James -
This blog is intended to act as a place to share stories, post photos, and basically create a record of all of the crazy stuff you're into. I hope one day that we'll sit down and go through all of this. If nothing else, please know that your mother and I love you tremendously. So, because we're starting a little late, here's what you've been up to the past 16 months or so.
You were born!
You arrived at just after 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. You weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce and were tremendous from the start, even remembering to root for Notre Dame during one of your first naps. Honestly, I think the whole delivery process is a blur, because by the end of it your mom and I needed to crash and sleep for a few hours just like you did!
And here's your beautiful mother holding you...
Both "Pops" made the trip in for the birth!
Pop and Gram Lanktree, Uncle CJ, Aunt Jenni, Grace, Charlie, Uncle Brian and Aunt Pat all were there to bring you home, and had matching shirts to commemorate the occasion!
Over the next couple of weeks, you didn't do much besides eat, sleep, and poop, but it was still great. At times the only way you would get to sleep was when we pushed you in the stroller down Central Park West (those paving stones were the perfect rhythm). Though, to be honest, there was also a lot of this:
Pretty soon though you started to gain expressions in your face. Here were some of the many "Faces of James"...
For your first Halloween you opted to dress up as a Whoopie Cushion, and even were good enough to provide the natural "sound effects."
On Thanksgiving you took your first plane ride down to South Carolina and slept the whole way!
Ever charitable, you also made time to raise awareness of prostate cancer in "Movember"
Pretty soon you were pushing yourself up and "reading" on your own. But always making time to take a good "snoozer".
In December 2012 you won your first NFL Survivor Pool
Soon enough it was Christmas, and time to meet Santa for the first time!
It was a mild winter, but there was one really nice snow day, and you got out and played around (well, sat) in the snow.
During the winter you just kept on growing and learning, eating and playing.
By St. Patrick's Day you were dominating the Gym Class and hanging from the bar!
By April 2013 you were crawling! Look at those moves!
You even found time to audit a class on the quad at Columbia, where your mom was getting her masters degree.
But you didn't waste much time, and within a month you were pushing your "Alligators" around the living room.
Some more Alligator Action on your 9-month birthday!
Which must have left you exhausted because it was time for another "snoozer".
Every once in a while, your Mom would have to travel for work, and you wouldn't want her to leave. You also missed her so much while she was away.
In reality, most of the fun stuff happened on normal days. For example, here's our favorite video of you in the bathtub...
For Memorial Day 2013 we took a trip to Florida and hung out on the golf course and in the pool. All those swimming lessons really paid off!
By the time the weather got warm back in New York City, you were ready to hang out in Central Park with your mom and dad.
In June, you traveled to Chicago to see your Aunt Kate and Uncle Andrew, a/k/a the Levydogs.
All the while, continuing exploring, smiling and laughing...
By July 2013 you were taking steps on your own.
After that, there was no stopping you. We'd leave you alone for a minute and you'd be in your room "reading" all your books.
Soon enough it was time for your First Birthday Party...mmmmm....cake.
For Labor Day we went down to Pop Warner's house in South Carolina for some fun times on the lake with Uncle Bill, Aunt Mel, Uncle Brent and Aunt Pat.
We even snuck in a quick day trip to the Jersey Shore while the weather was still nice in September:
You rooted on the Columbia Lions at your first football game.
We took a boat ride on the Staten Island Ferry and saw the Statue of Liberty and the great views of downtown Manhattan.
And we went on a hayride before Halloween, picking pumpkins with the cousins too.
For the Notre Dame vs. Southern Cal game, you made the trip out to South Bend, Indiana and got your first glimpse of the Golden Dome and real tailgating. Go Irish!
Throughout your 16 months you've had lots of visits from friends, including:
Sharing a swing with cousin Charlie
Eating lunch with your cousin Grace...
Hanging with Alexander Armijo, your other fellow baby Gang Member
Cuddling with your girlfriend, Annabelle Talakoub and going on a "date" in Central Park
Hanging out with Hudson
You may not always be in the Christmas spirit......
But we love you all the same, James. This blog will be updated frequently with your latest exploits and adventures. We're so proud of you, and can't wait to see what's next!
Merry Christmas.
