Adventures with James at 8.5 months - 19.5 lbs and growing!

James is having a ball this summer. He traveled to Asheville to help take care of Grandma after her back surgery.

He spent time on the beach with his awesome Great Uncle Joe and got to put his hands in the sand... and he squealed "Eww!" as if to say " What is this weird texture!"

Enjoy these pictures of our recent days together. More adventures to come!
James is growing which must be because he is sleeping better -- 12 hours last night (7:30PM to 7:30 AM! What a DREAM that is for Mommy and Daddy!). His reflux/spit up is under control due to a great visit with a specialist who put him on soy formula - so he is eating more food and drinking more milk. He sort of mourned the loss of nursing, but he finally warmed up to the formula after much protest. But he's doing baby signs to ask for milk now - and that's so exciting 1) that he knows his sign for milk but also 2) that he actually wants milk (aka formula)! He can also eat with his hand, picking up things with his thumb and forefinger to feed himself.

We're loving every minute of this parenting thing!

Happiest Baby in Class! 7 months old and 18 lbs 3oz.

In James' baby class, he is the happiest, most giggling baby! The teacher loves him and tosses him the puppy dog puppet during the show because he bellylaughs so hard when she does "Old MacDonald... had a dog... with a woof woof here..." He cracks up! All the other mommies look in amazement at how happy he is and his amazing sense of humor and comedic timing. Today I said, it makes sense that he knows how to laugh early because his daddy is a comedy writer!

We haven't been sleeping because he has tummy issues... (yep, that same belly that laughs so hard has trouble with dairy.) But his daytime laughter makes up for all the sleepless nights -- hands down.

Michael said if he could ask for anything in his baby's personality, it would be a sense of humor. Daddy's heart is beaming.   :-) It's been a good day.

Pool Time!

Daddy took James into the pool for the first time. We have a waterbug in the making.

Taken on May 25, 2009 (almost 7 months old!)

James' Baptism - 4/11. And he was born on 11/4. Cool, eh?

What a special Easter Vigil baptism we had for Baby James on April 11, 2009. (Yep 4/11 and he was born on 11/4. Cool, eh, Carol?)  So glad Grandma, Granddad, Grammy, Aunt Gwen, Cousin Thomas, Godmother Elizabeth and her son Will could all be there with us on the special occasion and share Easter Sunday together in Asheville, too. We missed Godfather Bo O'Dea, but we had Thomas Lordeon present as James' Junior Godfather.

James at 6.5 months old

James is well protected from the harsh California sun in his UVA/B 50+ sunhat. What a handsome babe he is, just chilling out in his back yard by the pool.

This giraffe onesie is from his Auntie Drew Schmitter back in Maryland! 

Quake!

James, Lucy and I just felt our first earthquake! Well, luckily James slept through it, even though I ran into his room and turned on the lights full blast, frozen with indecision about whether I should pick him up and stand in a doorway or not.

Luckily, it passed quickly. The epicenter was in El Segundo - 30 miles from us, near Uncle Joe and Aunt Jadzia's house -- they felt it really strongly!  I called Joe and he said it lasted 13 seconds there - which felt like 60 seconds... they had time to get up from their chairs and huddle under the support beam in the kitchen.

Michael isn't home tonight; as soon as I felt it, my heart started racing. I got up and ran around in a circle before remembering earthquake protocol. I ran into James' room, turned on the light full blast even though he was sleeping, and tried to decide if I should pick him up and hold him in a doorway or what... 

It passed, and there haven't been any other shocks since then... So, I didn't pick him up. BUT I am going to see if we can move that bookshelf to the other end of James' room - away from his crib! It's not bolted to the wall and it's definitely within falling distance of his crib. Scary stuff!

James at 5.5 months - he is such a happy, smiling, laughing baby!

We are having a ball with James! He has two teeth as of 5.5 months - and he uses them to smile an adorable smile. We'll get photos of those next :)

These photos were taken by James' Auntie Claudia and cousin Danielle in Leesburg. What a great visit we had with the east coast Pennie Family.

Bathtime!

Hip Hop James in his Johnny Jumper

James Joseph jumping in his Johnny-Jumper --  April 29, 2009... almost 6 months old!

James and Megan before James' first flight. One of us didn't cry... I'm happy to say it was James! He was such a good boy. Definitely earned his wings.