Cleanliness...

I dusted and vacuumed like a crazy person today. Partly because it was long overdue, and mostly because I didn't want roly-poly baby to get on these dirty, dusty floors anymore.

Just thought you'd like to know, James is not a fan of the vacuum. He screams while it runs. UNLESS, he's in the Bjorn "helping."

Fun & Sun This Weekend

So, Dan had a conference for work, and was gone from Wednesday morning until Friday afternoon. James and I managed just fine; I was able to bathe him with minimal wrangling on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday we went to Ramsey for dinner and an outdoor concert. It was nice to go for a run in Ramsey while James stayed with his grands, and James enjoyed his daddy's highchair for dining again. As for the concert, it was quite a bit of stimulation for a tired baby, so James & I ditched about half-way through. Turns out that was a good thing. The fireworks, which didn't start until after 9:30, were reportedly quite loud, and the traffic after them was quite thick (Grandma & Grandpa took about an hour to get home).

On Friday, we headed back to Ramsey for a baby playdate at the pool. It was wonderful to see our friends Baby Cora & Mommy Lauren and Baby Shea & Mommy Heather whom we hadn't seen in quite some time. Both girls are getting so big! Baby Reese & Mommy Diane hosted us all. We sat in the baby pool playing with toys; quite fun.

When we got home, Daddy was back from his trip. Yea! He helped James get ready for bed and read him some books. It was great to have him home again.

On Saturday, Daddy and James spent some quality time together while I went to the city to run in Central Park with my friends. It was interesting because BonJovi was giving a free concert that night, so we got to see some of the set-up taking place. I came home after brunching, and we fed James his first vegetable: organic carrots! He seemed a bit shocked at their taste.

On Sunday, we spent the afternoon at the pool. We set up camp by the baby pool where James enjoyed his playmat under the shade of the umbrella. We'd head to the big pool during adult swim. Ironically, this 15-minute period at the top of every hour is when the baby pool empties out. Babies (with adult supervision, obviously) are allowed in the roped off section of the big pool during adult swim. James was more into the pool this time. He most enjoyed laying on his back while one of us glided him through the water. Daddy claims that James was floating on his back at one point, which makes him a better swimmer than I! Of course, Uncle P did say those big hands and feet would be good for swimming...

Back at home, we cleaned up and helped Daddy get ready for his baseball game. James jumped on Mr. Nick when he came to get Daddy, then it was almost time for more carrots & barley! James was more receptive to his carrots this time, and ate every bit of his dinner. After playing with his fish toys a bit, we headed to bed. He was asleep by 7:20, and DIDN'T WAKE UP TO EAT UNTIL AFTER 3!

Disclaimer: the photos in the red shirt are from earlier in the week. But you get the idea. :-)

Baby Wrangling

So, lately, much of our (mostly MY) time is spent Baby Wrangling. "What's that?" you ask...

Well, imagine an almost-seven-month-old who is very curious and becoming more independent. He wants to see everything, and by see, I mean hold and often insert into mouth. No matter what direction he is facing, there is something in another direction that might interest him.

Remember, I said he was becoming more independent; he can sit on his own, but, often in his effort to see something, he topples over and/or rolls. He cannot yet get back into a sitting position without assistance, so he'll often lie on the floor, whining, doing baby ab-crunches.

The baby wrangling in such instances occurs as you try to help him in his endeavors.

But wait, there's more!

Baby wrangling often occurs at church and at mealtimes. Again, wanting to see everything, he is super squirmy. Whatever adult is holding him is not just holding him, but wrangling him. Trying to keep him happy while still in one spot.

Baby wrangling at bath time is the scariest. Why? There is both water and porcelain involved-- both big dangers (think: drowning or cracking of the scull). He CANNOT bathe in the kitchen sink anymore; he fits, but he came very close to cracking his little noggin on the edge of the sink/counter too many times. Lately, he sits or lays on his bath chair thingy in the big tub, and Daddy sits on the edge of the tub (with his feet in the water). Not the relaxing "spa experience" from when he was younger and less active...

The benefit from all this wrangling--great triceps and biceps!

Happy Birthday, America!

James had lots of fun celebrating the Fourth o' July this weekend. We went to see fireworks in our town on Thursday night. The fireworks were amazing, and so was our son. He turned and watched for a little while, kind of in awe. Then he snuggled up to me (it was past his bedtime), periodically checking over his shoulder to see if they were still going on (as if he couldn't hear them). Eventually, he fell asleep.

On Friday, we went to the parade. James was not impressed. Whatevs. He did look cute in his patriotic stripes, and got many comments from other parade goers. We did vacate the parade route before the fifth regiment started (that is when all the rescue vehicles from our town and the surrounding towns come through with sirens wailing), and headed to the diner for brunch.

That afternoon it was off to our friends' house for a nice little barbecue. James faced off with their massive golden retriever puppy; they weren't big fans of one another. Aside from the pacifier stealing incident (it does look like a chew toy, we'll grant him that), they coexisted pretty well.

We were going to go to more fireworks that evening, but it started to rain. Oh well. James did very well being passed from party guest to party guest. We put him in his jammies in the evening, and he fell asleep in the car on the way home. Perfect.

On Sunday we visited Grandpa and Grandma in Ramsey for dinner. The highlight of this trip was that James got to sit in his Daddy's highchair to eat his barley cereal. Yes folks, straight out of the early 70s! We're pretty sure we could be locked up for this... oh well! He seemed to enjoy holding tight to the small tray. And banging on it. Of course. We forgot to bring jammies this time, and much fussiness ensued as we were getting him ready to leave. Again, asleep in the car. So asleep, in fact, that we got him into jammies and into the crib once we arrived home.

