news from chicago: Mid-Month Update

I cannot believe we're halfway through September! Yikes! Where did the summer go? And how on Earth do we have a child who is 16 and half months old????? James is all boy. Most of you may be thinking, well yes, he is a boy. But, this month, James has discovered leaves that crumble and that crunch when you walk on them, the awesomeness of sticks and the all powerful, ever so cool, rock. Oh yes. We've begun to find all sorts of things like this very cool. Mom has also discovered she lacks the vocabulary to describe these things.

Dad has helped Mom a lot. Mom told Dad she wasn't sure what to say when James would tap the rock with the stick. Should I use stab? How about use poke, the stick pokes the rock. Ah, of course. Also, Mom was finding herself saying, "isn't this stick beautiful?" but now says, "isn't this stick really cool? look how it can stick in the ground!" Dad has also taught Mom how to build things with sticks etc. Mom was a little ballerina who loved playing Barbie growing up. Not so much with the sticks and the rocks. But, we're learning. It's a process.

James and his first rock. When Mom told Dad about James finding his first rock, Dad wanted to see it and Mom told him it was still in the park. As this is not the thing to do with first rocks, we all went to go get the rock from the park and now the "first rock" is at home with us.

In our house.

I am also very proud to say that I actually picked bugs off of James without squealing. James sat on a tiny ant hill under some leaves and immediately the ants wanted to know what happened. So, I had to take them off of his legs and hands. Ew. I mean, inside I was totally freaking out but I managed to maintain the facade of coolness in front of my child. Small victories.

So we've also been learning how to play with other things too. Like .... PLAY-DOH!!!! Mom had some from when she was writing her master's thesis a few years back. Someone said that playing with the play-doh helps relax the mind. Did the trick. Then I found it the other day and thought we could try it. James didn't even try to put it in his mouth. He did a great job. His favorite is the blue color and he just walks around with it. He loves to have us put another color in his other hand and he squeezes it. Hilarious.

Saying "a do" and handing Mom the top of the container while Dad is busy creating various items on the floor. Please notice that most of the tops are off, as it is strongly encouraged by James.

James saying "no" while holding his blue play-doh

James also loves to hand us things and says "a do" which in that case means, "Mom or Dad, I would like for you to open this please and for you to do it quickly" but in other cases, it means, "I would like very much to do that all by myself and if you don't let me, I will cry and say a do much, much louder." Mom and Dad are actually quite skilled at deciphering the various phrases and pointings of one James Douglas. He's trying to talk so badly. When we eat various things, he says, "Num num." How. adorable. No is also changing a little too. He now says no with different tones of voice. If any of you have seen The Simpsons, the character that says, "a-yeaassss" like a high and then low - this is how James is saying No sometimes. It's really funny.

James has been drinking from cups all by himself and starting to feed himself more and more. Halfway through meals, we get 'a do' and then before we know it James has commandeered the utensils and the bowl. Speaking of food .... I can officially say that James is not allergic to peanut butter. We did it! I still keep the benedryl out on the counter anytime I serve James peanut butter just in case. But we haven't needed yet and he's had it about 6 times. He loves little peanut butter cheerio sandwiches.

Anyone who has been to our house knows about our fridge and all the photos on it. James LOVES to be held in front of the fridge and point to everyone, especially himself and hear Mom say every one's names. Tiny has also been coming out more and more. Tiny has joined us at the table more times than Mom's ego would like to admit. Tiny gets fed goldfish and is offered the sippy cup as well. James is very much a loving little guy. Needs to make sure Tinster is doing well. Tiny even made it out to Whole Foods and accompanied James on the car trip to and from Montessori.

And as a side note - isn't it great it's football season again? For the first time, Mom and Dad were excited to watch a college football game because wait for it - SMU WAS ON TV! AND WON! And also, the Bears squeaked out a win over Detroit thanks to a not completing the process call. Talk about a guilty win. But, hooray for SMU and the Bears!

As always, a few of our favorite photos.

With Dad before our 'meet and greet' at Montessori