Snowfalls and Christmas Trees

Cutting down our Christmas tree in the snow this weekend. James insisted on walking on his own through the tree farm....Mom & Dad thought it was good practice for ski boots one day!

Happy Halloween

One With My Roots

Mom is working with me on utensil use so I thought the Kaukauna spreadable cheese looked like a pretty good opportunity to test my new skills. As Mom and Dad keep saying, I'm not an Okie but a Cheesehead. Go Pack!

Fall Fun

Apple Season

First Haircut...Finally

The Cake

One Year Old

The general consensus is that it is hard to believe I am already one year old. Everyone told my Mom & Dad that the time would fly and they weren't kidding. Take a look at my one month picture in comparison to now, wow am I big. First off, I am a true walker, crawling is so yesterday in my book. I'm even starting to pick up a few dance moves. I understand so much of what my Mom & Dad say to me. They can ask me to do things and get things and lots of times I can do it, they are very impressed! I'm starting to really get into books and I love anything that makes noise. A few themes prevail....I love to eat, I love electronics, I love tractor rides with my Dad and nursing with Mom (although we are drawing to a close).
This birthday marks the end of my cheesehead shots - thank goodness! From time to time we'll post some updates on my new tricks. Thanks for tuning in to my exciting first year! XO, James

Happy 1st Birthday!

At the Beach

I love the water and the beach. Jess, my sitter, takes me once or twice a week to Candlewood Lake. Mom, Dad and I went to Long Island Sound and enjoyed hanging out in the sunshine. I enjoyed splashing in the cold water and playing with the cooler.
P.S. I'm not much for my sun hat.

Drone of the Lawnmower

I love moving the lawn with my Dad. I get to ride in my backpack and go back and forth across the lawn. The sound often puts me to sleep so Daddy can take the backpack off and give his shoulders a rest.

Mischief

Look who found his bag of cheerios in the backpack....and ripped a hole in the bag so he could eat them.

11 Months

If I wasn't lunging for the camera, then I was trying to eat my cheesehead or the 11 month sign...hence my photos. (I'll post some better action shots of me today.) I continue to be a very busy little boy, no time for sitting and certainly no patience for this monthly picture business. My big news: I took my first steps on the 4th of July just prior to my 11 month Birthday. I am getting more and more adept at walking and alternate 50/50 between this and crawling. We also think that I have said my first words (although Mom and Dad still aren't totally convinced I know what I am saying). I say Dada and nana (banana) pretty well. I'm really into toys that make sounds these days, the louder the better! I still have my eight teeth (4 on top, 4 on bottom) and use them to eat any food. I'm an awesome eater! 12 months here I come!

Destination: Maine

Desination: Maine is my second big vacation! We traveled through MA, the NH coast and up the Maine coast to Acadia National Park and Mt Desert Island. We did some hiking and biking through Acadia- my first bike experience (I was not so sure of the carrier but eventually fell asleep). We enjoyed Bar Harbor and Boothbay, including lots of seafood meals, yum for Haddock (no lobster or steamers for me yet though). The rugged coastline and climate reminded Mom & Dad a lot of the San Juans and Vancouver Island so they felt right at home. On the way home we stopped in Gloucester, MA and spent an unexpected evening with the Strong's (I'm beginning to like their dog Honey more and more). I think next time Mom & Dad may think twice about carting me around from location to location so we get to see everything but they sure made my first camping experience a memorable one. I'm one lucky, well-traveled boy with two National Parks and nearly 20 states under my belt.....if only I would remember all this!

Who's So Cute, Take II

Taken by my Great Aunt Ann in Lexington, MA last weekend....my Maine vacation coming soon!

10 Months and Counting

We're close to giving up on the pictures of me with my cheesehead and birthday signs. I can't and won't sit still so this is the best you'll see. I'm an active little guy with places to go, including up our staircase. My favorite "toys" have expanded beyond electronics to include cleaning supply bottles (but its really just because no one ever lets me touch them for more then a split second), opening and closing doors- over and over again-, Dad's tools and Leo's food dish. Speaking of food, I am still an all-star eater but I did finally discover a food I won't eat, tomatoes - just like my Dad! Blueberris and watermelon are my new favorites. I'm a speedy crawler, cruiser and climber, and I continue to stand on my own more and more. My new hobby is riding in the backpack while my Dad mows the lawn, I LOVE my backpack. I do naughty things now too, like bite Mommy when I am mad and whine when I don't get my way. I'm learning to test my boundries with the best of them, its fun! In just weeks I'll be one year old...I'm looking foward to this cake thing everyone keeps talking about!

