Baby J. Pelham #3

Folded in half- nose to knee, leg straight above head!

Baby J. Pelham #3 is measuring in at 2 pounds, 11 ounces (60%)

3-D Picture of Baby J. Pelham- Foot by Face (I see five toes!)

So cute! Sleeping Baby... I can't wait to hold him or her.

One thing we do know... this baby so far is laying breech, just like James was! Another stubborn child, I can't wait! :)

Conversation

James: Do you know what a brain is for?

Jacob: yeah

James: what?

Jacob: um... I don't know

James: It's for remembering... and thinking stuff...

End of conversation.

Jacob's Preschool Open House

Reader Rabbit Scavenger Hunt

Art
Home Center
Recess!
James joined in the fun too!
Jacob can't wait for school to start!

End of our First Week

The first week of Kindergarten was a huge success! James loved every minute of every day, I know this because he told me that he "loves being there ALL day everyday". Yesterday, they went to the library for the first time. He told me all the thing they CANNOT do to the books. Like, "step on them, get fingerprints on them, get them wet, get them dirty and bring them back to school, tear the pages" so cute! He also told me he is learning a pirate song and his favorite part of the song is "hey dude, surf's up!" Stories were short, but he opened up a lot more than I thought he would. He told me has lots of new friends including "Mason in Mrs. Good's class who has spiky hair and it is itchy. I accidentally bonked him on the head but I said I was sorry." Mason is the son of a friend of mine I have known for about 4 to 5 years now. They used to play together a lot when they were little so it is fun that they have been able to reconnect through school, even though they are in different classes. In his class, he sits with Casey and Mackenzie, both whom he talks about at home and according to his teacher he is becoming great friends with. James "got the wiggles out in music class", played tag at recess, and played games in P.E. "I don't know what the games are called, but I remember the directions," he told me. "One time at school the fire alarm came on. We just practiced a fire drill, but not just a real fire." He was on his best behavior all week. In fact, he told me, "I am NEVER going to get a yellow or red because those are bad colors!" He told me about a kid that got red after punching Graysen in the face (someone Graysen knew- I guess they were playing karate?! and then again when he didn't listen). He told me about other kids who got an orange but went back down to green because they did not stay good. James is very adamant, (and I am very happy) that once he gets to orange or blue he is going to stay there the whole day! I hope he keeps that mentality.

Next week we will be losing his close friends in his class. Graysen, Aislen and Morgan will all be moving to the new Kindergarten class that they will be opening up to reduce their class sizes. Thank goodness they got a new teacher. James' class size will be reduced from 31 to 22! I know he will miss his friends, (I haven't told him yet) but I know he will do great with the new ones he has made.


Jacob did great at home while James was away. Although, he was up for sale to family members and close friends for a penny for about 15 minutes on Thursday, he told me "I am going to be really good in here" (here was the next errand we had to run), and HE WAS! I think he knew I put him up for sale and papa offered to buy him - haha!!! (kidding dad) He took a nap every day that James was at school! He hasn't had a regular nap time since he was 2! It has been so nice. He has definitely needed it, but there was always too much going on with James being home. Since daddy was out of town, we had so much mommy and Jacob time that we have not had in a very long time. We read stories and played games, worked our ABC's and Animals. Shapes and colors he has down pat!

I had a hard time doing much of anything- my school wise this week. I could not stop thinking about what James was doing at school! lol... it is so strange to think that as a mother you have had control of everything thing they do throughout the course of everyday... and now, you have no idea!!! You know they are at school learning, but what subject? are they eating lunch now? are they at recess? are the kids being nice to him on the playground? I know they are doing science right now, but what are they doing for science? It is a strange feeling and the first time I have had to let go and let someone else take the reigns and be in charge of him. And it is the first time it has NOT been my choice - they HAVE to go to school, its the law. I could keep him home for another year, or I could home school him, but he is ready and as his mommy I have to let go. Thankfully, I have gotten to know his teacher very well. We have spoken on the phone on more than one occasion and emailed many times.

After school has been a challenge. He has been has so exhausted by 5:30 (if he can wait that long) he has to let it ALL out. He behaves so well during the day and holds everything in, he comes home and unfortunately, Jacob is the one that gets picked on and mom and dad are the ones that do not get listened to. I have completely expected this from him. Thanks to my mom teaching preschool for so long, other parents experienced the same thing after a long day of being on their best behavior with her. I can't really complain about that though, I just understand that 7 hours is a very long day for a 5 year old and I am happy he works so hard to be good at school.

