...the judeman...

Oh. My. Word. Life just gets more and more and more and more fun. Jude is growing up so fast. He is a hilarious little booger...and he just brightens up our world!

We're at the point where every day...Jude seems to learn or understand something new. He amazes us with each new discovery! It is so much fun watching him at this stage in life. It's also so much more amazing to watch DLo be a daddy to a toddler. I swear- that man was MEANT for this! (And...I don't even think I can blame pregnancy on my lack of energy compared to Derrick's! I doubt I'd be a fraction of that caaaarazzzzy w/ Jude even w/o 2.0 taking up residence!)

Jude's been such a better listener lately...we've been working on him not hitting. Not that he hits out of anger, usually...he gets excited...and hits. It's been difficult trying to redirect that w/o saying "No!" or smacking his hand...I mean- how hypocritical to hit him for hitting?! Yeah...I didn't like that whole thing too much...so instead...I've been saying to "Be nice! Be gentle!" and showing him what that means. So now...when I ask him to "be gentle"...he'll rub my face really soft and slowly. It's super sweet!

Jude is OBSESSED with going outside now too. I remember when Zoe always wanted to be outside...being on the phone w/ Jaime and Zoe crying to be in the backyard (heck- if my backyard looked like that- I'd wanna be out there all the time too!)...and I think Aryanna went through that too... but...Jude LOVES going on walks outside (we don't really venture in the backyard much...) and he loves being pushed in his little car thing that he got for his bday (that he is SO outgrowing!) Jude's figured it out...that mom is too lazy to take him (I AM pregnant you know!)...so usually as SOON as daddy gets home, he will grab DLo's finger...point to the front door and say "that that that"...same w/ my parents. If they come over...it's the FIRST thing he demands from them! My mom is the biggest sucker though...they'll be gone for 30 mins easily- as she takes him around the entire block...my dad- not so much- 5 mins and they're back! LOL! I have a bunch of $$ saved from his bday- that I wanted to get "playground" stuff for him...maybe in the spring- I'll get DLo to give our backyard a make-over so that we can spend more time out there! (Which means...we'll save more money- to pay someone to do it...any volunteers?!?!)

The Christmas tree has been up for the past couple of days...and Jude has done a GREAT job of not touching the ornaments! Like...at all! What a good boy! I think it helped that things got put out little by little...so he got used to all the garlands...I dunno. I just hope 2.0 has the same restraint!!!! Have yet to put the presents under the tree...I wonder how he'll do with that! :) I have this windup nativity scene thing that I have in the "playroom"/Christmas tree room...and Jude LOVES hearing "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" play...over and over and over and over....we'll wind it up...and he'll watch it for a while...and then start playing, but man- when that thing stops- he's right there pointing at it saying "that that that!" I've been teaching him where baby Jesus is on it- so before we wind it up- we'll ask "Where's baby Jesus???" and he'll point to Him and say "Jeejuh?" or he'll point to Mary and say "Mama?" Love it!

Speaking of speaking! Yeah...it's not so much happening like I imagined! I think by 18months babies are supposed to have a good handful of words they say...and start stringing 2 words together. Not my Judeman. He babbles a whole bunch. And he's excellent at communicating...but he doesn't have THAT many words. If you knock- he's say "Heywhoa?" and he'll say "DOOOOONE" if you ask him if he's all done w/ something. He says "bye" like a champ...but other things...aren't so much all there. If you ask if he wants more of something...he'll say "mooooooooe" but he says the same thing if you ask him if he wants milk or water. He says "that!" which is helpful- if he wants a snack- he'll grab my finger, take me to the pantry, open it, point up (which is where his fruit snacks are) and say "that! that! that!"... :) fatkid! He's getting there, I know...just thought he'd have more to say by now! :) It's super cute what he's doing now, though!

Jude has LOVED books for as long as I can remember. It's part of his bedtime routine for us to read 2 or 3 books to him...and we always have "DEAR" time during the day for a little while. It's always sweet to see him sitting down w/ a book in his lap and hear him babble read to himself... Lately, though, he doesn't so much like when we read to him at night. He's VERY selective on what book he wants read (which is usually The Story of Jesus)...but whenever he reads his other books to himself- he's been mimicking the way Derrick and I read them... for instance... in SkippyJonJones Up and Down...I will "zoom" the book back and forth...or snore when Skippy falls asleep. Jude totally turns to the page where he's sleeping and snores! LOL! So funny! Or in Wacky Wild PeekaBoo- Derrick ROOOOOARS really loud when the Tiger peekaboos...and Jude totally does too! So adorable!

Like father-like son. A new obsession....having his hand down his pants...scratching his butt. I'm talking...down his diaper! It is ha-larious. So...alot of times, Jude will walk around w/ saggy pants and part of his babybuttcrack hanging out. I absolutely think it's the BEST thing ever!!!! Jude's also learned how to zip things- so his big footsie pj's are always unzipped when I go to pick him up from bed! LOL!

Anywho. I just love being Jude's mommy. He seriously cracks me up! Whether he's honking daddy's and mommy's nose...or giving us his "evil eye"...or winking... or asking to watch tv... or to talk on the phone... this kid just blows me away...and I feel SO very blessed to be his momma. :)