It's been a busy two weeks

Right after James turned 7 months we headed up to NC to visit Sharon for a long weekend. While there Tim's grandparents and aunt joined us for dinner one night and my parents on another.
James' great-grandmother has a difficult time communicated due to suffering from a stroke- but she was able to indicate that she wanted James to sit on her lap when she patted it.
His great-grandfather has an electric wheelchair and James loved playing with the control while snuggling with him.

James did great sleeping in his tent- even taking several of his rare long naps.
He also got to eat a real banana for the first time, as well as chew on pine needles while watching Sharon and Tim play tennis (when I was playing with Tim James was busy exploring what a fuzzy tennis ball feels like in the mouth). While playing with Sharon in the morning (while Tim and I got to sleep in!) he showed off his sitting up skills by doing it on his own for the second time.
The banana went over pretty well, though once he got bits in his mouth he would sometimes make a gagging sound- though I doubt he was actually gagging. Since then he has had some stage 3 jarred food with chunks of soft carrot and has done great gumming them. Looks like I might be adding cooked carrot to his finger food options.

Once we got home I had him in the living room while I got together his dinner stuff and when I went back to get him he was again sitting up in the middle of the rug. And twice more he has done it- I even got to see him do it finally! It is not a quick process and requires A LOT of grunting.
The new travel chair with new reusable mat. James' hair was fluffed up so my mom could see how long it has gotten while we talked to her on Skype. (And regarding Skype- we talk to someone almost daily on Skype and James has learned that when he hears the dialing and ringing someone will soon be cooing at him so he now has a Pavlovian effect of Skype dialing causing him to turn with a grin to wherever the laptop is.)
Since we have been back James has graduated from eating in the bouncy seat to a travel highchair that attaches to practically any table. I got it for our upcoming camping trip to attach to the picnic tables, but it has come in very handy while I am finishing refinishing his real highchair. I have had to put a big piece of clear vinyl on the floor underneath to protect the carpet as James has discovered the joy of letting the food drip out of his mouth onto the floor while he sucks on the edge of the seat. He is doing GREAT with is pincer grasp- able to consistently pick up Os, freeze dried yogurt drops, sweet potato puffs and freeze dried pieces of banana and strawberry. I keep introducing various sippy cups to try to get him to drink and a couple of times he has given a few good sucks, but he still seems them as rather neat teething toys.
Speaking of teeth, his top left tooth is about to make an appearance. I suppose I'll think it is cute once it come in, but I must admit that I love the look of a gummy baby and once they get teeth they begin to look so much older!

James and I were invited to the pool by Natali and Lucas and James LOVED it. We used Elsa's swim ring that has a net seat and canopy over and James basically jumped around in it kicking his legs in the water for a good half hour. Once out of the ring I took Jenny's advice on how to dunk a baby and went for it. I blew hard in James' face to make him gasp and take a gulp of air then down he went under the water. The first time he emerged he was quite startled but didn't get too clingy or cry- so I waited a while and then did it three more times over the next half hour or so and by the fourth he was pretty much just rolling with it.
Yesterday we went to our local pool which has a zero entry- like a beach where you can go in gradually- and James enjoyed sitting in the water and even getting on his hands and knees for a bit. Dunked him 5 times and he did fine.
Today we went to the Aquababy class at our local YMCA and James got dunked again twice- again holding up just fine. It probably helps that I have been purposefully pouring water over his face in the bathtub when I rinse his hair so that he'd get used to water being on his face. I liked the 30-minute class- it was a mix of exercises for me holding him and some water safety and basic swimming stuff for James.
James has also slept through the night 4 times! I mean- he had been "sleeping thru" for a couple of weeks, but that constituted him still waking up once and me ignoring him. But these four times he went to sleep between 7 and 7:30 and didn't wake up at all for 12 hours!!!
We also graduated James from his borrowed infant carseat to a convertible car seat- we got the Sunshine Kids Radial XTSL as it was recommended for our truck as one that would actually fit facing backwards. Thankfully, it actually does fit and James seems to like it. Good thing too because it is his seat until he reaches 80lbs.
We are also about to start using gDiapers again. This time with the cloth inserts. Currently the cloth inserts are on their 3rd wash cycle out of 6 that are recommended before using them to get them to their maximum absorbency.
One of my favorite developments is James' "hugging". I'm not quite sure if he truly is hugging- especially since it sometimes involves his teeth gauging into your neck or shoulder- but his is getting really good as gripping/clinging. Thankfully it seems to be accompanying by a happy demeanor and not like he is doing it because he doesn't want to be put down or is scared.
James still isn't crawling, but does creep/commando crawl on his belly pretty well. He is constantly practicing proper crawling- getting up on his hands and feet or knees and picking up one arm over and over. He has even picked up one arm and the opposite leg at the same time, but he has yet to coordinate all these movements into forward motion.
This post is turning into more of one of his monthly updates- so that's it for now!

