Eddie's Football Game

How cute are these pajamas?!?! I love them on him -- they even have pretend cleats on the footie!
OBSESSED with his belly button lately -- he says "phhssssss" to fill it up

All ready for the Colts game! Thanks, Aunt Kiki and Uncle Larry for the sa-weet outfit!

Everyone was actually up at a decent hour, so we joined Jamie while she watched Eddie play flag football. The weather was actually nice, just a pretty strong breeze on the open field. James had his breakfast "to go" while enjoying the action.

Uncle John and Aunt Bailey walked over with Duncan and Nanuq :: Uncle John was nice enough to take James for a walk too :-) James thought it was hilarious and couldn't stop giggling!

Then he wanted Mommy to pretend to be the dog...that didn't last long.

Eddie's team didn't win, but it was nice to get out of the house and a start on the day.

We'd been talking about s'mores for awhile, so Jim got the fire pit going and some of the neighbors joined us for a mid-day s'mores feast.

Uncle John's new training technique

Pumpkin Farm

Dramatic play witch's hat :: $1 :: Thank you, Target, your $1 Spot gets me every time
We went back to Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm to try and get a picture of James in the pumpkins like last year. He wasn't too happy about being in the stroller, he wanted to be a big kid like Abby and Bella, but it was a great way to tire him out for a great afternoon nap!

Picking out a lil' guy

We played peek-a-boo around Linus

James is now obsessed with "Elmo" -- seriously, he's even called me Elmo

Taking a break with Daddy

The great big wooden chair (lasted all of 20 seconds before he decided it was really boring and tried to get off -- he was also mad we made him leave the slide)

Lots of Pumpkins!

A sign of things to come and that fall is right around the corner :: two of the leaves on the maple tree in the backyard have turned fall-red
The slide was a huge hit, he was soooooo mad at us for making him leave it!

Elephant Noises

James trying on the AT&T service man's work boots (we had a line knocked out when they installed U-verse -- all good now)

Ready for some Bears football in the afternoon and Colts at night for the Manning Bowl 2010.

Bears Butt

James has added an elephant to his repertoire of animal imitations :-)

Weekly re-cap ::

• James actually got "all" circled on his lunch sheet at school (never happens, usually "some" is circled) -- guess he LOVES meatballs
• He has been practicing "up" and "down" and knows they go together
• Slept for +12 hours both Friday and Saturday night

Giddy Up! Dance Move

Hanging out with Daddy on the couch
Freaked out when I tried to take the binkie, but was happy as a clam with it

Looking for bargains
And the best for last....featuring James' newest dance move -- to be named, suggestions?

Room Re-dec

Abby, Bella and James learning how to picket for better legislation for teachers -- start 'em early
The picture below of James as a lion was featured in the school's weekly newsletter -- very exciting stuff!

Re-decorating the front bedroom was a major summer project of mine (and now fall project). I had to strip all the ugly flowered wallpaper, scrape and wipe and sand and wipe and Spackle and wipe down the walls.

2 layers of primer; 2 layers of blue paint on the storage shelves and lighting

2 layers of puppy paws brown on the walls

Just have to touch up the ceiling (I'm a horrible free-hander for cutting in), paint the trim and window frames and door and the quarter-round and shelf doors...then it's time to decorate! I have many ideas floating in my head about what to do in here, can't wait to see how it turns out :-)

We have a 1 1/2 year old!!!!

How in the world did this happen so quickly?!?!?! How is James already one and a half years old?!?!?! I still have pain from my c-section, surely this isn't possible that he's already this old?!?!?
Everything goes into the mouth -- gotta watch this kid like a hawk!

James had his 18-month doctor appointment :: back on the charts, WOO HOO! Go James! Well, go James at drinking your Kid's Essentials everyday -- those guaranteed 240 calories are definitely working! He was up to 22.2 pounds (3rd percentile; from off the charts at 19.2lbs at 15-months) and 30 inches tall (9th percentile) with a 47.2cm head circumference (lots of brains = big head, right, putting him in the 50th percentile there). Poor kid got 3 shots, including his flu shot, so hopefully that stays out of our house this year! He passed with flying colors on all the physical developmental stuff (+3 word, check!; autism questionnaire, check!; drinks from sippy, check! imitating mom and dad, check!) and is catching up on the teeth (9 total now -- popped out a molar last week)! Overall, he's lookin' darn good if we must say so ourselves :-) Very proud of all our 18-month old has accomplished so far and can't wait to see what he has in store for us next! We love you, Bug!!!!

We Meet Ms. Ainsley!

James was very excited to meet a "baaaby" -- although it doesn't look like it from the picture, he did a fantastic job using "tull" (or "gentle" to us) touches around Ainsley and has been practicing on the babies at school...only bad part, he usually goes for the eyes, whoops!
Proud Aunt Cassie with Ainsley Elizabeth -- who's workin' the diva outfit at 4 days old :-)

Had to post this picture because of Ainsley's facial expression -- if you remember, the "O" face was one of ours and Kristen's favorites of James' when he was this age

Beautiful little girl!

Madilynn posing with Uncle Jim -- she's in baby heaven with both Ainsley and James around

I didn't think Uncle Jim was going to give Ainsley up :-)

How a daddy looks when he doesn't get much sleep the night before because of a baby girl who has her nights and days mixed up...hopefully that changes soon!

Aunt Dani being silly with Ainsley...she wanted to stretch out after Uncle Jim made her hot (he's a human heater) and I changed her diaper....if you look closely, you can see another similarity of hers and James :: they both have the kiss spot swirl at the top of their head :-)

Aunt Dani trying to imitate Ms. Ainsley -- she's much more cute while yawning than I :-)