James 8 months, Barak's birthday, and Halloween

James is called "Baby James" or "Jamesy" around here the most. He claps a lot, plays with toys, and has started rocking on all fours and lunging forward from a sitting position to a three-point table with his leg tucked behind him. He is the only one of our kids that pulls himself out of the bumbo seat. I basically used it as a high chair for the girls on the table top, but, James has to be on the floor if he's in it. He'll climb out every time.

He's a happy baby, still wakes up to eat around 4am some mornings, but pretty regular about his naps. He wakes up for the day around 7:30, naps around 10 for about an hour or two, then plays until around 3 when he'll take another hour nap. He goes to bed around 7:30.

We had a princess Halloween this year. Laney wanted to wear Aurora, Caroline wanted to wear Cinderella, and Meredith wanted to wear Sophia the first. I picked out an Ariel costume for Meredith instead, because it was super cute, and I didn't think she would really care. I was wrong. She liked her outfit, but climbed upstairs and got an old Sophia dress of Laney's to put on instead.
I also remembered how they don't really get "Who are you?" They understand more, "Which dress do you have on?"







Laney had a "Real Men Do Kindergarten" Day where all the dads go to class. This is the poster she made about Barak. It was pretty cute. The restaurant she said was beside the grocery store is El Patron (above). It really is his favorite.

Our Mud Room is coming together!


This is a picture of a framed picture outside of Laney's class. It's so sweet to see her whole class.


Barak's birthday was a success, because we had a cake. Laney picked it out. It had deer and hunting stuff on it. We did forget the balloons, but the girls didn't seem to mind much.








Caroline's class wrote what they were thankful for, and she picked Papaw. It was really sweet. There were a lot of "Mommy"s and a couple of "candy"s, one "dinosaur," and one "Papaw."


Laney's homework this week was to decorate a bear like a "Native American" Girl. I was super proud of her doing it all by herself, picking out the materials and everything.
She kept calling it  an American Girl doll. I hope it's a long time before she knows the difference!

James 7months

James is over 16 pounds, and wears 9-12 month clothes. He still says Dada and a few baby words. He sits up by himself and can roll over both ways. He's so snuggly and loves his sisters!

This is how "playing with baby James" usually goes down.

And this is Cinderella and Prince Phillip getting ready for the ball. I asked Caroline why the prince had the dress on, and her response was, "He wants to wear it." We told her boys don't wear dresses, but, his out fit is on Cinderella in this picture, and I must say, it looks better on her.


Laney took home their class's mascot Monty a few weekends ago. She loved her time with him. We got to keep a journal and take pictures. It was the weekend of mass flooding around here, so we didn't get out of the house much.














Here's what homework looks like many times at our house.

Ready for preschool, and Caroine came up with the pose.

James, I promise this post was supposed to be about you turning 7 months. 

The girls

Laney and I had a trip to the salon on Thursday, and ended up only cutting a couple of inches. I really would like to see her in a bob, with that round face it would be adorable. But I really love her long hair. She looks so pretty. 

At the salon, she almost fell asleep. Alicia did a great job with the "magic wand" at the sink that never got water in her eyes or ears. We went after school, so she was super tired.

Caroline's hair has gotten pretty long, too. I can french braid it now. She loves to dress up in Laney's last year's recital outfit and have "Elsa hair" and take pictures. It's her new thing. Meredith plays along with her tutu. I can put meredith's curls in a couple of pig tails in the back. Super cutie.


She's showing the camera her smile.


Painting with water, working on letters.


'sup


Laney sees this picture and tells me "This is when Caroline and I were best friends."




Please excuse the dress code, but this is one of my favorites.


They are playing "Sleeping Beauty"


Caroline figured out the clocks are radios the other day and was jamming to some tunes.


Meredith loves shoes. She can put any pair on and take them off all by herself. They don't have to be hers. These happen to be Laney's school gym shoes.


Laney and Caroline went bowling for the first time at a birthday party of one of Laney's friends from school. They loved it. Laney was most popular that day - she celebrated with everyone who knocked down any pins. Every single time. It was awesome.

James 6 months

James is finally on the weight chart, at 20th percentile (he's been lower than the chart since he was born). He weighed 16 lbs a few days ago at his visit, and is 26" long. He can sit up unassisted for a few seconds, and has no problem being on his belly. He sleeps on his belly, in fact, and that helps keep his head round(ish). 

He laughs and says dada and coos and squeals. He loves the girls and has started playing with toys they put in front of him. He still has glitter in his hair most days, and, as you can see, is surrounded by pink.

Headed out the door to pre-school. James doesn't stay, but enjoys the ride.


Caroline - so dramatic.


Fro-yo with Nana and Papaw and Baby Lincoln.