All Things Considered

Future Musician

2012-02-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

Jeremy took out his very dusty guitar recently. I bought it for his 30th birthday which was the weekend we found out we were pregnant. So, he pretty much had nine months to play and then full on parenthood set it. Playing the guitar kind of took a back seat. Well, he has rediscovered this fun hobby and Jude got to join in on the fun.

Here Jude is playing with his toy guitar. He kept trying to put it on Jeremy's guitar stand.

He is a great page-turning assistant!

Luker Christmas

2012-01-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas holidays, we had the pleasure of having Jeremy's family visit. It was the first time we have all been together since Jude was one month old. He's now two, so you do the math. Hayley and Mark and their kids joined us from DC and Mimi and Gigi drove up from Mobile. We had a lot of fun doing not much of anything. We did go on a hike in the woods behind our neighborhood. It's pretty cool that Jude will get to play in those woods someday. But, until then, the grown-ups enjoyed the fun!

Jeremy, Gigi, Hayley and Maddy

Mark and Maddy sharing Maddy's coat

Hayley posing in the woods

Can you believe this is right in our neighborhood?

Hiking in the woods. Everyone was a good sport!

Jeremy and his mom and sister

Toddler Entertainment

2012-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

The new best friend in our household is "Bob the Builder: Trains and Treehouses". Although, we could do without the Treehouses part. We discovered this gem while browsing Netflix one evening. I needed something to occupy Jude to get a few things done before leaving the house one evening. Little did I know what I was creating. Jude is now completely obsessed with this show. The morning after the discovery he came downstairs and I heard an odd noise. He was dragging the barstool around the counter and trying to sit on it. You see, he had watched the show in the kitchen, sitting on a barstool, on the computer set on the counter. He remembered the equation and wanted to recreate the scene. He now wants to watch this show pretty much on repeat. And not just any Bob the Builder will do. It has to be this particular episode. So moms of toddler boys, check it out. Your son will love the entertainment and you will love the gift of time (30 whole minutes).

Disclaimer: Yes, I let my child watch television. It sure is a mother's helper in a pinch.

Boy's Best Friend

2012-01-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

Jude loves his puppy dog!

Terrible Two's?

2012-01-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

I've been putting this post off for too long. Something about having to sum up another year seemed like an emotional task. I wanted to be so eloquent when writing about this second year and I finally decided, there is no way to do it perfectly. But, writing nothing is worse than writing imperfectly, so here it goes.

I'll start by saying that I learned my lesson after last year's big b-day party. Too much work and not enough time to enjoy it, for both mom and Jude. So this year, we decided that small is best. Especially since we have finally figured out that Jude does not dig a crowd.

We woke up the morning of his birthday and decided to skip church. Mostly because there was no nursery during the holiday weekend. It was a pretty dreary day outside, so instead of going on the hike we had planned (Jude loves walking in the woods), we went to Krispy Kreme instead. We then went to Dick's Sporting Goods. That may sound like an odd celebration spot, but Jude loves going there. For a two-year-old, there is lots to see including an escalator, treadmills, and lots of bouncy balls. We ended the morning by going to Jude's other favorite destination, Publix. He rode in the buggy and got his cookie. Publix is the master marketer to kids!

Riding the escalator with Mommy.

Playing basketball with Daddy.

Later in the afternoon, it was time for a celebration with family and friends. My sister and her kids, Jeremy's mom and grandmother, and our neighbor from across the street rounded out the guest list. It was the perfect size gathering for Jude. We cooked tacos, had birthday cake, and opened presents. A nice, laid back birthday, perfect for a two-year-old.

Justin and Jude horsing around on the couch.

Gigi and Mimi getting the trucks out of the boxes.

That's right, I made made his birthday cake. Who needs to spend $40 when you can pay $6 for tractors and place it on top of a Duncan Hines cake. Yummy!

Riding his balance bike from Gigi. I've heard these really help with learning the art of bike riding. We shall see!

On a dinner date with Maddie from across the street. She wanted to be up close and personal to the birthday boy. It will be so fun to look back at these pictures when they are all grown up!

He loves his bathtime and it just got more interesting with a new Thomas track thanks to Lisa!

I love it when you catch a genuine smile with the camera. He laughs so much, but I rarely capture his joy on camera.

