First Bike Ride

Last Saturday was a perfect day for a bike ride at the beach. We took James out for the first time in the iBert seat he got for Christmas. He loves it! He wanted that helmet off towards the end of the ride, but did really good. He just kicked back and sang as we rode along. I love having him in front of me so I can keep an eye on him :)

James' 1st Birthday Party

We celebrated James' first birthday a little early. We are going out of town on his real birthday (the 30th). We wanted to have a small, family party, so we thought it would be easiest to do it on Father's Day.

It was a fun day (although we missed all the other family members who don't live close) and everyone was more than generous to James. Thank you everyone for celebrating with us! We still plan to do something special for him on his real birthday.

I made these Monkey cupcakes. They were a little more work than I bargained for, but they we fun to make. I tried making the frosting the recipe called for and it was a flop! I am so glad I bought some canned frosting as a back up. I need a go-to chocolate frosting that works well for cupcakes.

The cousins helped James open his gifts.

I always laugh at James' facial expressions. When I saw this picture I was shocked that I make the some of the same ones!

Not sure about our singing skills. Looks like he is thinking "what did I get myself into with this group?"

The aftermath.

I forgot James' PJ's so he had to wear Caroline's. I think he makes a pretty cute girl :)

Caroline was in boy PJs. I loved the role reversal and the face she is making! Brooke put a bow in her hair just to make her look girly.

Here is a video of the action... It is long. As you can see... he was over it after a few bites.

Our Climber

A few random pictures of James' climbing abilities and a video of him climbing the stairs!

He is even faster than this by now!

11 Months!

 We are less than a month away from James' first birthday. I still can't believe it! Although I feel like he has been with us for longer than that and thinking of him as a newborn seems like such a long time ago... I can't get over the fact he will be 1. That just scares me. I know everyone says it, that the time just flies by, but it is true. It is so much fun seeing him grow up and how fast his little brain picks up on things as well as his body... but it scares me too. Soon he will be a toddler. Soon he will be telling me "NO" and giving me attitude. Soon he will be going to school and it goes on and on. I am hoping he will have siblings so I can do this first year all over again. Kids amaze me. James has already taught me so much about myself, things I never knew before. But I guess that is what being a parent will do. It pushes you and challenges you every day no matter what stage of life you and your little ones are in. I am so blessed I am able to take part in the experience and that I have a wonderful partner to do it all with. OK. Enough of that. I was starting to get carried away! Back to James being 11 months old!

We have had a lot of things happen this past month that I will need to document. James is a total mover! He loves to crawl (still army style) under things, over things, up and down things. He can pull himself up to standing and has even taken a few steps. He loves to use his step stool to get up onto the couch and crawl around. He thinks this is soooo funny because he makes mommy and daddy grab him by the legs while he tries to get back down. He is a silly kids and will randomly start laughing for reasons I don't always know. And we aren't talking little giggles. These are full blown belly laughs! He sometimes laughs so hard it sounds like he is about to cry! He is out of his "wonder weeks" and I am telling you there is a total difference in his demeanor  Although he is teething(for real this time!) and gets a little fussy when his mouth hurts. The teething hasn't been that bad though. One night he was awake a few hours while a tooth broke through, but he hasn't had a fever. Now his two top teeth are about to make an appearance and no sleepless nights yet...

I weighed him a couple of weeks ago and he was 8lbs 12oz. Hoping to break 19lbs soon.

We had to adjust his naps a little because he was taking too long of a morning nap and it was disrupting his afternoon nap. His schedule on most days is: out of bed 7am. nap 10am-1130am. nap 230pm-430pm. Bed by 830pm. He is still drinking 4 - 6oz bottles a day (does not always finish them) and eats 3 meals a day plus snacks.

• Got his first tooth! (lower left central incisor)
• Can pull him self up to stand (supporting himself with an object)
• Still loves to open and close drawers and doors
• Can do a pull up!
• Took a few steps while support
• Getting much better with "real" food. Enjoys feeding himself.
• Loves to sit a read books in his pack n play.
• Plays peek a boo with us.
• Likes to feed mommy and daddy when we are feeding him.
• Is finally starting to figure out the sippy (just in time to introduce cow milk)
• Say "dat dat dat" for almost everything! Still will say nana, baba and mama on occasion. He did say "mom" a few times.
• Points at different objects.

This is the normal view of James... "running away"

 Not really sitting still very long for pictures.

 Going up the step stool to take a look out side

Packing away the Pump...

And putting away the boobs. As you can see... this post is not for everyone. But since I use this blog as a way to journal things, I am going to write down a few feelings about breastfeeding here, now that I am done. If you don't want to hear it... don't read it!!!!

