19 months

This past month has been a tough one! Mr. James has entered a whole new stage. It's like he flipped a switch and changed overnight. He's got so much sass and attitude now. "No" has become a favorite word and he's all of a sudden very opinionated about everything! The other day at the park I was shocked when he went up and pushed another kid! I refuse to have a mean boy so now I have to watch him extra carefully and make sure he's not bullying other kids! I want to blame it on teeth coming in, but I think it's all just part of growing up. He gets angry about the littlest things and will sit and scream in his car seat. Thankfully he's easily distractible and sometimes I can get him to calm down by pointing at things to look at outside.

James definitely knows what he wants and has become very independent. He's totally testing all limits with us.

Thankfully, I can still get him to bust a smile through his scowl. He will also give hugs and kisses per request and snuggles before bedtime.

James' newest obsession this month is rocks. Whenever he's outside, he's always looking for rocks and has at least one in each hand or pocket (he collected a bucketful of rocks in the pic below)!

I'm fine with him having rocks, until he wants to throw them.... or bang them against the glass window which he's done numerous times.

One thing's for sure - he definitely adores his big brother and I've loved watching their relationship develop as they get to spend every morning together after the girls head off to school. 

Despite all his shenanigans this month, James is still such a love and will always take out his binky and smile for a picture.

He's SUPER awesome in our book!! 

18 months!

Happy HALF Birthday to our big 18 month old!!! 

He makes us all sorts of happy!!! He's got the best smile and is just such a playful, silly little boy. 

He's been going to nursery since before he could walk but this Sunday he was officially legal! 

Sister Whetten tells us James is quite the nursery pro and acts more like the class president! 

He's total boy and loves cars, trucks, balls, rocks, bugs, dirt, and just recently busted out Cal's sword and amour and insisted on wearing it. 

He loves my protein shakes and anytime I'm drinking one, he's begging for some!

We love our sweet boy who is quick to give hugs and kisses, and loves giving high fives and fist bumps to total strangers! He's happy and friendly, and always has a smile! 

Back to School

Boppi threw the cutest FHE back to school party on the Monday after school started! 

How everyone feels about school being back in session!!

17 months!

James has totally entered the crazy stage now. He stands up for for what he wants, loudly protests if it's not something he approves of, and wants to run everywhere! He sure is cute though and is our constant source of entertainment! He loves driving Spencer's car and will jump at any chance he has of it. He hates for Spencer to leave without him.
James' new words this month were:
"turtle"
"got it"
"Uh oh"
"Ya"
"NO"

Thankfully he's mostly agreeable and answers "ya" to the majority of our questions. He's super happy, very social, and curious. He mastered the "CHEESE" for pictures this month. Any time I pull my phone out to snap and picture or even take a video, his instant reaction is to say, "CHEESE!"

His little folded arms are a favorite. It's hard not to peak in the prayer to watch him anticipate the "amen!"

Each month flys by faster than the one before and I'm trying hard to soak it all up!!

Madi's 10th Birthday!

It was a big birthday for Madi this year! This whole past year seemed like a big one! I thought 4th grade would be a snap since I used to teach 4th grade and felt like I was a pro with encouraging and motivating that age of kid. Ya, it's WAY different when it's your own kid!! The counting, or time limits, or the "I'm going to leave without you" threats no longer seemed to work. Instead, Madi would respond very matter of factly, "You're not gonna leave mom when it's ME you're taking to school." Ouch! Ya, this year was a big learning curve for me as well. This was the first year I started reading all sorts of parenting books - "How to Talk so your kids will listen and Listen so your kids will talk" . . . . . "Peaceful Parent, Happy Child"  . . . to name a couple. I learned I need to be real with Madi and more grown-up with my parenting approaches. It's been hard but it seemed to get better as the year went on.

This past year Madi started the violin - which was also an emotional rollercoaster as we figured out what worked for Madi. I was SO happy to find Ms. Dena in May who has been a phenomenal violin teacher for Madi. 

Madi learned how to knit in December and became a total knitting machine. She set a goal to knit at least one scarf a month and stuck with it (some months she did 2 scarves) until this past month when got burnt out!

Madi blossomed in so many areas this past year - in composing her own piano music, in learning acrylic painting, and even with making lifelong friends. 

Madi decided to start her own Harry Potter club this year (which really needs a post of its own), but I was so proud of her for developing and implementing her idea all on her own! She branched out and met new friends (all older and going off to Junior High unfortunately), but all wonderful friends for Madi. Which brings us to Madi's birthday. She was originally only planning on having a couple friends over for dinner, games and movie, but then she met Paige, Paris, and Mia through her Harry Potter Club and she really wanted to invite them to her birthday as well. 

Once the party started getting bigger then planned, we felt like we needed a larger backyard venue. So Madi asked Grandpa Al and Boppi if she could use their backyard for her party. It ended up being perfect! We went over the day before her birthday to help clean up the backyard and get it party ready. 

Madi had her first lawn mowing experience. 

Her birthday morning we got going early with a waffle breakfast and presents with Grandpa Al and Boppi. 

(Thanks Boppi was snapping a picture so I could be with my birthday girl!)

Then we headed off for 9:15 swim lessons at the PV pool. 

We really packed it in and went straight from the pool to a magic show at the library. Madi is obsessed with Magic and was thrilled to be called up as the first volunteer of the show.

We were able to have a little down time for naps and then headed over to set up for the party which started at 6pm.

The girls played get-to-know-you games on the trampoline while they waited for everyone to arrive. Then we had pizza, fruit, chips, and soda for dinner (sadly I didn't get a picture from dinner). Then games, presents, ice cream sundaes around the bonfire, and a movie in the gazebo.

Madi wanted to thank Boppi and Grandpa Al for hosting her birthday party, so she painted them each a picture. Anacapa Island for Grandpa Al and a beach scene for Boppi. 

I am sure proud of the sweet, amazing, talented, young lady that Madi is becoming!!