I'm so totally 11 months old now...

So, Mr. Jude has made it 91.6% of the way through year #1. I'm not sure if he's necessarily older and wiser, but he is at least older and more sure of himself. Or more sure of what he wants. Jude seems to always be acutely aware of what's going on around him these days... he has a better sense of how for--and how quickly--he can reach for things. He has developed a near-psychic sense of where his pacifier is, reaching blindly behind his head and grabbing it instantaneously. Unfortunately for us, this also means that take-it-away-and-he'll-forget-it-immediately trick doesn't work so well any more.

Oddly, for such a determined baby, Jude seems to enjoy being stationary. He is learning how to master his world within a 2ft. radius: no crawling or walking yet. Given his headstrong nature (which I suspect is inherited from his mother) this is almost certainly a good thing. As soon as he decides to go mobile, I think we're all in trouble.

Ole!

Jude is a bit of a stealth baby, though. This morning I put him down on the rug sitting in front of some toys. 10 minutes later, he was facing the same direction, sitting up just as straight, playing with the same toys... on the hardwood floor 3ft. from where he started. We've never observed this alleged scooting in real time, but dude moves. I have written inquiries to Animal Planet in search of some of those hidden wildlife cameras they use to film snow leopards, but have received no reply.

Never the less, 11 months into this whole thing it is still great to have such a wonderful baby. It is fascinating to see him develop from little sausage-baby, to a mush-with-personality, and now becoming a little guy who is starting to figure out how to modify the world around him to be the way he wants it rather than just responding to whatever comes his way.

Just so you know he's still the same cooperative Jude he's always been, though... yesterday he was tired, getting very fussy, starting to be cranky as bedtime approached. Kara and I were going out to dinner, though, and a brand new babysitter was coming over. The sitter arrived, and Jude suddenly turned into a happy cooing little boy, smiling and making cute faces at the sitter. Only 11 months old, and he's already learning to show off....

I'm feeling much better

grinning again

For the past 4 days we dealt with Baby Jude's first fever of his short life. Kind of monumental if you think about it.
Kara thought he felt warm before a desparately needed walk on Thursday. But then she thought she was just being nervous mommy and took the walk anyway because Jude had been extra fussy all day. Clue #2 was that Jude slept on the walk and actually fussed when she moves his hat and woke him. He never sleeps in the stroller anymore.
When they got back from the walk, little Jude had a 100.6 temperature. By 7pm that night it was 103.5, despite some baby tylenol.
The pediatrician had us switch to motrin. And because of our jumbo sized boy, they said we can give Jude the children's version instead of just infant meds.
So it began.

Jude is normally Mr Smiley and likes to play with his toys independently at times. While he was sick he just sort of laid, crashed, fell wherever we were sitting. He fussed if put down and just seemed miserable. Poor guy! He didn't even want to hangout in his johnny jump toy, which is one of his favorite things to do.

On Friday, fortunately Grandpa Scott & Jane were already planning a trip to pick up relatives at the Chicago airport. So they came up 4 hours early and sat with Mr. Jude on Friday afternoon while Kara went to work. Jane commented that it was the first time Jude just let her sit and cuddle him for long periods of time, which she loved!

Saturday was a long morning while Jude fussed and was uncomfortable. But finally about lunchtime his fever broke! He is back to his old laughing, jumping self. And his parents are very relieved.

aloha spring

Jude just couldn't wait for summer to try on his Hawaiian outfit. Grandpa Scott & Jane brought it back all the way from Hawaii for Jude even before he was born!

ready to roll

Grandpa Scott has a matching shirt, so we'll have to get a picture of them together soon!

its all about the container

A boy & his toys

Jude is really into putting toys on top of other things. His new habit is to take his basket of toys, dump them out, and stack toys on top of the overturned basket.

I emptied it myself!

In his crib this morning he was trying to put his plastic keys on top of the activity toy that's attached to his crib railing. Unfortunately it was not a flat surface so mom had to help.
Perhaps Jude will be an engineer like his dad?