The below video was taken the morning of his b-day. I'd like everyone to see how well he is talking. I started to wonder how long it was going to take. I now have to watch what I say, that's for sure!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was in Dothan this year. We were back and forth with the family about where Thanksgiving would be held. But, since all the sisters were in Dothan, we made the trek down there. Mom hosted everyone at her house. Last year was my first time hosting and I have to say, it's way easier being a guest.

The plan was to eat Thanksgiving lunch and then celebrate Jude's bday with pumpkin pie before his nap. Well, you know how your best laid plans go when you have a two-year-old. Poor guy was beat from missing his nap the day before. We pushed him to his limits, but he didn't even make lunch. We put him down for his nap and he didn't wake up until after everyone left.

Joyce, Aunt Bobbie, and Aunt Karen

Jeremy and Justin in almost matching shirts. Too bad Jude outgrew is from last year.
Justin, Julie, and Jude reading his new favorite book in Dothan. Can you believe it's about trains?

Gramps and Jude reading previously mentioned book.

Jude finally got his birthday present from Grandma and Gramps. He was in a much better mood this time around. He loved his tricycle!

Grandma showing him how to use the pedals while Gramps pushed. This tricycle has it all. We can push him and steer while he learns how to ride. And no bending over!

Gramps, Grandma and Jude enjoying some cuddle time. Jude loves blankets these days. It's pretty sweet!

Alabama vs LSU, Game #1

2011-12-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Before the football season had even begun, I was told by my husband that he would be giving my ticket to the LSU game to his good friend Dave from college. Dave is a big LSU fan and it was a bit hard to take. But, I said it was ok on the condition that Dave's wife and kids came to visit, too. They are some of the funniest people that Jeremy and I get the chance to hang out with. Christy and David make me laugh whenever they are around.

It was a fun visit. While the men attended the game, we had our own PG fun at the Moss Rock Festival, not that I took any pictures at the event. But, the highlight was the cake tasting we were able to enjoy. The kids enjoyed the day outside and got along well, despite the varying ages. I got a taste of what it would be like with two young children. Christy handled it with ease. I had a hard enough time watching my one. I've got a lot to learn. Lucky for me, it's not something I have to learn any time soon!

The fun began early when Christy scooped up poop in our backyard. We really need to be better about that chore. Kind of embarrassing when you're guests are your pooper scoopers!

Dave showing us the hot dog dance from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He looks just like Goofy!

Christy and Libby

A few years ago, Christy and I challenged eachother to feats of strength contest. Let's just say we had had a few glasses of wine when it started. Well, I guess the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree. Not the wine part, but our kids certainly carried on the tradition of testing their strength.

Here's Jude hauling around a gallon of bubbles. Check out the concentration in his face.

Here Libby is carting around the booster seat.

We hit the park before they got on the road. Wald Park is so much more fun than our neighborhood park. Not that I'm complaining, because having a park in the neighborhood is certainly a luxury that I appreciate. But, it's nice to get out and try something new.

Mom gets to join in the fun! Gotta love the static electricity in the wintertime.

The family unit: Libby, Christy, Libby, and Dave

Don't they make a great new-age couple?

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins....oh my!

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

My parents moved to Dothan, AL when I was two years old. That means they've lived there for over 30 years. Most of their family lived back in the Illinois area. Well, that has changed over the past few years. My mom's sisters moved to little, old Dothan. They moved to be closer to my grandmother, who also moved there many years ago.

Jeremy and I traveled down for Troy's homecoming in November and got the chance to visit over lunch that Sunday. My cousin, Chris, was down visiting Aunt Karen. It is so rare that we all get together, Jeremy hadn't even met Chris before. And we've been together for almost nine years! It was a nice visit!

Jude, Aunt Karen, Jeremy and Chris

Dad, Uncle Sam, Aunt Bobbie, and Mom
Can you tell they are sisters?

Aunt Bobbie, Joyce, and Aunt Karen

Fall Festival

2011-12-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

I love our neighborhood! They hosted a fall festival for all the families back in October. Yes, I'm still playing catch-up. They had carnival rides and games just for us. No lines and small crowds of people that we knew was a great experience. We pushed Jude's nap and hoped for the best. He loved it! He ran straight for the rides.

