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.

Barbeque with Papa

James has been going through a phase of not wanting to try any new food.  He started refusing foods that he’s always loved.  We even had to result back to some pureed foods.  It got so bad at one point that he didn’t trust anything Justin or I gave him.  That is until Papa comes in town,

and shares his plate of barbeque from the birthday party.

Papa is definitely James’ favorite person lately, and if Papa has something, James wants it, too.  And often gets it.  Like these french fries and coleslaw, for example.

But on Sunday, James was introduced to barbeque and loved it all.  Baked beans, pulled pork, mac n’ cheese, green beans, rolls, and of course, banana pudding.  He gobbled it up saying, “Mmmmm.”

We are all for James eating new foods so, we have had Papa feed him all week. 

Maybe James is finally ready to admit that he’s been missing out on the good stuff.

James Wallace’s Baptism

Sunday morning, March 13, 2011, my Sweet Baby James was baptized at our church, Eastminster Presbyterian.

We are not allowed to take pictures in the church, but we snapped a couple in the back.

My only attempt of Justin and James before

Just before his baptism

It was a quick little ceremony in the beginning of our church service, but it was four of the best minutes of my life. During the prayer, Pastor Brad let James play in the Holy Water as I believe he would have done anything to keep him happy.

After his baptism. Hair still wet from the Holy Water (melt my heart).

Following the baptism, we headed to our house for brunch. In my craziness of hosting two celebrations in one weekend, I didn’t take any pictures of the table. We had chicken salad pastries, a fruit tray, egg casserole, muffins, pickled shrimp, and cheese and crackers.

I did however, get my camera out for the kids as I watched them one by one run through the house directly to the backyard expecting to see bouncy houses, bubbles, pinatas, cupcakes and a party. So we blew up the bouncy houses and let them play in their church clothes.

I watched them quickly deteriorate as each and every child was EXHAUSTED from the night before. They went through the motions of playing, but their little bodies just couldn’t keep up.

But one little Dupree energizer bunny kept going,

and going,

and going,

and going.

Before all the kids went home for naps. we sat around outside for a bit.

Then, we all called it a weekend and ended the party. At the end of the baptism, Pastor Brad held James up to our church family and announced, “Meet your new brother in Christ, James Wallace.” It was so sweet that I nearly started crying in front of the whole congregation. We love you, James. You are our gift from God and the light of our family.

Rubber Ducky, James is One

My baby’s birthday is Wednesday, and yesterday we invited family and a few friends over to celebrate. It ended up being quite the celebration!

Family came from near and far to see Sweet Baby James cluelessly have his first birthday party.

James started quacking weeks ago in preparation for his Rubber Ducky birthday party! We rented a bubble machine that was a big hit with the kiddies.

We also had lots of goodies for all these busy little bellies.

And a special goody for the birthday boy.

A bathtub was filled with drinks with one curious little ducky checking it out.

Barbeque was enjoyed by all! (Even I got a chance to inhale some bites!)

We also had lots of entertainment for our little ducklings. Happy children make happy parents.

We had a drawing station with duck crayons,

and a bubble wand station (where little ones were found elbow deep).

“Aunt Cheyet, when are we going to open the pinata?” asked my darling little Catie, who was dressed in rubber ducky yellow with sister, Ellie.

The kids gave it their best shot.

And then Justin stepped up to the plate and got the job done.

Before we knew it the sun was going down, James was nearing a meltdown, and it was time to sing happy birthday and eat some cake!

Looking back at pictures, we may have been closer to that meltdown than I realized.

We sang happy birthday then, played The Beatles birthday song (which was a tradition from my Dad) while we watched James dig in!

Meanwhile, the other kiddos grabbed some “Bubble Pops” and cupcakes!

James took a quick bath and finished his party in his pj’s. (What a baby thing to do, right?) Feeling sentimental, I tried to steal my kisses before someone took him from me.

James finished the party in the bouncy houses with his friends and cousins.

The birthday boy went to bed and had to rest up for his baptism… yes, I am crazy and that will be the next blog… while the older kids and adults continued to celebrate. As I began to clean up for the baptism brunch, I stopped and took a look at the aftermath.

I had a couple hours to make my house presentable for the brunch I was hosting the next morning. I inadvertently chose my son’s first birthday party and baptism to share the night that the time changes. But I was overtaken by the love that surrounded our family. I look at these pictures, and I don’t so much see scattered toys and spilled drinks. I see family that are friends. And friends that are family. And I see little ones that I love as my own.

And that is what this special day was about. I appreciate everyone’s help, and I would especially like to thank my committee: Amy, Laurie, Carrie, and Erin. :)

Justin, we survived the first year. I love you.

To my Sweet Baby James, I love you more than I ever thought possible and you will always be my favorite little ducky.