We've had this outfit since James was born. When we got it we thought it was huge but we were lucky to be able to sqeeze James into it today. It probably won't fit tomorrow.
So of course we took the opportunity to get as many pictures as possible before he outgrows it.
Meet our favorite inmate, James.
We got gates last weekend and it wasn't a day too soon. He's cruising around the apartment, pulling himself up on anything he can reach and walking along it as far as he can. He's happy about it as long as he has company and attention. At this point, he probably thinks the gates are just something nice to hold onto. Soon, he is sure to figure out that behind them lies untouchable (for him) treasure.
Daniel was inventive and found a magnetic latch that holds the gate to the wall when it is open. So we don't run into it when it is opened. Very clever!
In addition to getting the gates installed, Daniel also rearranged the furniture in the livingroom. He moved all the bookcases to the office and the bedroom. Managing to make it all fit and look good too.
Since the TV was on the bookcases, it has moved too and as a result I am less tempted to vegetate after work. A side-benefit that I appreciate since it can be hard to keep my momentum going when I get home. I also like the fact that this means the piano is the central piece in the living room and I have gotten more practice in lately.
Thanks, Daniel!
I stole this off my aunt Gayle's blog. I hope she doesn't mind.
1. Where is your cell phone? Under the computer monitor
2. Where is your significant other? Making money.
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? Gayle's sister
5. Your father? a Professional Electrical Engineer
6. Your favorite thing? Dreaming
7. Your dream last night? I dreamed I invented a draftsman's square that was expandable and used a parallel linkage system so that you could adjust it to any angle and any length. Cool, huh?
8. Your dream/goal? Have a nicely designed house full of family.
9. The room you're in? The kitchen
10. Your hobby? Drawing
11. Your fear? Failing in what I am passionate about.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Accomplished in my profession wherever that is.
13. Where were you last night? In my part of the bed.
14. What you're not? Dead
15. One of you're wish-list items? 21" Wacom Cintiq Tablet (forget it--its $2k)
16. Where you grew up? Winchester, VA
17. Last thing you did? Steal this list
18. What are you wearing? 1997 BYU Bike Rally long sleeve T and Worn-out cargo pants.
19. Your TV? Recently moved to our master suite...mu-hah hah hah
20. Your pet? Various fruit flies, at the moment.
21. Your computer? Custom built Athlon 64 X2 3800+ on an Asus A8n-SLI Premium Mobo. Want more specs? I can spout them off if you want...
22. Your mood? Pretty good.
23. Missing someone? Yup: Charity, who is only a mile or two away at work.
24. Your car? Subaru Legacy SUS
25. Something you're not wearing? Top Hat
26. Favorite store? I suppose Fry's Electronics, but there are none here in the east. :(
27. Your summer? Is after Spring
28. Love someone? James and Charity
29. Your favorite color? - The color of freshly sprouted leaves on a grove of maple trees in the spring back lit by a partly clouded sky.
30. Last time you laughed? When Charity gave me a back rub that tickled more than it rubbed.
31. Last time you cried? When I was last sad, of course. I just don't know when that was exactly.
My family. I love them. They are my people; comfortable, right, and known. We all came together to be there for Cryssy at Matt's funeral. It was a Spirit-filled occasion and a wonderful testament to the truthfulness of the gospel. I look forward to the day when I can be with all of my family and friends. When distance and death no longer separate.
Do you know how good it feels to have a wife who likes to take care of herself and us by extension? We feel that James is old enough to go running with us (er, well, riding in a stroller while we are running, that is). So Charity and I have started to go jogging again. I must admit it feels great to run as a family for two reasons. First, of course, is the health benefit. Second, is that James looks so adorable in his outfit (thank you Kristen Crate!).
p.s. I think I look kind of fat in the last picture...
James had his six month (and a little bit) check-up today. He weighed in at 20 lbs 2.5 oz and is 28.5 inches long. The doctor was impressed by his ability to pull himself up to a standing position and his ability to crawl. She recommended getting baby gates, baby door locks, and plastic covers for our power sockets since she doesn't think it will be long before he's into everything.
James has been learning to crawl and now spends most of his floor time on his hands and knees. He really wants to walk and skip the whole crawling thing so he isn't happy about it most of the time.
When he wakes up in his crib he cries from hands and knees to get our attention, even when he is half asleep. So it isn't surprising that we found him asleep with his rear in the air. He must have decided to take a short break from the crying and fell asleep. Too cute.