Last Sunday was the last time I used the pump or nursed James. It was a strange realization. Something I knew was coming soon, since my plan was to stop breastfeeding when James was 10 months old. (it took me about 3 weeks after the 10 month mark to actually stop). Breastfeeding is one of those things that people neglect to tell you is hard. One of the hardest things about having your first baby in my opinion. Maybe because we think it is going to be something that comes naturally to both mama and baby. But it does not always work out that way. After the breastfeeding class I took before James was born, I knew it was going to be a challenge. I actually had a break down after that class. The thought of feeding a baby every 2 hours (from start to start so really you are feeding then about every hour!) in the first months was overwhelming. I have always loved being busy and running from this event to that. I knew having a child was going to change that, but when you are breastfeeding, your freedom is really stripped! I freaked out on the way home, but got over it by the time James was born. I wanted to breastfeed feed because I knew it was the best thing I could do for James nutritionally and it would be good for me as well (it is also pretty much free!). Although now, after seeing so many people struggle with it, I want to say it is more than OK to give your babies formula. I was fortunate to not have to... no one should feel like they are any less of a mom for supplementing. That being said... I got lucky.  James latched right on and after a few tweaks... we got the breastfeeding down pretty easily. I enjoyed breastfeeding and had a lot of milk. Sure there were times when it wasn't convenient like in the middle of lunch at Cheesecake Factory or not being engorged when I tried to go out for a few hours. But once James was on a 3 hour schedule things got better. I did not love to pump. I feel like pumping hurts more than nursing, but I had to do it. I have been doing a combo of pumping and nursing since James was 3 weeks old. Since I knew I was going to be going back to work and I also wanted the freedom of being able to leave James with a bottle. I was lucky though to go all 10 months with only 2 bouts of thrush and no other infections. Even though Thrush is not fun, there are worse things that can happen. So here I am... all done. It is liberating, yet I miss it a little. It is awesome to know that you provide all the nourishment your baby needs with your own body! It is crazy. You nourish them and make it possible for them to grow while they are inside your belly and then the second you come out you continue to do so. It is a gift and a huge responsibility. I will miss that bond you feel while you cuddle up your little one to nurse. I will not miss what happens though after about 4 month when they begin to get distracted by every little thing in the room and you  have to use all sorts of tactics to keep them focused on eating. I know I tried some strange positions and nursing in a dark room is no fun. I am glad I don't have to lug my pump to work or pump in the morning before I leave (those extra 20 minutes of sleep are precious to me!). Washing all the pumping pieces and bottles is no fun, although I am still washing bottles now since he will be drinking my stored breast milk for the rest of the year. 

So what I am saying is breast feeding is hard and definitely a sacrifice. I am grateful I was able to do it for this long and that we never had to buy formula (Haws is the most thankful for that). I think what makes me the most sad about no longer breast feeding is the realization that my baby is growing up. He will be a year old at the end of June and that makes me sad. I know there are so many fun things ahead, but sometimes I wish I could freeze time and snuggle with my baby forever.

Angel Game and Monte

We took James to an Angels game when he was about 3 weeks old and it was a disaster. We sat in the nose bleed seats where it was scary climbing up the stairs and super loud. James handled it for about 30 minutes and then freaked. We got some tickets from my dad and decided to give it another try. James loved it! Maybe it had to do with the fact we sat in the diamond club. Anyone can have a good time when they are sitting there! He loved taking in all the action and out lasted his dad!

 Shannon and Ricky. The newly weds :)

 While we were at the game. Kori and Brad welcomed this "little" guy into the world.  Monte Ryan Davis was born around 730pm. 9lbs 2oz and 20 inches. Kori had her work cut out for her! We are so happy he is here. He came at the perfect time so that Brad was able to be there. He is named after my Grandpa who was such an amazing man. I am sure Monte will make my Grandpa proud :) 

10 Months!

 Really??? 10 months!?!? I feel like a broken record every time I do the monthly updates on James. I just can't believe how fast time is going by. But then again... it seems like forever since we brought him home all fresh and new. I do enjoy some things about the newborn stage, but I think my favorite it about 6-9 months. But wait... James is 10 months so does that mean I don't love this stage? NO. But this little guy is starting to get a little harder. 6-9 months seemed just so easy and fun. Now we are dealing with a boy who likes to get around and get into everything! He does not sit still very well and at the moment he is going through a "Wonder Week". If you haven't read the book Wonder Weeks or downloaded the app, I think you should check it out. It is based on the theory that children take developmental "leaps" in which they are going through learning periods both physically and mentally. Theses are accompanied with fussiness, being more clingy and a bunch of other things. The book and app give you tips on how to effectively navigate through these periods of time to make it better for both you and baby. Anyway... James has been acting more fussy/whiny/needy than usual. So I check my app and he is right there in the middle of a leap! Only 3 more weeks to go and he should be coming out of it (thank goodness!) I still suspect he could be teething also... but lets face it. I have been thinking that for a while and still no teeth! He drools like a monster though and is always trying to chew on things, so maybe he is working on it. 

 Highlights and stats:

• 18 lbs 10 oz ( he has put on a few ounces this month, so that is good :). Not sure about the height. Probably still around 28/29 inches.
• starting to pull himself up. The other day he opened the drawer under the oven and crawled up and in!
• Doing better with the finger foods. He has eaten chicken, bread, cheese, puffs (of course!) crackers, cereal, peas, lasagna, potato casserole and bananas by himself and does pretty good. It sure is messy though letting them try to feed themselves.
• He loves his monkey blanket that he gets when he goes down for a nap or bed.
• Still on the same sleeping schedule.
• Raises his hands up over head.
• Just started to get himself up in a sitting position.
• Says "da da" when he sees Haws come home and "ma ma" when he is whining. Lucky me.

• Has started crawling up stairs and steps. Looks like it is time for a baby gate.

 Caught ya!