Summertime Fun

Anybody else love Summer busyness like I do???

I absolutely love it, although I'm ready to get back to some inside things that have been lacking, such as finishing a few very-close-to-finished knitting projects.  I'll also resume working on my crocheted hats.  I just bought a new pattern that I think I'm going love!

In all of Summer busyness, we have made a few trips into my in-law's town.  On our last trip in to WV, my father-in-law got out the water hose (I think to clean ice cream off of the driveway!), and James made a bee-line for the hose!  The next half an hour or so involved much drinking of water and getting soaked!  The little guy had a blast!  It really was so precious.  Here are a few more pictures from that time:

I love his expression in this one!

The following one is my absolute favorite of all the pictures I took!

My Boy Turned One!

In June, my sweet baby boy turned a year old! This has definitely been the fastest (and sweetest) year of my life. I suppose that moving (and changing states) will do that to a person!

I'll tell you some of his current accomplishments now, and I'll have his stats next week.

• He walked at 10.5 months old! He has set the record for being my earliest walker. He's fast, too!


• He says many things now, and speaks some of them incredibly well for a 1 year old! Such as: Thank you, daddy, Here you go, STOP!, Down, Please, etc.


• A not so fun one that he does is to push Emi's "buttons." Seriously, he knows how to make her MAD! It's funny, but we're having to work with him on that.


• He also is coloring. I couldn't Caroline to color, much less hold a crayon, until well into her first year!

I love this kid. He's a mommy's boy, but he will always leave me for any one of his favorite men. He loves to dance. He absolutely loves bananas, bread, sweet potatoes, and carrots, but refuses to eat anything green at first, although after the first taste he'll eat it all! He loves to have his head rubbed, and if you don't do it he'll rub his own head on the wall, high chair, or anything else he can rub it against! He's silly, and he knows it, too!

For his birthday (party), I made an Italian Cream Cake (which he loved), and several relatives came for his cookout party. I have yet to do a one year photo shoot, but I hope to accomplish that this week.

Well, thanks for sticking with this rather disjointed birthday post!

We sure love our little guy, and pray that God will give us wisdom and grace as we seek to raise him to truly know our God, and to want to serve Him. Praise the Lord for the Bible, and that we aren't left to our own (failed) wisdom! Amen!

A Few Faves from April

In lieu of not writing very often in April, I'll give a brief update, and then I'll get the good stuff--the pictures. :) 

We mainly spent the month becoming well--all of us.  I am so grateful, because it has been a couple of weeks without any sickness. The kids' doctor is hoping that our current stay in Florida will help continue to dry up any fluid in all ears and chests!

About the only notable thing we did in April was to visit Adam's parents in WV.  It was a fun time with family.  The girls got to see both uncles, and aunt, and a future aunt. ;)  I am sad that we don't live closer to any of the kids' aunts and uncle, but am so grateful for the times when we do get to see them.

Here are some pictures from the month:

This, my friends is Emi: Huge smile when happy (albeit slightly mischievous), bright eyes, and some form of bruise, scab, etc. from playing (and crashing) hard!!!

Sweet Caroline

My boy!

Dandelion dust---What is it about these things? I still love to blow the seeds away myself!

I am happy to report that as of tonight, my children seem to show no signs of any sickness. I am so grateful!!!

First thing in the morning, we'll be heading over to West Virginia.  Adam's youngest brother is getting married in June, and the boys are getting fitted for tuxedos tomorrow; in lieu of that, Adam's going in, and we're going along for the ride (and the weekend!).

Due to the fact that I was still recovering from the stomach virus, we didn't make it out of the house for Easter/Resurrection Sunday services, which we were really bummed about, but I went ahead and dressed the kids up, and took a few pictures. Enjoy!

James and The Giant Peach, Er, Avocado

James and The Giant Peach Avocado

Okay, so it wasn't really even a giant avocado, but the corny part of me wanted to use the title. :)

One of my favorite fruits (although in my mind it's really a veggie) is the avocado.  I love them on burgers.  I love them in guacamole.  I love them in salads.  I love them anyway you'll give them to me.  In fact, when I was pregnant with Emi, I had to muster all of the self-control I had to not eat an entire $4 bag of 5  when I'd bring them home from Sam's.  Plain.  Yep.  I love them!!! 

So, now, does Adam.  I scored some a week ago for $.25/piece, which I've never in my life seen, and picked several up.  Adam, in turn, ate them for breakfast.  On Sunday morning, he shared some with James, and he loved them!!!

Here are a few pictures of the process.  If you want a healthy and easy food to feed a little person like James, avocado is a great place to start!

First taste . . . Thinking about it!

I think you have your answer . . . He couldn't keep his eyes off of the stuff!

Bite #2

Moving in for the kill!

