups, and a few trials and errors.)

Ten months old

At 12 months old, you most often get told you look like your great-grandfather, Colonel Hicks. You also get told you look just like your Papa. Occasionally, Mommy and Daddy get some credit, too.

Eleven months old

At 12 months old, I start each and every morning with you.

The morning of your first birthday.

James Wallace, I cannot imagine life without you.

March 16, 2011

You are my life, 24 hours a day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way {minus a couple of breaks here and there!}. You are my best buddy.

One year old

At 12 months old, I look at you and your Daddy, and I think, ‘You are ours.’ And nothing in life could make me happier than that.

Twelve months old

It’s hard to believe that one year ago, a became a mother and Justin became a father. And though many times rough, we became parents together. We love you, our Sweet Baby James. Happy One Year Birthday!

James’ 1st Bday: How we spent the day

Justin and I took off work today, and Papa and Grammy were still in town for the morning. We had a big day planned for the birthday boy!

After breakfast, we opened a present from Mommy and Daddy.

Then we headed outside for a ride in James’ present from Grammy and Papa! (It was very exciting when we noticed Lynyrd came along!)

The weather was cold and misty – yuck. But we bundled up and managed to have a great day, much of which was outside. The party must go on for a first birthday, right?

After a lap around the block, we brought the party back inside.

James napped, Grammy and Papa got on the road, then Justin and I took James to the park for the very first time!

He. absolutely. loved. it.

The slide was damp, and he’s not mobile enough to play on his own so, all we did was swing. But he couldn’t have been happier doing anything else.

Then, we moved on to different swings! He loved it so much, he would just close his eyes, put his head back, and feel the wind on his face. (He has always loved the wind.)

My sweet baby James.

We swapped some hugs and kisses and then, headed to DiPrato’s for lunch.

At lunch, we let James chew on some fried pita chips. What greasy fingers wouldn’t clap for that?

When we got home, we took it easy for a little while then, we went outside to play in the backyard. James walked on his own back and forth to Mommy and Daddy three or four steps at a time. He is still very unsteady, but you can see in his eye that he is ready to do it.

Then, he and Justin played on the slide.

After dinner, James had a birthday cupcake. It was clearly a familiar taste. With smeared spaghettios still on his face from dinner, he dug right in.

I love the joy the simplicities of our day brought. I appreciate that innocence, as I know it doesn’t last forever.

Happy Birthday, Baby (Toddler!?) James. Mommy and Daddy love you so much. We had the best day and the best year with you.

*This is our day in detail, but I’m going to do another 12 month blog. :)

Gimme three steps

After a full weekend of celebration and sentiment, our baby decided to take his first steps on Sunday afternoon, March 13th.

Sunday he was playing on the floor with Papa for hours.  All of a sudden he picked his little hand off the coffee table and stepped four steps to me!  He got so excited that he continued to test his balance and tried to walk for the rest of the day.  Several times he took steps.  Some slow and steady.  Others were a head dive into something.  One time I thought would be our first trip to the emergency room.

I only got one picture, and it was not a slow and steady step.  But it shows the excitement his first steps brought on Sunday.  God love my little weeble-wobble.