Silly Goose!

Just had to share about our silly little guy tonight (I'll post Birthday stuff soon)!

The Director of James' school caught me on my way in to pick James up and said that she needed to talk to me. Panic. What did he do? What did he not do? Has he been suspended? She smiled and said that James had been kissing one of the little girls in his classroom all day! Ha! I don't know who started it, but the little girl would laugh, which would just make James do it more! I didn't think he'd start that this early! I knew he was a snugglebunny with us, but with the around 2-year-olds, I had no clue!

I guess James never really pays attention to Chris or I during his night-time prayers. I started praying tonight while James was not quiet and I guess he realized that Chris and I were not paying attention to him. Since my eyes were closed, he told me to "Wake up, Mama!" and repeated it over and over and over again. Chris and I told him that he is supposed to close his eyes during the prayer just like Mama and Daddy. He complied with an accompanying scrunched nose so he could peek out his eyelids. I continued with the prayer until having to stop again to stop my giggling. He was doing a perfect impression of Stevie Wonder, swinging his head around with his eyes closed tight to see what the room looked like with squinty eyes! It was too cute!

I don't think snugglebunny or Stevie Wonder would be good costumes for Halloween. Gotta think some more.

Iowa Trip

James took his 3rd adventure on an airplane to visit Uncle Trey in Iowa last weekend. We had such perfect timing for so many reasons: the Iowa State Fair was going on, the weather was perfect, and we were able to celebrate Trey's engagement to wonderful Amy! I am sooo excited for them and so proud that Trey has found someone so perfect for him. We all look forward to celebrating their wedding and I look forward to adding Amy to our family.

James was such a sport during the trip! He ate a whole box of raisins (his favorite) while we sat waiting for takeoff in Atlanta and slept the whole flight going up! He remembered Uncle Trey and his 'peek-a-boo' games, since after Trey picked us up, James started trying to initiate peek-a-boo while Trey was driving. James loved playing with cars or animals with Trey and would wake up every morning asking about "Un-Kay" (Uncle Trey) and Amy. Once Trey would wake up, James would climb all over him and enjoyed giving him big squeezes. We enjoyed playing in Trey's backyard as well. Chris climbs the same tree every visit, and James was obsessed with Trey's tomato plants. James would have picked and eaten all the tomatoes (ripe or not) if we left him to! I am sure that Uncle Trey enjoyed having us around, but I'm not so sure that he misses James as his backseat driver. At almost every red light, James would tell Uncle Trey to 'go, go go'!

Sunday morning, we went to Trey and Amy's church. James visited the nursery without any problem. In fact, we were told that he was the only one in the birth to 3 room that did not cry!! He's a trooper! That afternoon, we visited a really cool park so James could run around. We had such a great time!

On Monday, Amy had to go to work, so Trey, Chris, James and I went to the Iowa State Fair. It was HUGE!!! We saw many animals (pigs, horses, cows, sheep), saw the massive butter cow and butter Dr. Seuss characters, ate some yummy food (fried Milky Way, fried twinkie, fried pineapple on a stick, 'walking taco'-bag of Doritos with taco fixings, fried cheese curds, fresh Iowa apple, and corn dogs), perused the prize winning fruits and veggies, watched a Veteran's parade, and saw some neat old farm equipment. James loved seeing all the livestock and continually asked to see the 'am-mals' (animals). While in the horse barn, we were letting James check out a miniature horse when a lady came over and asked if James wanted to pet one. She said that she was on our flight from Atlanta and recognized us! I remembered her cute black and white purse! Too cool! We also took James to a little petting zoo. He thought that the goats and cows were the best. He thought the cow's wet noses were hilarioius!

Since it rained Tuesday, we adventured to the mall to let James play in the play area. James was such a big boy and was so independent playing around ALL those other children. I was one proud Mama! After nap, we had to say good-bye to Uncle Trey. We had such a great time with Trey and Amy and look forward to many more adventures together! I am so thankful that they had us up to visit!

