So much to catch up on and so little energy or time. Well the newest news is that we are having a baby and most of you by now probably know that. Since I have done such a terrible job keeping up with this blog though it might be difficult to "Keep up with James'" and since that is the title of my blog I either should change the title or work on my blogging.

The last few months were just like my first pregnancy where I spent most of the time with my head in the toilet. I am starting to recover but still have some bad days.

We had a great trip to North Carolina to visit my family and since it would take me forever to upload the pictures here I will just redirect you to my web albums and have you check them out there. Gavin had a great time with the leaves and the me-oh or kitten. I will try to keep you all updated.

Take Care!

Pics:

Trip to North Carolina

http://picasaweb.google.com/emaillaurajames/NorthCarolina2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCMHL6rWjvOif0AE#


Aug/Sept/Oct (some more pics from North Carolina)
http://picasaweb.google.com/emaillaurajames/AugustSeptOctober2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCO7C--PJpfv91wE#

The Open...

Since we have been traveling so much and Gavin hasn't been sleeping on all of our trips we decided to break out the portable DVD player to see if he would be entertained by it. He most certainly was but not in the way that we thought. He will watch for a few minutes and then he begins to open and close the DVD player. Once it was closed he couldn't get it open again so he would hand it to me and do his most annoying whine and then I would hand it back to him and say don't close it. Then he would begin to whine again and I would turn around and ask "do you want me to open it?" This would go on for a while. I didn't always mind because it kept him entertained. Then one day we were loading the car and he spotted the bag that carries the DVD and he pointed and said with a big grin on his face "Open." He has taken to calling it the Open since he heard me say it so much. Now when in the car he will start chanting "Open, Open, Open" and at least I know exactly what he wants. Let's hope he starts actually watching the movies soon.

6 weeks in Review

Week One...

My birthday. I turned 28. Got a laptop. That I love. Was the personal attendant at a beautiful wedding.

Week Two...

Running, biking, swimming and repeat. The fun part carb loading and still losing weight.

Week Three...

I finished my first sprint triathlon. Which if you have ever been athletic doesn't sound like much, 1/3 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 3 mile run. If you are me and don't or haven't had an athletic bone in your body it sounded like a lot at first. I always knew I would finish but since I am competitive I had goals for myself. I met my goals which was really exciting. I wanted to finish in under 2 hours and in the middle. I was 23 out 43 in my age group and finished in an hour and 39minutes. My greatest accomplishment was finishing the swim 13th out of 43 in my age group. My only regret was not listening to a trainer who said I was a strong swimmer and should start out front instead of wasting time and energy passing people. Which is what I did because I freaked out and started in the back outside. I am confident I would have finished better in the swim if I hadn't started in the back. The important thing I had a great time and I am excited to do it again next year and shave some minutes off my time. Difference next year a new bike, a fuel belt, drinking water before (got so distracted I forgot to drink enough water and cramped up on the run) and starting in the front of the swim.

Week 4...

A trip to Gig Harbor to connect with good friends. We got to visit the zoo while we were there. Gavin seemed to run from one attraction to the next squealing. He had a great time. Our friend Jessica wasvery sweet and babysat so we could go out with our friends Nicole and Ian as couples without kids. It is always a nice treat to go out without kids. It was a great trip and we are looking forward to going back for Labor Day.

Week 5 and 6...

Catching up and life after 4 busy weeks. Gavin is talking up a storm and he loves to jump now which is the funniest thing to watch.

Hopefully I will update you on this week soon. I don't know how much there will be to tell but I will be sure to tell you a story about something.

A conversation in the car...

Mama: What does a cow say?

Gavin: Mooo

Mama: What does a horse day?

Gavin: Neigh, woof woof

Mama: Oh is that what a dog says? What does Dada say?

Gavin: Mooah (blows a kiss which is how he says "I love you" sometimes)

Mama: What does Mama say?

Gavin: Nooo

This comes days after his new song the only word "No" which is repeated at various lengths and notes. I guess I win the lame mommy of the year award. Toddlers!

The attack of the soggy graham cracker

It was a quiet evening in the James house. Mike had so nicely contained Gavin and made dinner while I took a hot bath. I came to the dinner table to be surprised by steaks smothered in mushrooms and onions served with grilled asparagus. We sat down to enjoy our nice meal. Gavin decided he wanted to sit in Mike's lap. Mike frazzled from cooking dinner while chasing a busy toddler graciously scooped him. Next Gavin decided our steaks looked good he wanted to try a bite which after a couple of chews came back into the world dribbling down Gavin and Mike's shirts. After a repeat of steak sampling Mike opted to put him down in the chair next to him where Gavin began dishing piece after piece of asparagus to Mike. Gavin having sampled and spit out graham crackers decided for the dinner finale to throw the soggy graham cracker across the table at his mother. Being struck without warning square in the chest by soggy graham cracker I could do nothing but laugh non stop all the way to the kitchen where I decided dinner with a toddler was blog worthy.

That and this picture.

These are a few of my favorite things...

He makes me smile.

What I call the "you'd better let me look at that bike" look.

Why I let him look at the bike.
(Not joking this picture was taken less than one minute after the previous photo.)

Gavin's nickname "Bubba" or "Little Bubba" in this photo he is
featured with the original Bubba aka big Bubba or Uncle Bubba.

Sweet looks.

Lips I love baby lips.

Can you say Ousta? Kissy face so cute! He also looks like
this when he over pronounces no. So cute that even though
you shouldn't laugh one always does.

I walked in to find him wearing one of his new favorite accessories.
The boy loves his hats.

Me and my baby love!

You can barely see the side of Gavin's face but the kids all climbed under the table of our booth while Courtney and I had lunch. Her kids knew enough to not eat the yummies off the floor.

James Happenings...

One day we were walking to the mailbox and Gavin took off on me I chased him to the neighbors where he proceeded to climb aboard the below bike that was not his.

The neighbors said that their daughter was almost done with it and when she was they would walk it down. For the next week all he did was point at every bike he saw and he made me walk down a few bike aisle too. Ok "he made me" is a strong statement but when your 1 1/2 year old points, whines and cries as you walk past the bike aisle he might as well be holding a gun to your head.

One week later said bike arrived and Gavin begged Mike push him around the house in it for 45 minutes. We should have just gone on a walk but I don't think the weather was very nice that day and it was getting dark.

He still points at every bike that goes by and at the park he tries to get on the big kid bikes and nearly knocks them over. I have to watch him very closely. We actually had to leave on park because I wouldn't let him on a particular bike that he thought was especially cool and he threw a giant fit worthy of being dubbed a terrible twos fit. You should see his face light up at the shiny motorcycles parked in front of the gym! Priceless!