Against our better parenting judgement, we let Jude get on the first ride he saw. We didn't take the time to watch what the ride did before he got on. Needless to say, it was a bit advanced for him. He liked it and wasn't scared at all. But, he won't be getting on that ride again until he's a bit bigger. I about had a heart attack while watchng them.

I think I was more scared than Jude. This mom isn't too big on rides, even little ones. But, I can't let Jude know that because I don't want him to be afraid. So we climbed on in. It was lots of fun!

BB, Emily Grace, Jeremy and Jude

A model train hobby group set up a big, battery operated train in the town hall. Jude loved it!

Our neighbor, Mr. John is in the group that builds the train sets.

We played a few carnival games trying to win a prize. This was the only thing we scored. And I think the lady gave it to us out of pity, more than anything.
Jude of course found the row of golf carts and went straight for them. Luckily, our neighbor's was there for him to play on. Hence the Auburn colors.

Playing with rocks in the parking lot. Boys will be boys!

Luker Antics

2011-12-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

Notice anything odd in this photo? I'll give you a hint, there are two things.

Life with Jeremy is always funny. He always makes me laugh....case and point. I was cooking or cleaning something and had my back turned. This is what I found when I was done.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-12-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

We made what is now an annual trip to a pumpkin patch in early October. We tried a different one this year in Clanton and I think I like the other one better in Harpersville. This one was definitely a more commercialized version. But, Jude doesn't know the difference and we all had a good time. We met up with some friends from the neighborhood and also ran into one of Jeremy's old roommates. It's a small world when it comes to these family outings, I'm finding.

I just love this picture. The colors and lone Jude heading off to the hay wagon is too cute!
We could probably have skipped paying for the hayride. As soon as he spotted this wagon that wasn't in use, he headed straight for it. We were able to climb on and take pictures to our hearts content. And isn't picture taking what these little outings are all about?

Jude and his Daddy

Jude has gotten so much braver. I really attribute it to MDO. I've seen a big difference since he started back. Normally, he was scared of the jumpers if there were a bunch of kids inside. But, he had no problem with it on this day!

Mom and Jude braved the jump zone slide. You all who know me know I'm a big chicken. But, I have to keep that in check. I don't want to raise a sissy. I braved the inflatable slide and actually had a good time. I don't know which was harder, climbing up carrying a 30 pound kid, or sliding down. And most importantly, Jude loved it and kept asking for more.
This was before we were even to the pumpkin patch. He picked one out and figured he could handle carrying it. Look at those muscles!
Taking a seat on our chosen pumpkin. Look at the little grin!

Visit with the Fire Truck

2011-12-05T19:32:00.000-08:00

So, in honor of Jude's 2nd birthday that just passed, I'm going to do some back-blogging. Having a 2-year-old on the loose is definitely not conducive to lots of blog updates. I'm too busy chasing little man around.

Back in early October, Jude's MDO invited the kids to come meet the local firemen and their truck. Jude had just started back to MDO and so far had been doing really well. You never know what you are going to get when Jude gets around a new situation and people. I didn't know how he would handle the firefighters. Well, I needn't worry at all. While all the kids were lining up and trying to decide if they were excited or scared, Jude ran right up the firetruck door indicating that he wanted up. The firefighters were so nice to him and immediately put him in the seat. They showed him how to ring the bell, which he loved. My shy guy was not so shy on this fun day. Normally, I would have attempted to keep him back so as not to disrupt the other kids. But, they were also being reticient. So, I figured why not let him loose.? I'm sure the fire department didn't come there to just stand around, right? That was my justification, at least.

They were really great to all the kids and I so appreciated their enthusiasm. Thanks Hoover Fire Department!

One of the friendly firemen showed Jude that he could ring the bell. Well, that was it. He didn't want to keep his hands off it after that. That firemen was probably sorry he was so friendly!

Jude got first dibs on sitting in the fire truck.

Emily Grace and BB ringing the bell
Jude finding himself looking back when looking at the bumper of the fire truck. I knew that firemen washed their truck every day. Now, I see the proof!
Not our best photo, but at least we are in it together. We don't get too many of those.
Taking a moment to splash in the puddles. He will find any puddle within a mile to splash in, no matter how small. I have no one to blame but myself. I taught him about puddles one day and now he loves it. Boys will be boys!

