jude turns 8

I love the crinkly parts

Our eight month old is developing and growing so fast these days and is so fascinated and distracted by his toys and surroundings.

playing with his first ball

Just today I laid Jude down his tummy facing one way. I turn around and he's spun himself 90 degrees to play with something else. I know the day is fast approaching when he will be truly mobile and I will lose whatever 'free' time I think I have now. So I am trying to be grateful for each and everyday of whatever stage he is in. Because it appears they only keep getting harder for the next few years.

Anytime George our dog is even in the room Jude will turn or twist to see him. We've given him a few controlled opportunities to pet the dog. Usually it ends when George sneaks a quick lick on Jude's face and we move away.

cute as a button

Jude continues to be a happy baby who still likes meeting people. A big part of that is his willingness to take naps...on most days. One of our sleep books says about 16% of babies his age will also take a 3rd nap in the late afternoon. We are very happy to say Jude is among that 16%, only because he seems happier and does less crying before bed if he's had that short nap.

He is actively reaching for things and lunging while sitting up to grab stuff. Tonight for instance during storytime he managed to grab and almost pull over the lamp in his nursery.

a previous lunge-free storytime

Its a nifty baby lamp that has stuffed animals attached on the base. He caught the lion by the tail and almost ended their short animal lives. Kara had a good laugh in the hallway watching Greg try to finish the book he was reading to Jude, while Jude repeatedly arched back and lunged for the lamp.

what have i done here?

a baby's life

Oh sometimes to have a baby's life. I get up and someone else gets me cleaned up and dressed. Then I eat prepared, 100% organic natural food that someone else cleans up or simply 'provides'. Then its downstairs for a baby brain and body workout...in my exersaucer.

enjoying baby workout

Sometimes both mommy and daddy are around to take the family places.

And now I have a special comfy chair to eat in. This high chair lets me sit eye to eye with the parents while they feed me, and again clean it all up.

jude's first meal in highchair

clearly he enjoys it

Here's hoping you get to baby yourself once in awhile

its a frustrating world?

Our little guy has entered a new phase of life.

who me?

Instead of just grabbing for fingers or his own blankets to put in his mouth, Jude now wants to put everything he encounters in his mouth. It might be the book we are trying to read at bedtime, the newspaper, our napkin or mom's hair. While it sounds and is sort of cute, we have a new issue. Sweet little jude becomes fairly frustrated little jude when you take things away. Bedtime reading is now a bit of a struggle and its more difficult to sit with him at the table as well. We knew this I'm my own person part was coming eventually, but we'd sort of prefer that he just remain in the cute little baby phase for longer.

Also we have another development fun tidbit. Greg had Jude sitting as baby leaned back on a couch pillow yesterday. The little block Jude was playing with rolled away. We watched him lean forward and get himself into laying on his tummy to grab the block. It is amazing to watch our little adorable blob of a baby develop and develop.

He also makes this happy high pitched squealing noise quite a bit now. Like this morning when we went in to get him at 8 o'clock (!) ((thank you very much baby)) and he let out happy excited squeals to see us. It makes the screamy times much easier to bear.

p.s. he did make noise and babble just before 6 and again at 7, if that makes you other new parents hate us less for our easy baby :-)

frost free baby

It is so cold here that even George the dog wants a snowsuit today! I found him borrowing baby jude's actually.

george "in" jude's snowsuit

I had laid jude on the floor to unzip him from the outfit last night and left it there. Apparently George decided it was warmer and softer than his usual bedding. Don't worry its now being washed.

Meanwhile, while greg's away we are hunkering down inside to avoid -12 temperatures and -30 windchills. Jude is now exploring the world of finger foods... dry toasted bread, yummy??

in her memory

Jude's great grandmother Thelma Belt is no longer with us. She passed away on tuesday.
We miss her and we mourn her passing. But there is also comfort because we know she is in heaven--not in some sappy, greeting card way--but in actual heaven because she was a follower of Jesus Christ. And she longed to be done with chronic pain and the challenges of a 94 year old body.

We are greatful, so greatful, we had the opportunity to introduce her to little Jude in the fall.

One classy lady

so animated when Jude was around

falling is more fun than sitting

Baby Jude is learning to sit.

At this point its more like mom or dad put him in a sitting position and adjust his feet to make him stable. Jude holds the position for a minute or two before he starts to tumble. Usually we catch him. But recently we had some fun on a soft bed, letting Jude enjoy the ride.

jude's big trip

Baby jude did really well on his first trip that required staying in a hotel room. we attended the wedding of our adorable cousin Evie in Des Moines. it worked out better than anticipated because our accomodations were more of a suite with a sleeping area and a separate living room. This allowed baby jude a place to sleep and talk and play with his pacifier at night, away from mommy and daddy.

jude's bedtime story in our hotel room

It is a challenge for us figuring out what to pack for travel with a baby. we also have the added feeding gear that we did not previously need. we ended up using the hotel pack and play, and bringing his activity floor gym.

jude chillin in the corner

Jude wore white to the wedding... yes it might be a faux paux for adults, but we figured the little guy could get away with it. and we're sure he was the only one there with knit feet that matched his suit perfectly.

Mom and Jude

The wedding also gave Jude a chance to meet his many cousins and his great aunt Verna for the first time. They all live in other states and had traveled to Iowa for the event as well.

Aunt Verna, Grandma Carole and Jude

So what did you pack on trips with your infants? We'd love ideas and tips. thanks!

jude and the blushing bride