7 Months

Stats: 21lbs 9oz (as of June 1st), 29.25 inches long (home measurement), 18.25 inch head circumference (HM).
He is nursing 5-6 times a day and is now eating solids 4 times/day- 3 meals plus an afternoon snack. I just started with the snack when it dawned on me why he was becoming unusually fussing in the afternoon/evenings- my mid-afternoon nursing wasn't enough and he was complaining that he was hungry. So the past few days he has been getting a hearty snack and has once again become is happy self. AND he is sleeping better at night.

Spinach and Potato afternoon snack.

He has had a few new foods this past month including: spinach, potatoes, beef, corn, yogurt, garbanzo beans, chicken, barely and tomato. He is still mostly eating while in the bouncy seat, but with his heavy weight he is almost horizontal in it. I've almost finished repainting his high chair- so soon he'll be eating solely in it. And even though I think I am giving him a pretty varied diet we have started him on a daily multi-vitamin. He doesn't particularly like taking it and I don't blame him- it smells like liquid Marmite (which is only good in small amounts with cheese toast to calm down the flavor). Still can't figure out a sippy cup that will work.
He is loving picking up rice "Os" between his thumb and finger-though they become very sticky and end up everywhere! You can also see his opposable big toe at work.
The Bumbo days are almost at an end (pun intended)- this is what happens when you get too big for the seat...it sticks to your seat.

On the sleep note- James is still taking 2-3 naps. Some days this turns out to be only two 30 minute naps and on a rare day this might mean he takes a 2 hour morning nap and over an hour afternoon nap (I really wish I could figure out what the key is between those two days!).
At night he is still getting up once to nurse- usually between 3-4:30am. Though Monday night he woke up at 1:50- fussed for a few minutes and went back to sleep until 6:45!
Sounds: James has discovered yelling, screaming (not really in anger, but in a 'I've just discovered how loud I can be' kind of way), and an open mouth "haaaaa" sounds that he especially likes to use while staring out the window in the car. Once in a while I'll catch him clicking his tongue which is very cute.
This is what happens when you are sitting and reach too far forward to grab a wooden block...the desired block is what you impact with your face...and apparently this causes one to make very Elmer Fudd-like faces.

Yet again stuck under the couch.

Movement: as posted before James sat up on his own- once, and is very good now at sitting up steadily if you put him in position. Though he doesn't really know how to get gracefully from sitting to lying down. He is SO close to crawling and does move backwards quite well- one time going from the front room into the dining room and back all the while going backwards. Only problem with going backwards is that he often ends up stuck under furniture. He can creep forward a half inch at a time if he REALLY wants to reach something but it is composed of repeatedly rocking back and forth until his knees are under is chest and then flopping forward- he hasn't yet figured out that he needs to move his hands one at a time. He still loves jumping in the johnny-jump-up. He has discovered how to spin around to the desired toy in the exersaucer. And there have been a couple of times where he has raised his arm when I was encouraging him to say goodbye to someone. Where he really shines is on the changing table where he can flip over in a nano-second even with me trying to pin him down.
Even though James still puts everything in his mouth eventually- he has progressed to looking at objects for a little bit before tasting them.
His hair is getting fuller and longer- his bald spot (or rather more like a line from one ear to the other) has pretty much filled in. Stork bite is getting even more faint but those mongolian spots on his backside are determined to stay around.
No new teeth this month, but his top left front tooth seems to be close to coming through as the gum is bulging.
He continues to love being sung to and has begun to really enjoy Peek-a-boo, even initiating a game of it himself. James enjoys "This is the way the lady rides" knee game and also loves "This little piggy" though he actually like the 'roast beef' phrase more than the wee-wee-wee part.
And he love any kind of 'I'm going to get you!' kind of game.
All around he continues to be the more wonderful child. We are completely blessed by him. Can't believe it has been over half a year!