Slow Blogging

2011-11-17T18:52:00.001-08:00

Yes, I know I'm a horrible blogger as of late. For those of you who might still be checking it, I came across a few videos that I downloaded and never posted. They are pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

This video was filmed in early October. He was just saying a few words. Now, he pretty much can say anything that I ask him, too. Which means that I have to watch what I say.

He is our giggle box. I love that he is such a happy baby. And my absolute favorite thing is to see him in footie pajamas.

This video was taken just a few days ago. Not much talking, but lots of laughs!

Halloween

2011-10-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

For the grandparents out there, here is your little puppy dog dressed for Halloween. He did pretty good this year. We started out well since he actually kept his costume on the whole time. And we even made it to some houses to trick-or-treat. But, his favorite part of the night was the golf cart parked on the street and another kids motorized vehicle. He just wanted to play with the cars. My favorite part was watching his little puppy tail wag when he was running around. It made my heart so happy seeing him all dressed up!
In the golf cart. Unfortunately, it was decked out in Auburn details.

Oops! I cut out daddy's face.

Darting out in front of a yard pumpkin

It's the Little Things

2011-09-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy that Jude is content with the little things in life. This is a great age. Of course, I say that every month.

Chilling on the couch with Wrigley. She makes a great pillow.

Jude and Emily Grace enjoying the monkey grass. They ignored the inflatable jump zone and massive lego table and opted for nature instead.

While Jeremy was enjoying a football game, Jude was kicked back with a snack while watching tractors dig a new subdivision in Ross Bridge.

These are the tractors that he was watching. I'm sure the workers enjoyed being in this random picture.

When we go to the mall, Jude insists that we ride all the escalators. I'll take that over begging me to buy every toy in sight. The escalator is FREE!

His other favorite stop are treadmills and elliptical machines.

Relaxing with dad and a good book.

Roll Tide

2011-09-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

Football season has begun and Jeremy is happy to see it arrive. Gigi came up for a visit and accompanied Jeremy to the game. This was her first Alabama game and I think she had a good time. She also came bearing gifts for Jude; a Bama t-shirt and Thomas the Train bath toys. He loved the bath toys and wouldn't leave any room without them. I love that toddlers are so happy with the little things. And I was really glad to have the Bama t-shirt because he is sorely lacking in that department. I wish I had a picture of all three of them decked out in their Bama gear.

Jude and Gigi hanging in the backyard

Jude and Gigi playing with the train the she got him for Christmas last year.

Jude and his bath toys, going anywhere but the bath!

Beach Trip 2011

2011-09-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying, this trip couldn't have come at a better time. Our life has been a bit upside down these days. Between Jeremy changing jobs (twice) and me deciding whether to go back to work, we really needed this break. We so appreciate BB and James inviting us to join them at their family's condo. The last time Jeremy and I went on a true vacation...one that he wasn't working during the trip...was the summer before Jude was born. Every other trip to the beach has been for his work trips. Fun for me, not so much for him.

I'm happy to say that the trip started off great because Jeremy found out that he had gotten a new job that he was really excited about. It really allowed us to truly relax and enjoy the time together before he started his new job. BB, me and the kids went down earlier in the week and the menfolk joined us over the weekend. It was pretty low key. We cooked dinner every night, hung out by their awesome kiddie pool, and actually read a book and watched a movie.

The kids got along great, with the exception of Jude having to learn that he couldn't push/hit Emily Grace. A few time-outs later and he got the gist. And Emily Grace learned that she liked playing with cars. I was really embarrassed that he was being a bully, but very pleased when he learned to be a gentleman.

Jude, Julie, BB, and Emily Grace
Jude playing with the fave pool toy of the week, plastic cups.

Emily Grace playing in the splash area.

Did I mention they had an awesome kiddie pool?

BB, Emily Grace, and James

Jude and Emily Grace getting ready for bed.

Leave it to Jeremy to figure out a way to exercise while on vacation.

The kids had a great time playing in the hallway. Jeremy joined in on the fun. This entertained them for a good 15 minutes.

Daddy's Helper

2011-07-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

Jude has been such a little helper these days! His latest attempt was washing the car, complete with his denim diaper and no shirt.

Completely unrelated, but cute pictures below. We stayed at my sister's for a night. Jude has a new obsession courtesy of Justin and that's Thomas the Train. They pulled out his old tracks and all the trains. He was good for the rest of the visit.

