jude and the farmers

We got Jude up and out for the final farmers' market of the Oak Park season. It is one of our community's Norman Rockwell type moments...where everyone young and old comes out to buy produce, organic plants, even meat.

a stylin dad and jude

We know Jude's days in the 'buggy' portion of our Bugaboo storller are coming to an end. soon he will outgrow the weight limit for it. Fortunately we use the same frame and just pop on the seat portion of the stroller and we're set to go. But we bundled baby in the buggy and went shopping.

blanketed and bundled baby

After a little while at the market our bundled baby got fussy. I'm not sure if Jude was hearing so many things that he wanted to be held to see them better...or if he was cold, tired? But eventually I carried Jude and we put our various vegetables, apples, and even pumpkins in the stroller instead.

stroller as cart

It was a funny ending to the market season that helps make oak park such a great place to live. Some of you may remember we actually took Jude the first time when he was just two weeks old

Jude at his first farmers' market

5 minutes of laughter

Someone recently asked me what I've enjoyed most about being a mom recently. After thinking a minute I answered 'playtime' and making the baby smile. Greg and I keep saying we had no idea we were so cool and exciting until Jude came along. Practically just walking into the room makes him light up and smile or babble at us. Or better yet, in the dark of his nursery, when we approach the crib he starts kicking and swinging his arms wildly. so you just hear this cute 'thump thump thump' in the dark.

Just this Sunday we had 5 minutes of baby laughter. I was holding Jude in the kitchen. Greg came in from cutting the grass (yes its october and our grass was still growing like crazy). For some reason Jude decided Greg was absolutely hilarious. He starting laughing and cackling at Greg, and he kept on going. After a few solid minutes of loud laughs, the poor baby was almost choking himself. Yet he kept on laughing. It wasn't like greg was making a silly face at first either. Apparently Jude just really enjoyed seeing him and seeing the reaction to happy sounds.

Greg & Jude

And that brings up another thing... the huge, huge difference in the way we parent. I think maybe its a gender difference and a personality difference. Greg is so much more willing to use the furniture, floor, rug, around him as a place for Jude to be.

Greg 'holds' Jude creatively

Tonight I came downstairs for our small group and Jude was sitting by himself in our arm chair...propped by a pillow. It is always an adventure to see where Dad will put him next or how he might hold him (upside down!) as mom looks on somewhat scandalized. But I also appreciate that Jude probably benefits from all the new experiences...and I know for sure he enjoys lots of love from both of us.

trips and fall

We've taken lots of trips this fall. You've heard about baltimore already, but this past weekend we took Jude to Kara's hometown of Champaign. We stayed with our friends Dawn and Cyrus. They now have two kids who were quite excited to meet Jude.

Jude & the pink ladies

Claire and John were too excited to 'take turns' playing with Jude, so our little one got played with...and even read too...from both ends and both sides. He handled it all pretty well and seemed to enjoy being so loved.

They really loved Baby Jude

We enjoyed attending kara's stepsister's wedding and it was especially fun to get dressed up which we don't do very often with a new baby.

Dawn and Cyrus graciously put Jude to bed for us. And the next morning we awoke to a 'treat'. Dawn's daughter Claire had laid out a row of 'gifts' for Jude. There were several drawings and baby toys for him to enjoy.

jude's present row

After the Champaign adventure, Kara and Jude journeyed to Grandma Carole's house to celebrate her birthday. Jude enjoyed talking to his grandma and sleeping.

me and great grandma

so how often do you get a 94 year old relative with a 4 month old relative enjoying each other's company? turns out its several times...when it involves Jude and his great grandmother thelma belt.

Jude & Great grandmother

This time we took Jude to visit her apartment on another day of our Baltimore trip. We had a nice time chatting and watching Jude play.

watching Jude watch us