Sunday, November 27, 2011

6 months old! Where did half of a year go??


     12.22.11  Well, James is six months old....he survived half a year with us! I've seen the most changes this month. He's now rolling from front to back and back to front all the time and sitting up unassisted (and he's pretty good!!). It's a whole new world for him! Additionally, he's got his bottom middle teeth popping through and possibly a top one. This has all been in the course of one week. He has been a little fussy and taken shorter naps for a couple of days, but he smiled all the way through it. I swear, this is the happiest kid ever. He babbles all the time (most times it's a loud "Aaaaaah! Aaaaah! Aaaaaah!"). He's a little ham too- if you make eye contact with him, he flashes his cute smile, sticks his tongue out, and/or spits repeatedly. I'm excited that I can have dairy again! (James was having some projectile vomiting spells and it stopped when I cut it out). The pediatrician told me that babies often are able to tolerate lactose once their 6 months old. I was able to have dairy just in time for Thanksgiving and all the holiday eating festivities (probably not so good for the figure)! He is still a spit-upper so he lives in a bib. James is a great sleeper- he takes 3 naps (2 long and one short) and sleeps from 9:30-6 or 7 a.m. 
     We had a great Thanksgiving! This was the first year we haven't eaten lunch with my family in Hickory, NC and dinner with Seth's family in Dawsonville, GA (4 hours away). This year, we just ate in Hickory. It was neat having all of my cousins there with their kids (usually someone can't make it). I think that really made my 96 year-old grandmother very happy! 
     After Thanksgiving, we were immediately thrown right into Christmas! We've decorated the house, seen Santa several times (and Adelyn is not boo-hooing this year!), gone to Christmas parties, attended school and church performances, and the list goes on. I have enjoyed watching this wonderful season through Adelyn's eyes. There is nothing better than that first year that they start to "get it". She knows the Christmas story and the Santa traditions. We try to make Santa fun, but not more important than Jesus's birth. We did introduce Elf on the Shelf. Adelyn named it Roseanne. It's fun to hide Roseanne each morning! My mom came in town one weekend and we baked TONS of Christmas cookies. We are going to make this an annual event! I loved her school Christmas performance and party! Her class wore gold garland on their heads and shook bells as they sang a couple songs. It was so sweet! At church she dressed up as an animal from the nativity. The ladies in charge of these performances do an outstanding job and I am so thankful that Adelyn is learning the true reason for Christmas. Adelyn's current obsession is Star Wars (or "Star Horse" as she calls it). Seth is a big Star Wars fan as well so this belongs to them. I have never seen any of the movies. They often watch bits and pieces of it or look through Star Wars books. She knows most of the characters and loves to pretend to be Princess Leia or Darth Vader ("Dark Bader"). She lives her life in fantasy- constantly pretending!! Her imagination is pretty wild! I guess that's good?????
     On a sad note, we had to put our sweet dog, Peri, to sleep. She was almost 12 years old. We have two Shelties. Riley and Peri are from the same litter and Seth has had them both since they were puppies. It's been hard on everyone! Peri let Adelyn do anything to her. She would try and ride her, pull her hair (petting her), and chase her around and Peri tolerated it all. She will be greatly missed. :( It was a rough week, as Seth also tore his meniscus playing basketball. He was on crutches and in a lot of pain. He ended up having to have surgery on his knee. He is doing therapy and doing much better! 
     We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! It's hard to believe we're wrapping up another year- happy New Year!

"Great Mommy" as Adelyn calls her
All the great grandkids (plus Bryna)
James playing in the floor

He loves grabbing his feet (and they make a delicious snack too)

Adelyn playing with her Little People Nativity Scene- best toy ever! 

Jumparoo really wears a little boy out!


Visiting Santa- Adelyn told him she wants a bouncy ball and James wants the biggest TV you've ever seen
James sacked out at Adelyn's school Christmas party

Grandma and Adelyn at her Christmas party

Adelyn had NO CLUE she had all of this icing on her face. Several adults were giggling at her. The little girl sitting next to her noticed and she rubbed her icing on her face too. 

