James has a lot to say

yesterday james looked right at me (dad) and talked to me for like 5 minutes straight. it was loud and happy and he really had a lot of expression. no words, but every different sound i think i have ever heard him say. lisa didn't get to hear much of it. anyway, that was a milestone for him and it made my day- no, it made my week. he has never talked to lisa like that. it was all for me. he has been such a blessing. we love him so much. it has been so great being a little family and caring for him.

Exersaucer

James loves it when we help him to stand, so we thought he might like his exersaucer. We're not sure what he thinks of it. He tends to test things out awhile before giving his approval. This week we've noticed him concentrating on the things around him. He notices his toys and tries to grab for them. He studies people's faces and watches what they are doing - absorbing the world around him like a sponge.

Childlike Faith

Psalm 22:9-10

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

This verse is very comforting. What an encouragement to know that God is already drawing James close. Hopefully as James grows older he will echo these words of King David.

How did I get so cute?

We're still trying to figure out where you got it from, but you sure are beautiful!

Captain James

Our pirate - looking for some ACTION... Oh no, I see a stuffed giraffe...
Now see if you can find my hidden treasure.
(Thanks Dave and Heidi for the cute onesie. We love you.)

Admission: Jesse hates it when I write in "James'" voice. He thinks it's a little too cutsie. Sorry baby.

Mom and Me Exercise

I was browsing through a "Fit Prenancy" magazine [no I'm not pregnant] at the doctor's office and found an advertisement for "Power Strolling" and "Mommy and Me" weight lifting. This is definitely at the top of my Christmas list. In thinking about this I began to wonder how to "power stroll" while watching the dvd. hmmm??? I think I can figure that one out on my own. However, "mommy and me" weight lifting sounds practical. You lift more as your child grows - slowly each day. Of course since James naps 2 out of every 3 hours during the day and eats half of the one hour he is awake, that really makes weight lifting = to "power spit up" sessions. Maybe when he's older :) or during the evenings.

This is a pic of James' new trick. We call it "kick and roll."

GETTING READY...

HE KICKS...

AND ROLL...

I don't know what's cuter: the sequence or how proud he is of himself.

Cute Pictures

A new favorite position we call "strong man." Look at that belly!

Daddy and James watching "Hoagan!" Weeknights at 4 and 4:30 on channel 45.

No caption necessary - he's so cute.

And... a few bath time photos!

Yes, that is a coffee pot. (We'll save the embarrassing pics to show his future girlfriends.)

Our son the BRAVE

So, I had to let everyone know that when our brave son faces obstacles he triumphs! The obstacle being his first round of shots. After being awakened from his nap to be poked and prodded by the nurse practitioner, a hungry little James endured his first battle with the needle. We are happy to quote the nurse, "He did really well." Of course he looked at me and screamed his loudest cry of "why are you letting this happen to me." Then he whimpered for about 5 minutes to let me know how much it really hurt. Tylenol made the situation much better for all of us and the rest of the day "endurable" although definitely not "fun." Upon coming home, Jesse and I noticed his little sleeper had a picture of a lion on it and the word "Brave." Quite appropriate for our little cub.

Reasons Fun and Run Should Not Rhyme

Like the rest of the United States, I "resolved" to exercise regularly in 2007. So today I decided to go on a short jog. I cannot remember why people actually enjoy running. It's boring. It's exhausting. It's cold outside. And it's more than a little depressing to go 15 minutes and need to stop to walk. Of course that is an improvement to the 10 minutes I could go a couple weeks ago. Still, running is virtually synonymous to torture for us who are out of shape. Yet for some reason I will continue to endure the torture until one day I wake up and find that running is "gasp" ?fun?

The Thinker

More Family Pics

Christmas Eve at Lisa's folks. James was getting a little tired of flashing lights and photo shoots.

Christmas week at Jesse's folks. The "natural" family shot!

Christmas with the Greats

Great Grandma Gladys

Four Generations of RHODY men.

Great Grampa Harold, Grampa Don , Daddy Jesse, and James

First Taste of Real Food

Grampa fed me my first lick of "real" food. It was a pink "better than Jello" salad that was full of whipped cream. I watched Grampa intently. What a great guy!

Mom doesn't give me anything that tastes like that!?!