Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I can't wait for spring. James is such an outdoor kiddo. On our one beautiful day Saturday, all of us in our Rogers' neighborhood went out and played in the backyard. Maxie and Molly didn't care to play ball with the three humans, but they enjoyed the warm sun! We had a landscape designer come out that morning to help us out with our barren yard. Guess James will miss the sandy "beach" along the foundation at the back of the house whenever we can get around to DIY landscaping. James entertained us with the motions to Itsy Bitsy Spider while we sang to him (See above.  My picture refused to cooperate and go in the right spot.)

We also headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a visit. James and Cousin Charlie got a chance to play for a while. James enjoyed giving Charlie kisses and unfortunately telling him "no" when he wanted to play with the toys too.

James finally recovered from his virus that he had last week. He finally felt better to go back to school last Thursday, but didn't act like normal James again until Saturday.

We also had the family room, upper hall, and foyer painted last week. I love to paint, but I am not up for climbing tall ladders to do it. James didn't quite understand why Chris and I were taking things down off the mantle and walls. He actually did not like it. He is just like his Mama...everything has a place and everything in its place. He kept saying "more" to I guess ask us to put the things back. We have these iron scrolly things at the top of the bookshelves. After Chris climbed up and took them down, James pointed to an empty spot and said, "No?". It cracked me up! The walls now look so much better painted!!!


Little Memories:

     • James deciding that he didn't care to sleep in the middle of the night (of course the night before both Mama and Dada had to work), but preferred to talk, giggle, and give constant kisses. Two hours later (right after I passed him off to Chris) he fell asleep. At least it wasn't a crying and screaming event!

     • James' teacher at daycare calling me at work. I always get nervous when I see the daycare number pop up on my cell phone. His sweet teacher, Ms. Nichole, quickly told me that it was a good call. (Phew! Not sick again....yet) She wanted to tell me that James was just talking up a storm, naming animals in books, specifically saying TIGER and not just growling (War Eagle!) as well as saying his name. She said it made her day...and it made mine too!

What I learned this week:

     • Especially when sick or getting over a sickness, James will eat when he's hungry. He's usually such a  wonderful eater, but he was a miserable, finicky eater last week. Two crackers for dinner? Okay!

     • Watch the dairy products when sick. He spit up almost every time he had milk for two days. My Mom always taught me this, but I figured James needed all the protein and fat in milk that he could get to get him back to well again. We had to do half Gatorade and half pedialyte to get his tummy back to normal. James liked the blue frost Gatorade the best, but was so over it by the second cup!

Have a blessed week!

Cold and Hot: Snow and Fever

Although this was not our first snow of the year, it was the first time that James was able to play in the snow!  James and Molly pug really enjoyed the snow, but Maxie pug was not so convinced.  James liked the crunch of snow under his shoes and enjoyed getting to explore our backyard.  He was so quiet while exploring that I should have known that something was up.  After finally coming inside (I almost had to drag him in), changing him out of wet, snow covered clothes, and warming him up, he felt a little feverish.  Sure enough, he has been running a high fever since Friday night.  Just another virus, likely.  He is just pitiful when he is off the Motrin, but just like little James when the fever is down.  Grammy and Pops came up Saturday to allow Chris and I to have our Valentine's Date Night.  Chris and I ate way too much and then actually made it to a movie too! My parents were such a big help (with James' fever and all) and we are so very thankful that we had a chance to go out, even if he was sick.  We haven't gotten James to really say "Grammy" yet, but he sure has Pops (or "Ba") down pat.  He would ask about "Ba" if Pops was in another room.  He enjoyed dancing for Grammy and Pops as well.  That was hopefully his last dance recital. 

Little Memories:

• Watching one clip of American Idol where a guy does martial arts over and over again to hear James crack up.
• James attempting to do the hand motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
• James singing "Who Let the Dogs Out".  Seriously.  It was sooooo cute!  Gotta post that video soon.  James says "Who, who, who, dog"!!  This is not a sign that he's a Georgia fan.  Remember, he started saying his version of "War Eagle" first!!!

What I learned this week:

• If we follow the trend from the past 3 months, James will get sick again mid March.  I should plan accordingly.
• Don't let James take items that you treasure to daycare.  James took his little Auburn baseball cap to school a few weeks ago for Backwards Day, where the hat was misplaced and then accidently bleached when the toys were cleaned.  Not upset about it, just learned a lesson.  Not sure if James hid the hat in a bin of toys or if another little one did.  Daycare did volunteer to reimburse us, which I appreciate! 
• Coming home to a wonderful husband and precious son make a difficult day at work seem a million miles away.

Sweet Baby James

I seriously wonder how James can be such a sponge and soak up knowledge from so many places.  At least once a day, James does something that just astounds me.  In the last few weeks, he is trying to copy all kinds of sounds and words that he hears us say and things he sees us do.  For example, we were eating at Cheeseburger Bobby's on Sunday after church when 3 police officers drove up.  He was still making 'police car noises' when the police were at the counter ordering.  He's also caught on to my mad dancing skills.  Check out this link of James bustin' a move:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9LQU32_iiU&feature=channel

Little Memories:

• My mom told me that at a very early age, I displayed an understanding of feelings and sympathy.  Last week, our friends' lives were rocked by the death of their 3 week old son (one of the twins that I mentioned last week in the previous blog).  I cannot imagine their pain and sadness.  No parent should ever have to deal with losing their child, whether their child had yet to reach the world or had the blessing of joining the rest of us.  In my sadness, especially when I cried, James wanted to hug me and console me.  Of course, this just made me cry harder at the sweetness of our little James.  I think God knew exactly what I needed right then.  My wish was that our friends could feel that warmth and love back from God during this time when they need Him the most during their grief.  
• New tooth has finally emerged! We are now up to 13!

What I learned this week:

• Try not to read books discussing cups or milk before bedtime.  James will be reminded that he would like some too and will constantly remind you that he wants some.  Maybe I should write my own book, "If you read James a cup book".  Here's the book so far: "If you read James a cup book, he's going to ask for a cup of milk.  After you pour him a cup, he'll probably ask you for some Teddy Grahams to go with it.  Eating the Teddy Grahams will remind him of Pooh.  He'll want to go watch his Pooh video.  Once he watches the Pooh video, he'll probably want to see his Thomas the Train video as well.  Seeing Thomas the Train will remind him of playing with his red and blue choo choo, which he will want to go find.  On the way to get the trains, he will see his ride-on cars and will want to play with them instead.  He will ask you to play chase with him pushing one car and you pushing the other.  While playing chase, he will pass the refrigerator and ask for some milk, since he's worn out.  And chances are, if he asks for a cup of milk, then he's probably going to want a cup book to go with it."  Maybe my mom could illustrate for me. 
• Love, love, love on those you love....as hard as you can for as long as you can.   

Please keep praying for our friends.  We are all cheering for their remaining son as he gets stronger every day. 

Happy Early Valentine's Day!