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. :)

Labor Day

Justin had a four day weekend for Labor Day. I’m just going to come right out and say it… I was horrible about taking pictures! I even missed James’ first college football day. Poor James. Justin and I couldn’t come to an agreement on his game day attire so, this poor, confused kid wore a shirt that said ‘Little Bulldog’ with shorts that said ‘Gator Baby.’ And. I. Didn’t. Get. One. Picture.

I didn’t get a picture when we visited with family all weekend.

I didn’t get a picture when James met his Uncle JJ for the first time.

But I did manage to take a couple of pictures after church on Sunday (yes, that would be two weeks in a row) and before we went to the pool.

As you know, we are committed to going to church when we can, but this little heathen tried hard to interfere with our Sunday plans!

James is a serial cat-napper. Rarely does he take a decent nap (to my dismay). Sunday morning though, he tried to sleep right through church! We finally had to wake him (which I hate to do) at the last minute. Then, he outgrew nearly all of his clothes! How dare he!

Then, he had such a good nap that he wanted to play all through church. So, we watched the service from a television in the lobby, where we were kindly advised to put him in the nursery. Which we think is a good idea for this big boy.

Then after all the play, getting dragged to church and then to the grocery store, James was tired again and didn’t want to go to the pool.

Daddy was able to make him laugh with his new favorite game of clapping hands.

Then we headed to the pool where I didn’t take anymore pictures. :( We had a great time though and a great weekend! Oh, Amy posted a little blog about the evening we spent with the Duprees Sunday night if you’d like to check that out.

Happy Birthday, Uncle David

Yesterday James and I spent the afternoon with my Aunt Beth and Uncle David to celebrate his birthday. My Uncle is the only person I’ve ever known to get younger on a birthday. He thought he was turning 58 and was shocked to find out he was, in fact, “only 56!” (Wish I would have thought I was in my thirties; It would have made turning 29 much easier.) We went to Olive Garden for lunch, and James wore his USC bib in honor of the first college football game of the season!

He got quite the attention from all the ladies at our surrounding tables. (He is not lacking charm… and neither is Uncle David.)

I may be blinded with love, but I think it’s so cute how James’ ears stick out a little.. or what looks to be a lot in this picture.

Then we headed over to their house so, James could take a nap. Which lasted 20 minutes. He was recharged and wanted to play.

Thank you, Uncle David for including us in your birthday celebration. We had a great time!

Afterwards, James and his double chin got in his jammies and went to bed at kick off. Justin, Lynyrd and I watched the fighting Gamecocks when their first game of the season! (Go Gamecocks! Until tomorrow, then Go Gators!)