16 Months

James, you're 16 months and growing up to be such a fun, spirited little boy! 

Your words: Wow!! what's this? Ball. Muuum (for Mom)

Things you like: 

your blanket and a pacifier. Eating with a spoon. Reading lots of books! playing with Daddy at night. picking blueberries. eating lots of fruit. play chase around the house. jumping/falling on pillows. standing on chairs (which you're not suppose to do!) Throwing balls. bath time.

 screaming when you're excited or upset. pushing your stroller

 Foods you enjoy eating:

avocado, cherry tomato, cheese, Greek plain yogurt, almond butter/honey sandwiches, pretzels, lots of fruit - berries are your favorite, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries!!!

Places we like to go:

Park in Tamo to swing, slide and sit on the seesaw. Golden Gardens to play at the beach, find rocks, put your toes in the water and point at the boats. Seattle Zoo. Wallingford market on Wednesday's where we listen to live music, eat apples, play with the toy tractors and meet up with Gwen, Devyn and Miller!

We love you so much and enjoy you every single day! You make us laugh constantly and remind us how blessed we are! Love, your parents

5 months & counting..

Its Sat afternoon and you're taking a nap........ so I thought this would be a perfect time to capture some of the daily happenings around here before I forget!

On September 6th we took you in for your 5 month appointment - where we learned you now weigh 16.9lbs! I was only half surprised. You do seem to be growing constantly and learning new things everyday!


A couple weekends back, we went camping with Peter, Maria and Santi. It was your first time sleeping under the stars - and it was a big success. As far as we could tell - you boys loved every min of it!






New tricks: 
You like to suck on and study your toes 
making bubbles with your mouth
rolling over from back to tummy... and then from tummy to back (very proud!)
sleeping on your side
laughing hysterically when i tickle you
missing daddy when he walks out of the room
bouncing, even when you're not in your bouncy chair- you're addicted and cant stop!
pushing the musical button on your saucer chair with your forehead (even though you can do it with your fist)

You and Brian became fast friends up at their boat on Roche Harbor this summer!

Hanging with the boys! 

What are little boys made of?

Slugs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

James at 4 months

 

  His nursery 

 

Playing with Dad

bath time! 

Nap time with Sophie 

Memories

Memories

Yesterday, March 11th, marked one month until our babies due date. It was also the first day (that I know of, or that I could feel) he had the hiccups!

Here is a picture of me and my sister-in-law Abbey!

She had Grace a day after this picture was taken - fun memories!!

xoxo

Heather

Baby in the Spring

Our lives are about to change in a big way, come Spring time! We're expecting a baby boy on April 11th and will (most likely) name him James Patrick McDermott.

Our doctor suggested writing special moments/milestones down throughout the pregnancy to share with him, when he is older. I've been terrible about that and just hope I can remember little things down the line.

I remember our first sonogram, when we heard the heartbeat for the first time. I had been so worried up to that point that when we heard it loud and clear, tears ran down my cheeks. I felt like things were going to turn out ok.

Another big moment was during our second ultrasound, when we got to see how developed the little guy already was!

Things I've noticed:

Spending all day.. everyday.. with him has given me a chance to pick up on little things. I often wonder if it will be part of his personality, or just a result of being tucked into a nice warm ball with almost no room to stretch out.

His legs/feet have been on my right for over a month now. Every time I rest or lay on my side he starts kicking and wont let up until I re-adjust. It not like I feel a few kicks like he is checking things out and wondering why the walls are closing in - its like he is telling me to stop that, he wants his space back! Happens every time!

He also gets restless if I rest an arm on my stomach, just like his dad, and will continually move if I put any pressure on my stomach. I could sit in the same position for hours and hardly move if I'm reading a good book or watching a movie. If Joe is on the couch relaxing, and I rest an arm or leg over his.. it will stay that way for a few min (at most) before he gets fidgety.. it's like they don't like being trapped. = )

Nursery so far.. we put the crib up but are waiting to assemble the dresser and for the rocking chair/glider to arrive. More pictures to come!

We had our fist (of 2) parent classes at the hospital last night. Joe was really attentive, supportive and lighthearted - which made me feel better about the fear in childbirth. I'm glad he's going to be right by my side in this process.. I find different reasons to love him every day.

Milan Italy

Milan Italy

I'm sorry... but who doesn't love shopping, coffee, gelato, pasta, cheese, red wine & pastries??

In my 24 hour visit this May, I managed to have and do everything listed above... twice! ; )

This is my second post, journal the trip I took with my parents to Germany to visit my brother Ben and the side trips we were fortunate enough to take!

This is a picture of the Galleria in Milan Italy, built in 1861. It is the site for many luxury goods' shops, including Prada, Massimo Dutti (where Ben got my birthday scarf!), Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The Galleria connects two of Milan's most famous landmarks: The Duomo and the Teatro Alla Scala.

We went to Louis Vuitton and I was struck by how beautiful it was, even from the outside. There are marble floors leading to the entrance. Everything was so glamorous inside the two story store- I felt like I was in a museum.

Above: The Milan Cathedral, know for its Gothic architecture and my dad, walking up to it for a tour!

I loved it here! We really scored big time at dinner that night... getting a table for 4 at a restaurant called Maruzzella, a family-run Sicilian seafood place. I thought it was our best meal.. with a pitcher of red wine, oven baked pizza for me, bacon/egg-nog sauce pasta dish for my mom, ceviche for my dad and a traditional fried chicken dish for Ben.

We topped it all of with one tiramisu and four forks!

ps. Thinking of Susanna - as she is enjoying her summer in Bologna Italy!!

Trip to Europe in March

During my trip to visit Ben in March, my parents and I not only got to see his home in Germany, we took side trips to Brugg Belgium {chocolate & waffles}, Belgian Belgium {beer at the monastery called Westvleteren brewery}, Interlaken Switzerland {best base jumping}, Milan Italy {fashion capital} & Colmar France {for the wineries}.

I'll post several times with pictures and notes on the places we went, starting with Colmar France.

We spent the day driving in the wine country, stopping for a tasting at a family owned winery called Andre Blanck and bought several bottles of wine, took a tour of the winery {family owned 7 generations} and walked the small City of Alsace, just outside the walls of where the wine was barreled. It was so beautiful - a day I will never forget!

Highlight: eating breakfast with everyone in the morning at the hotel before venturing out. My mom and brother ended up going back to the room and my dad and I stayed to drink more coffee (shocking). He told me stories about his childhood and about my grandma Janine Hall (whom I idolize). I learned that she often took him and my two uncles to a park Saturday mornings and build a fire to cook breakfast before fishing or playing baseball, on weekends my grandpa was busy. Just hearing my dad retell the story made it so special. I could tell he looks back on his childhood with fond memories - and thanks to him, so do I.