Incidentally, we have had to lower his crib mattress down a notch since he was the height of the crib railing when he was up on all fours. I was worried that he would launch himself over the side. Instead, every once in a while I hear thunks coming from his room has he rams his head into the crib bars (sometimes through the bumper, sometimes not). Ouch. Hopefully he will decide that isn't going to work and try a different tack soon.
When I was little girl I had super blond hair. It gradually darkened to a honey color during my teen years but not enough for me to not be blond. So I've heard quite a few blond jokes...
So do you want to hear a good blond joke? The following items represent some of the things we have talked about getting some day. Some of them are very reasonable (such as the grain mills), some are not so (such as the Aston Martin DB9). If you feel so inclined to get something for us this holiday season, you can use this list as a reference. Just click on the lock item to reserve it (thus keeping us from receiving 100 hair clips for Christmas).
More importantly, if any of you would be interested in making your own wishlist, I can create a site that allows family or friends to create their own wish lists and go shopping for others. Would you like me to set this up? Let me know in the comments if you are interested in this.
*Edit Oct 19, 2008:
The list apparently doesn't work on everyone's computer, so back to the drawing board...
James will be six months old on Monday. In some ways it feels like we have always had him as a part of our lives and yet it still surprises me that he is getting so big, so quickly. He is a joy to us and a very happy reason to be better people.
In these six months James learned to smile, to roll over (in both directions), to laugh, to sit up by himself, to eat solid foods, to 'talk' and 'sing' to himself and occasionally to us, to stand next to the couch, to slap the table top with both hands, to 'walk' with help, and to feed himself with a bottle. He also surprised us by getting his first two teeth in earlier than we expected.
We see James growing into a happy active boy and feel very blessed to have him in our family.
James is thinking more and more about crawling. His latest trick is to get up on his hands and knees to get our attention and then cry to let us know he wants us to help him up. He rocks back and forth, pauses, and begins again as if saying in his head 'Get ready, get set.....wait no, I'm not ready..... Get ready, get set....'.
We have high hopes that James will like reading when he gets older. He seems to enjoy 'reading' with us even when we aren't reading to him. He's seen many books in both our hands and has come to accept that they are a part of life for us big kids.
We had a lovely time visiting Daniel's family for conference weekend. James renewed his acquaintance with Josie's tryptophan aura, calmed, and slept when she held him. He adores his Aunt Josie. 
Conference was inspirational. I feel the desire to be better and have felt the influence of the Spirit more strongly during this week because of it.
Pres. Monson's talk about using our time well and finding joy felt timely as I have been thinking a lot recently about the briefness of mortality. There were also many talks speaking on the hope we have in gospel truths and the safety in keeping covenants. Gratitude was another theme that was repeated. Elder Bednar's talk was on prayer and his example of a prayer of gratitude was a lesson worthy of more thought.
James is sitting up without any trouble now. He likes to look up to his daddy. I'm glad he has a good example to learn from.
This last picture is being included because I thought it was too cute not to post. I can just see James thinking and figuring out what a phone is.
I took this typing test that I found on a friend's blog. I was so disappointed that my typing has slipped from where I remember it being. (I won a large lollipop in grade school for typing above a hundred words per minute.)
It was fun to take the test...then re-take it again...and again. It has the same magnetic appeal that I imagine slot machines have for gambling addicts. "Maybe this time I'll get it..." I think as I click the link one more time. I even thought about hacking the code of the test to give me a more favorable score...... but resisted the temptation.
Try your luck.:)
79 words
James is ready for mass communicating. So without further ado:
I think that speaks for itself, but here is a word from the Editor himself:
d xffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffca8-;.htgjl,kde .Qsd01 fe67hyter
\\ xdx1f[];9sedr4fgsd loikllkilik,m dfgdfsgdfgsdf
tyutyurtutrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee e ewre ww554444er44r4re44er4w2e3rwe3r ez rre4f nb nbnb vb nb jh uyv ytfgf xzcv fxdcsedwesersd vbyuhii8hgvb cv nbnb nb vvvvvvvvvvvvv b nnFDFDFFDFD V VC
Let us all take this advice to heart, people.
He and Daniel both fall asleep at the drop of hat still. It is a talent I envy. I've been considering putting goals in place to try and get more sleep. My not sleeping has become a very bad habit. Maybe I can learn something from the good examples of my husband and son.
James now knows what he looks like and he likes it. I think these pictures are great. It is obvious that he has figured out the mirror and likes what he sees.
On a final note, James has gotten his first and his second tooth in. He got the first one last Monday and the second one came in this weekend while we were in Utah. He is a dangerous chomper now with those little incisors. Piranha. He's still drooling and chomping so we are keeping an eye out for any additional teeth.