Uncle Bryant and Jude. Somehow we miss Bryant in a lot of pictures, so I'm happy to have caught this one.
Running through a willow tree in their backyard

This One's for You, Daddy...

2011-06-30T12:39:00.001-07:00

Jude's finally gotten good at saying Momma and Daddy. While Jeremy has been gone, it seems his new favorite word is Daddy and he keeps saying it over and over. Hearing Daddy can melt even the toughest man's heart!

And in true boy form, here is a video of Jude making polite noises on our leather sofa.

McWane Center

2011-06-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed our family pass to the McWane Center courtesy of Gigi. Times sure have changed being a parent. For our birthdays, we asked for a family membership. We all have enjoyed the fun. In this heat, it's a great activity.

He loves pushing his stroller around. I'll miss these days when he can be so easily entertained!

Jeremy being Jeremy
Enjoying more fish
I actually made it into a picture. So rare!

His favorite activity was stomping around in the room that makes you look like a giant and a midget.

Crawling through the tunnel. He was surprised to see Daddy at the other end.

Catching Up

2011-06-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

We have been blessed with a lot of visits over the last few weeks. It has also kept us very busy. We started with a trip to Dothan. Jeremy even made the trip and it was nice to have him. We made the rounds to see grandparents, great-grandparents, and aunts. I hope everyone had as nicea visit as we did.

Here are Grandma and Jude on the carousel. This is the first time he has ridden that he seemed genuinely interested in it. So much so that when we walked past it on our way out, he asked to ride it again. And what Grandma could resist that?

Here are Gramps and Jude riding in the car on the way home from swimming with the aunts. It was so cute to see Jude's hand gripping Gramps' finger during the drive.

One of my oldest and dearest friends came to visit me on her annual trek through Alabama. Amy and I have known eachother since 1st grade. She lives in Colorado and we don't get to see one another too often. But, when we do it is as if no time has passed. Although, the topic of conversations have now changed from boys to child-rearing.

Amy, Sarah, Rachel and Jude (covered in cupcake)

Amy's brood making a toy out of our guest luggage rack. Gotta love kids who can entertain themselves creatively!

Gail and her girls came to visit from Mobile. Gail and I met in college my sophomore year. And then I was lucky enough to live in Mobile with her for at least a few years. It was so great to spend some time with her and her two little girls.

Julie rolling out the dough to make a pizza.

She and I share the awesome name of Julie Ann.

Julie, Jude, and Julie making pizzas.
I promise that I cook more than pizza on a daily basis. But, it's such a good crowd and kid pleasing meal when you are having guests over.

Kingry Time

2011-06-07T12:25:00.001-07:00

We decided to brave the heat and head out to see some zoo animals. The zoo animals were smart enough to seek shade. I don't know what we were thinking. But, it was a fun trip when combined with the my sister and her family. They were good sports to come since they were coming off of a trip to Disney the day before. The zoo was way more fun with their company!

Jude still isn't showing too much interest in the animals. But, he likes walking around and being outside. How is it that kids have no sense of the heat index?

Jeremy, Justin, Jude, Julie, Kendall, and Bryant

Justin and Kendall with some flamingos
Me and Jenny
The Kingry Clan
Justin teaching Jude the arcade at yummy Davenport's Pizza

18 Months Old......Officially a Toddler

2011-05-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Time really is marked when you have a child. A year and a half passes in the blink of an eye. It has truly been amazing watching him grow up and learn new things. And I've been lucky enough to watch it all day, every day. I never thought I'd make it at a stay at home mom, but it looks like we've both survived and even had some fun along the way.

He's about the sweetest little boy you'll meet. Of course, I'm partial. He's started giving the best hugs. He's extremely laid back. It seems to me that he is saying "Whatever" with his eyes sometimes. Especially when I'm introducing him to something that I think he's going to love like the pool, playground, or ice cream. But, then he'll get so excited about the smallest things like the sprinkler or throwing the toy for Wrigley.

A snapshot of this 18 month old:

He loves cars, trucks, and trains. But, he calls them all cars.

His favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and loves to watch it while sitting on Wrigley's bed that is on top of our bed.

There are only three words in his vocabulary: light, car, and Wrigley. There is lots of gibberish being spoken. I just know he is saying something, I'm just not enlightened enough to understand it yet.

