Christmas

James' first Christmas was very eventful. On Christmas day his Williams grandparents and uncle were at our house with us to celebrate. James stayed up way past his nap time in order to open presents and he didn't melt down. He was so excited about his presents...especially the tissue paper in the ones wrapped in a bag. Mommy and Daddy were especially excited about the fact that it snowed on Christmas (like 6 in.)--in NC.

On New Year's Weekend we went to PA for the Wynkoop Christmas. James did even better with his ride to PA this time. He loved playing with his Grandma and Grandpa and aunts and uncles. I think his favorite aunt is Aunt Lexi. She gives the best kisses.

The day before we had Christmas in PA. James' first tooth appeared. That explained why he mysteriously had trouble taking naps the day before. Other than that James hasn't seemed too affected by his tooth coming in.

Reflections on Mary

When listening to the Christmas story I have always identified most with Mary (because she is the girl in the story I guess). Last year, when I was pregnant, I could imagine a little bit of what it felt like to be Mary and carrying a baby although I wasn't very pregnant at Christmas last year. This year I really identified with Mary. I could imagine her with a tiny baby. I sang Away in a Manger to my baby. I thought about what it was like to be a young mother and having a baby and caring for a newborn in an animal's stall. At first as I was making the parallels I thought "well at least I don't have the added pressure of having God's son". Then it hit me--in a way I am caring for God's son. He's not fully God and fully man (there's the extra pressure) but he is God's child that God has entrusted to me to take care of on Earth but he is still God's son and God is in control. I just need to love him as God would. The thought made me emotional and sympathetic of Mary.

6 Months

I can't believe James is already 6 months old. This month went by very quickly. James has been very fun this month. He "gets" our jokes and laughs at us. His sleep seems to have really gotten into a pattern and he takes good long naps. He can also roll around on the floor to reach his toys instead of just laying and screaming until we give him what he wants. He started eating solid foods at the beginning of this month and he LOVES it. He has eaten several different foods and he excitedly sucks them all down.

Somehow even though he loves to eat he is only in the 8% for weight. He weighs 14 lbs. 11 oz. now. His height has also dropped to the 50th percentile. We are going to try to beef him up in the next couple months but I'm not really sure how to feed him any more. Maybe I just need to make him move less!

James also got to make his first trip to PA. A 10 hour trip on a good day. He did well for being so little but there were a few times that he cried for an hour straight so we are working on his car riding skills.

I think this has been my favorite month so far.

Elves at work!

Only 1 week left!

5 Months

This was a rough month but James seems to have turned over a new leaf as soon as he turned 5 months old so hopefully that will continue through his entire 5th month. This month James started standing on his legs when we hold him up. He gets very excited about his accomplishments when he does this. He can also wiggle and roll around on his blanket on the floor to get to whatever toys he wants to play with.

James is talking more and giggling. He continues to find new sounds he can make and repeats them constantly (even at 3am). His current sound is a high pitched squeal. He also buries his head into your shoulder when he laughs-like he's so pleased with himself. It is very cute.

We took James for his first sick visit to the doctor (he ended up not really being sick). He had kept us awake for hours at a time in the middle of the night for a week so we thought he might have an ear infection. He didn't. About a week later he found his ear and has started playing with his ear...I don't think it's infected but now he is showing one of the signs!

Because of Thanksgiving we have done a lot of traveling. James did great! His sleep hasn't been too disrupted and he put up with sitting in his carseat for 6 hours at a time. He also got to meet lots of new people.

James also got to see his first snow!

Best Friends

A little over 2 months ago I started babysitting for another little boy. He is 5 weeks older than James. Lee and I always said we wanted twin boys...well this is pretty close! At first they didn't even realize the other one was around but recently they have started noticing each other. They will hold hands, talk to each other, steal toys from each other and chew on each other's feet!

Halloween

Halloween Jammies!!

James dressed up as Tim Tebow for Halloween. Sorry FSU fans!