Playing with mommy

I do love to play. Lilly pays the most attention to me -- maybe because she's not as interested in running around and roughhousing with the older boys -- I can't even imagine when I'll ever be fast enough to keep up with them! No, Lilly suits me much better right now. Although she can be a bit rough, too. Still, I don't mind much. Mom thinks I'm just about the cutest, most interactive baby in the world! And if you ask me, she's right (although I'm not going to be the one to tell her that Ethan, Isaac, and Lilly all went through this phase, too)!

Meanwhile, I’m tearing up the house with my walking now, even climbing up stairs now (although descending stairs is entirely another matter). I’m especially good at running around corners in a Kramer-esque sort of way, although I’m not sure he used to drool as much as I do.

I got to go camping for the first time a couple of weeks ago! I missed out on some of the activities – I was asleep during the campfire, for instance, but I really loved being in the great outdoors all the time! Mama and yeye were kind enough to give us their big tent, and there was enough room in there for dad, Ethan, Isaac, me, AND my portacrib! Of course, my blankets weren’t warm enough and in the middle of the night dad had to put me in his sleeping bag to keep me warm. I pretty much took over the sleeping bag from there, pushing dad off the foam pad onto the ground – I was pretty comfortable, but dad probably didn’t sleep very well!

Mom loves how interactive I’m starting to get – my favorite games involve gesturing and vocalizing (clapping, cupping my ears, saying “dada” on cue), making loud sounds for no apparent reason, and being chased around the house. Everyone finds my funny sounds and gestures are so endearing!

A Whole New World

Whoo hoo! I'm starting to be able to walk! Still takes a lot of effort, but it's so fun to have my head up so high! Of course, the more I try, the more my baby fat melts away, much to mom's chagrin. No more "Baby James" for me -- "Toddler James," here we come!

My First Christmas

Mmmm, yummy lights. Mmmm, yummy carpet. Mmmm, yummy wrapping paper. Mmmm, yummy toys. (I love Christmas!)

Merry Christmas!

I Can Fly, I Can Fly, I Can Fly!

Okay, fine, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But at least I can sit now! Next thing you know, I'll be crawling! Whoo hoo!



Somewhere along the line, I also picked up this nasty habit -- although mom and dad (dad especially) are glad to report that I don't indulge much (yet?).

Tree Trunks

Aww yeah, look at those tree trunks -- tipping the scales at 21 lbs. ("off the charts" in relation to my height, or so my doctor exclaimed), I'm a definite linebacker in the making!

Yum yum!

So in the last month I graduated from straight formula to supplementation with rice cereal, followed by bananas and now even to avocado and sweet potatoes! Mmm, mmm. This video here isn't my first try at eating solid foods, but better late than never, I suppose. And for those of you who aren't my Mama, feel free to skip through it -- it's a solid 9:16 of watching me eat!

Sweetly Sings

A couple of months ago, I made a new best friend when dad and mom's GPR resident friends came over for dinner. Nick Seaboyer, April's fiance, brought his guitar over and gave me a personal concert to help put me to sleep. He's was so nice to me -- made up a song right on the spot for me and everything! I mean, how cool is that?