Get Back

Jude was singing The Beatles in the car. This is actually the 2nd time he sang the song for us. The first time, he was surprisingly in sync with the song. When we recorded him this time, he was slightly distracted by his cup.

Bowling

Jude loves bowling. He’s only been to the bowling alley twice, but he talks about it and asks to go all the time. We play bowling every night at home with the set he got for Christmas. This year we went on Christmas Eve. It so sweet to see Jude and his cousins, who helped him roll the ball. Watch the video to see how excited my boy gets. “Fist bump!”

Banquet

As usual, I am four years late to the party, so to speak. But, I have been loving this song lately. I can listen to it a million times in a row. But, I also love the video, as well. It reminds me of being young and going to concerts, although I am pretty sure my hair was never as cool or trendy.

Then it occurred to me, I’ve gone to so many different concerts with a lot of my favorite people. I was thinking how we saw Coldplay at the Backyard with Erica and Jerry (and of course, Joe had to pee during the one song that I really wanted to hear). Rachel and I went to our very first concert together with my dad: Rockfest at the Texas Motor Speedway. We’ve gone to plenty of concerts with Steve & Courtney and would always make “the wall” to keep people from getting in front us. I think about how we saw Silverchair with Aron and Sarah, but they don’t like to hang in the same part of the stage as we do, so we barely saw them until the end.

Of course, I couldn’t forget Bellie and Sara. You gotta love family that’s willing to start fights with 300 lb bikers that step on your feet. I remember all of us laughing on the back patio of Emo’s while we people-watched. I think about Sara taking Joe and I to Horde Fest when I first moved to Austin to go to UT (and having shoes so muddy we had to wrap HEB bags around them in her car). Heck, even Nana got in on the mix at Oyster Bake. She once tried to protect Joe and I from a knife fight that broke out near by during Better than Ezra’s set. I only regret that I missed the time Joe had to rescue Sara from the mosh pit at the Toadies.

Maybe you will watch this video and think of none of those things. You know you are getting older when the last time you went to a concert, you keep talking about your baby and hoping the headliner will come on soon because your back hurts from standing so long. Although my concert going nights are over, I feel like I can fondly reflect on my 20′s and the fun I had at concerts (or the near dehydration that struck a few too many times).

Austin Music Hall, South Park Meadows (before you were a shopping center), the Mercury (and you later renamed yourself the Parish), Emo’s, La Zona Rosa, Waterloo Park, Auditorium Shores, the Frank Erwin Center, Lucy’s Surfer Bar, the Backyard, Encore Movies and Music, the Cactus Cafe — thanks for the youthful memories, guys! And of course, thanks to my Joe, who was always with me at concerts, never laughing at my head-bobbing, always singing the words with me, not letting me fall asleep, and high-fiving me after we touched a crowd surfing Chris Cornell. That’s love!

The Real Karate Kid

Gosh, do you remember the original karate kid? I remember my brother and I loved that movie. Have you seen this Funny or Die video yet? It kills me! It’s a mockmentary of how Ralph Macchio tries to get his Hollywood career back on track. Joe has some pre-teen pictures where he looks just like Ralph Macchio, so I have a little soft spot for him.

I can’t embed the video, but you should certainly watch it. Warning, there is some profanity.

Birthday Celebration

Since Joe had to work on Jude’s actual birthday, we continued the birthday celebrations the next day by taking Jude to the Austin Children’s Museum and then having lunch downtown. It was rainy that day, so I am glad we had already decided on an indoor activity. Jude had a really fun time exploring the different rooms and activities. If you have 5 minutes with nothing to do, you can watch this video of clips from the Children’s Museum and Jude having a birthday “Cookie Monster” the night before.

Strongest Toddler in the World

Here is a hilarious video of Jude from February. We went to Payne’s birthday party, which was at a gym. Jude was hanging on the uneven bars showing off his strength and talent. It cracks me up every time I watch it.

Swimming

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

Watch Me Go

Tribute

Joe’s aunt Margarita inspired me the other day to do something useful with all our pictures. She’s started digital scrapbooking and was telling me about some different plans that she had. We got talking and somehow ended on Windows Movie Maker. She said it was pretty easy, so I came home and made my first movie. It’s basically a slide show with music, but I am still proud.

It is a tribute to Joe. I don’t feel like he gets enough praise for being a good Dad. Usually I just spend time complaining how he doesn’t know how to load the dishwasher (which is actually true) or why he keeps putting my cups in the sink when I am still drinking out of them. But Joe is an amazing father. He gives Jude plenty of love and has his own special daddy jobs, like helping Jude fall asleep and giving him medicine. Team Mitchell needs Joe, and I hope that he knows how much we love him, even if the “I love you’s” are sometimes buried in minor complaints.

Progress

A story told in videos.

First my boy learned to roll over.

Then he got to where he was sorta hop/scooting.

Then you should see him go to get the Christmas lights. The boy is fast.

Where do you go after army crawling that fast. Well, the only logical next step. Playing with the iphone.