James & Santa

Here is a picture of James with Santa for his first Christmas. He was very good and did not cry at all. We got a half smile out of him and thought we were lucky to get that so we didn't push for a full smile. We think he looks pretty cute.

We have been busy visiting with family here in Calgary--Jeff's family and my family are here including my Aunt Laurel from Ontario. We have many pictures so I will be a busy blogger after Christmas! Keep an eye out for more in a few days.

Merry Christmas!!

James is 6 Months Old!

James is 6 Months old on Sunday. Today we went for his 6 month appointment and his flu shot (he already had his other vaccines so he only had to get one shot). He weighed in at 17lbs 3oz -- so he has more than doubled his birth weight and everything is right on track for weight. He is also 26 1/2 -- 27 inches long. He is about in the 50th percentile for both height and weight and is a perfectly happy and healthy little guy. Now that he is 6 months, we have free run of all the food groups. We started him on barley cereal and he seems to really like the stronger flavour. Last night he just wanted more and more and before we knew it, he had eaten 5 tbsp mixed with formula. Today he had 4 tbsp at breakfast and the same at lunch--so he is a little porker when it comes to food. By the time we all have our Christmas dinner, he too could be having his own turkey, sweet potatoes and squash meal! We can introduce a new food every 3 days so by Christmas he should be well introduced to just about everything!

He is also doing all the motor skills he should be doing for his age. The doctor thinks he may crawl early since he is already pushing himself up and trying to move. This morning he used his arms to pull himself across the carpet to get to a toy he wanted (since it was the electric cord for my laptop it doesn't really count as a toy but he doesn't know the difference--we will have to move that now so he can't mouth it). He also sits unassisted--we have to put him into a sitting position but then he can maintain it for quite a long time without tipping over. So, below are some photos of our long little 6 month Jamie.

A Hungry Little Guy on the couch in his new jeans from Great Auntie Sandra.

"Hi, Mom! I love sitting in front of the Christmas tree!"

"I got my feet--feet are neat, you use them to walk down the street!"

"What's over there? I don't know but I better hold onto my feet!"

"Merry Christmas Everyone! See you Soon!!"

We leave for Calgary bright and early on Monday for Christmas so I may not get much up over the next few weeks until we get back. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas at Jamie's House

The Christmas season has arrived in Halifax. It started snowing this morning and it was very windy. We went for a long walk and out to lunch and we picked up Jamie's Christmas presents from us (and Santa!). We decided to get them here and not haul them across the country when we go back home. There is a video below of James playing with them and he seems to like them. Here are some still shots too. The first few are from today with his new toys. The rest are from the last week or so.

James and Mommy playing with his Christmas present ball-rattle thing.

James and Daddy in front of the tree.

James looking at his ball over his head--and sitting like a big boy.

Oohh, this ball is fun!

Happy, happy Jamie playing with his stackable bugs and smiling for Mommy.

More stackable bug fun!

What does this funny ball do?

Oh! Daddy took my ball!! Give me back my ball Daddy!

James in front of the tree last week when we first put it up.

What's this thing on the tree? Shiny!

It's fun to grab things on the tree! Good thing I can't crawl over to it yet!

Hi Daddy! I love my Daddy!

I am a good sitter! Look at me sit like a big boy!

I love to sit on the couch and watch the TV.



Fun at the Park!

We took these next few last Saturday at the park. It was Jamie's first time in the swing. He seemed a little unsure of himself but we think by Spring, he will have a grand time.

I'm not sure about this swing thing and it sure is cold out!

Yah! Fun!

Mommy pushing me on the swing!


Yeah, fun! I am having so much fun, can't you tell!

Jamie's First Christmas!

Here is Jamie enjoying his first Christmas presents in front of our little tree. Jeff and I decided we would get him his presents here so we wouldn't have to take them back and forth across the country (although we may end up taking them to Calgary anyway since he seems to like them a lot). We got him a funny little ball with a rattle in it that he can grab and he seems to like it. We also got him a set of stackable, magnetic bugs that, as you can see, he seems to be able to grab and manipulate.

Auntie Heather & Various Photos

Here are some photos from the last two weeks. My sister, Heather, came to visit last weekend for a few days and she and James had fun bonding and playing. He is getting quite big though we aren't sure how big yet. We will find out when we take him to his 6 month appointment in December but he sure seems solid! He is sitting up quite well and is tipping over less (if we position him just right). He stands really well too and will stand holding onto furniture. He can't get himself into a sitting or standing position but if you put him there, he can hold himself up for a few moments. Also, he has started lifting himself onto his hands and knees and rocking. He mainly does this when annoyed but we think it bodes well for him crawling in the next couple of months. As always, his favourite thing to do is eat. He loves his Pablum and gobbles down 3 tablespoons 3x per day. We will be able to start him on new solids early in December when he is officially 6 months. So, all is well with Jamie. Jeff and I are doing well too and are looking forward to seeing everyone at Christmas. Enjoy the photos.


Jamie sitting with Auntie Heather and wearing his cute sweater from Great-Aunt Bonnie and Great-Uncle Ian. So cozy!

" I'm a big tall boy in my sweater vest with Auntie Heather!"

"I'm so happy and cute!"

"I love my Auntie Heather and my new cozy sleeper!"

"I'm getting sleepy but I like to be cuddled."

"Hi Mom! I love this jumper thingy!"

"Grandma Linda made me a cool toque and scarf in Oilers' colours! Go Oilers!"

"I love my Daddy! Daddy has to go to work!"

"All Oilers, all the time!"

"I love this blue ball thing--it tastes great!"

"This turtle makes all kinds of noises and is so fun to chew on!"

"Look how big I am in my bucket. I am so huge!"

"I can sit so well. My mommy is very impressed."

"Mmmmhhhhh, Pablum."


"Faster, Daddy! More Pablum!"

Hallowe'en!

At the last minute--and I mean last minute--we have found James a costume for Hallowe'en. We think it is very appropriate and think he is so cute in it! His first Hallowe'en appears to be a costume success.

"I am a college graduate but am transfixed by the tv!"

"My dad's so proud!"

"Hi Dad!!"
"I'm so happy to have graduated!"

"Look at my diploma, Mom!"

"A college gradute but I still love my jumper!"

Isn't he adorable!

James and Mommy.

Fun With James

Grandma Linda was here for two weeks and had lots of fun time with James. She left on Saturday so we have been getting used to life without her. James was actually quite out of sorts yesterday so we think he may miss her a bit but he seems to have perked up today--very fickle, our boy. While Grandma was here, they did all sorts of fun things together. We got a bouncer from friends here and James quickly figured out how to stand in it and play with all the toys--most of which went in his mouth. He now really likes to be in his "jumper" as we call it so we added some photos of him in it on various days. There are also some photos of James and Grandma Linda. Mom really had a great time being with him and seeing how much he could change in just two short weeks.

Speaking of change, when Mom arrived, it was the day after his 4 month appointment and James had weighed in at 15lbs 6oz and was 25 inches. Jeff went away for two days and James seemed noticeably heavier by the time he got back. We had to go for our flu shots today so while we were at the doctor we thought we would weigh him because maybe he had gained half a pound or so. Boy were we off. James is now 17lbs 3oz!! He has gained almost 2 pounds in just over two weeks! We also measured him and he is about 26 1/4 -- 26 1/2 inches long! Yikes--no wonder he felt heavier! No wonder he really seems to have figured out solids and be loving that Pablum! Anyway, that is our big news--James is a PORKER! But he is very cute and smiley too and a lot of fun. And he almost always wakes up happy which is nice.

James in his jumper--he is not quite sure of it yet.

Now he seems quite pleased with himself. I guess he figured it out in not time at all.

"Look, Mom, I can stand!! Mom, mom! Are you looking!!" (We noticed today that his legs are longer and he is planted much more firmly on both legs and standing up properly when in it so we guess he really is taller.)

"I see you!!"

"I'm just so darned cute!" Here is James wearing his Baby Legs from Cheryl, Morgan, and Mila. They work really well as warmers to keep his legs warm under his jeans when it is too warm for a bunting bag and too cool for just jeans (like today). Here he has lost the jeans but he doesn't seem to mind.

SUPER-BABY!!

"I'm off to save the world! Thanks, Grandma, for turning my bib into a cape! Now I am ready!" He looks a little silly, actually, but it made for some cute photos.

"Grandma's last day! Look, Mom, I can hold my own bottle!" James is a good little eater and will now hold the bottle and bring it back to his mouth when he hasn't had enough or lean toward it with his mouth gaping. Here he is holding one of his dolls that Mom made for him. They were actually supposed to be my dolls but they only just got finished so they go to James! Jeff says "He's going to turn them into a gun, you know--he's a boy!" That will be a cute picture too, I guess. Right now, he likes to hold the boy doll and chew on it. He also has become attached to a little stuffed seal that Nan (Jeff's Grandmother) gave him and to a horse that my friend Tess sent and to his Whoozit (a funny little toy from Aunt Jocelyn and Uncle Craig). He has attached to several things which is good if we lose one!

Asleep on Grandma. "I love my Grandma Linda! I can't wait to see her at Christmas. Only 6 more weeks!"