Night-Night Love You

Chris went out of town this weekend and came home to this kiddo.

Still wondering where my little James went off to.

James was just precious tonight. He is becoming so verbal and remembers so much! Makes me extremely thankful and appreciative. We will occasionally pull a "Goodnight Moon"-er and tell things around his room night-night. Tonight I told many of his things night-night and then James named his own. He said, "night-night mukik" (music), "night-night Mickey", "night-night Ham Mae-ee" (Handy Manny), "night-night eyeshtai" (Little Einsteins). Not only does James love these shows, Chris also brought home each of these toy figures from Disney World this past weekend. I guess you can tell what the important things are to James. :)

Even more magical, for the first time, James told both Chris and I "Love You" by himself. It just melted my heart. Makes a perfect ending to a day.

Growing Like a Weed

Before (September 2009)...

...and after (July 2010)

First of all, I cannot believe that he can still fit into this outfit (especially since it says 12 months). Secondly, I cannot believe that he has grown so much! Put those two together and it doesn't make much sense, does it? He never ceases to amaze Chris and I. We are so proud of him!

Blessed!

We haven't taken a family photo since Easter (Bad Mommy)! We got all dressed up tonight to go out to eat, so I though it would be a good time to take a new updated picture of us. We had to sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" to get James to grin at the camera, since we used the remote to take the picture. I think they turned out pretty well!

I am in absolute LOVE with these two!

Family

We had my (Leigh's) side of the family's Family Reunion over Father's Day. This year, we went back to my parent's house on the river. We had a great time enjoying each other's company, playing card games, watching the little kids, and eating (of course)! Dad does an excellent job catching and cooking fish for our fish fry! Many of us are Auburn grads and we owe that to my Great Uncle B.J. (who passed away several years ago) who first attended A.P.I. and graduated with a degree in Engineering. My Grandfather's only surviving brother, Uncle Gray, was honored at the family reunion with a very nice certificate from Auburn University for his generous support. I felt quite honored myself to be there to watch him receive it!

Here is my Great Uncle Gray and his wonderful wife, Dorothy taking a walk to the water.

James and his cousins Ava and Carter enjoyed hanging out as well. They were all so cute together! I wish I had snapped a picture of all three playing!

James and Ava playing with cars.

Cousin Carter. Isn't he a cutie!

This past weekend over the Independence Day weekend, we got together with Chris' family since his grandfather, Grumps, was in town. I didn't catch any pictures of James with his namesake Grumps, but here are a few of James and his cousin Charlie having a good 'ole time!

Riding in the laundry basket

These boys may be playing sports together one day, so they thought they'd start early on team workouts.

Chris, James and I went to our neighborhood pool on Monday. We had a great time in the big "cool" and baby "cool" (as James calls them). He really liked when Daddy would swim like a "fif" (fish)!

Of course, every little boy enjoys doing this after changing out of wet swim trunks!

Summer Fun

It's been quite a while.  We've been a tad busy since the last post.  Anytime we get in the car, James asks if we are going to any of the following: Ko-guh (Kroger), Peepo (Home Depot), Pop Gae-ee (Pops and Grammy's), Poppa (Grandpa and Grandma's), duck (to feed the ducks), ai-kee (Brusters for ice cream) or koo (school).  James attempted his first ride on a carousel while visiting Mrs. Ali and Cooper at the mall.  We will likely not attempt another for a while.  Chris and I had a date night to attend a beautiful wedding while James stayed with our first non-family babysitter.  We are so thankful for her for being such a huge help and so delighted that James didn't scare her away!  Here are some pics of  life at home.

Dress up (boy style)

Anyone who knows me very well knows where James picked these things up.

Can't forget about the perfectly eaten corn.

James' favorite new games include playing with (and flying) his toys while lounging in the baby pool,

playing outside,

and playing with cars underneath the 'tent'.

Still cannot believe that he will be two in a couple of months!!