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.

Laney starts Kindergarten

Breakfast on the first day, she wanted juice and chocolate milk, and an english muffin - one side with peanut butter, one side with butter. She picked out the color shirt and skirt to wear, and was super excited. Everyday she asked if it was fall yet so she could "go to Kindergarten at Gaston Day School." Finally, it was time! 

I took this picture because she just looks so big. Her long legs and sweet little uniform, hair braided. It rained on the way to school, but it was clear when we walked her inside. Yes, all of us walked her in. She introduced us one by one to her teacher and then gave us all hugs and kisses and waved goodbye and walked in her class. She is so so brave.


She wanted to be silly for her "First Day" shot, and I let her. Meredith was "whooshing and zooming" right along with her. She has had an amazing time the first two weeks. It's like she was born for Kindergarten. She comes home everyday excited to tell us about Monty the Monkey, her room's mascot, or being a Bucket Filler, or how she saw her friends Kylie and Caroline at recess. Her teacher talks about how sympathetic she is towards other children and how helpful she is in general. Time at home has taken some adjustment, and I miss her a lot, but I have gotten a lot more intentional about the quality time I'm getting with the other three.

James 5 months

Meredith 2

Meredith is super awesome these days. She has a really large vocabulary, can count, knows the sounds all the letters make, and loves to color. She calls herself "meener" and Caroline is "Caka" She loves baby dolls still, and puzzles. She's getting into doll houses and has started playing with Laney and Caroline when they play barbies or princesses, and becoming a character.

She is pretty much potty trained - she did most of it by herself. We still use pull ups for public and night time, but during the day and naps she stays dry, for the most part. If I can remember to take her every 30 minutes, she will tell me if she needs to go in between.

That curly hair is still going strong, and she is full throttle every waking moment. She's still a cuddler, and asks to "hold you" like our parents told us we used to do.

James 4 months

James sleeps through the night, 10-12 hours. He eats rice cereal and I plan on starting sweet potatoes in a week or two. He sits up really well in the bumbo. I put him in his swing (turned off) for naps to buckle him in and make sure his head doesn't go flat. He's not quite 11 lbs, but already in 6-9 mo. clothes. I do a combination of bottles, milk and formula, and nursing. 

Here is his second day of cereal, by Cassie's request. He's an old pro now.

Dancing to Rosie Thomas after church