Friday, November 6, 2009

More Park Pics




Landing his jump off the curb:


And running:



James loves to run.  We chase him through open fields, around the house, and of course at the park.  For a kid who we thought only had one lung, or was sure to have asthma, or some kind of lung problem, James' constant energy and his love of running keeps us hopeful that we have indeed put CDH behind us.  We're hopeful that James will indeed eventually talk, when he wants to.  Until then, we're enjoying our handsome, adventurous, musical, dancing little boy Jas.

Monday, November 2, 2009

More Halloween: Black and Whites

Because sometimes B&Ws are more fun:


Hanging out with his Godfather



With his Grandma



Jas giving his Grandpa a kiss



And now Grandma's turn




Sunday, November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween 2009!

Our Halloween was filled with lots of cooking and chasing James around, trying to get him into his costume.  James was a house elf for Halloween (from Harry Potter) which was fun and simple since we didn't like any of the store bought costumes.  Plus, we got to reuse the Yoda ears :)


Nick, Jackie & James

Derrick & James: rockin the magical world costumes

Jackie & James in matching togas:

Whipping up the cake batter:

Our Halloween Sweet Potato Spice Cake:

It was so good!  Chocolate cream cheese frosting on the outside and orange cream filling inside.

One of the Apples to Apples hands...the category was "Scary" (Ben Stiller is being taken out as NOT scary):

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Nothing Important Happened Today

Tuesday was supposed to be a big day.  We had scheduled an appointment with First Steps (part of the Yolo County Office of Education) to evaluate James and to create a contract of where we want James to have progressed in a year in terms of language.  First Steps was to tell us where James stands exactly in terms of his development.

The appointment was at 3pm which meant that Steph had to skip class.  Steph's brother drove to Davis to buy a new computer from the University's Bargain Barn and because of our pending appointment, we had to kick him out early.  We spent the whole day making sure the house was in perfect order because the First Steps team was meeting at our house to evaluate not just James, but his surroundings.

When First Steps arrived at the house, we were greeted by four women bringing in tubs of toys and lots of folders filled with papers.  We met, in order: an educator, a speech therapist, a child psychologist, and a child development specialist.

James was still sleeping (he had just gone down for his nap little over an hour before they arrived) and we woke him up so the First Steps team could meet him.  James, of course, was rather upset about this.  He buried his face into Nick's chest and refused to look at them.  He was so tired.  And that's when we got the news.

They informed us that because they had read the MIND Institute's evaluation for themselves, they were not going to do their own evaluation.  In fact, they weren't going to work with James at all.  Instead we were to go through the Alta Regional Center whom First Steps is close with and that we should hear from them soon.

And that was it.  The big tub of toys was not used.  The papers in the folders were not handed out. We got two business cards and a "nice to meet you" and that was it.

Why couldn't they have told us all of this information over the phone?  Why even come to the house with all of the equipment and allow us to wake our son from his nap when they weren't even going to look at him?  Didn't they realize that we had been planning this for over a week?  What a waste of time.  Steph could have gone to class.  We could have spent more time with Steph's brother.  James could have gotten a decent nap.  But it's done and over with and at least we know where to go next.

You'd think that people who work in the Office of Education would realize the needs of the community they serve.  But even the most important officials can overlook the obvious, whether they be specialists in child development...or kings.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Apple Hill Fun

This weekend was full of adventure as James' Grammy drove up on Friday to play with us.  We got up early on Saturday to begin our activities: Skyped with Aunt Katy, drove to Apple Hill, explored the pumpkins and the orchards and the crafts, picked up some delicious fudge, and drove home with homemade apple pie.  Finished off the day with burgers, pie and butterbeer and a movie :)

James staking out the pumpkins:


"Here's my pumpkin!"


The view (Apple Hill is in the Sierra foothills):




Ducks!








Picking up our pumpkins:








James on the nature trail...sliding down a hill:


Sleepy time:


We had so much fun!  We did also have plans to go to the Dixon Corn Maze, the Guinness World Record Largest maze in fact (part of Cool Patch Pumpkins, a real pumpkin patch...acres and acres of pumpkins still on their green vines...one of the perks of living in ag country), except that it was massacred by the typhoon remains that hit California.  It left the 43 acres of 11 feet high corn stunted at a wanting 3 feet.  Oh well.  We were tired anyway from the hours we spent up at Apple Hill.  And Nick's back was hurting from bending over the washing machine all day on Thursday trying to find out what was wrong with it (we figured it out and are ordering the necessary part).  Whew!

Thanks Grammy for hanging out with us!  We can't wait until our next visit!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Parks are for Playing



Playing at our local park, one of James' favorite activities. He's wearing his new rain boots for the early arrival of our rain season.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Cozy Time



As you may know, James ditched the crib early. By the age of 14 months, he was climbing out of it so we intervened with a mattress on the floor. He wasn't ready for any height yet since he still rolled all over the place. However, James has showed us consistently over the past few months that he is ready for a big bed. Right now he's on a twin mattress and box spring. We're testing this out to make sure everything's fine before actually putting him in the bed frame.

We found Nautica bedding that matches his crib bedding which was quite exciting as we wanted to stick with James' bedroom theme. The pictures above feature James' summer bedding; we also found a winter comforter set to go with a set of flannels that Grammy had given Nick. Also, not only does all of James' new bedding continue the colors and design of his crib bedding (but in a more adult fashion) and tie in our wonderful existing flannel sheets for his bed, but they will all look beautiful with our cherry bed frame James inherits from Dad.

Watching James interact with his new bed has been so fun. He loves to climb in and pull up the covers and just lie there or bring a book with him and read. It's pretty darn cute :)