Almost 8 months old.

I've been out of touch on this blog for a while. We've had some good times over the last several weeks. I will try real quick to chronicle some of the bigger items, then some photos will tell the rest of the stories.

When I last wrote, James was just past 5 months old. He is now approaching 8 months old, on October 5th. He is eating solid food like a champ, sleeping 10-12 hours a night (most nights), rolling over from his back to stomach and back again, sucking his thumb, and talking up a storm (lots of "ba," "ma," and "da"). A couple of weeks ago, he began reliably sitting up on his own, though he needs some help to get to that position. He seems to love just sitting around and playing with toys, to a point.

James has also begun to exhibit a bit of good ol' baby attitude. He has learned how to get our attention and get what he wants, so he has been asserting his will more and more. As I am sure many new parents experience, this is a rock-and-hard-place spot to be in, since we are now accustomed to meeting his every need, but not sure whether all of his demands are really needs. Overall, he is a fabulously happy and settled baby, but he definitely has his moments. These moments are usually quickly forgotten as soon as you see him with his butt in the air, sleeping like an angel; or when he looks in my eyes, says "da" and smiles like he knows who I am.

Probably one of the biggest changes going on in our lives is a pending move from Greensboro to Laurinburg, NC. I have taken on some new responsibilities at work and, as a result, was asked to relocate to our headquarters office. We will miss our lives in Greensboro - especially our friends and our church - but know that God will lead us in the right direction.

Last note - if you are reading this blog, please add a comment or send me an email (deaconjeff@yahoo.com) some time, just to let me know that others are looking at this. That will help to encourage me to keep this up.

Check out the photos to come!

Melt your heart.

I love making Mommy smile.

Blowing raspberries with a full mouth is lots of fun.

Daddy and JJ

...sort of.

...trying to feed himself...

Some more eating photos...

In a very safe place.

In August, we went to Atlanta to attend Aunt Sissie's surprise birthday party. Do you think she was surprised?

Chillin' with G'G'ma Mary.

James has a button in his ear. It makes his mouth open and his tongue stick out.

Pure sweetness

As James learned to put himself to sleep, he also learned to roll over and sleep on his stomach (with butt up, of course). He also started sucking his thumb, abandoning the pasifier.

After five months of getting up every 2-3 hours in the night to nurse James, Mommy decided it was time to teach him how to put himself to sleep. Miraculously, the "Ferber" method proved to be successful within three nights. James began sleeping 10-12 hours a night!

Look at my shiny new high chair! Thanks, Great Grandma Mary!

Sometimes he gets more on his face than in his belly.

James began eating solid food while we were in Florida. He took to it like a fish to water.

Click the photos for bigger versions

Above are the latest photos and an update. Don't forget that you can click the photos on this page to see larger versions of the photos. Then, if you want to save them, that is the best version to save for printing or other use.