standing and crawling!

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Standing up by the couch! I can't believe how fast the time is going!  James was 9 months old this last week, and I am just astonished at how much he has changed these last few weeks.  We had has well-baby check up today and he was a whopping 20lb 6oz and was 29.5in long. He was in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th for height (his head was in the 75th as well.)  This is pretty on target from what he has been.  Here is a list of what James has been up to:

• Can crawl around like a mad man!
• Pulls himself up and stands for a few seconds
• Eats baby food as well as food off of our table
• Nurses before naps and at bedtime and has bottles with meals
• Can use the sippy cup, but only when laying down
• Can pick up food and put it into his mouth (using only his thumb and pointer finger)
• Takes two 1-3hr naps a day and sleeps from 9pm until 7am almost every day.
• Wears size 3 diapers
• Wears 12 month clothes
• Follows his dad around, no matter where he goes (even into the bathroom!)
• Puts EVERYTHING into his mouth
• Loves to explore and touches everything new with his pointer fingers.
• Laughs every-time we play patty-cake
• Cries every time we put him in his car seat, but is fine once he is in.
• Could sit and watch Baby Einstein / Baby Babble for hours
• Loves reading books, and sits perfectly still until the book is done
• Would be content with shoelaces and belts for toys
• Is the sweetest, happiest baby I could ask for.

This pictures shows his determination and love of strings.  While standing, he discovered that he could use his head to brace himself so he could play with the strings on his pants!  James has gotten so astute that every time I wear a sweatshirt he looks for the strings to play with.  If the sweatshirt doesn't have strings, he just touches the place where they would normally be and gives me a look like "what the heck, mom, where are the strings!"


This picture shows a little too graphically the nasty runny nose he had a few weeks ago... but it was a super cute picture, so I'm choosing to ignore the snot :)


I turned my back for one second the other day, and James had crawled his way under the kitchen chair and couldn't get out.  He cried for about 10 seconds before he realized there were strings under there that he could play with.


This is his, "I'm tired, and it's time for a NAP look"


James intently looking at the carpet (probably at how dirty it is :)

Well I keep trying to post a video of him crawling, but it hasn't been working.  maybe tomorrow it will let me.  I also have some picture of my beautiful new nephew to post.  We went to Brookings for Easter and got to spend time with Nate's side of the family.

Ear Infections :(

So This poor baby has a nasty cold and ear infection :(  I took him in to the walk-in clinic this morning, because he has woken up screaming the last two nights.  He indeed had ear infections in both ears.  The doc put us on some antibiotics, and hopefully it will clear up soon.  We are planning to go to Brookings this weekend for Easter, so hopefully he will be better by then.   I also still have a cough, and sound like a 3 pack a day smoker.  I am starting to think mine may be more to do with allergies or some sort of asthma than a virus, however.  I might see if I can get the resident on tonight to give me a script for something.

Anyway, the pictures on this post are from last week (obviously from the absence of SNOW in the pics).  We took James outside and let him play around in the grass for a while.  He really enjoyed it. He wasn't too sure at first, but then he started to play with the grass and eat it )


The first touch of grass on his fingertips.


The sun was quite bright this day


Daddy making him laugh


My Two boys.


SO happy to be outside playing.



My goofy baby wouldn't smile with me.  He kept wanting to get down and play.


Nate finally made him smile.


Learning to walk.


Not liking the falling over part.


Best Buddies


James sticking that tongue out :)

Well I will try and post the video of James crawling this week. It has just been a busy week.  I should really be getting to bed now, as I work at 7.  Here's hoping James ha a good day at daycare, and I don't get called to pick him up 5 minutes after falling asleep :)

Pictures of my Sweet Boy

"Oh Hey Mom, Look at how big I'm getting"

"I love it when you take pictures of me"

"I like to stick my tongue out at you when I'm trying to give you a kiss"

Sweetest Boy Ever.

"Ooo I see something I want"

"Can I play with the Camera? Please?"

"Fine, then No more Smiling for the Camera."

"OK, Just one more goofy grin :)"

Snotty Sunday

So, James and I are both sick today. He has a nasty cough, snotty nose, and a fever. His illness, however, has not deterred him from CRAWLING! He has been on the move all day. Last night Nate and I decided it was time to move his crib lower. It was so sad. It brought back memories of when we were first putting up the crib around a year ago, and now my baby is getting SO BIG!

Nate and Jamey getting ready to play outside

Not too sure what he thinks about this "Outside" business.

Playing on the swing.

I think he likes it :) They were moving, so I couldn't get a very good picture.

My two favorite boys.

We went on a trip to Cabellas, and they have a huge tank filled with fish and turtles. We let James sit and watch them, and he was fascinated!

This definitely got Nate excited for fishing this summer with his little guy. We even bought James his first life jacket. I have to admit the nice weather we had last week made me quite anxious for summer as well. The snow we received this weekend, however, has put me back into my winter slump.

Rain, Snow, and Slush

So It snowed 6 inches last night and our backyard looks like a winter wonderland. YUCK! We were just starting to enjoy this spring weather! So I guess it's back indoors we go.

Isn't he just a cutie :) I think so.

James and his silly tongue. He has been sticking it out constantly lately. He now gives "kisses" AKA he licks your face when you get close enough. It's so neat to see him learning new things. Nate was trying to teach him to high-five the other day, and he actually started to get it. Now if he could just learn how to say momma :)

Sometimes he gets tired of all the pictures.

And then, I make him smile by doing something silly like sticking MY tongue out...

My HUGE growing boy.

I love his silly grins and laughs. There is almost nothing better than hearing you son laughing and being silly with you.

This is James desperately learning to crawl. He gets up on his hands and knees, tries to move forward, falls on his face, rolls to his back, rolls back over, gets up on his hands and knees, decides to sit up instead, sits up, falls over, and then either rolls to something he finds interesting or cries until I help him.

Spying something interesting...

Oh mom, it's you! LOVE YOU!!

So many Pictures to Upload

I have so many pictures to upload, I have to do it in multiple posts. The pictures from this post are from a walk we took a few weeks ago. James loves going for stroller rides.

The Jacket he is wearing is one we received as a baby gift. NEVER thought he would fit into it this soon!! See him up on his hands and knees! He is moving so much now. He is a lean, mean, moving machine!

All bundled up for a walk. We actually had a few nice days where it was ok to be outside. We still bundled Jamey up though, because even though 50 degrees feels warm compared to Negative 50, it's still a little chilly

When we are outside, James is just fascinated by EVERYTHING! He would be content to just sit and stare outside for hours if we let him. SUMMER COME SOON!!!

Isn't he cute :)

These next few pictures are from a walk Nate and James went on one day while I was at work. They went on the bike path, but couldn't get very far due to the flooding.

This again is another 12-18 month outfit I didn't think James would fit into until next fall. Guess I was wrong! He is just growing up TOO FAST!

I LOVE those big blue eyes. His is such a sweetheart

Here is why they didn't make it very far :) The bike path was overtaken by the Mighty Red River. Thankfully it crested yesterday, and should be coming down. Hope we don't get a second crest with all this snow and rain!

I will try and post my other pictures I have of him when I get the chance. We have been busy at our house fighting off colds. I lost my voice yesterday, and James was sick with the flu the day before.