Long Overdue Update with Photos!

Well, it has been almost two weeks since my employment "ended," and I'm finally going to try to give you a good post here. Cutie Pie just went down for a nap, but I don't know how long it will last, so I'm going to try to work fast!

Big news:

• James started eating "solids" on Saturday, June 21st. He "ate" rice cereal once or twice a day that week. It was pretty runny (even when I tried to make it thicker, it would get runny by half-way through the meal), and James ended up with as much or more ON him than IN him.
• Beginning Saturday, June 28th, we started Baby Oatmeal. Now, that's Good Eats! James wolfs it down every time. It is a bit thicker and more flavorful, so who could blame him. He seriously leaves nothing in the bowl and little on his bib or elsewhere. (Note: this change in input has affected the output-- much more interesting diapers!)
• James has become VERY talented at grasping and holding things. He reaches for everything. Especially paper. I can no longer read the newspaper or do a sudoku while nursing. He gets totally distracted, and reaches for the paper, whining if it is out of reach. When/if he gets it, he goes nuts. Laughing and waving it about. Funny. He also grabs other items like his toys and teethers. He especially enjoyed the crab teether today as I chilled it in the fridge.
• Speaking of teething, the boy must be officially doing this now because he constantly is chewing: his fingers, his pacifiers (which he learned to use for napping when I went to work), his high chair tray and straps, .....
• Oh, so now that he can hold things and likes to chew, when he is given a pacifier in an effort to help him sooth himself to sleep (a skill that Nana taught him/us-- thanks, Nana!), he grabs it in his fingers, scoots it over to the side, and chews it-- it is pretty funny.
  
• James is also much better at sitting up unassisted. Even in the last week this has improved. He sat up for some of his photos last Wed., but one of us had to spot him the entire time because he kept tipping. No more! He is pretty stable now (until he starts to reach for a teether or piece o' paper...)
• He also has gotten good at rolling and rotating. I put him in his crib to watch his mobile while I showered this morning. When I came out this is what I found:
• James has gone swimming twice now! We went to the town pool on both Saturday and yesterday evenings. We haven't put his face/head underwater (wanting to avoid water inhalation and water in ears), but he sure enjoys splashing! Saturday he was pretty much in shock the entire time; he never smiled-- just serious face. Yesterday, he started smiling more. Both days he splashed like crazy! He looks super cute in his little swim trunks; I need to take his photo!

We had a wonderful time with all the family here last weekend. Unfortunately for me, most of the photographic evidence of said fun is on other peoples' cameras (hint, hint-- send me some photos!).

Big Times

Well, this past weekend was a pretty big deal around here. James got baptised on Sunday. Thus, his Godparents (Auntie Peg, Aunt Ali & Uncle P) were all here. (Mag arrived on Thursday, and Team Winter got here Saturday morning.) So were all the grands. Of course, Nana had been here for a few weeks already on childcare duty, but Pops joined us on Friday. Grandma & Grandpa came over Saturday and Sunday. We celebrated on Saturday with a big barbecue: smoked ribs (yum!), homemade macaroni & cheese (ala Grandmother's recipe), blueberry buckle, and many other delicious items. It was GREAT and also a bit surreal to have all of my family here at 0nce. We had lots of fun though and even got out Dan's old zim-zam and played a few rounds.

As if that weren't enough, James started on (runny) solids that day. He enjoyed rice cereal for both breakfast and supper. Good times. Dan insisted that his first meal be from a silver spoon, so we busted out a piece of our beautiful Hester Bateman for the occasion.

On Sunday, Dan's parents were back here in time for breakfast-- bagels that Ali & I picked up on our morning run through town. Yum. Then it was time to dress James in his handsome, non-girly, smocked outfit (thanks Nana & Grandma!) and get to church. Once there, we had a quick run-through with our priest and deacon, then church began. With all of the excitement, James hadn't napped at all. Dan & I were sure he'd get fussy, but he didn't! He didn't make a peep during the actual baptism, and then hung out with Fr. Parnell during the prayers and through the Peace (at which point he was paraded around the church for his second time) before returning to us. During the Eucharistic Prayer, he fell asleep in Auntie Peg's arms after nuzzling her hair. It was SO cute (and quiet! No fussing!). He woke up after the service for pictures, so accommodating, that one!

Then, it was back to the house for lunch. James took the longest nap ever while we prepared then ate our delicious meal (using china, silver, and crystal-- nice). That afternoon we took a lovely family walk to the park before Ali & P headed back to DC. Auntie Peg left before the crack of dawn on Monday. James & I took Nana & Pop to the airport on Tuesday afternoon (after Nana & I got pedicures in the morning-- yea!), and now the house seems empty!

Today, Dan took the day off work (they owed him because he worked a 13 hour day on his day off on Monday), and we took James for his 6 month/baptism outfit portrait. The pictures turned out great!

So tomorrow will be the first day of just James & me hanging out since I went back to school on May 5th. I'm pretty excited. Happily, it is a Thursday, so we'll get to see our friends from the Mommy group. We haven't seen them since the first week I went back, so I'm anxious to chat with my mommy friends and see all the changes in James's baby friends.

Good Times with Family

Nana got here yesterday. She'll be here until the 24th; she's the final leg of childcare. Auntie Ali spent a few days with us last weekend. Grandpa and Grandma are here right now as well.

James is doing well. He's rolling over with ease and skill although still not with great frequency. No teeth yet. He's dying to eat food though. He watches us eat and chews the air. His 6 month appointment is the 19th, so he'll be eating soon enough....

I'll post more information and photos soon... only a week and a half left of school, then I'll have lots more time to do this!