Baby Bulldog

When James was just a little bean and I was 6 weeks pregnant, Justin and I made a trip to Charleston to tell my parents the news.  James caused quite the nausea, which kept us in bed for most of the trip.  Aside from that excursion, this weekend was James Wallace’s first trip to Charleston!  And more importantly, his first Citadel Football Game.

Our cousins, Jason and Katie, were more than accommodating as we bombarded their house with baby gear, while Lynyrd immediately started playing with his best friend, Baxter.

We took it easy Friday afternoon in preparation for the big game day, and spent some quality time together.

Even Baxter got acquainted with James.

It was the first time we’ve seen Lynyrd be protective of his little brother, as he made sure Baxter knew to keep it friendly.

Knowing that my son is a handful, and more of a handful when traveling, I could only assume he’d be even more of a handful at a football game. 

So along came Papa and Grammy ready to help and have fun all at the same time.

James was ready to roll to his first football game!

We started the day with watching the Cadets march in.  This is when we first realized that James (who has been jumpy since the day he was born) may not enjoy the volume of a football game as much as we had hoped.

After a week of cool weather we were unpleasantly surprised by the hot day. 

But it was nothing a couple of cool beverages couldn’t handle.

These Citadel graduates were ready to watch some football.

Taking James into his first football game, especially his first Citadel football game, Justin could not have been more proud. 

And James, well, he could not have been more… tired.

They watched the game.  Father and son.  (While I took 50 pictures)

And then something really bad happened.  The Bulldogs scored a touchdown.  And as tradition goes, everyone cheers and a cannon is then fired.

This could be very scary when trying to understand all the new sights and sounds.

And we took a turn for the worst {even while surrounded by blondes}.

We cried during the family photo.

We cried when we got a first down.

And we cried when we got another first down.

We cried when Grammy didn’t let us chew on metal.

We cried when we tried to watch The Fighting Gamecocks beat the you know what out of Alabama.  (I did not get a picture.)

And we cried with Papa.

Then Mommy and Daddy finally let you leave this horrible, torturing thing called a football game.  And James, while we can promise you won’t have to go back this year…

We have to also promise you a lifetime of football games.

But we can assure you, they will get better.

I learn from you

To live in the moment

To not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself

To seize the day

To be happy with simple pleasures

To be a kid.

No like

James

does not

like

green vegetables.

Unless they’re covered with cheese sauce.

BEAT BAMA

Or don’t beat Bama.  And that’s all I’ll say about that.

Saturday morning James woke up to the exciting news that we had a last minute visitor!

Andrea hitched a ride to Columbia with some friends, and we had a fun-filled weekend of shopping, eating out, a girls' night out, and plenty of quality time with James.

She taught James the Gator Chomp,

and they played at lunch.

James spent a good portion of lunch banging his hands on the table in excitement of his new view in the highchair! 

I asked Andrea if she wanted to be our live-in-Nanny, but she said only if we move to Florida.

Lynyrd was so excited to have some play time with his Aunt Andrea as well.

She knows how to entertain my babies. 

Lynyrd scored a perfect 10 on his figure skateresque leap, while Andrea dangled James’ toy in front of him (but never actually let Lynyrd’s mouth touch it!)

Andrea, I had such a great time with you this weekend.  But then again, I always do and I always have.

And as for the Gamecocks, The Helfer Family is rooting for you this weekend to BEAT BAMA!!!

Highchairs and Crayons… what?

James sat in a highchair at Bonefish last night. Yay! I restrained from taking pictures at the restaurant, but snapped a couple when we got home.

The hostess offered him crayons. I must have looked at her like she was crazy, because she put them right away and backpedaled about how he probably just eats them at this age. I’m taking this growing up thing well, but coloring? Already?

Sweet Baby James, how about baby steps to becoming a big boy?

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?