I gave Adelyn her first bubble bath and put in WAAAAAAY too many bubbles. Adelyn had a ball! 


My mom came in town and we baked cookies for two days! 


Sugar cookies
Decorating is so fun!

Pounding candy canes

Stone Mountain train ride- they played Christmas music and we saw lots of lights!

I'm feeling like a big boy!
The Billy Graham Library (Charlotte) at Christmas is beautiful!

They had a live nativity with sheep, a donkey, a camel, a llama, goats, and a Scottish cow (Ever seen one? They have long hair!)

5 months

    I can't believe James is 5 months old now (11/22)! He is changing daily. He is finally rolling over (front to back)...BUT he ONLY does it when we're not looking. I think he knew I wanted him to do it, so he only does it privately. He went through a spell for about a week where he'd roll every night around 3:30/4 a.m. I still have not seen him actually do it. Seth or I will walk away and come back and he's on his back. Sneaky little guy. He's also starting to use his hands! He realized that his arms and hands are his and he can hold things! He always wants to grab my nose or have me "eat" his hands. It's so cute to watch him smile with delight as we play! I know every baby has a cute grin, but James's grin is just the absolute sweetest. He's trying to sit up (early tripod) and always wants to stand with support. The other "fun and new" thing he's doing is motorboat (you know, making the pppbbbtttt sound?). Seth and I do it to him all the time. I know in a few months we'll be telling him, "NO!" when he does it, but for now it's communication! :) James seems to be pretty laid back, although here lately he hasn't wanted other people give him a bottle (sitter, grandparents). Hopefully that will pass! 
    Halloween was great for Adelyn this year. She was a pumpkin fairy and James was a pumpkin. Seth's cousin made Adelyn's outfit and did an incredible job (check out her store- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mallard-Cove-Customs/165288410199609 ). She had her parade at school with a feast in her classroom afterwards. A few days later, we went to Trunk or Treat at our church. We actually didn't do anything on the actual Halloween Day. James, Adelyn, and I went to Highlands to help Seth's mom get ready for the upcoming wedding. Seth's cousin, Blake, got married the following weekend. Adelyn and Emily were flower girls. The rehearsal was Saturday and Adelyn would not do anything without me by her side (side note, she still says "Mama, hold you" and I think it's adorable). We had lots of pep talks on Sunday and we put fruit chews in the girls' basket beneath the petals. On the wedding day, Adelyn walked down the aisle and stood at the front the entire time! The fruit chews were perfect- they stood there quietly and ate their "prizes". Adelyn did turn around to the maid of honor and said "I'm a flower girl!" pretty loudly. Adelyn, Emily, and Thomas spent the ENTIRE reception dancing their tails off. They were hilarious! Adelyn barely ate dinner and I literally had to drag her off the dance floor to use the bathroom. She loved twirling in her flower girl dress! Adelyn has started gymnastics. This is no longer Mom and Tot. Now I sit on the bench and watch. I about cried the first session because she looked so big out there following directions in her leotard without a diaper. She is getting too big too fast.
    Life is good in the Thomas household. We are loving watching our children grow.....just wish they'd slow down a bit!

In Birmingham for Amy's baby sprinkle (Lea V was born November  14)

Adelyn and James with the carved pumpkin

Adelyn holding Mrs. Cindy's hand at her school parade

Class party....Adelyn really enjoyed the Rice Krispie treats!

Adelyn and James at Trunk or Treat 

Cousins


I wish I could eat more than just my right hand!

Ricky and Lynn have AWESOME Halloween decorations....this is Lynn's bubble fog machine. Adelyn used her wand to pop the bubbles

Flower girls and ring bearer (Blake's wedding at The Farmhouse in Highlands, NC)

Dancing Machines tearing up the floor

Adelyn's class dressed as turkeys at the CFUMC Preschool Thanksgiving program

Thanksgiving lunch at school

Love how babies sleep anywhere and any how

James LOVES his thumb! I put socks up to his elbows at night so he won't suck on it!

Dean and James