Speaking of his future, I pray a brief prayer over Jude at bedtime some nights, often for help to be wise parents and for his spiritual and personal development. The other night I was praying that we, as his parents, would raise him in a way that allows him to be the man God has intended. We know that God can work through our struggles and joys we experience in our families growing up, but I guess I'd rather Jude have less struggles and more joy, than the average family, as much as it depends on us. As I write this it seems almost funny to be praying about the future for a 10 month old. But my mom always told me how my Grandma prayed for my brother and me, and how she believes God worked through those prayers.

A Visit to Grandma Carole's

Recently Jude and Kara made a visit to Grandma Carole's. Greg was out of town on business. Although Jude is a relatively easy baby... he's still a baby. Which works out to lots of work, divided attention all day for mom, and a tiring schedule. So it was great to spend the night at Grandma's and have her help.

Floor time with Grandma

Before a dinner out for the grown-ups we offered Jude some baby foods to make sure he got his veggies. Like many meals, however, his face received most of the supply, instead of his mouth.
Grandma Carole's friend Chuck helped deliver the meal.

dining in Normal

Kara was so happy for the help she even split up the bedtime routine. She got Jude all ready and then had them read Jude the two books that are part of his nightly routine. Jude went to sleep and slept well, which was a relief considering his newer surroundings. The only slight drama was when we realized the pack n play had to go on the lower setting with his larger size. Jude was not happy, after settling in, to be relocated two feet down. Thanks Grandma Carole for a nice visit!

bedtime stories are fun

Name that Tune Jude

When we lived in New York City, Kara had several friends through BSF who were young stay-at-home moms. She was amazed to hear about their infants attending French Class and Music Class. Kara has tried to avoid her natural tendency to also want an overachieving baby.

So today its all about fun and friendship as Jude begins his first music class. "Rhyme Rhyme Baby Time" promises "adults time to creatively interact with their infants through a delightful combination of fingerplay, lap games, and song." We don't believe it will actually impact his ACT scores.

Kara is excited for the scheduled time out of the house. She's chosen not to participate in a booming moms group at her church or the local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) because they conflict with Jude's morning nap. He's shown an inability to stay awake and be happy without that rest time. Hopefully next year she can join a few more mom activities.

For now Kara is very excited for a chance to sing and clap with Jude. The class won't include guitar playing despite Jude's obvious interest:

turn up the volume dad!

These are pictures of Jude exploring Greg's electric guitar. Greg is a talented musician. Kara is excited to think about the two of them playing together or talking music one day.

How old do I have to be to get one of these again?

Happy Easter!

Well, hello! I'm sorry you missed my first Easter, but I thought you'd like to see my very cute outfit for the day:

I spent a lot of the day in the car... going to and from church (where I decided to go easy on the new folk in the nursery, and chose not to cry), then driving back from Champaign to Oak Park. During the rest of my day I grabbed lots of things and tried to take a few toys from my younger cousin Olivia. She's faster than me (dang it, man, she can crawl already) but I'll get her next time.

At least we both got to enjoy our first Easter candy. Go peeps!

Now off to brush my teeth and go to bed... Happy Easter!

Baby 411

Jude just had his 9 month...err..10 month checkup. (it was delayed so they could make sure his pink eye/ear infection cleared up).

Here's the info:

WEIGHT: 22lbs, 8 oz

HEIGHT: 28 1/2 inches

That's 75th percentile in weight, and 50th percentile in height.

Yes we know he's a BIG boy. And Yes.... we love his blue eyes too. :-)

he's on a roll

Little Jude is on a roll! O.K. its more like a series of rolls. But this baby has decided that it is fun to twirl and twist, especially when you put him in the crib for a nap.

This morning, for the first time, he was on his stomach in the crib when I came to pick him up from his nap. He's certainly been capable of this before now, but he just didn't seem to have any interest in rolling around in his crib. We think this new interest in movement is a pretty good indicator that he's working towards crawling.

Fortunately for now, bedtime at night is still going well.

Greg reads Jude one of his 2 nightly stories

sleepy & stylish Jude

Jude is also quite a standup guy! He giggles and smiles when we put him on his own two feet. And sometimes he just refuses to 'bend' his body when we try to sit him...instead he stays rigid and wants to 'stand' He's not able to balance on his own. But he can lean on things, like the edge of his crib if you pose him for a photo. Not that we would do that :-)

say 'cute baby'