:)

Yep, I think it was a hit . . . Must be genetics! :)

My Boy & Me

I know I've said it before, but I love my boy!  Isn't it cool how God makes mother-son and mother-daughter relationships so different, but so special in their own ways?!? I am loving the differences already, and praise God for this little guy!

                                     

                                                        

One of My Favorite Things on EARTH!!!

There aren't many (or possibly any) things in life that make my heart sing more than watching my husband with my kids, and watching the way they each adore him.  It is so unbelievably special. 

Lately, James has just really been utterly adoring towards his daddy, and I can't get enough of it! If he hears Adam a few rooms away, he immediately gets excited and starts to look for him!  It is the best kind of sweetness!

Life really is so sweet!

His Eyes . . .

absolutely melt. my. heart.

My Little Beauties

Well, James, Emily and I are all sick.  Lovely.  I'm hoping we'll kick this thing soon, though.

Janelle, whom you might remember from my September 4th post just had her first baby, a girl, Emma Elizabeth!  I'm so excited for them, and hope to add many pink and purple crocheted items to her wardrobe!

Anyhow, I broke out the camera a little bit today, and these are a few of my favorites:

My Sweet Little Guy

Well, the majority of the day that wasn't taken up by naps, was spent at the pediatrician's office.  After three nights of getting up many, many times, I began to suspect that James might have an ear infection.  He was definitely already sick with an awful cold. 

As it turned out, I had a well-care dr. appointment already scheduled for James, so it was nice that I didn't have to get him fit in as a sick visit, which is the worst. Why?  Because you get lumped in the same room with all of the other children who have sicknesses.  Thanks.  I'd love to add one more illness to my child.  Yeah, right! :) Then, you get fit in whenever there happens to be an opening, and generally have to wait upwards of one hour to be seen after your appointment time.  Lovely.  All this to say, it was such a huge blessing that we already had the appointment made.

Seriously, God's providence is clearly written all over this one.  I nearly called to cancel the appointment last week, but I forgot.  I  do not think that was a coincidence.  Anyhow,  James ended up having a pretty bad ear infection.

He's definitely the most miserable that I've ever seen him.  Hopefully, though, he'll get better quickly with the antibiotic. 

Sorry if I'm boring you!

Lastly, I'll end with his stats.  He is a big boy!

Weight: 22.25 pounds
Height:  28.25 inches
Head Circumference. 46 cm

He's right in the 75 percentile, all the way around.  I think he might be tall!  We'll see. He's already getting into 12-18 month clothing in many things!  Spring needs to come early, so I don't have to buy more clothes!

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful (and well) weekend.  We don't have any plans around here. Hopefully, I'll remember to get my camera out, so I can share more pictures with you. Happy Friday!!!

My Big Boy is Getting Bigger!

Check out his two pearly whites!

And let me tell you, based on my highly-interrupted sleep the last few nights, more are on their way!!! Yikes!

My Little Crawler

In January, James mastered a new skill: Crawling!  It is so much fun to watch.  He is such a little love anyhow, but now he's mobile, and will follow those whom he loves everywhere!  It is so fun to hear his arms and legs hitting the carpet as he comes in search of you.  Love it!!!!!  Enjoy the video!



James Crawls
Uploaded by julesanne95. - Explore more family videos.

Namesake

You may not know the significance of James' name. His full name is James Brandon McClung. Brandon is my maternal grandmother's maiden name, and that is such a godly heritage to be named for.

And in speaking of godly heritages, his first name, James, is taken from his great-grandfather's (Adam's paternal grandfather's) first name. That is whom James is pictured with in the above photo, along with his great-grandmother. I am so glad I caught such a precious moment in a picture!

We pray so much that James, along with the girls, will live to love and serve the same God that his ancestors served so faithfully.

Favorite Edit of the Week

You Are My Sunshine . . .

My only (well, one of three) sunshine,

You make me happy when skies are grey . . .

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

So please don't take my sunshine away!

A New Favorite Picture

He is such a sweetie!

In case you're wondering, I got James' hat online at Simply J Crochet. You may remember James brown newsboy cap that he has on in a lot of pictures. That hat was also made by Simply J Crochet. She really does a great job!

I cannot get enough of . . .

this little guy!!!

I couldn't have asked for a sweeter third child than James is. I have two firecracker-personalitied (we'll say that's a word, okay?!?) girls ahead of him, and I don't know if I could have handled a third within three years! That's a lot of energy for this mama to help expend! James, however, is so laid back. He rarely cries, and just observes and takes everything in that's happening around him (and believe me, there's always a lot going on!).

He is definitely a mommy's guy, but he absolutely adores his daddy, too. He's such a love!

I can't even believe that he's six months old! He recently started rolling over, and I don't think that it'll be much longer until he's crawling.

Just wanted you to know a little more about my little guy!