Home Is Where Your Mom Is

James and I had a great week 'back home' in Detroit. The grandparents couldn't have been happier to see little James! And I couldn't have been happier to see them!
The trip out was a little dramatic. To start things off we had to leave at 5:30 am, that doesn't make anyone very happy, but James was a trooper! We got through security no problem, until I pulled him out of his carseat and realized he must be really sweaty or he leaked through his diaper. Once we finally made it to the bathroom I was able to fully examine the problem and found this delight

Oh yeah, we havent even made it onto the plane and silly me I only packed one extra outfit. Dressed only in a onesie we ventured to the gate. Boarding went smooth enough. Not one hour into the flight and guess who blew through another diaper? Yep yep, that's my boy! So, it was either hang out in his diaper or wear the onesie with a giant stain on the back. I figured he would be sitting down for most of the day so not too many people would notice the giant yellow stain on his back. The poor kid wore his poopy clothes all day long. 

We finally arrive in Chicago! I know James has yet another dirty diaper, but I check the monitor to see where our gate is and to my delight our flight has been cancelled. Yep, straight up cancelled. But, it's still showing gate B22 so I walk what feels like half a mile to B22 and get sent all the way back to B8. Where I proceed to wait in line with a slew of other disgruntled passengers being served by a whopping 3 people. Instead of leaving at 4, I got booked on the 7:30 flight turning my total layover into 5 1/2 hours. But he did put me on standby for the 5 and 6 o'clock departures. When I arrived at the gate for the 5 o'clock departure and saw the standby list 27 people long I realized they must have put ever single person from the 4 o'clock flight on standby for this one! Way to make us all feel a whole lot better. To make a long story short I walk from B8 to B22 back to B8 to F22 (5 o'clock flight) to B8 (for food of course) back to F22 to C22 (6 o'clock flight) and finally C5 where we board on the one hour flight to Detroit. I could have rented a car and driven to Detroit in the same amount of time. 

But look who met us at baggage claim!

What a beautiful and happy sight! Mom and Matt awaiting us! As a final piece of drama, all the bags come off and mine isn't there. Great! My child has already been in dirty clothes all day and now I don't even have clean ones to dress him in! Luckily my bag made the standby list for one of the earlier flights and was waiting for me at the lost luggage counter. 

Finally on our way home!!

All snuggled up thanks to Grandma 

Most days we just hung out. It was perfect. We played with James, we talked about James, we shopped for James, we tried and failed at getting James to take a pacifier. (5 brands later, still no luck) We made the traditional stops at TjMaxx, Costco, great harvest, the outlets, Zingermans :) To celebrate fall we hit up the cider mill for fresh apple cider and doughnuts! As much as I've been lamenting the onset of fall, this made me pretty excited for sweaters, pumpkins and crisp mornings. We also had two major break throughs. James sept a six hour stretch one night!! He hasn't done it again, but I see hope for the future. And we made it through all of church! The little guy is just growing up so fast. 

I promise the onsie and pants fit only last week! But man were they TIGHT when I put them on.

Matt is a great uncle! He loves to hold James and play with him. 

 Sure Grandma, smile while James is clearly upset ;)

Matthew was a typical boy and couldn't stop poking a prodding James 24/7. I think they will have quite the time when James is a bit older. 

Whitney just has a way with babies. She loved hanging out with James and even babysitting for me one afternoon!

Who was more entertained by the baby toys?

Homework with Auntie!

Can you say hello Blake!!??

Bath time! He was so cute wedged in the sink sitting right up. 

Scripture time with Grandpa

Grandma finally worked the magic and got him sound asleep while we shopped

Fur coat for the little one

Royal treatment the last night. Took Grandpa's place in bed.

One last hang out :(

Ever since we got home James has been so tired and moody. I think he must be homesick--I guess for him home is where his grandma is. Twelve more weeks until we are back out for Christmas! Yes, I am unashamedly counting. 

Labor Day Weekend with Heidi and Dane

We were so excited to have Heidi and Dane here! They drove through the entire night and got to the cabin at 4 am! I couldn't have been happier to see them :) 

Post bath time

The best blueberry muffins...so delicious

   Thank you Dane for these beauties

 "Hike" to the waterfall. It's a nice little dirt trail that takes about 3 minutes. It was the perfect intro hike for James

 He is so cute in the carry pack!

 One spoiled boy! He got held all weekend

 Way to work the sleep magic aunt Heidi

 I am so in love with this face :)

Pike's Place. James was perfect, literally slept all day!

 It was great to have everyone in town for James's blessing. Matt and Lindsay were here along with Dane and Heidi. As you can tell, he wasn't the happiest baby. He was whining through the first part of the meeting and continued his cries as Taylor brought him up the front. Luckily he calmed down during the blessing only to start right back up as soon as Taylor finished. Taylor spent the rest of the metting in the hall. 

And finally, I just have to brag about my tomatoes. Growing tomatoes in Washington is darn near impossible. But! I have had great success! And I have some beautiful dinner plate dahlias growing as well. The flowers have suffered one too many uhm...incidents...so they are looking a little shabbier now, but still beautiful!

At the Farm

Long before James arrived I bought a Groupon for Remlinger Farms. So, we decided to take the little guy and make a day of it!

 Exhausted Digesting Face

 Aren't my boys cute?

 Taylor thought I was ridiculous, but I really wanted to put James's face in all the little cutouts!

 This little lamb said "See Ewe at Remlinger Farms" soo clever. 

 We were waiting in line for the train and James started to fuss. Try our best he was still pretty fussy when we got on the train. But I really wanted to go! (That's a good mom for ya) Lucky the loud rumble once the train got going was just what we needed and James loved it as much as I did. 

Still crying into my shoulder

We had to document this occasion! One of a very few times he has actually taken the pacifier. I am continually trying to convince him he wants to take it.

He just loved the animals...well one day he will.

Finally loving the train!

Jame's First Smile

Well, we almost caught the first smile on tape. He was nearly 6 weeks. Ever since he's been smiling a ton, but we've never actually got a picture or video...

This is the closest we've gotten...

Weekend with Allison

Allison came over a month ago now, but it's never too late to post pictures! It was so good to have her here. She was a huge help :) And she got the first taste of what her life will be like come January. I don't think it scared her too much. Having her here did make me quite homesick, but I just booked a ticket to Utah in November!

Is this a Holmes shot or what?

 

Blueberry Picking! 

It was Taylor's 27th birthday while she was here, so we worked on a special little present for Taylor. We were both very impressed by our creativity :)