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).