The Good Patient

James sliced his knee open taking out the garbage. Jaelyn broke a plate the other day and we threw it away. Without thinking about it, I asked James if he would take out the garbage and as he did, the plate sliced through the plastic of the bag and through the skin below his right knee. He screamed for me and it was a different sort of cry that I did not really recognize. Soon after (less than five minutes), he told me he was fake crying… that really made me worry that he was no longer in pain. I rushed the four of us out the door (Josh was at work), dropped the two little ones off at a friend’s and took James to the nearest Urgent Care. He was so braved. I was very impressed. You could tell he did not want to cry in front of the Dr., the moment he left after numbing the area he let it all out. While we waited for the topical to set in, we talked about what he would tell people. We came up with a very cool skateboarding accident story we could brag about. It was numb before they began stitching and he watched the whole thing without a single tear. Daddy was there just in time with “Buzzy” his bumble bee pillow pet to begin the stitching. Four stitches later we were back at home. I am so proud of him for being so brave!

900+ Lego Pieces! A Full Days Work

Jaely in Her Christmas Dress

Eventful Day Including a Visit with Santa

For the first time, the boys saw Santa without any hesitation. They went right up and sat on his lap without a second thought. Jaelyn however, was another story. I sat her down, she took one look and wanted NOTHING to do with the white bearded man. She clearly wanted mommy. She did hang in there long enough for some quick pics and then was done crying before I even picked her back up. Santa asked the boys what they wanted for Christmas and although they planned what they were going to say ahead of time, Jacob got a little stage fright. James rushed to his rescue and whispered in his ear what he had planned to say. It was very cute.

We did some shopping, I had never seen James so tired by the end of the time there. On the drive home he warned me he was going to throw up. I quickly dumped out a box I had at the front with me and handed it back to him. He unbuckled his seat belt after giving me a look of asking permission and I said, "Yes, get up!" and out it all came into the box. I took the next turn off the main road and out we all went. The boys sat alongside while I cleaned up what was mixed and what leaked. I used one of our shopping bags in the back to wrap up the box once all was cleaned and after everyone was back in the car I placed the box close to the door and threw it away at the nearest dumpster I could find. The poor guy could not hold anything down, not even water, the rest of the night. He seems to be doing ok this morning, but Josh has seemed to pick it up. Jaely had Monday night until yesterday when she threw up at lunch at the mall.

I hope we are all well by Christmas.

Baby Girl: 1 Year, 1 Month, 1 Week, 1 Day

Blueberries and Cereal

We all had blueberries and cereal for breakfast this morning including Jaely girl who ate them with her cheerios. The boys ate them with Special K and I had mine in my oatmeal :). 

Hilarious Conversation

Jacob said to James, "I saw my friends Sam and Cassie.".
James replied, "I know."
Jacob questioned him, "How do you know?"
James answered, "God told me."
"Uh ah Uh ah", Jacob disagreed.
"Mom, Jacob doesn't think God can tell me something that happens when I'm not around," James tattled.
Jacob quickly rebuttals, "No! God told me that you are lying.".

I laughed hysterically. James smiled. Jacob found nothing funny about it. He was very serious.

13 Months Today

Thanksgiving with Great Grandma and Grandpa

Basting the Turkey before carving

Ready for Food!

Family Picture around the table. James said he was Thankful for the trees and plants and Jacob said he was Thankful for his mom and dad. Originally James whispered to me if he could just say he was thankful for God. I told him, Of Course! But I guess he changed his mind when it was his turn.

Jaelyn with Great Grandpa Cork

Pelham/McDanold Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are thankful for YOU!

Love, J.P. Family

More of Jaely Walking

Here She Comes!

And We Found It!

Josh found Jacob’s tooth when wiping off the kitchen table after dinner! Guess he did not swallow it after all!! Thank goodness. I was so sad not to have his first tooth for the tooth fairy to come get it and save it forever and ever!

Jacob Lost His First Tooth!!

Jacob lost his first tooth during dinner this evening. He was sitting across the table from me when I looked up and it was gone. I had him open his mouth to show me to confirm and sure enough, no tooth! We have no idea where it is except to conclude that he must have swallowed it with his dinner. I guess we will know in the next few days. Haha!

Jacob Has a Loose Tooth!

Jacob's bottom right front tooth is loose. I'm about to have the tooth fairy visiting more frequently then s/he already is!

She's Walking!

Jaelyn is standing on her own and she took one step to me today and THREE steps to James. They were very controlled and she stood for a second or two after all of them. The fun has begun!


PS - Jaelyn now has four teeth on the bottom and two on top for a total of six teeth.

Swimmer of the Week

James was swimmer of the week this week in his class which is entirely decorated in an Ocean like theme. Even their homework folder has a name called their WHALE Binder which stands for Weekly Homework And Little Extras.

Swimmer of the week has something special each day. On Monday, he brings in his list of answered questions about him and his teacher uses his answers and pictures that he brings to decorate a bulletin board just for him. Tuesday they share their favorite picture book with the class. James chose the Night Before Christmas. Wednesday, he got to bring three things that were important to him. He brought his football, a picture of Josh and I with him when he was a baby, and since he could bring his sister, he brought a teddy bear that was given to her from his Kindergarten teacher when she was born. Thursday, Josh and I sent him to school with a sealed letter from us to the class that told them why James was special to us. It said:

Dear James’ Classmates,

Did you know that James started swimming when he was only 1 year old???!!!

He started swim lessons at this age and has been swimming ever since. This summer, he swam on his first swim team. He can swim four different strokes – the butterfly stroke, freestyle, backstroke, and breast stroke. Here are some of his ribbons that he won at his swim meets. We are so proud of all of his hard work in the swimming pool.

James has played lots of other sports too. He has played T-ball, basketball, soccer, flag football, skateboarding, karate and this Saturday he will be starting Golf. We love watching him play sports.

James is very special to us. He was our first baby! When he was a little toddler, James sucked on his fingers instead of his thumb or a pacifier. But when he was four we told him it was time to stop and he did right away!

James is named after his Great Grandpa Jimmy – or Great Grandpa James Pelham. James has been to Washington many times to see Grandpa Jimmy, including driving in the car 25 hours each way!

When James was two years old, he loved Hot Wheel cars and carried them with him everywhere he would go. He loved to lie on the floor and watch the wheels spin around.

James is funny and makes us laugh a lot. He is one of our best friends! He is very smart and he is always teaching us new things about life!

He loves to read every night to us, his brother and his sister and many times in his bed by himself. He is a great sleeper. Since he was a baby he would sleep through the entire night without waking up. However, sometimes when he is super tired he walks in his sleep and we have to take him back to his bed.

We love James very much. Our family would not be complete without James in our family.

Love,

His mom and dad, little brother, and baby sister

I sent pictures and different things to go with each thing that we talked about and James said it made everyone laugh seeing the pictures of him when he was a baby and sucking his fingers.

Friday, James got letters from each of his classmates. I have yet to see them now that I think of it… hmmm, what is he hiding from me :). j/k

Below is some pictures of the bulletin board in James’ class that highlighted things all about him: