6 Month Update on our Little Guy!

Hello sweet 6 month old! You are so ticklish and you smile and giggle SO easily. It is a mama's dream. James, we have loved watching you grow over the past month. You are really engaging and into exploring the things around you. You are grabbing for everything you can get your hands {and mouth!} on and wanting to figure out this world around you. You preferred to be held or carried around while you explore things and still remain so snuggly. Music is your favorite, and you are loving toys that make noise. You also have started the army crawl and drag yourself around the room {still fairly slowly, thankfully, but you can cover some ground!} to keep up with Caroline. You are SO close to sitting up unassisted... another couple weeks and you will definitely have hit that milestone! Your stinker teeth have been giving you a fit, and while those bottom two teeth aren't quite through the skin yet, they are close, and you are chewing on everything you can get your hands on including your fingers. Come on teeth! We are officially in size 3 diaper and 6-9 month clothing... we love you bug guy :)

This past month we did lots of fun, and new things with you, little bubba... and you just go right along with the flow. Grab a nap when you can and smile your way through life. I ADORE your sweet, laid back personality. 

We went to the pumpkin patch...

And you spent a couple days boycotting a nap... so we took silly selfie pictures... hey, what can I say, improvise and laugh and start again tomorrow :) 

You took your first ride sitting up in the stroller like a big guy!

... and we have cheered hard for our Clemson Tigers each weekend... You look good in Orange Bubby!

Lots of fun baths with sister who loves to "scrub you up!" as she calls it. Sweet girl adores you! And you my little friend adore your bath. You would stay in the water all.day.long.

Listened to Caroline read you tons of books. She mesmerizes you. 

... And since you have decided to go on taking a bottle strike, you tagged along with Mom and Dad on our 6th Anniversary weekend trip to Virginia Beach. We loved having the one on one time with you, and since you are the easiest baby ever, it was so fun to have you with us to ride bikes on the beach, go for walks, sit on the balcony, and sleep through our dinner and brunches out... 

You pretended to drive... and made mommy tear up looking at this picture thinking about how I will blink, and you will be 16 and really driving... ahhh! slow down time!

...We picked apples with Gram...

... and tried a first bite of mashed banana. Not the biggest fan of solids yet, so we will take our time. You still nurse great about every 2-3 hours. You'll get the hang of that real food at some point :) 

James, THANK YOU for another amazing month of being your mommy. You and your sister are pure JOY and make being mama to two little people the best job in the whole world. I am thankful for your sweet smile and your curiosity. I love getting to re-see the world through your inquisitive eyes. Daddy and I are blessed to play a role in your life and love you to pieces!

oh my, someone is FIVE months!

Last weekend, Sweet James turned FIVE months. I just can not even get over how sweet this kid is... and how much he smiles and how cuddly he is ALL the time. He definitely lets you know when he is upset or hungry or having a little tummy ache with quite a bit of screaming, but seriously 98% of the time he is the hands down the sweetest, most adaptable, laid back little guy God ever created. And I am thankful.

James is getting more active and engaging by the day. He wants to be sitting up constantly, and is rolling all over the place. He has found his toes and wants them in his mouth all the time. Loves his bath and kicking his legs in the water. We are slowly getting to a fairly set 3 nap a day schedule with a short morning nap, long mid-day/afternoon nap, and a short evening nap... then bed time around 9. He is sleeping till about 7:30 in the morning with a middle of the night wake up to eat {still... and I am still attempting / trying to enjoy the 3:30 in the morning time with my sweet boy...} By the way James, you can sleep through the night anytime you want and mommy promises extra cuddle time during daylight hours! :)

Just made the jump into 6 month clothes and also size 3 diapers because at his last doctors appointment, at about 4 1/2 months, he was 17 lbs and 27 inches long! We love to read {grab at} books, and especially the soft, crinkly ones or the ones that have touch and feel pictures. James continues to be completely enamored with Caroline and her silliness. She definitely elicits the biggest, whole-face-lit-up smiles from her "bubby" or "brother bear" as she calls him. And boy, he sure is ticklish, with such a cute belly laugh. Peek-a-boo is also a favorite games around here. James is drooling up a storm, but still no traces of teeth. He continues to nurse about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours... Loves to be worn in the Ergo carrier {I still love my solly or moby wrap, but he prefers the ergo and his ability to wiggle around in there more.}

This past month we did lots of fun things including:

-Sending sister off to Pre-school every tuesday/thursday morning and picking her home every afternoon for lunch. 

- 74th Annual Family Reunion with Gram's whole family in Southeast Virginia. It was a fun weekend to meet and play with tons of cousins! 

- We also celebrated cousins Gavin and Rosie's 3rd and 1st Birthdays!

- Got to travel to South Carolina to see Uncle Ben and Aunt Stella, Great Aunt Robin and Great Uncle Stan, and Papa Jim (who James is named for!)

 - And while in South Caroline we stayed in a house with all of our dearest Clemson friends and their babies to go to James' 1st Clemson game which was Clemson vs. South Carolina State. Clemson won by a landslide, and we just about sweated to death, and we only lasted until half-time, BUT had such a fun, fun day! We also got to go to the first friday parade, walk around campus and shop in downtown Clemson, and have a fun breakfast tailgate! It was great to get to meet other baby friends Shaun and Cale, and for Caroline to get to see her buddy Braston. 

- We went to Greensboro for a long weekend to sell/shop at several kids consignment sales and got spoiled by our sweet Gram {the best!}.

- And we got to take James to Bethany and Aaron, our friends {and former Chick-fil-A employee's... they met and fell in love all because of Chick-fil-A of Waynesboro :)!!}, wedding. James looked like a stud, and LOVED being outside for a beautiful Fall outdoor wedding!

