Week by week 14

September 27-October 3. This was a big week. My mom went home on October 3rd. Before she left we went on a day trip and on a real trip. But those are for different posts to follow. During the few moments of down time we played at the park.We ran. (James loves running. I'm excited for when we can go together).
We scared Mommy on the tire swing that really is too dangerous for a park (in my opinion).
We cooked some more. (This time we were making some whipped cream and James really liked it. He is my son after all and whipped cream is my favorite food. Too bad I rarely make it.)
"Bebe" (as James calls him) turned 3 months. Hello thi-guhs! (That is what we call super luscious baby thighs here). Oh, and Bebe has dimples that are so cute when he smiles.
He is an official thumb sucker. And it is so cute!
This is my new computer wallpaper. Aren't they the most handsome boys ever? I love how James is so excited to be holding John but John isn't too sure. James is constantly asking to "hold it." Not sure why "it" is the baby but that is what he says.
Consider yourself mooned! Yes, we do teach proper hand washing technique in our house. We may be nudists but we are clean nudists.
Check out those "muscles." Here he is waiting patiently for a meal. His thumb comes in very handy in these moments.
Stay tuned for more posts about our day trip to Yvoire, France and our 3 day trip to Murren in the Berner Oberland/Interlaken are of Switzerland. And the cow festival. We had a busy week.

Week by week 13

September 20-26. Talk about a lazy but crazy week. We took J-L to church for the first time (a full week earlier than his 3 month birthday). James also got a new suit (I bought it last year but just got it out cuz he fits it now). Here Daddy is helping him with his shoes. I did have a better suit picked out for J-L but he pooped all over it so this is what I grabbed at the last second. He looked so handsome anyway.
We made a practice birthday cake for me this week. It is my sister Karen's amazing carrot cake recipe that we just love. It is really to die for. And no hydrogenated fat! James LOVES helping me cook. And that is probably a major understatement. Here he is licking the spoon.
And when he realized I was taking pictures he started playing "peek-a-boo."
Still playing.
We also started potty training. (Hence the lazy and crazy week.)
A close up during "tummy time."
Don't you love that belly? I do! It matches his fluffy cheeks.
And check out that view! Love his bum in his "big boys" as daddy calls them.
I also broke out the bubble bath that I brought home from the states. I bought organic bubble bath and good thing since James likes to eat bubbles too. Figures. He likes to "swim" in the bubbles which is really just him laying on his back and splashing around. He also likes giving himself a mustache and beard like daddy. He really thinks that he has whiskers. He talks about them all the time. He even tries to show them to me.
Playing at the park when we finally ventured out diaper free. (BTW, loves peeing on trees and rocks and such at the park).
James no longer smiles on demand. In fact, I get "no" yelled at me quite often when I try to take a picture. But who am I kidding, no is his new favorite word. He is getting close to 2 after all.
More tummy time. At the park.
Showing off his tongue.
My happy Bubba.
He found some dirt that was super fascinating.
Johnny-Luke is a great sleeper. I think it is funny when his arm hangs out of his crib. The cribs here are really narrow so it isn't too tough to get his arm out. Isn't he sweet?

Week by week 12

(September 13-19) Two brothers "playing" together.Lukey-Lu showing off his muscles. They are even bigger now!
James trying to keep his Texas horse riding skills up while we are away. He refused to have any help getting up or down from the horse. I keep crossing my fingers that he won't fall.
J-L showing off his beautiful blue eyes and his happy disposition. He couldn't be any easier as a baby unless he was a doll.

Gruyeres

Well, I thought I would finally post a bit about my mom's second stay here in Switzerland. We got home and crashed. It took a long time to adjust but we did it and by Saturday we were feeling up for a day trip to Gruyeres. It is a little village in the mountains in Switzerland where much amazing cheese is made. The kind of cheese they make is called Gruyeres. Yes, they have a habit of naming cheese after the place it comes from. Here is my mom and me posing at the bottom of a tall hill that the town is actually located in. You can't drive up to the town (that is common here). You have to park and walk a little ways (not a lot). It was a most amazing day. Perfect weather and temperature.James and Brian when we finally got to the top. I wish the pictures could do this view justice. It was BEAUTIFUL!
Brian and I (a rare non-self portrait of us) standing outside the chateau wall.
James and Brian inside the courtyard of the chateau.
This was the best picture of all of us together. Can you see why I desperately need a new camera?
A view of the surrounding area from a balcony on the chateau.
Looking the other direction. And, yes, there were cowbells clanging in the background.
The best picture of the chateau that I got. Doesn't do it justice at all.
Me in the gardens. The flowers were beautiful and blooming still. I think that Switzerland has the longest growing season ever. It seems like almost anything can grow well here.
Brian helping James quench his thirst. James usually becomes suddenly parched whenever we see a drinking fountain.
Gruyeres is a most picturesque little town. Of course, I kind of think that about all of the places I visit here. It has cobblestone streets and lovely flowers everywhere and plenty of shopping and yummy eating. Can't beat it! My momma and an angelic John-Luke cuddled up and sleeping.
Leaving the chateau grounds.
My two "big boys"
I have to say that I LOVED GRUYERES! It was a beautiful place. We had an awesome time. The kids even cooperated (miracle). We had an awesome lunch of fondue and raclette and I even got a little souvenir. What more could I ask for? And it is only a couple hours from home.

