JPA's new hobby

As you may know, I am big into photos. I love taking photos, scrapbooking and everything else re: photos. I like digital and the good ol' 35 mm film photos. Last weekend JPA started showing interest in the digital camera so I let him take a couple of photos....

Here they are... Gotta admire his 'unique' perspecitve...

Pot Banging & Gas Prices...

In Bartlett Village, the locals gather once a week on Route 302  at 7:00 pm and bang pots for energy independence... for lower gas prices... for a reason to drink beer...  I'm not really sure. 

We were actually in Bartlett when this was going on, so we decided to join in the fun.  Not every one can say that they've spent a Friday night on a busy road banging pots with wooden spoons with about 15 other people... Community activism begins by... pot banging??? Hey, gotta start somewhere... 
Nathan, Hannah and Keith banging away!

Visit w/ Mimi and Uncle Paul...

The other weekend, we met Mimi and Uncle Paul in Concord, about half way for each of us and had lunch. This was JPA's first time in a restaurant where he was especially chatty. Nathan, automatically asked where his pacifier was. It was funny because he was really just chatting away. We met then halfway because JPA is just very unhappy with the full trip down to Brattleboro and back. The arch of the car seat drives him CRAZY.... Here are some pics from the trip! Dada, JPA & Uncle Paul

Mimi, JPA & Mama

Uncle Paul, JPA & Mimi

JPA's menu...

Just thought you'd all like to know what JPA's diet is... I make his food (the store stuff freaks me out... peas are supposed to be bright green not that dull brown-green you see in the grocery shelves). Making food is wicked easy... I have a great baby cookbook from Williams Sonoma that is fantastic. In fact this cookbook has acutally opened up some of my palate to lentils and more.

Making it is super easy... I just steam or roast the veggie/fruit (including broccoli, califlower, parsnips, peas, red lentils, brown lentils, brown rice, asperagus, sweet potatoes, carrots, yougurt, apricot, blueberries, and more), make it to the texture of what it is --smooth, chunky, whole -- and freeze it in ice cube trays. When we need to feed him, we just take out 1, 2 or 3 cubes ( 1 ounce each) and just defrost them. Easy peasy.

Below are peas, butternut squash, chickpeas and blueberries.

Serious & Regimented Baby...

With JPA being almost nine months, his personality is really showing.

• Astute people watcher
• Regimented in routines (eats same time and let you know if you've missed a feeding or are late)
• Doesn't like disruptions in his schedule. If he's with Elizabeth (school) and Gramma or Grampa come and pick him up, he's typically not a happy camper.
  
• Not a picky eater (except for apples)
• Loves it when people are silly with him
• Not a fan of typical 'baby talk'
• LOVES all types of music. We were at old home week event tonight and he LOVED the folk band playing. On Sunday, at the lake he was dancing to the 50's and 60's music the DJ was playing
• Very mechanical in his motions. Doesn't just move to move. Every action needs to have a purpose. (which is limiting his desire to move--crawl/roll-- because if something is out of his reach, he'll just have fun with something else.
  

Random Picutures...

As always, click on the picture to enlarge!

First, a big ol' smile...
Then one of Mama and JPA...
JPA showing off his mad skills with the sippy cup (yes, I know they are a glorified bottle, but one step at a time)...
And before you all panic, this was a brand new mop. But it's still wicked funny!
JPA and Daddy in the pool!

Oddly enough, this is only one of the very few pics I have of JPA crying... He was crying cause he didn't eat right when he wanted to... **He's still wicked cute though!**

jpa development...

As of today, here is a snippet of what JPA is up to lately. I know it's been a while for a post, but with Summer flying by it's hard to find 15 minutes to sit in front of the computer after sitting in front of one all day...

• JPA is almost 9 months (on the 9th he'll be 9 months). Developmentally he's doing great. He's still teeny tiny (almost 17 pounds naked--we have a well-child check coming up in August and I'll post the update then). And he's 25.5 inches. It's weird cause I know babies that are his age that are HUGE and then a 5 month old that weighs 20 pounds... JPA's doing great for all of his issues we had early on, he's just a tiny bugger...
  
• He feeds himself with a spoon/fork and he finger feeds
• Using a neat pincher grasp to pick up an object
• Getting ready to crawl.
  
• Laying on his stomach and will turn 360 degrees on his tummy
• Starting to pissed off to the fact that he is unable to move on his own
• Eating EVERYTHING
• Vocalizing everything--mmmm, mama, dada, nnnnnn, thhhhh, and of course screeching with excitement!!!