Oh the first snow fall of the season....

I love the first snowfall.  It makes me so excited.  I was especially excited to share snow with James. Then I got really excited watching him watch the snow.  Here is what I saw.

  

 

I think he thinks it is as cool as I do.

Click here to vote for James:  http://www.gerber.com/Photo/?entryid=189402&source=10086654&utm_source=Gerber&utm_medium=email&utm_content=PhotoAcceptedReminder&utm_campaign=GerberGeneration#/detail/

Vote for James

I entered James into a photo contest through Gerber.  If you think he is Gerber worthy, will you vote for him?  Click on the link below and vote.  If that doesn't work you can always use his photo ID number and search for him.  It is 189402.  Thanks a bunch!

http://www.gerber.com/Photo/?entryid=189402&source=10086654&utm_source=Gerber&utm_medium=email&utm_content=PhotoAcceptedReminder&utm_campaign=GerberGeneration#/detail/ 

You can vote once a day per computer/email if you so desire.

Fun with Grandpa Wright

Grandpa had James love and attention the minute he pulled out his cell phone.  

They spent a lot of time doing this.

And this.

And this.

And this.

And this.

And this.

Lots of cell phone playing and LOTS of jumping.

Grandpa come back and visit soon! 

8 months

Time is flying at the Wright house.  James is 8 months old and......

No where near crawling.
Wants to walk all the time but can only do it while holding mom or dad or any willing fingers.
Naps and sleeps really well.
Loves visitors - especially Aunt Stef, Grandpa Wright and the Bairs
Learned how to move forward and back in his walker. (we call them his wheels)
Loves to bang things together and especially loves spoons.
Wants to eat whatever the big people are eating or thinks he wants to.....he isn't a fan of potatoes...yet
Moves around by rolling and wriggling or by crying so someone will pick him up.
Loves to play in the tub.
Starting to get shy around people he doesn't know.
Getting protective of mom - especially when dad gives mom hugs.
Still doesn't like those baby meats - but honestly I don't think anyone could like them.  Gross.
Still loves to jump
Jabbers quite a bit
Really likes Apricots and bananas
Focuses on something and its hard to distract him or get his attention - kind of like his dad  :)
Loves to play with friends
Is so very ticklish.

Love him!

Funny Video

I thought this video was so funny.  Hope you do too.

Home Improvement #367

It feels like anytime we get a chance we are doing some sort of home improvement project.  Hopefully when we decide to sell our house others will consider them improvements as well.  This past weekend Rocky had just finished a rotation so we had his attention-study free attention.  I put him to work right away.

We have this awesome carpet.  We consider it luxury carpet - light cream colored, nice and thick, nice and cushy, we love it.  But we didn't love it when it got stains.  To prevent stains we put down a rug that didn't understand that it was to lay flat on the carpet.  If the rug had a goal to not be a rug it succeeded.  We somehow got stains under it and I managed to trip on it one too many times.  It was the last one too many times that determined it would no longer work as a rug under the table.

With no rug I was scared - really scared of more stains so we ate in our small kitchen, which is more like a hallway - a small hallway.

It wasn't working so we decided to get rid of the carpet and extend the tile into the dining area.

Before

During

During

After

After

This project was no different from any of the others, it ended up being more work then we anticipated.  but everyday I love it more and more.

Arrrrrggggg mateys - Halloween

Our area in Ohio set aside last Thursday as our night to trick or treat (they call it beggars night).  That was also the night that it got really REALLY cold.  So we dressed up James in his costume, took some pictures and called it a night.  Un/Luckily we don't get any trick or treaters so all the candy we bought is ours for keeps.  I had good intentions to attend our ward trunk or treat but another home project (pictures soon) got in the way.  So we have a lot of candy.  A LOT.  Please feel free to stop by for a quick sugar fix. 

 Rocky and I were invited to an awesome murder mystery dinner put on by Allyson, who is just incredible and Kevin, her partner in crime.  They -know- -how- to throw a party.  This was as dressed up as Rocky and I got this year.  My character was a depressed witch and Rocky was a modeling monster.  Rocky is awesome and usually goes along with my costume ideas.  This year involved tight leather pants. 

Photo by Allyson and copied from her blog.

The 7 month conversation

Mom:  James, you are 7 months old now.  How does it feel?

7 months? Pretty good I guess?

Mom:  Do you want to know your stats?

I don't know --- do I?

Mom:  Lets Start with your weight

17 pounds?

Mom:  Look a little closer

17 pounds and 6 ounces?

Mom:  Yes, you are getting big and strong.

Ohhhhh, I like Big and Strong

 Mom:  Let's do your height

 

 I'm nervous

 Mom:  Don't be nervous it doesn't hurt.

 

 Mom? 

Does it say what I think it says?

 .5 inches shorter???????

Mom: It is safe to say that all measurers of height are NOT the same. 

Whew - Thanks mom.

