jude and grandpa scott kline

we're fortunate to have a lot of helpful excited grandparents in Jude's life. Thought we'd post a few more photos from Jude's first trip to Grandpa Scott and Jane's house in Champaign. And we're pleased that Jude will get to visit Grandpa Henry and Grandma Nancy in a few weeks.

jude scott kline miller & scott kline

Jane/Jude with Scott/cousin Olivia

Jude has certainly received a lot of great clothes. it makes our wardrobes seem dated compared to the stuff this baby has. Grandma Carole gave Jude an Illini outfit complete with orange and blue booties. And in case he's not sure where loyalties lie... Jude's also got a Bears outfit, 3 cubs outfits of various sizes, and some all purpose sports outfits.

proud Grandpa

One advantage of visiting grandparents is that you actually get to eat the meal while they hold the babies

My how I've grown

Jude's little arms and legs seem to reach and kick farther every day, and we know the numbers on the scale are creeping upward. But it is amazing to look back and compare in photos how much Baby Jude has grown.

jude at 2 weeks

jude at 3 1/2 months
George and Jude at 2 weeks
George & Jude at 3 1/2 months

I'm so glad he's happy and healthy. But there is a part of me that just wants Jude to stay little!

OK, he's big, we know...

Chunker. Linebacker. Bruiser. Beast. Good Eater. Etc.

Jude is called many things right after people meet him, but they almost all tend to be about how large of a baby he is. He is big: somewhere around 16lb. at 3-1/2 months old which puts him above the 90th percentile for his age, so there's no way around that. And he looks quite oversized:

Greg cannot fit his hands around the circumference of that thigh...

But... I think we get it. I think after the 976th time, we realize "OK, he's big". Think about it: parents have absurd guilt complexes about everything, so even if we realize you probably mean he looks healthy and great and I'm trying to compliment you, it still has a little bit of a cringe factor involved when we hear your baby is somehow not normal. Feel free to mention that he's big, but let's not make a long conversation about it, eh?

On the flip side, we are ecstatic that they guy seems so healthy, and thanks for noticing.

Peekaboo!