Things eaten

James has eaten a huge variety by now, but there are some things he has taken to that I am surprised by:

• pickled beets (my own home-canned ones made for Tim out of love because I myself still think they are quite horrible).  When first canned and still pretty firm James discovered that if he pushed down on the small square of beet with his index finger he could make it pop across/off his tray like a tiddly-wink- he was THRILLED.  Thankfully as the beets have aged in the jars they have softened up and this is no longer a dinner game.
• blue cheese
• frozen wild blueberries- not surprised he likes blueberries but the fact that he likes them straight out of the freezer.  As they thaw they are quite messy and his fingers and mouth turn a dark gray/blue/purple.  Since he eats a bag almost every week he is constantly going around looking like he has gangrene in his fingers and is freezing cold with his blue/gray lips.
• dogfood- need I say more?

Things said

Things "said" (most words James has used are only around for a couple of days and then he works on a new batch- this is exactly what did- basically didn't talk until around 2 and then all the words I had picked up came tumbling out):

• light "igh"- this was spoken by James while doing the sign for light over Thanksgiving- lasted about 3 days
• bye-bye- for going somewhere taught to him by my mom- lasted 2 days
• bark-bark...when he sees Timber- has been said the past few days
• eyes- has stuck around the longest
• octopus "oh-us'- lasted 2 days
• eggs- comes and goes being said- he REALLY loves eggs, which is great since I can add carrots, broccoli, spinach, etc to them.
• outside "ow-eye"- past few days while pointing to window or front door
• bottle "baba" this is also one of the few words that is used pretty regularly- he is truly addictted to the bottle, I suppose this is the downfall of finishing nursing before a year and thinking he needed something other than cows milk at that point.  We've had several trips over the holidays where the timing caused us to be in the car at his bedtime and he'd start saying "baba" over and over and over before breaking down into tears.
• Elsa "eh" said for a the past week whenever James knows we are going to Elsa's house to see her
• Hi- said A LOT- he is becoming quite the flirt and will wear down any server at a restuarant with stares and "hi"s until he gets one back    
• hot "ot" said whenever he looks at something on the stove or a fireplace

Helping Daddy

 Yesterday Tim switched out our guest bathroom sink and faucet (we did the light fixture before Christmas).

 James was REALLY curious about all the tools and parts.

 But as many were pointy or small- basically a toddler hazard-

 He was placed in the only safe place to watch the work being done.

 Just close enough to explore a bit.

 He was really impressed with his daddy.

Merry Christmas!

 Last year...James is a month and a half old.

 Trying to get an thirteen and half month old to look at a camera on a timer.

 Success!  Notice his normal attire- one shoe off.  Also note that the bottom of the tree is bare thanks to a curious toddler.

James' ornaments this year.  Snowmen and reindeer from Nana, angel from Aunt Tonya from Africa and Noah's ark ornament from Aunt Chelsea.

More firsts

No pictures with this entry...sorry!
Over the past couple of days James has:

• stacked two blocks (instead of knocking down stacks we made)
• shared his food by feeding me his frozen blueberries- this happened last night.  He had been showing me his food for a while by holding it out in front of him but last night he aimed for my mouth and I let him pop a blueberry into my mouth and he was THRILLED.  Unfortunately he had also been eating salmon so the blueberry also had an odd fishy taste.
• used our rolling stepstool as a walker and is scooting around the kitchen...this is quite comical to watch as it is designed in such a way that the wheel don't want to roll in a straight line so he often is making circles around the floor.  He had taken a few steps using the stepstool last week but while I was talking with my brother on skype last night while fixing James' dinner I heard a strange noise behind me and there was James walking from one side of the kitchen to the other (also the only time I saw him achieve a straight line).
• he ate corn kernels for the first time last night and today I'll see if any of it actually was digested :)
• he now using several signs: more (first he points at the desired food and then signs for more), light, ceiling fan, all done.  We are working on please, Momma, and Daddy
• does a version of quack when looking at a duck

First time using a booster seat at a restaurant

You can barely see behind him the back of the booster seat, but it was the best we could do with the cell phone camera.   He did great!  It is a lot like his red chair we attach to tables so I don't think he realized he could escape from this one much more easily.  I don't think we'll be using boosters at regular tables in chairs, but when he is stuck on the inside of the bench seat of a booth it worked out wonderfully.

A first we could have done without

While Tim was bathing James last night- it happened...you know, the body took over regardless of the time and place.
Next thing I hear is Tim saying "Kate, I need some help in here" and I go in to find a naked James held aloft over the tub...and in the tub several turds, with one smeared quite artistically on the bottom.
So all the toys go into the sink with bleach water, the tub gets wiped clean of major stuff, then scrubbed with cleaner.
Back in goes James with a huge smile- I think he decided he has figured out how to prolong bathtime!
As we were trying to get a wet naked baby back into warm water as quickly as we could I didn't get any pictures...not that many would have thanked me anyway for posting them!