SUCH A FUN MONTH... and great start to Fall 2014 with this little guy! 

James, we are blessed, humbled, and overjoyed to walk through our days with you. Thanks for your never ending smiles. You are so healthy, and we think perfect. Mommy and Daddy pray every day for your strength and wisdom, and the BIG future God has planned for you, and the ways in which we know you will impact His kingdom. We adore you our little man! Thank you for 5 months... and we're excited to see what new things you do in month 6!

Our little Pre-School Girl

Last week my baby... this sweet precious girl... started 2 year Preschool! HOW IN THE WORLD?!? Seriously Caroline, you were just born, and what the heck!?! I fought this decision about preschool and thought, no way this little baby is ready to go to school {even it is PREschool}. It is is just another HUGE reminder of the fact that she really is growing up QUICKLY! I knew in my heart last spring she would be ready, and so we signed her up and of course she is loving it. She loves the social interaction with other kids and the songs and the stories and the play time in a different environment. We are loving Bethany Lutheran Pre-School so far, and Caroline's teachers are Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Smith.

And just being an honest mama for a minute, it has been soooo nice to have two mornings a week with just baby James to run quick errands, or schedule his doctor visits or just have a quiet minute. And all the mom's who understand say Amen! Then at 11:30 I am more than ready to have my baby HOME. Overall it really has been great!

After her first day, Caroline ran right up to James and said "Oh Bubba, I missed you SOOOOO much!" It was the sweetest ever, and I am think my heart exploded a little. It seriously is the best to see how much two tiny people can instantly love each other something fierce. His face lights up when she is around, and mine does too just watching their interactions. 

A few little updates on Miss Independent at almost 2 1/2:

- Beautiful! We obviously think so, but seriously Caroline you are inside and out.

- Thoughtful and loves being around people and other babies. Always wants to ask everyone's name, and remember them usually too!

- Has given James the nicknames Bubba and really likes to call him "Bubby"

- Loves to read, and has tons of books memorized that she will just start reciting from memory

- Favorite color is RED

- Still loves music and playing the guitar with Daddy

- Has the BEST ever laugh. It is infectious

- Loves animals, especially horses and puppies 

- Favorite thing to do is play in her pretend kitchen with Minnie Mouse

- Baby Doll named Ali goes everywhere with us... and I mean everywhere. I think she may be my third child with her own pacifier and bottle and clothes to keep up with :)

- Loves having her toes painted

- Daddy's girl to the core and loves riding on the lawn mower with him, or playing outside or just being in the same room with Jay.

- Asks to read her bible stories out of her kids bible every night, and reminds me to "talk about out day" to re-cap the days events, and pray each night. We love our little bedtime routine. 

Love you sweet girlfriend, and thankful you are enjoying this next step in your growing up journey!

Hello 4 Months!

I love the 4 months age! James is so sweet and smiles all the time, and is learning so much so quick. He still wants to be held constantly, but now facing out to see the world... and to keep up with Big Sister!

Some new developments on the James front are:

Rolling over... ALL THE TIME. He likes his belly {which means I am not sleeping a wink at night worried about him sleeping on his tummy, but the instant I lay him down her turns right over, even if I lay him in his crib sound asleep!} Silly boy.

Also, holding his head up and pushing up on his arms like a champ. So strong this little man. He is starting to love a few toys these days like his big plastic keys, a Taggie toy, and other simple, bright colored toys, and anything musical. We have started having story time when sis naps or before I nurse him at bedtime. Love the bright baby books. I am hoping he will love to read as much as Caroline the book worm!

He is in size 2 diapers and actually had to go out a snap on his cloth too. Pretty much made the full jump into 6 month clothing. It seriously is a tear jerker every time I pack away a size of baby clothes. Am I the only one who feels this way?!?

Nursing about 9 times a day.. and still in the middle of the night. Trying very hard to remember I will one day, {maybe far down the road} miss these sweet midnight moments. For now I try to sleepily and positively use the time to pray over my little guy and all that God will do in and through him.

Also, James had a few spots of eczema on his legs and arms. I decided to do a trial run with eliminating dairy from my diet and in turn from his, and it cleared right up... that and a some Lemon and Lavendar Young Living essential Oil with coconut oil and tallow for his lotion did the trick!

James still loves... Giggling {SO ticklish!}, being worn in a warp {or really just held close constantly},  watching caroline read, sing, play.. anything! She mesmerizes his attention, his bath... but not so much the hair washing part, his soft, blue elephant lovie and lots of music (thankful for pandora for my two littles!)

Some other fun things we did this month were:
- Bush Gardens with Gammy and Papa and Aunt Lyndsey and Uncle Chris, Gavin and Rosie {some one even asked if Rosie who is 10 months and James were twins... he is obviously a big boy!}
- Peach Picking with Gram
- Trip to Gram's house
- Visits with his Great Aunt Mimi and Cousin Susan
- Helped Mom and Dad keep the nursery at Church
- Lots of trips to Chick-fil-A to let sister play
- Lots of walks {and a few even in the stroller like a big guy!}
- Picnics at the park
- Trip to the Green Valley book fair

 James, we continue to fall more and more in love with you each day. Seriously. It feels like you are growing so quick, and at the same time like you have always been here and a part of our family. We simply ADORE your perfectly laid back personality, and the easy way in which your face lights up with a smile or a giggle. Mommy and Daddy are thankful for the healthy way in which you are growing. We are loving praying over your sweet body... that God will use you in big ways for His kingdom. Thank you for bringing even more joy to our home and our lives.