more adorable James...

I never get tired of it, why should you?

I guess I'm one of "THOSE" mothers, who pull out their wallets and out drops 50 pictures of their kid. But my wallet is my blog, and you're only here because you want to be, anyway, so... get used to it. I am going to post tons of pictures of James :) And maybe to some of you they will all look the same :) but, of course, each one is different and priceless to me!

I actually particularly like these last two, and am thinking about getting one or so of that set (I have more, you know it) blown up.

What James is up to today: growing a tooth (you can already see it and feel it, but it still needs to pop up proper like...) and sleeping with his eyes half open. I don't know if the Goodmans do this, but I have seen my little brother David, do it. It is freaky looking!

And, for those of you who don't know yet, we are planning a short trip to Virginia this month. It was a last minute sort of decision, we are still applauding ourselves for being spontaneous travelers (for once!)... although, we had been talking for months about wanting to join mom and dad and the kids when they went, just didn't think it would happen. Then... their trip coincided with Ron's 6 days off and we thought we should take the opportunity. I haven't been to see that side of the family since I was about 10. I am looking forward to seeing/meeting relatives, showing off James (the theme of this entry, I guess), and seeing my great grandmother's grave. And grandma and grandpa Burchell's graves, too...

It will be a time of remembering for me. I will look at that old farmhouse and remember how excited Sarah and I were to sleep under a canopy bed, for instance... or how Grandma Davis killed that snake on the guesthouse porch. And then a lot of memories from before that time. And a lot of thoughts and words that I never got to say to any of them.

And we will get to see Dad's family that will embrace us and feed us southern cooking and gush over us. And through it all I will get to play with my siblings, and they will get to exclaim over how big James has gotten. And to see Mom and Dad... these are the best things. the living things!

It will, I think, help ease the longing for home at Christmastime. But who am I kidding, we'll still long for home then, even while we have a wonderful time making our Christmas with James here.

spinning

Ron had to show James the washer "spinning", since he liked it so much himself as a child. I don't know if James knew what to make of it, but he seemed to enjoy it. James is really more into ceiling fans himself, and likes to laugh at ours :)

sleepy James

i love that he took one sock off here :)

improvise...

getting ready for bed with Dad.

We call this "magic daddy"... When all else fails.

This. Always. Works!

first oatmeal

I think Ron is more excited at this point :)

overall, we thought it was "ok"... maybe we'll try again, James says...

our Saturday.

well, we have lived here for a couple weeks now.

still not unpacked. getting there. I thought briefly of the Incredibles, when she unpacks the last box three years later, says it's official now, and laughs *hahaha*. I realize that moving around the country every year or two or three from now on, I do not have that kind of time :)

Some big boxes that are in the way right now of everything are rummage boxes. I don't know where we found all this junk or why we still have it, but we are purging now. In a few short weeks, someone else can have my junk. I would gladly give it away, but if they want to pay me for it, all the better.

James :)

James rolled over last Sunday for the first time! He still gets his little arm stuck under him (back to tummy), but I still considered it a roll. He continues to try to conquer that final trick. He will try so hard, alternately shrieking frustration or sighing resignation. Sometimes he gets tired of trying for a bit and will plop his little head down for a small rest and thumb suck. So adorable.

I see that gleam in his eyes, like he's already ready to be exploring my bookshelves and cupboards. Only a little bit of time left before he will be able to, and then... what then? How will I get anything done during a day? I have the feeling he will be a good and thorough explorer, too :)

Ron is working this weekend again. Our weekend is coming up, though (Mon-Wed). Today I will probably be meeting a friend for lunch, trying to unpack something, and working our way through the library books for James.

If you can't get a hold of me...

try calling my cell phone.

We will probably be without internet for a few days, maybe a week! I feel like I'm heading into withdrawal... I didn't even know what the internet was when I was a kid. And our first computer didn't have a desktop background or anything. Just a blinking little bar... Even now I don't consider myself very technically savvy, but the internet. Now that's something I really use to communicate with people and check up on everyone! Hopefully I will not miss seeing those first pictures posted of Grant, my amazing new nephew! :)

Off to finish packing, then to move our little lives. I have thought about how good this house has been for us. How nice it's been to start a family here, despite some inconveniences. The house is special to me because we made it a home, and we loved it so it loved us back. I think 3825 will always be fond of us, just as we will of it. No matter all the differences with the landlord and manager, 3825 knows who we are. Has seen how we live, has watched us love and grow here. It's almost like we will still share a secret with this house long after we leave. So goodbye and thank you, little house. I will hold nothing against you. I will think of you fondly. I will remember the country roads that saw many walks/runs/bike rides...

The other side of the coin is a longer story full of injustice and tears. So we move :) I have learned some lessons here. Not just about being more careful about who we business with in the future, or keeping meticulous records. I have learned about myself. And I'm going to stop there, and just think about those nuggets rather than tell you about them...

I am looking forward to settling into our little duplex, with the ugly brown carpet that I knew Ron would love. That's exactly what he said when he saw it :) It's always exciting to arrange things in a new place. Tomorrow I will set up my kitchen.

The other day I killed a banana spider. Countless cockroaches have been squashed here. I don't go barefoot in my own house. Today a mouse scurried out of my way. These are things I won't miss. But I'm sure it could be worse :) Regardless, I don't think the new place will have the kind of problems we've had here with pests!

Rather anticlimatic way to end this post, but I must be going! Ron is home for his 6 day "weekend" and we are excited to pack!!

sleepy James

I just had to show you this picture of James this afternoon. This is the fastest I've posted anything on my blog to date! I just thought he looked so adorable, and when I checked on him playing I had to laugh at what I found!