Date With Kate

James Darren and Kate have been going on weekly dates for about a month now.  This picture is from their date two weeks ago.  They had another date today but they spent most of the time asleep in their car seats.

Michigan

Last week my mom, James Darren and I flew to Michigan to see my grandmother and aunt.  I was a little nervous about going because I was not sure how James Darren would do on the plane but he did great!!! He slept the whole way there and back even through the takeoff and landing!  I just made sure to keep that passy in his mouth so he would keep sucking and not let the pressure build in his ears.  Once we were there we had a great time!  James Darren was held a lot and got lots of kisses from Granny and Aunt Carla.  While we were there we ate out a lot , it was great!  We even ate world famous chicken from Zehnders in Frankenmuth.  We also went to the Carters outlet and got James Darren lots of cute clothes for the summer and fall.  Here a few of the more than 300 pictures we took.   

Shopping at Carters

Dinner at Zehnders (James Darren wasn't too happy)

Eating out again

My Favorite! 

2 Months

James Darren turned 2 months old yesterday!  He is growing up so fast I can't believe it.  Yesterday he went for his 2 month check up.  He got 4 shots plus an oral vaccine.  He did very well and has not been having any side effects from the shots or vaccines.   Here are a few facts about James Darren at two months.

- weighs 12lbs 7oz
- 24 in long
- 16 1/2 in head

- He likes to lay on his back on his play mat and look at all the fun toys.
- He is doing better at Tummy Time but it is still not his favorite.
While on his stomach he can hold his head up and turn it from side to side.
- James Darren is also smiling a lot now.  He likes to look up at you and smile while you are talking to him.
- He is eating about 6-7 times a day and is still waking up twice during the night
- When he takes a bottle he is getting 4oz at a time and finishes it off very quickly!
- James Darren has been crying a lot when he eats and spits up, our pediatrician thinks that it might be acid reflex.  This is very common and usually starts at this age and will go away at about 9 months.
To help she has started him on Zantac and he takes it twice a day for a month.


In other big news James Darren will be making his first plane flight on Monday.  He will be flying to
Michigan to see his Great Grandmother.

Auntie Sarah

This week Auntie Sarah moved to Newnan and we got to help! :)   Auntie Sarah moved to Newnan to be a working student on a farm with a two time Olympian.   We are all very excited for Sarah and this opportunity.  On Monday we moved all of Sarah's things into her upstairs room in the converted barn where she is living.  Then on Wednesday we moved more of Sarah's things and her horses.  James Darren sat in his stroller while we moved things out of the house, onto the truck, out of the truck, and up stairs into the old hay loft.  James Darren even got to ride in the "Beast" Sarah's big blue truck!






Here are some pictures of Sarah's new place.

Big Bed

James Darren slept in his crib for the first time this week.  He took a nap in his crib on Tuesday and on Friday this week.  He is still sleeping in our room during the night but we are wanting to make the transition to his bed soon.  So, we thought this would be a good way to make the transition.  :) 

New Years!!

This year for New Years Day we went to Darren's parents house.  This was the first time that James Darren spent the night away from home.  He did really well!  James Darren was excited to see his Grammy and Poppy. They had not seen him since being at the hospital for his birth.  We celebrated the new year and also opened Christmas gifts.  It was a wonderful visit and James Darren enjoyed visiting all of his family on The Mountain.

Cotton and James Darren

Cotton, Francis, and James Darren

Gia and James Darren

Cotton, Tyler, Will, Darren B, James Darren, and Darren J

Will, Darren, James Darren, and Tyler

4 generations - Shannon, Darren, James Darren and Francis 

Christmas Day

Christmas Day we got up and went to church.  Well actually, we got up and started cooking before church so that dinner would be ready after church. Our Christmas Day church service was very nice.  It was wonderful to see our church family and celebrate Christ on Christmas Day.  After church we came home and had a wonderful dinner with ham and lots of trimmings.  After lunch we let James Darren have his Santa gifts.  Then we all opened our stockings and then our gifts to each other.  After all of that we had Birthday!  All in all we had a wonderful day.    

Also, the weekend of Christmas we went to  Calloway Garden's Fantasy in Lights.  This is one of my favorite holiday traditions.  Most years we walk through the lights for March of Dimes.  However, this year the March of Dimes walk was the Sunday after James Darren was born.  So, we opted for the trolley.  We also made a gingerbread village while watching "White Christmas"  another favorite family tradition.    

Fantasy in Lights 

Jim, Shaliah, Jami, James Darren, Darren, and Sarah 

James Darren 1 month and 1 week old 

Christmas

The weekend before Christmas we had "Christmas" with my Nana and my aunt. Unfortunately Adam, Mecca, and Silas were not able to come.  Hopefully we will be able to catch up with them soon!  We had "Christmas" on Saturday evening.  We decided to go with a nontraditional holiday meal Mexican Fiesta.   Mexican Fiesta has  rice, Fritos, chili, lettuce, tomatoes, pecans, olives, salsa, and onions.  The Mexican Fiesta was a big hit!  Sunday morning was James Darren's first time to go to Sunday morning worship.  Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

4 generations - Jim, Lucy, James Darren, and Jami 

First Month - Part 1

The first month has been a very wonderful and exciting month.  In our first month we had lots of new adventures including James Darren's first Thanksgiving and first Skype (with both Great Grandmothers).  Here is a short summary of James Darren's first checkup.
- 23 3/4  inches (2 1/4 inches longer than birth)
- 9 lbs
Looks like James Darren is going to require a LOT of food.  Three days later he was 10 lbs!

There will be more posts to come now that we are getting a routine and schedule.