spring indoors

Today Kara and Jude got to experience warm humid spring air and lush plants. Unfortunately we didn't travel to the tropics. But we did make a trip to Chicago's free Garfield Park Conservatory.

finally short sleeves again

The large indoor greenhouses include a show plant room where the spring flowers are already in bloom. It was nice for Kara to walk with Jude and see something besides grey skies and semi-melted patches of snow. She thought Jude would enjoy the flowers or give them an 'oh wow', but they were more interesting for mom.

azaleas

Jude did show interest in the conservatory's two interesting sculptures. And he was hushed into silence in the palm room, where giant palm trees and plants towered overhead.

a beautiful place to snack

Unfortunately the visit turned tramatic for Baby Jude. He loved walking into the palm room. The long fronds handing down were tickly, wet and fun to pull. Kara took him to the waterfall in the back of this photo below.

the dreaded palm room!

Poor Jude thought the waterfall looked very fun to walk into. He couldn't understand why mom kept saying 'no step', 'no water'. Kara tried to distract him by pointing out dozens of colorful fish in the large koi pond nearby. That backfired bigtime.

Jude tried 5 or 6 times to walk right into the pond. Each time Kara would pull him back. It ended with poor Jude in tears, not understanding why mom would deny him something that looks so fun.

Despite the turmoil kara counts the visit a success. It ended with Jude crashed in the car on the way home.

crash baby

I better run, I think Jude has found the Scrabble box. I can only imagine where the tiles will end up. Thank for reading!

why i hate the garage

I have a confession. I've come to hate our garage. Yes, its a safe, dry place for our cars and yard equipment to sleep during the winter. But it is also a source of tears and frustration to my toddler. You see he loves the garage. It houses his favorite play things. Mr. Shovel, the wagon, Mrs Broom and the new favorite, Mr. Snow blower.

jude out for a stroll

I know his dad is slightly bummed that the electric snow blower we own is actually light enough that a child can push it. I think Greg would prefer a larger, more powerful tool. But when its unplugged, loves to take it for walks.

just try and keep up mom

So here is why I hate the garage. Every time we go near the garage, go outside our home, or head to the car to go anywhere, Jude wants to play with the items in the garage. He makes the more sign with his hands. This often leads to tears and sometimes the dreaded arching his back to avoid the car seat straps. He holds out hope that this moment is the one where we will stop and play with them.

how much are you paying me for this job again?

At first it was cute. Little Jude loves the shovel, wow! Our 20-month-old would happily drag one down the sidewalk, snow or no snow, it didn't matter.

I love my shovel

But now he has to find one shovel and then a second shovel. But its not so he can push them. No this is so mom can push them, both of them at once. Even where there is no snow in sight.

So this is why the garage is no longer my friend.

Dear garage, let's hope you become a place of happiness, and no more tears, again soon.

napster

speaking of sleep from our last post...jude is now officially a one nap baby. but that doesn't mean he always makes it home before the nap begins. usually after church on sundays, and after his tuesday morning playtime (aka mommy's women's bible study group), jude crashes in the car.

super sleepin baby

reprising the role

Kara has mastered the art of moving him from the car to crib. It involves a careful dance of juggling her house key, somehow wiping off and/or slipping off her snowy shoes, closing jude's window shades while balancing him with the other arm, and laying him down. This is quite a dance with a 27 or 28 pound little guy. But the reward is 2 hours of quiet sleep from jude and a chance to recover from chasing our busy toddler.

Night Night

I remember reading that babies like routines. The experts write that babies like knowing what to expect, because so much of their world is big, scary, loud, confusing. We implemented a bedtime routine for Mister Jude fairly early on. He gets a diaper change, pajamas, a pacifier, and then the best part...two books read to him by mom or dad in his rocking chair.

My parents commented after their visit with Jude about how easy he is to put to bed. We are glad he likes the night night routine, and glad it pays off when others have to use it. Here are some snapshots from last night's bedtime.

stories with dad

happy bedtime baby

I thought it might be fun to pull up Jude's older bedtime pics. These are a few shots of Baby Jude's bedtime at six months old.

same story time routine

It cracks Greg and I up that Jude is still using the same tiny pacifiers he was in these early photos. We tried to move him up to larger big-kid sizes. But he wasn't having it.

stylin in a sleepsack

We both enjoy the chance to sit and read to our little guy and watch him develop. It is nice that even as he grows up, runs and explores, some things haven't changed with Baby Jude's little life.

night night baby. we love you!