Celebrating 9 Months

I'm 9.5 months now with lots to report on my tricks and trials. Yes, my 9 month birthday picture was taken on May 7 but I now have my "baby stats" after my first visit with my new CT pediatrician. I'm 29 inches tall (85%), 18lbs 14oz (30%) and my head remains in the 95% percentile. My Dad has taken to calling me Lollipop!
You probably noticed from my pictures that I am not sitting in my usual chair. That's because I'm not much for sitting, period. If I'm not sleeping I am on the go and projecting myself out of my easy chair seemed like a fun game to me but Mom & Dad said "no" (I'm beginning to hear that word a lot more these days.) In addition to my crawling skills, I am learning to cruise with the best of them and have even figured out how to climb up the step from our porch to the house. Yesterday Mom caught me standing all by myself!
I have six teeth and love to use them. Mom & Dad call me a garbage disposal because I haven't met a food I don't like. I LOVE to eat. Avocados and strawberries are my favorite but I've also enjoyed more exotic foods like salmon, swordfish, tofu, olive tapenade, polenta and plenty of other things that aren't recommended for babies my age:) Drinks are another issue, I continue my stand against formula unless its in my cereal. (I think Mom is starting to figure out that this is my ploy to continue nursing frequently.)
What else to report....I'm still not a very good sleeper but I clap, I wave and I love to babble. And of course I am one handsome little guy!

Who's Crawling....

Yep, it's me! I put in some initial steps on tax day but yesterday morning it became official, I can crawl. Watch out Leo, Mom & Dad! Video to come....

My Road Trip East

My travels continue, as does the number of states I've visited - up to 20 now! Mom & Dad planned fun field trips for us each day and I got to spend some quality time with Dad too. It sure is nice to all be in one spot again. The attached photos start with the final morning in my Tulsa home, followed by a tour of the Merramac caves, the Louisville Slugger factory, Buffalo Trace distillery on the KY bourbon trail and ending with one my first meals in my new home in Southbury. (Not included is our trip to the Hershey factory in Hershey, PA.)

8 Months

My cheesehead may have been ready for my 8 month birthday but the camera download stuff wasn't. Mom & Dad found the right box, finally! Here I am on my 8 month birthday. We celebrated by sharing cookies with our cool movers. And yes, we are in our new home in Connecticut. As we quickly get use to life "in the country", I am getting into sleeping during car rides and not enjoying naps in my crib for now.....
I do have my two front teeth, they came in simultaneously at the end of March. I'm using them to enjoy my favorite food, avocados! I am SO close to figuring out the whole crawling thing but with all the mess in our house Mom & Dad aren't anxious for me to reach this milestone. So far Dad's screwdriver provides me the greatest desire to crawl, we'll see. I love remote controls, cell phones, computers and paper. My toys are cool but I know what the good stuff is! I continue to pull myself up on everything but I haven't figured out how to stand on my own or cruise along things yet.
Stayed tuned for pictures of my road trip to the East Coast!

All I Want

before I move to Connecticut is my two front teeth! Yep, they are both beginning to make an appearance. Daddy felt a little something on Friday and sure enough upon further poking and prodding here they come. I think I'll be able to mash up my Mum Mums even faster now!
P.S. My cheesehead is safely stowed in a big cardboard box. My nice moving people even wrote "cheesehead" on the box so that we can be sure to find it on April 7!

I Know, I Know....

.... you all want to see pictures of me but things have been a little hectic with our pending move (3 days until the movers come)so you'll have take a little story about my travels instead.
OK, so I now have 15 flights under my belt. Mommy likes to chuckle when people ask her at the airport if this will be my first flight. I continue to be a good little companion for a busy little 7.5 month old. Don't get me wrong I have my moments (some of them a bit long) but don't we all?
My flight from Hartford to Cincinnati was filled with so much fun that I just had to share. We had the best guy sit next to us! First of all he had one of those shiny soft warm up jackets and since I am really into textures lately it was all I could do to keep my hands off of him. But it gets better! He had on a Live Strong bracelet - which is just like my Mom's watch that I love to soothe my gums with but yellow! It was all Mom could do to keep me from eating the man's wrist throughout the flight. One would think the excitement ends there but the man pulled out one of the forbidden temptations (there are just a few left these days, mainly cell phones and laptops)......a newspaper. He attempted to read it in our cramped quarters but soon realized even with Mom's best attempts to keep me from grabbing and eating it, that he was doomed. He was a great sport but by the end of the flight I think he was pretty anxious to get off the plane. I really like this flying stuff!

7 Months

Today is my 7 month birthday and "Busy" is currently my middle name. I'm not much for putting my consonants together yet but I will sure let you know what I want and don't want. I find it frustrating that I am not mobile, although I've perfected the art of projecting myself forward from the sitting position. I can reach toys that are 3-4 feet away this way! I still don't like being on my stomach, ever! I'm pulling myself up to a standing position with a little more regularity these days. I'm moving into real people food too and love to eat bananas and avocados (in little pieces of course). I'll celebrate my next birthday in my new home in Connecticut!