What Does a Sheep Say? Baa Baa!

Here is James "talking." He knows 2 animal sounds: a sheep says Baa and a Puppy says "ffffff." It is pretty cute. He isn't always consistent in his answers but he is getting better. And sometimes he will go and get the puppy dog and say "fffff."

Birthday Present Fun-Time!

Here are some photos of James playing with his presents.

These are the eggs we got him. It is six little chickens in eggs. They each squeak and have a different face. The bottom of each egg shell is a different shape so it only fits in one space and the top of each egg shell has a face that matches the chicken inside. He loves to open it (or have us open it for him) and then fling the eggs around and carry the carton. They seem like a nothing kind of toy but he absolutely LOVES them!

This is another favourite. They are cut-outs that stick to the side of the tub. James has a lot of fun looking at them and pulling them off and putting them in his tub and watching Mommy put them back on the tub and then pulling them off again.

I have a house!

I have a bus!

Nice and clean with Daddy. This sleeper barely fits anymore.

Grandpa and Jamie at the Park

Tuesday was James' last day with his Grandma Lin and Grandpa Bob. It was cool and cloudy. Jeff and Bob took James to the park and had a lot of fun there. Linda and I stayed home and relaxed. It was a great week and we were so glad they could come out for Jamie's 1st Birthday. The only downside was that their flight was 2 hours late and we didn't look so they had a long wait at the airport--and that isn't very exciting! But, they are home now and getting ready to be invaded, first by Daniel (Grandson #1) for a few days, and then by the three of us when we come out to find a place to live. Here are the park pictures (I made Jeff take the camera). James looks like he had a great time. Bob too!

Going down the BIG slide with Grandpa. I've never done this slide before. This is exciting!

Yeah, going down the slide like a big boy!

I am such a big boy and so proud of myself.

This car is fun.

Driving my car.
Driving with Grandpa. We like to go FAST!

I LOVE THE SWING!!!


Climbing the rope wall. I am so ready to be climbing on my own--not!

We haven't done much since Grandma and Grandpa left. James has been very into reading books the last little while. While they were here, if we asked "What does a puppy say?", he would say "fffff" and then once when I asked him what a bird said, he also said "ffffff." But, he stopped doing that. Now he only says "ffffff" for doggy or puppy, and has added an "R" sound in front sometimes so it is "rffff". He says "Baa, Baa, Baa" for sheep, he makes a "mmmo" sound for cow, and if it is another animal (like a bear or a rabbit), he just looks at us like we are idiots because he clearly doesn't know those ones. We are working on 'GRRRRR" for Bear. I don't know what sound a rabbit makes. Other than that, we are just packing slowly and getting ready to come out for 2 weeks. There may not be many postings for a while. Talk to you soon!

James' First Birthday!

Today was James' 1st Birthday! We went down to the harbour and spent the morning with Grandma Lin and Grandpa. We walked on the harbour and looked at the clipper ships that are here for part of an around the world race. This evening, we had his Big Birthday Party. We had pizza and cake. James loved the pizza--cheese pizza for him--but was not as keen on the cake. He played with it for a while and then stuffed a big piece in his mouth and promptly gagged and spat it out--what a Big Boy! I am glad I got a cake that the adults would enjoy (lemon and raspberry pound cake with raspberry filling--YUM!). After cake, James was a mess so it was into the tub and jammies and then time to open presents. All in all, a good first birthday for a little 1 year old boy.

James on his original Birth Day! It is hard to believe that a year has passed and he has trebled in size and is walking and babbling.

Wearing my big boy outfit with the matching hat. This outfit just fits now and is super cute so we thought it was perfect for a hot birthday party (and by "hot" I mean it was 33 degrees with the humidity today!).

James walking on the harbour. Daddy always stayed close as there are openings that a little guy could fall through. Since it was so sunny, James got 2 applications of SPF 45 while we were out. Jeff and I got burned the day we went to Point Pleasant Park so we didn't want that for Jamie.

Hi Grandpa! I'm looking at you, looking at me!

On the Boardwalk! We were having fun!

I am a big boy in my stroller in front of the clipper ships.

Walking with Grandma Lin!

Playing at the boat park with Grandpa.

Big boy with Grandpa!

The Boys on the Water.

My pretty birthday cake.

Birthday Boy With Cake.

Yummmm! Pizza!

I don't get this candle-thing Mommy.

Hmmm, so you call this cake?

Cake you say? Well, it is squishy.

Mmmm! I love making a mess.

I am a messy pig boy!

Ohhhh. Presents!

Yeah! Tub toys from Phyl and Peter! Thanks a bunch. These will be fun.

James also got some books and DVDs from Grandma and Grandpa and a wagon that will wait for us in Calgary. Mommy and Daddy gave him chicks in eggs and some books. He loves the peek-a-boo book with the flaps that hide things. And, my camera died so I will get a picture of him with the eggs later--they make more sense than trying to explain them. It was a good birthday for the little guy.

Peggy's Cove with Grandpa and Grandma!

On Friday, Grandma and Grandpa took us on a road trip of the South Shore. We started the day by driving to Peggy's Cove. James fell asleep half-way there. We stopped there and took some photos. We went there last year with my mom and sister when James was about 2 weeks old so I have put up some photos from that trip so you can see how big James is now. Wow! After Peggy's Cove, we stopped at the Swiss Air Memorial just down the road. Then we drove along the coast and stopped at Chester for lunch--fish and chips, of course--before carrying on to Mahone Bay. We took the highway back and James again fell asleep (after a bit of a melt down). It was a great day and the weather was lovely.

James has been showing off all his tricks. He says "Baa Baa" fairly consistently at the picture of the sheep in the book. If you ask him what a puppy or doggy says or if he looks at a picture of a dog, he says "Woof" (although it sounds like wffffffff and is very quiet). He takes books to Grandma and Grandpa to have them read to him and, yesterday, Jeff said "take the book to Grandpa" and he took the book to Bob. We were pretty impressed by that. He is enjoying walking outside more and more and is quite tired when we get home. He is having a great time with his grandparents and I think will be very happy to see them when we go to Calgary in 2 weeks.

James and Daddy at Peggy's Cove: June 2008

James and Daddy at Peggy's Cove: July 2007

James and Mommy at Peggy's Cove: June 2008

James and Mommy at Peggy's Cove: July 2007

The Family at Peggy's Cove: 1 Year On!

James in his stroller 1 year ago!

The Boys at Peggy's Cove.

Grandma, Grandpa, Daddy and James at Peggy's Cove.

James looking pretty sleepy in his car seat! He would fall asleep about 5 minutes before we stopped so he had several interrupted naps.

Swiss Air Flight 111 Memorial near Peggy's Cove.

Having lunch at Chester. Aw Daddy! I just woke up and need a cuddle!

On the water at Chester with Daddy. James liked walking on the dock but had to be careful as it was uneven.

Mommy, Daddy, and Jamie at Chester.

Sitting on the dock at Chester with Grandpa. Grandma and Daddy are waiting for lunch to come.

Running with Grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa in Halifax

Jamie's grandparents, Bob and Linda, arrived on Wednesday and we have been having tonnes of fun with them since they got here. Yesterday we stayed in Halifax and they watched James in his swim class. Then we went to Point Pleasant Park and walked around half the park. It was sunny and hot (about 30) and James had his cute hat on. Jeff and I got a bit sunburned on our arms but James was okay and that was the main part. James practiced walking but needed some help over the uneven grass.

After Point Pleasant Park, we drove around the other side of the Halifax Harbour and went to the York Redoubt which was the "other" harbour defense. Everyone knows about Citadel Hill but the York Redoubt is just on the other side of the NorthWest Arm and it is open to the public so we enjoyed walking around there too. The day ended with tasty fish and chips at Phil's.

Walking is hard. I'm taking a break!

Grandpa and Daddy had to help a little.

Grandma Linda at Point Pleasant Park.

Dad! I'm done with this walking--PICK ME UP!

Yeah! Daddy picked me up. Now I am happy!

We had ice cream and now Grandpa is giving me a shoulder ride. This is a pretty good day!

The York Redoubt. Hi Mommy!

I love my Grandpa!

Grandma Linda looking out over the water at the York Redoubt.