James in the Park

Here are some photos of James playing last week at the park when the weather was nice. It was a lovely sunny day so we stopped to play. It has been rainy and cool since so we haven't been back, but maybe we will go again this week. We went to his Splashers and Bubblers class this morning but had to leave half way because the water was too cold; James' teeth were chattering and his lips were purple so the instructor said we should leave. They promised to turn the heat up on the pool for next week. Other than that, we haven't been up to much of anything--just the usual--but these photos are cute so I thought I would share them.

Playing with my Dad!

I'm a good standing boy!

I can almost climb the wall! What I am really good at is making my parents climb the walls at home!


I love the park!

I am a dare-devil and like to look down at the ground when I swing back.

Hi Mom: This is fun!

Sliding with Mommy!

Yeah! Fun!


What is the spongy stuff?

Yeah! Office supplies!

This is my new favourite toy--Daddy's old plastic floppy disk holders. Since he was going to throw them out, they are mine now!

Hi Mom! Is that something I would like to touch? I am too fast for you!

Yeah! Another disk holder. And this is what I do all day! James' new favourite toys are a plastic bowl and cup that he carries around with him while he walks. He puts the cup in the bowl and picks the bowl up. This morning, he was sitting on the floor and was very carefully putting the cup over his foot and examining the result. He then carried them around the living room for a while. I don't know why we buy actual toys!

Go Oilers!

Here is James modelling some of his Oilers' wear. For Christmas, Uncle Brett gave him an Oilers jersey. It is a little big but he thought he should wear it for the Gold Medal Game. And he certainly looks the part sitting on the remote in a jersey holding the remote control. The others are of James in his new winter sweater. It is also too big which means it will be perfect for the fall and winter. It is blue with a white strip and an orange pom-pom so it is also great for hockey. Our friend (Amanda) had her mother make it and we think it is super cute.

Walking Better Every Day!

Here is James walking yesterday. He is doing better and better all the time. He can now walk all the way across the living room. He still falls down--either when he loses his balance or when he decides crawling would be faster--but he is definitely on his way. He is not up to running yet, but he is getting more and more adventurous about taking his hands off things and walking without holding on to anything. This is very short but shows his increasing balance (he only falls at the end when he tries to dodge Jeff's waiting arms--Poor Jeff!).

James is Walking A Little

About a week ago, James started taking his first few tentative steps unassisted. He is getting better and better and is willing to take more and more steps without holding on to anything. He will now let go of a chair and walk a few feet to his Daddy or to get what he wants. He still thinks crawling is faster and he is nowhere near ready to keep up with his running cousin Daniel, but he is definitely on the road to walking like a big boy. We think he will master it by the time his Gramma Lin and Granpa Bob come to visit for his first birthday. The steps are still a little jerky but he is working on it. And is very proud of himself.

Drivin' Daddy Round the Bend!

Here are some photos of James in his new shirt which says "Drivin' Daddy Round the Bend." Gramma Lin and Grandpa Bob picked it up in Vietnam and we thought it would be too big but it is just right--and very cute and sometimes even slightly true! James is a Monkey!

Hi Mom!
Look at my big teeth!

I'm such a good stander!

Single Buoy

It is grey and rainy in Halifax and that pretty much matches how we are all feeling.  James has had a runny nose and a slight cough for about a week and Jeff and I both caught it a couple of days ago.  We have been feeling pretty grey all around.  Today we decided that we should get out and take a walk and get some fresh air.  And then we found something to add some colour!  We have been looking for a painting to remind us of our two great years in the Maritimes and we found it.  It is entitled "Single Buoy" by Steven Rhude.  He is a Nova Scotian artist who takes traditional Maritime iconography (such as the buoy) and juxtaposes it with non-traditional items or contexts.  It is not what we thought we would be attracted to when we started looking weeks ago but we just love it.  We saw it last week and have been thinking about it and when we went back today, we still loved it. So now it is ours.  Here is a photo of it so you can see it too.

General Photos

We haven't posted much in the last couple of weeks. Jeff was gone for his interview and this week we have been busy interviewing moving companies. But, we have continued to take photos of James. Here, in no particular order, are some photos from the last two weeks.



I am a big boy going to a BBQ in my Lobster sweater. I love the TV Guide!

Hi Mom, I am relaxing!

Here I am in my Adidas outfit that Grandpa Bob haggled for on the streets of some city in Indo-China. We thought it would be too big but it fits fairly well.

I love my Ball Popper.

Where do the balls come from? I know, Mommy!


Yeah, ball popper!

I can crawl soooo fast! See how big I look!

I like to stand by the window and play. Aren't I tall?

Hi Mom!

I have front teeth! These are the first photos of James' teeth. They were taken a couple of weeks ago. He now has 4 teeth on top and 2 on the bottom. Nursing is starting to get painful and weaning may be imminent.

Hi Camera Lady!

I like to peak over the edge of my playpen too.

Breakfast! Yeah! Or I am watching TV. Hard to tell.

I am a BIG BOY now!

James is a Fish!

Here are some photos from James' swim class today. He is in Bubblers and Splashers. It was his fourth class today and he seemed to recognise where he was--he looked at the pool and started to wiggle and smile. In the pool, he was much more adventuresome. He kicked his legs more and tried to swim after the ball. We played games and he liked to go under London Bridge. He also likes the Speckled Frog game. All the children sit on the pool wall and we sing "Four little speckled frogs, sitting on a speckled log, eating the most delicious bugs: YUM YUM. One jumped into the the Pool (and then one of the babies gets pulled into the pool and everyone claps), where it was nice and cool, then there were 3 speckled frogs!" We keep singing it until there are No Speckled Frogs! James was Frog #1 today and kept trying to push off the wall of the pool to jump in before it was time. Then he liked being pulled into the pool so much he kept trying to get back to the wall so he could do it again. He also, for the first time, deliberately and repeatedly put his face in the water. The instructor will put her face in and blow bubbles and he kept bobbing his head down into the water and then grinning (except once when he swallowed and then he sputtered and coughed!). He seems to like it. The instructor said she thinks he will be very comfortable in the water.

No More Jamies Jumping on the Bed!

Here is James doing one of the things he loves best: Jumping in His Crib! It is all fun and games until someone bangs a tooth on the rail and then he needs a cuddle from his Dad! It is pretty cute and shows his sparkling personality.

James Says Ma-ma!

Here is another video of James jumping in his crib. In this one, he says Ma-ma as he reaches for me (or the camera) and he waves Bye-Bye to the camera (sort-of).