Parental Consent Act of 2009

I Support it! You should too, for your children's safety.

Read more here!

Week by Week 11

(September 6-12). I will admit that I was horrid at taking pics this week for a few reasons. First, I was running out of space on my camera. Second, I was busy trying to get things all packed up and ready to go. But I managed to catch a few moments.
One of James' favorite things about Utah was discovering all sorts of new foods. Anyone who knows him knows how much he loves to eat big. Well, you can see he wasn't content with a little watermelon. He had to have a HUGE piece. And he sure did try his hardest to eat the whole thing. Unfortunately, I only have 1 acceptable pic of J-L from this week. This is my sister's idea of babysitting my 11 week old baby while I take a quick nap. Despite this look of suspicion on his face, he really was quite content to chill in the clean clothes pile while my sister did some laundry.
This is a picture of James at his cousin, Max's, birthday party. He had so much fun and he has been singing "Happy Birthday" ever since that day. He thought it was so cool to get to eat pizza and have cake (of course it was homemade carrot cake with carrots straight from the garden). I wish he would wear a bib sometimes. He will not.
And then we flew home on Saturday. Boo hoo but yay all at the same time! We were so excited to see Brian (we just aren't the same without him) and to be home but sad to leave family and a huge yard to play in and built-in-babysitters (a.k.a. aunts) behind. I won't even retell my experience in flying with 2 kids under 2. Just know that my mom came home with me so I survived.

Week by week 10

(August 30-September 5). James started out with a bunch of bubble blowing. I should have stolen this bubble blowing device from my sister as it is perfect for James to be able to blow bubbles without eating the bubble wand.This week was also full of lots of James and his cousin Lexi being silly together. Bubba thinks she is the coolest thing since Swiss chocolate. She has taught James many things including how to jump on a trampoline. He got quite good while he was there and now uses my couch and my bed and the baby's crib and his own bed and the floor and anything else as his own personal jumping ground. Look at that air.And that. And he only had 1 close call. He almost fell once but caught himself about halfway off the trampoline. I just about died watching him.
Falling down was just as fun as jumping was.
This next picture is a great example of why I "need" a new and better camera. I get a lot of blurry kids all the time. They seem to move too fast for my camera. There are many times where I have a beautiful background and a blurry kid. Still they are cute blurry kids.
Lexi catching some air. Her shirt says, "I love to talk 21-7" and it is totally true. And she has the cutest (unless she is whining) little high voice ever. She also taught James a few choice words. In particular, mine!!! (yes, with the exclaimation points), don't!!!, let go!!! and go away!!!
James playing on the swing. Uncle Nick (Lexi's daddy) would wind them up and let them spin. James LOVED it!
Lexi spinning.
More jumping on the trampoline.
Just an idea of what Bimmy usually looks like after a smoothie. He loves those super healthy smoothies that Edpa and aunt Nettie and uncle Nick make.
My two boys together.
And a quick kiss from James to J-L. Don't you love that face?
More J-L. He is giving me the "seriously? more tummy time?" look.
John-Luke and his cousin Ryan at the end of our stay. Ryan is just 5 weeks older than him but J-L has totally outgrown him. Ryan is just a super wiggly baby and J-L wasn't so much.
Bimmy got himself into trouble 3 times in my parent's fireplace. I finally moved a huge leather chair in front of it to keep him out. He pretty much rubbed as much ashes as he could find all over himself. Again, it isn't a good day till we are totally covered in dirt. He was so proud of himself for that one and was super mad that he couldn't get back there anymore.
I'm almost done with catching up Utah and then I should be able to quickly catch up on my weekly J-L posts. He is just getting cuter every day.