Jude visits champaign

Baby Jude made his first trip to Champaign to Grandpa Scott's house over Labor Day weekend. A fun time was had by all...and everyone in the house took a nap on Monday afternoon.

Grandpa Scott, Jane, Olivia & Jude

Jude got a chance to meet his new cousin Olivia Jane Daily. She was born exactly two weeks after him. He also got to spend some time playing with Uncle Todd

Uncle Todd & JudeJude shares his activity mat with Olivia

We also got to visit with Jamie, Olivia's mom. Olivia is the more typical sleeper for this age, so Jamie is a champ for keeping it together while still getting up several times with her little one at night.

Mom & Jamie with Jude and Olivia

We are pleased to say that Jude seems to sleep just as well while staying at other people's homes as he does at home. How great to have such a flexible, and cute, baby.

We took a little video of Jude and Olivia hanging out.

baby jude is 3

Baby Jude officially is 3 months old today-- born on May 27th at Prentice Hospital downtown. It has been amazing to see this adorable, sweet, calm baby develop and begin to absorb the world around him.
Tonight Greg and I left Jude with a babysitter and went to a nice dinner downtown. Jude smiled when the babysitter came in to see him. (it was the lovely Beth from our church who has tons of experience in her own family and with babysitting).
Jude is such an easy baby that he accepts holding, bottle feeding, even going down to sleep from whoever will show him love and attention. It is truly a blessing after reading in so many books about the challenges when babies are born with difficult temperments. We rejoice that at 3 months our child is doing so well.

this week is full of milestones. It was one year ago Monday the 25th, that I underwent my IVF procedure. For more on that, check out the early entries of our blog when Jude was born. But I may also share some more personal thoughts tomorrow. Thanks to all who have supported us and cheered us on as new parents. We love you and we love our Baby Jude.

jude gets grabby

Baby Jude is 3 months old tomorrow. His latest skill is using his hands to hold objects, and putting his hands in his mouth a lot.

Jude holds purple monkey toy

Jude grabs the links chain

He is extremely happy to lay in his pack n' play or activity gym and coo, squawk and 'run' with his legs and arms.

Jude is much more verbal now... making sounds a lot when he is awake.

He is also a champion sleeper. He takes frequent snoozes during the day. But part of his daytime sleep has organized into a morning nap that starts sometime around 9:30. This gives mom time to have her coffee or pickup a bit or make some phone calls.

Mom is interviewing various women to watch Jude on the one or two days she returns to work. They all comment what a cute, good baby he is. Apparently some book describes his temperment as "angel" baby. Mom agrees. We are blessed.

Daddy days

Little Jude has enjoyed two Days with Daddy recently. First on Saturday Kara traveled to Champaign to Grandpa Scott & Jane's house for a bridal shower for her stepsister Laura. Greg kept Jude all day, and even had an extended time when Kara's car brokedown on the expressway. (she managed to coast off to an exit and found a friendly garage on the next corner. The eventual tow truck came quickly and all is well)

Jude & His super daddy

On Tuesday Kara returned to work for one day. She slogged through 1300 emails and got to say Hello a lot of folks and tell them about Baby Jude. Greg stayed home with Jude all day. And he got to experience the joys of walking Jude and George together. George is still learning how not to stand directly in front of the stroller while it is moving :-) But George has gotten a longer leash which should help.

Jude in the buff :-)

Kara is slightly emotional about a milestone in Baby Jude's world today. She is putting away a bunch of onesies and the outfit she brought Jude home from the hospital in. They no longer fit without 'stretching' the shoulders. Its hard to believe this guy keeps growing. The consolation is that Jude has many cute outfits in the 3-6 month size that can now be washed and added to his baby wardrobe. Thanks everyone for the great clothes