He did it!

This is James fully pleased with himself after he managed to somehow sit up on his own. We aren't sure how he did it as both Tim and I were occupied at the time.
And this is James with tears streaming from his eyes after falling backwards and smacking the back of his head on the table by the chair (just out of view on the picture at the top).
I've checked on him several times this evening as he sleeps just to make sure he is still breathing- I remember my mom telling us when we were little that we shouldn't swim or go to sleep after smacking our heads. I hope I won't become an overly protective mom or too much of a worry-wort, but that was his first major head blow. I have to keep reminded myself that he will fall down, whack his head, and in general get hurt many times over his childhood and that most likely he will survive them all with just scars.
How being a mother can bring such pride and joy - my 'baby' sat up today on his own!- and how it can also bring such worry and concern.
Lord please grant me a calm heart as James grows up!

(and looking at the above pictures- I am realizing that I must be feeding him way to many sweet potatoes as his nose is definitely turning yellow!)

Becoming friends

James has become very interested in Timber and in turn Timber is allowing James to touch her. Yesterday James even gave her a 'hug'- so sweet!

To the beach! (or Adventures in Poopy Diapers)

Or could be alternatively titled "Oatmeal & Prunes are a bad idea for road trips".

This past weekend we went to the east coast to Southern Georgia to visit the Jekyll Island area.

On the way down I fed him his breakfast of oatmeal mixed with prunes and then proceeded to change 5 poopy diapers. Talk about slowing down a road trip! Note to self: no prunes away from home.

On Sunday morning we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go the beach and dip James' toes in the Atlantic (he's already been to the Gulf and Pacific). Instead of putting sunscreen on him I just shaded him with an umbrella.

He was quite fussy which I at first attributed solely to him being tired and in need of a nap, but then I remembered he had made an ominous noise while in his carseat on the way to the beach. So I checked his diaper and it was full of loose gooeyness- actually unexpected because since starting on solids everything has been pretty solid coming out too. This diaper, however, was up the front and up the back- and unfortunately I'd brought a pack of wipes with us onto the beach that only had 3 left in it...one short of a clean bottom. So I was in a quandary- do I put a clean diaper on a bottom that is only partially clean until we get back to the car and more wipes, or do I carry him diaperless to the car and risk getting peed on? Tim's suggestion "why don't you just go dunk his bottom in the ocean?". Now that was not a bad idea- but instead of subjecting him to the shock of being immersed of cool water I decided to hold him above the water and scoop it up onto the offending areas only. It worked PERFECTLY. And while he wasn't thrilled with the cool water I think he was more reacting out of need of napping more than bothered by the alternative cleaning method.

Now that was not a bad idea- but instead of subjecting him to the shock of being immersed of cool water I decided to hold him above the water and scoop it up onto the offending areas only. It worked PERFECTLY. And while he wasn't thrilled with the cool water I think he was more reacting out of need of napping more than bothered by the alternative cleaning method.

Since he was already down by the water I went ahead and let him stand on the sand- he decided that was too much for his tired little heart to handle.

Once up in my arms safe from the water he just stared and stared at the surf. Not sure if this was to keep an eye on what he didn't want coming any closer to him or if he was trying to figure out what was going on with the 'floor'.

