Vital Statistics!

James had his 9 month check-up this morning - how can he be that old already?? He's doing really well. He weighed 22lbs 7 oz - which was less than we were expecting but apparently it's normal for his weight gain to slow down now, especially as he is so active now. And he was 31.5" long - which is VERY long for his age!! He didn't have to have any jabs this time. Doctor Tipnis was really pleased with him - she thought his hair was really cute and said she should call him Shaggy! We got a suggestion of where to take him for a hair cut so we might do that this week.

Up Close and Personal trip to the zoo!

Yesterday afternoon we decided to go to Oakland Zoo (coincidentally it was James' 9 month birthday!). As our birthday present to each other, and using the money and vouchers Dan got given for his birthday we got a new zoom lens for our camera so we decided to go to the zoo to try it out. We were really pleased with the results and so here are just a few. James seemed to really enjoy this trip and paid much more attention to all the animals than he has in the past. We had a really great time!

"Right! I'm ready to see some animals - where to first?!?"

Let's start with the zebras. This one was actually quite far away... but we can zoom in more with our new lens!!!

"I'm having so much fun - are you?!?"
I love this photo. We only took the zoom lens and so we had to be really far away to get any pictures ... but I'm really pleased that I captured my boys having so much fun together.

We were really pleased with the photos Dan got of the tigers. Earlier in the day they had been sleeping in the shade, facing the other way but Daddy and James went back at the end of the day (while Mummy was having a mooch around the gift shop!!) and they were out playing.

The tiger playing on the ball.

"Hey - what's that over there?!?!"

A strange three headed giraffe!!

Here's James playing with another new toy ...

No, THIS is our cheeky little monkey!

We had a really brilliant afternoon at the Zoo - and we're very pleased with our new zoom lens too!

Playing with Daddy's Wii ......

We had a lazy day on Saturday and so Daddy and James played a GameCube game on the Wii. James couldn't believe his luck when he saw that big black wire snaking it's way across the room ... "They'll never be able to stop me getting this!"

It's just so exciting when there's something new to get at!

A trip to Lake Elizabeth

James and I decided to go to Lake Elizabeth this afternoon. James fell asleep in the car on the way there so I decided to sit by the Lake and read my book for a bit while he had a snooze. There was a nice gentle breeze and so it was very refreshing.

Once he woke up we went to the playground to have a go on the swings by the Lake.

It was about this time that Mummy (who was wearing her sunglasses ...) realized that swinging INTO the sun probably wasn't much fun ... time for a quick switch!

Whhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Flip-book-type action shots...

After James had finished swinging we had a bit of a picnic by the lake.

Err, you have a little chicken and vegetable dinner on your face ...

These are for Uncle Mark, Uncle Kev and Grandad P ... Grandad G and Uncle Tris may want to look away now!!

We found James' Hammers hat this afternoon - it's a little bit of a squeeze to get on his head now but these photos are pretty funny!

What a little football hooligan!

So I think one of these will end up on Uncle Mark's mobile phone or pc wall paper ... the question is which one?!?!

Looking a little bit scary ...

Do you think maybe it's time for a haircut???

Our little pick pocket ....

Caught red-handed!!

The other day I discovered James rumaging through my bag and he'd discarded the snacks and my sunglasses and gone right for my wallet!!!

Look at the concentration ... Too bad you won't find much in there, buddy ... Mum's been too busy spending lately!!

Crackers!

James enjoying a Graham cracker (... Brits, please note - Americans don't bother pronouncing the "h" so it's just a Graaaaam cracker out here ... We discovered this many years ago when Don asked us to buy some Graaaaaam crackers for some youth thing ... ages later all we came back with were some graham crackers ....) - James has recently discovered them and seems to enjoy them.

Did your mother never teach you to eat with your mouth closed?!?!

Boys are so grubby!!!

Blue Box

We got this blue crate to put James' toys in for his bedroom - he mainly enjoys dumping them all out on the floor, then gets bored and moves on.

More fun in the sun ...

We played in the paddling pool again today ...

[Remember, all that trouble I went to to get photos of his first teeth coming through? Well, look at this toothy grin!!]

Where did his head go?!?!

"Right - I'm getting out now!"

"Hmmm, this is a bit trickier than I thought ..."

In his froggie towel that Auntie CamCam got for him.

My nosey little frog ...

Fun in the Sun

Today we got out the paddling pool for James to play in. We bought this the other day - we liked this one because it has the screen part to shade him from the sun. He seemed to really enjoy playing in it.

It's been a watery weekend because we took him swimming for the first time yesterday but unfortunately our camera ran out of battery so we didn't get any photos. He seemed to enjoy it (despite getting a bit chilly towards the end) so I think we'll go again, and may sign him up for swimming lessons.

"Mum, can I get in yet?!"

"Right - I'm getting in!!!"

"Oooo, the water's a bit chilly!"

Yes, he does have the Little Mermaid on his bottom ... Not sure what it is with BOTH my boys and the Little Mermaid (Dan's always been a big fan) ...

Daddy getting James with the squirty fish ... and really looking like he's enjoying it. But it is Father's Day so I suppose that's ok!