James measured 26.5 inches at his 6 month appointment and only 26 inches this time.  We didn't have an official measuring at the Dr's office so we aren't officially counting these stats...especially height.

James is getting better about being on his tummy - we aren't anywhere near crawling and I am fine with that.

He loves to give kisses

He loves to be held 

He loves to people watch

Church is getting really hard as far as napping goes

He eats any veggie we give him

He loves to touch other kids his size

He loves to taste/give big kisses to other kids his size

He loves it when dad comes home

He loves to jump

He makes so many funny noises

He gets REALLY focus on things that he is doing and if something doesn't go his way he gets REALLY frustrated and lets us know.  

He loves to go on walks

He loves to come home from walks

He is in nap transition - no fun

He wants to do whatever mom is doing.

He is sleeping 11-12 hours a night

He LOVES all things technology

He LOVES to taste all things technology 

Trying different things with the camera - that's why all the photos are different color variations. 

Applecare(s)

huh?

We had to take Rocky's macbook in once again.  This time we are getting the logic board replaced.  Luckily until February we are in a little program called Applecare.  It has saved us in the last 3 years through our MULTIPLE repairs.  I like to think that AppleCares about us until February.  I asked the Genius Bar man what it would take to continue having Applecare - about us.  He said our relationship hasn't been good and Apple will end our caring relationship February...unless they decide that they do want to care about us longer, but he said it hasn't happened for a few years and to not expect it.  I asked how I would know if Apple wanted to continue it's care, he said....."don't call us, we'll call you."

Hopefully since we have replaced almost all the parts of the macbook we will get lucky and not have to fix anything past our February 2011 breakup.

Genius Bar man told us that if we hadn't paid Apple to care, the part would have cost us 500+ and that wasn't including labor. Rocky made the following comment, "It's too bad that Applecare is such a necessity."  Genius Bar man wasn't amused.   There goes our chances for continued care.

I stand corrected

It turns out Rocky DOES have the chest hair to pull off Elvis.  It grew overnight thanks to my grandpa's secret chest hair growing recipe.  See for yourself.

That reminds me....when I was younger and a very picky eater I remember my Grandpa and my Dad telling me that if I would eat a certain food (one I didn't want to eat) that I would grow hair on my chest.  As a girl you can see how I would be so excited about that.  To this day I remain a picky eater and chest hair free.  :)

Special thanks to Grandpa S. who was the photo mastermind.

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

James did.

Well he stole part of daddy's cookie without daddy noticing.

He was feeling pretty good about himself.

Then daddy noticed that more then half of his cookie was missing.

Then daddy looked at James who had cookie on his mouth and a cookie in his hands.

Caught Red Handed - or rather Cookie Handed. 

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Some other things worth mentioning.

A patient at the hospital, who frequents Elvis Impersonator Events, asked Rocky if he was an Elvis impersonator.  She was certain that if he wasn't he should be. 

Elvis impersonator Craig Newell

I would totally agree with her but Rocky just doesn't have the chest hair for it. 

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We are all healthy again - well for the most part.  Special thanks to those who brought us dinner.  You are amazing!!!!

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I love love love Crock Pot bags.  My friend Melinda introduced them to me and well they have changed my crock pot life.  I loved cooking with a crock pot, wait, that is a lie.  I don't mind cooking with a crock pot, add in the bag that makes clean up a snap and well I can almost call Crock pot cooking a love.  If you haven't used them I HIGHLY suggest that you do.

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My Sister in Law is celebrating her birthday today 10/10/10.  I think that it is just pretty cool.

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I thought General Conference was absolutely superb.
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I now understand why church is hard with kids who nap.  We went napless for 6 hours (much tooooo long for him).  We will just say that James NEEDS his beauty sleep. 

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Go Aggies!

I'm so pumped that the Aggies beat BYU.  GO UTAH STATE.
Rocky isn't so glad.  He is sad.  He wishes the Cougars were doing better.
James doesn't care.  Weird huh?


Here is a little something that James does care about - his jumper!
This little video shows his progress......enjoy.
 

AC

The beginning of fall is a tricky time for home temperature control.  I find myself questioning whether I should open the windows or run the AC.

Joni:  Wow the temperature is so nice, I love the breeze coming through.
(windows are open)
Rocky:  Yah, why would anyone be running their AC right now
(in the background you hear someone's AC running)
Joni: I hope it isn't ours.
Rocky:  Why would it be ours, did you turn the AC on?
Joni:  Last night
(Joni checks the AC - turns it off and magically the loud AC sound goes away)
Joni:  yep its ours, Oops.

Anyone else run into these tricky fall temperature situations?

Becoming Dracula

Sometimes when people dress up in costumes and such they really get into and become the character they are portraying.  Such is the case with James.  I saw this mask for $1 and thought it would be fun to have around.  We put it on James and wah la our very own Dracula.

"James, Dracula doesn't use a binky."

"is this better mom?"

"I VANT to SUCK your BLOOD"

"no dad, I really VANT to suck your blooooood."

"rats..........

NO TEETH."