He certainly had a puzzled look.

And his ability to hold on to me became quite competent- he was not going back down to the water if he could help it.
I thought he might enjoy standing on the driftwood (this beach is called Driftwood Beach- however it isn't really what I think of drift wood...like wood actually drifting onto the beach- rather it is that the island is being eroded and leaving behind trees on the beach that then die).

I was wrong.

Back in the arms and content staring at the water once more.

I think that he actually would have enjoyed the beach and water if we had timed it better so he wasn't ready to collapse with exhaustion. The water was a pleasant temperature- much warmer than either the Gulf or Pacific that he has tried before. Which reminds me- I still need to post his introduction to the Pacific in Hawaii...

A couple of firsts

- James received his first free kid's coloring book from our local grocery store, apparently they keep these by the registers and an elderly gentleman who was bagging groceries pulled one out for James- I guess he's looking more and more like a toddler than a baby these days!
- I received my first look of disdain from another woman regarding my parenting: I was holding James on my hip as I unloaded my cart b/c I had had him in the cart in one of those fabric cart protector things (though I suppose it is the baby you are protecting from the cart, not the cart from the baby) and it was too close to his naptime and he was melting down- flinging his head back and whacking it on the metal behind him- so I took pity and did the rest of the shopping with him in one arm. I thought I was unloading the cart plenty fast as I was getting items onto the belt faster than they were being scanned, but the lady behind me asked in kind of a miffed tone "Can someone help you?" I smiled and said that I was almost done but thanks for the offer. Really, I only had a few more items in my cart by that time and in order for someone to help me they would have had to pull my cart back out the line to get in front of it to reach the items. Then I said jokingly that I count holding him and doing things as exercise (really wouldn't anyone? I mean lugging a 20lb+ baby while doing anything is pretty taxing). She kind of gave me an exasperated look. I probably shouldn't have said anymore at this point...but then I said James was just too tired to be in the cart (since he doesn't sit up well it is still a lot of work for him to stay upright)- she sort of relented and said/asked if he'd fall asleep in the car...and I responded yes! I even had a book in the car so when I got home I could read while he slept...again her look of disgust which I interpreted to mean 'are you seriously going to wait in the car for your child to wake up? Just take him into the house! You spineless nitwit!' So I said 'oh, he only sleeps for a half hour anyway so it's not that long'...worse look this time, even a bit of rolling eyeballs meaning 'You really are poorly parenting if you can't get your child to sleep longer than 30 minutes'.
Of course, she could have been thinking something totally different - but her looks were quite unfriendly and exasperated.
- James has finally figured out that he can communicate with me via his car mirror. Last week I noticed him LOOKING at me in the mirror as if he couldn't figure out if it was really me- I think the mirrors distortion of my face was throwing him off- but today it clicked and he grinned at me every time I looked back at him.
- 2 out of the last 3 nights James has slept all night without nursing. Going to bed at 7:30 and waking up at 1:15 to cry briefly then going back to sleep until 6:15 at which point he is awake for the day. (Last night he didn't wake up until 2am and I went ahead and nursed him with the hope that he'd sleep a bit longer...and he did, until 7am...which causes me a dilemma- which is better/worse- getting up once at night or getting up really early?)

Piano with Aunt Krista

My Nana played piano and organ for church and when we'd go visit her she made sure to introduce us to playing (I actually took lessons for 6 months when I was little before I got too frustrated trying to coordinate my left and right hands). Below is me (with Nana) and above is James (with his Aunt Krista) at what I think is about the same age. I now wish I had continued with those lessons because growing up my mom used to play the piano after she had put us in bed and I distinctly remember loving hearing the music as I lay in bed- mostly because I was glued to my mother's side and the music let me know she was just around the corner. Hopefully James will have a bit more desire to be on his own (as I also used to sneak out of bed and lay down in the hall just out of my mom's view, but where I could still see her), but I do wish I had some kind of music to make for him- I'm thinking of picking the flute back up.