July 5, 2009
I have discovered in working with kids and having my own son, that there a certain things that are genetically imprinted on the Y chromosome. That can be the only explanation. For example, any long thing must be held and used as a sword (funny enough, when I took these pool noodles to work, this is exactly what the boys did…only they are 10 years older). Having a boy is definitely a learning experience for me.
Don’t worry, we only let him drink one beer at a time ; )
June 29, 2009
June 21, 2009
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads we know, and especially to the daddy of our house, Joe. This is Joe’s first Father’s Day and we hope that he knows what an amazing dad he is. He’s patient, loving, and helpful. He does a great job of making Jude laugh and always gives Liam some extra special attention. Jude and I took Joe to Lockhart to enjoy some bbq at Black’s Barbecue. It was super tasty and a nice little country drive.
I love to watch the way Joe looks into Jude’s eyes with such love. I remember how proud Joe looked when Jude was born. He held Jude with such tenderness and strength that only a dad can have. Joe couldn’t stop looking at Jude…the nurse told him, “Dad, eventually you are going to have to stop looking at him and go to sleep.” Growing up, I always had a special relationship with my dad, and I know that Jude will have his own special bond with Joe.
But the best present I could possibly give Joe (other than carrying his child for 9 months and then subsequently birthing that child) was letting him sleep in this morning, undisturbed. Which was quite a task, considering that both Jude and Liam pooped on the floor first thing this morning. Jude has diaper rash that we are trying to let heal, so after I changed his diaper, I was allowing him some naked time to air dry. Well, I turn around to see him squatting on the floor. Then I run to grab paper towels, because the wipes can irritate the diaper rash, and Liam has pooped on the floor, as well. Were it not Father’s Day, I would have woke Joe up to come help me.
June 7, 2009
Today, Jude is 11 months old. Only one month away from the big birthday. He was a little tyrant this morning, but I was able to get some cute pictures. Over the past month, he has become more mobile, more curious, and more stubborn! He definitely keeps us on our toes.
Recently he’s developed the tantrum. If he is frustrated or has something taken away from him, he will cry and throw himself backwards…even on the tile floor. Most times we try to catch him if we see it coming, but he has hit his head a few times. I am so surprised, because I thought this “skill” didn’t develop until later. Here’s a picture of Jude having a tantrum this morning:
He’s also doing other amazing things, like figuring out how to hammer his wooden pegs, he spontaneously hugged Liam the other day, and he ran away from me one morning when I caught him in the dog food bowl. He loves splashing and banging his hands on any flat surface. We love the emergence of his personality, and he is definitely a character. I like this picture because he is dragging the leash, but he looks like he has a little devil’s tail.
June 7, 2009
We’ve got a baby on the move on our hands. When he is not toddling away from us after a bath, he’s usually taking books off of the bookshelf…
or messing with the printer…
or messing with the floorboards in the office…
or pushing around the bar stool like a walker…
and sometimes he actually stops to play with toys.
June 6, 2009
Jude went to the pool for the very first time on Thursday. I had the day off and Joe’s aunt Margarita drove me around town to run errands while my car was in the shop. Jude and I went swimming with her and her boys at the Y. We had a great time and Jude loved splashing and pseudo-swimming. Margarita took pictures and video to document the occasion, since Joe wasn’t there to see Jude’s first trip to the pool.
Feeling a little timid
Splashing in the "beach area"
Jude is having fun
Jude wants to swim like his cousin, Jason
Joshua and Jude
May 25, 2009
On Sunday morning, Liam was laying in a patch of sun that was coming from the window above the front door. He looked so sweet all stretched out. I tried to take some pictures of Jude and Liam relaxing in the sun, but of course they get each other worked up instead of being calm and serene, like the moment I was trying to capture.
May 11, 2009
My friend, Cherry, is in town this week with her husband, who is doing some golf stuff. We decided to meet up for dinner on Mother’s Day…two mommies and two babies. Sounds like a good enough plan. We met at Trudy’s and they gave us the biggest booth ever and stuck the two babies in high chairs at the end of the booth, which they really didn’t fit. Of course, I ended up needing all that space with food, baby stuff, baby food, and then a baby who decided to throw a tantrum once my food came out. Cherry, who is 7 months pregnant, had to go to the bathroom during dinner and her child cried these heartbreaking tears the whole time she was gone. People kept looking at me to do something, but I was like, “Seriously, have you seen what my own child has been doing?” After we left Trudy’s, we went to Amy’s to get some ice cream and enjoy the green lawn of the playground area. No one ever says no to ice cream! It was quite a busy day.
Innocent looking
Friends
Practicing his walking skills
Eating a leaf off the ground
May 11, 2009
Sunday was my very first Mother’s Day. After I called my mom and sister to wish them Happy Mother’s Day, we got ready for the day and set out for my surprise lunch. Joe ended up taking me to Malaga downtown, which is one of the restaurants on my list of places that I want to try in Austin. I even got a Mother’s Day card from Jude and Liam.
It was fun to eat downtown, and it’s in that area around 2nd and Guadalupe that reminds me of Europe, with all the little shops clustered together. Malaga is a tapas & wine bar that usually caters to the drinking-age crowd, but their brunch is open to all ages. However, that does not mean that they have high chairs! The hostess actually offered us a chair for Jude (we were carrying him) and I thought, “How old do you think he is?” So, we had to go back to the car and get the stroller for him to sit in. But, lunch was good and filling.
Then we headed across the street to the new Teuscher Chocolates that opened recently. Teuscher is “hoity toity” chocolates…they sell Oprah’s favorite chocolate, the champagne truffle. Joe and I both got a sweet treat for the walk back to the car.
It was a great first Mother’s Day. You only get one, and it was a good one!
Jude entertaining himself in the stroller.
Family photo
Mother and son
Daddy's boy