Josh and I have one more week before we begin our fall classes, and Jacob has two weeks until he starts his preschool! I am sure time will move very quickly until the new addition to our family joins us. Then we are bound to have a crazy rest of 2009!

I took this picture of James after his first day of school!

After School with James

"Mom, I got blue today! And blue is better than orange and green! And I got to pick something from the treasure box!"

Me: That's great James!! I'm so proud of you! Josh: What did you have to do to get blue?

"I listen to what she said and did it quietly."

Me: So what did you do today.

"Um, I can't remember"

Me: It's a long day isn't it?

"Yeah, it is. It is a really long day. But I like staying there all day."

Me: Good, I'm glad you like it!

"You packed me way too much lunch today!"

Me: I did? That's ok, you don't have to eat it all. I see you ate your snack.

"Yeah I did and I drank some of my other water."

Me: Good job James!

Josh: How was lunch? Who did you eat with?

"Hold on dad." .... (left the room and came back) ... "Now where were we?"

Josh: Who did you eat lunch with?

"Um... just Graysen." (This is the first day he ate with Gray.)

Me: Where did Morgan and Aislen sit?

"Um... I don't know. Look mom, I did this worksheet at preschool!"

Me: The same one?

"yea!"

Me: Very cool James.

At Kindergarten

I wonder how he is doing right now?? It feels like it has been forever and he still has one more hour. I wish it was an early release day.

Kindergarten Started Today

We were off at 8:30 this morning!

"Mom take a picture of me with my new backpack!"

Jacob said when we got home, "I need James."

Little boy in a big school!

Here's his classroom!

We found his seat. Nervous face.

Aislen, Morgan, Graysen, and James all together for their first year of school!

Best friends: Graysen and James have seats directly across from each other - uh oh!

Kristen saying her goodbyes... James laughing at Gray getting kisses from his mommy!

James' seat is right next to Mackenzie. The little girl he met on meet the teacher night. His mom told us that she told them that very night she was going to marry James so she was very happy to have a seat next to him!

I snuck back about an hour after school started for a sneak peak at James in class.

He was doing great! He was sitting so nicely at his desk, listening very well. I was doing NOT so great. I bawled my eyes out down the hall right into the cafeteria where they had a "boo hoo breakfast" for kindergarten parents. It has been a rough day for me, but I am sure it has been a fun day for James and he isn't missing his mom at all!

Fruit Snacks

Woke up at 7:30AM, boys both on the couch watching tv. I asked them, "How many fruit snacks did you guys eat this morning?" Jacob, "A lot!"

Oh, I hope he is always this honest!

Summer Is Almost Over

It has been a very busy summer for us. We did our best to escape the Arizona heat as much as possible. And although the summers here are dreadful, we are only a few hours away from all the action. We are five hours to the California beaches, four to Las Vegas, and three to Palm Springs. I also can't forget the unbeatable winters we have here, when we are dying in the summer. So, we made the most of it!

We took at least three trips to Las Vegas, including stopping at the Hoover Dam which we NEVER do... it won't be long before they finish the bridge and we will be able to bypass the dam and all its traffic all together.

We stayed a week in Palm Springs which I already blogged about. Then another California visit to Aunt's Debbie's in Hermosa Beach. The boys found out Ocean waves can take away their toys, but they also bring in stuff (a new toy) in return.

While staying with Aunt Debbie, we played on her roof top in her cold hot tub! She had lots of rubber duckies and the boys had a blast. I enjoyed the cooler temperatures, the weight of the baby off my back, and the incredible Ocean View, less than 1 mile away.

Thanks to our good friends who just enjoyed a Disneyland Honeymoon with their daughter, we enjoyed a FREE day at Disneyland and had a blast. I feared the lines, but to our surprise we walked right on to the rides! I can't tell you how much this helped while walking around ALL day 5 1/2 months pregnant!

We visited Mickey Mouse...

And James gave a hug to Mickey (was not afraid of him) for the FIRST time in three trips to Disneyland. Usually he runs at the sight of a character out of a movie. Jacob was a little apprehensive this time, but quickly came around!

Did I mention, Jacob got to go on SPLASH MOUNTAIN, and LOVED IT?!!

James starts his KINDERGARTEN in ONLY 4 MORE DAYS! We found out who his teacher was this morning and will be meeting her and visiting his classroom tonight. We also found out this morning he has three VERY good friends in his class! Not sure if that will be a good or bad thing... time will tell.

Jacob's August Hand

As soon as I get caught up on homework, I promise I will get you all caught up on the happenings in the J Pelham Family!!! Sorry for slacking!