27 weeks old

Sorry for the delay in updating. Today I just looked at the calendar and realized that it's April tomorrow! I think I say this in every post, but the rate that the days go by when you have a baby is just astonishing. 

I have some very exciting news to share with everyone... 

We are moving back to Minnesota on May 26th! 

{yaay!}

Only a little under a two months left in England and we're trying to make the very best of every day. We've got a city-break holiday planned for April 9th-10th in London. Will be the perfect opportunity to get lots of pictures of James in front of the classic London monuments to put in his baby book. We're planning on spending a day at the London Zoo-weather permitting of course! Then dinner with our London-based friends and then a day at the Natural History Museum. It should be a good time and a nice little get away from Nottingham. It's no Barcelona.... but definitely the next best thing :)

Oh, last weekend we spent in Ruskington visiting Kev's Dad and step-mum. I absolutely love it at their house. They have a huge back garden and his dad is a retired Royal Air Force chef so the food is ALWAYS spectacular. James adores them both so he really has a good time there as well. The foundation and main part of their house was built in 1775! They still have the original fireplace that's in the dining room and part of the kitchen is original as well. Kev's dad always has a ghost story to tell. The best one so far:

Kev's step-mum always places her makeup case on the top of the stairs so that she doesn't forget to bring it to work. One morning she placed it at the top of the stairs and turned back to get something out of the bathroom. When she returned to gather her things before leaving the makeup bag was gone. She spent the remaining time she had that morning searching for it but had to give up as it could not be found. She spent the next few weeks trying to look everywhere for it and eventually had to buy all new makeup. One night, a few months later, Kev's dad and step-mum were sitting in the living room (which is directly in front of the stairs) just watching TV when they both heard a crash and saw her makeup bag fall down the stairs. 

Spooky!

So their house is haunted by a friendly, mischievous ghost who likes makeup. I haven't seen anything happen, thank goodness, but that's not to say that something won't happen this weekend as we're going back to visit with Kev's sister and her 3 year old daughter.... naw :) Just some good ol' British drinking and hopefully loads of outside time in the garden.

Anyway, here are some of the latest James pictures. We've run out of room on the memory card in the camera so we haven't been taking many pictures at the moment. Really have to go out and buy a new one!

Lots of Love,

~M.

{playing with the new balloon from Nana Nell}

{relaxing with a baby rusk in hand}

{mmm! nectarines!}

6 Months Letter To James

To my dearest little man, James

6 months ago you were sitting in this very room only hours after we brought you home from the hospital. You were so tiny, all 6 lbs 14 oz of you, dressed in your tiny newborn clothes that seemed to swallow you up. We had you wrapped up like a little burrito, snug and warm so you could feel protected. Your little head fit perfectly in my hand and you were born with smooth silky hair that reminded me of a new little puppy's fur. Your dad and I just sat there watching you, completely unsure what to do next.... 

We got to the hospital on time, and I had you only 3 hours after arriving. Your birth was in the birthing pool and you came out as healthy as could be, screaming your little lungs out. I can still remember the very distinct, intoxicating, newborn smell that you had when I first got to hold you, and it was unlike anything that I've ever smelled before. I couldn't stop looking at you. You were so much more beautiful than I ever imagined you to be. Nothing could prepare me for the feelings that flooded through me as I looked you over for the first time, and there are no words that could ever describe it. From that day on, time has only gone by quicker and quicker. Before I knew it you were a month old, 3 months, now 6!

Everyday that I pick you up from your crib for the first time, you seem to change and grow over night. And every morning I completely fall in love with you more and more. Your personality develops and you show us new little pieces of yourself, you're like a little flower that's blooming very slowly over the months. It's so hard for me to believe that you've been here for 6 months already. It's almost impossible to look back at the life we had before you arrived. It's like you've been with us forever, but yet so new at the same time. To us you seem so old, so big, so silly, so much your own little person with likes and dislikes, to everyone else: you're still very much a little baby. 

Looking back, you have changed me into such a different person that I used to be. I can't believe the patience that you've taught me. You have taught me how to look at the world through your eyes, new and big and exciting! It absolutely cracks me up the way you turn your head to look at cars and people and wheels on things and puppies while we're taking walks with the stroller. Your desire to grow and get around is astonishing. I can be out of the room while you're on the floor for 5 minutes and you've managed to get to a toy across the floor. It's like you come up with new tricks every day. Like you've been scheming and making plans in that little head of yours for days and then you finally get to try your skills out. I can't believe how much you've learned in the past 6 months! I can't believe how much I've learned in the past 6 months as well! I'm just thinking of how quickly the next 6 months will go by and how many more new things you will learn in that time span. 

You have truly made our lives better than we could have ever imagined them to be. You are the most amazing thing that's ever happened to us and we still are just in awe that you're ours. We are so happy and privileged to call you our son! We love you with everything we've got and are looking forward to the next 6 months and beyond with you. 

6 Months Old Today!

He's half a year old! It's definitely been the best 6 months of my life so far. James has taught me so much and I couldn't ask for a better little guy. He's shown me how to look at the world in a new way and how to really appreciate every day. Kev and I are always laughing at his funny little ways and now he's laughing at us, laughing at him! 

some of his favourites:

-looking at wheels on cars, other strollers, etc. while we're out for walks

-grabbing my hair and having a good taste

-pulling on daddy's nose

-bath time

-pears

-cuddling with his blanket and his dummy

it's a wonderful day in the neighborhood...

No real significance for the title other than it's completely beautiful here today! The weather is absolutely lovely, the daffodils are up and blooming and the birds are singing and we can keep the windows open. Yay for spring time in England! Only 2 more weeks till daylight saving time...

This morning was actually worthy of a blog entry. We got up early, got ready and went out for a walk to the high street for some coffee and breakfast for a change of scenery. Kev had to head off to work for the day so having a little family time before 6 pm was really nice! 

Some Baby Led Weaning News....

James is doing absolutely fabulously with weaning! He's becoming quite the little pro at picking up foods and smashing them into his mouth. We made a Sunday roast dinner and gave him a little taste of all the different veggies. He loved the mashed potatoes and broccoli as you can see from this pic...

He's also quite the fan of green beans....

6 months milestones

He's also teaching himself new tricks (these always seem to be happening while I'm out of the room) He's decided that he doesn't want to lounge in his bouncy chair... he's got to be sitting up to see everything! I came into the living room to find him like this....

He's also figured out how to take off his socks and has got me searching around for matching ones all the time. Oh, and if he's not kicking his feet around, they're in his mouth! Basically, everything is in his little mouth these days. 

Well, that's enough blogging for a Saturday afternoon :) Will post again soon. 

Ciao!

 

a few pictures from the past 10 days

[no teeth yet!]

[having a good chew]

[taking a play break]

[such a happy little jumper]

Shropshire Weekend Pictures

oooooooooooooooooh it's lovely!

My apologies for not updating the blog in the past week! It's amazing how quickly they go by these days. Last weekend was spent in Shropshire visiting Kev's nan and aunt and uncle. It's located right on the border of Wales and it is absolutely beautiful. There are hills everywhere and road signs are in Welsh (prydferth=lovely!). It was a really good weekend. James loved all the attention and was very happy being passed around for a cuddle with everyone. 

We had really yummy soup at Cath and Si's house on Sunday before setting home. I would have to say that their house is one of my favourite places here in England. The live nestled in the hills surrounded by gardens. Their actual house is an old converted barn with a rustic interior and the best, biggest kitchen ever! You can see for miles when you're standing in their yard too, and it's just beautiful there on a sunny day. They also have a great dog named Jet and she loves to play fetch. James was very interested in her, but I can't say the same about him (as he was stealing all of her attention!). Little Mister slept the whole way home so I got lots of reading time, yay!

In other news....

Papa Kev passed his theory driving test on Friday! Yay! Now he's just got a few hours of practical driving lessons and he can take the driving test. Yay! Gooooooooo Kev! 

We are also looking at tickets for Rome! We are so excited to take our first family holiday and to completely indulge ourselves in real Italian food. Kev and I are trying to catch up on some Italian phrases so we can get by without looking like complete tourists. We'll have to practice them on James and see what he thinks. :) Can't wait for April!

I think that's about it... my family is currently sunning themselves in lovely Ft. Myers, Florida for the next week so a huge shout-out to them. Please think of us whilst slurping on daiquiris and swimming in the pool getting all tan! 

Signing off, hopefully I'll update a little quicker this week! 

Love to all,

~Mel