He has gotten a few more signs down. More, please, milk, and sometimes thank you. Please is my favorite and the worst one all at the same time. He signs please and then points to what he wants. It's basically turned in to "I Want That." But, it prevents a lot of whining, which is great!

He has a fascination with lights, fans, and anything hanging from the ceiling. And he will go to any adult in the room that will pick him up and get him close to one. Strangers or friends, anyone that is taller than him will be his best friend if they will help him.

Going outside can always make him happy. He loves to just wander around. When we go to the park, he bypasses the playground equipment and goes straight for the trees and bushes.

About the only thing you can always count on him eating is his eggs in the morning. Anything else is a crap shoot. One day he'll love something and the next he throws it on the floor.

In the morning of his 18 month birthday, sporting the bedhead.

Playing with Daddy and his truck.

This is his Mickey Mouse watching spot, on Wrigley's bed on our bed.
When we first gave him this popper for his first birthday, he couldn't figure it out. Now he has learned how to work it and taunt Wrigley with it.

Some entertainment knows no expiration date. Playing in the sprinklers never goes out of style! I remember playing in the sprinkler growing up. However, on our home videos you hear my shrieking and whining every time the water touched my face. I'm glad that Jude doesn't take after me in that respect!

Where's Jude?

2011-05-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

He's been working on this trick for a while. It took me a few times and several whines before I figured out what he was trying to do. He wanted in the cabinet. He got the problem solved without my help. I guess now if I can't find him, I have a new place to look.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Easter this year was really fun and a pleasant surprise. We dyed eggs with my niece and nephew. We used to do that before I moved to Mobile. It was nice to get back to the tradition. And we hunted for Easter eggs with Emily Grace. I really didn't think that Jude would go for the egg hunt. I figured it would be another photo op for us moms. He actually found eggs (once they were pointed out) and put them in the basket.

The one egg that Jude helped me dye.

Justin and Kendall enjoying snacks and eggs

Jude on the hunt

Emily Grace was definitely better at the game. I guess three months makes a big difference at this age.

Bad mommy didn't have anything inside the eggs. What a letdown!

Jude and Emily Grace

Belinda and Emily Grace

Always a Groomsman...

2011-04-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Prepare yourselves grandparents, this blog post has no pictures of Jude. I will not be offended if you quit reading right now.

Many people ask me how we still have friends getting married. Most of my college friends are married off, so now it's Jeremy's turn. We've been on a wedding circuit the past month and a half. This past weekend we were in Mobile to marry off one of Jeremy's fraternity brothers and also childhood friend, Ray. It was a beautiful wedding and the reception was so much fun! If you are looking for a unique venue for a party in Mobile, look no further than The Courtyard on Dauphin St. It has a gorgeous outdoor patio and indoor seating, too. Ray and Scarlett really know how to throw a party!

Nelson, Diesel, Tucker, and Luker doing their party tricks.

Me and Molly Nelson
Ray, the man of honor and Jeremy

Another attempt getting a group picture of the guys.
These are never good pictures.

Pam...does he look familiar?

An actual picture of Jeremy and I. That rarely happens!

Browning, Jeremy and Pugh

Boob Tube

2011-04-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Jude now has a new favorite activity. It was bound to happen, even though I try to limit his exposure. He loves to lounge in Wrigley's chair and watch tv. And not just any tv, his preference is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Good thing it has such a catchy theme song. Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog....how can you go wrong with those lyrics?

This is how he started out watching the show.

Must be getting really good

Just like his mom, he can't sit still while watching

his shows. Ahhhh, so relaxing!

I know what you may be thinking. Why is that chair covered in a furry blanket? Was I trying to take an Olan Mills inspired picture? Nope. That's Wrigley's chair and we have to keep it covered so she doesn't mess it up. Of course, Jude would love the same spot that Wrigley does. He travels from dog bed to dog bed. Poor Wrigley! She can't catch a break!

Dothan

2011-04-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to Dothan to help out my mom after her toe surgery. I worry that we were more work than help. But, that's the beauty of a one year old. They can certainly provide entertainment and a welcome distraction.

Grandma and Jude at my grandmother's nursing home.

The flowers were too pretty to pass up!

Grandma and Jude riding the carousel.

No matter where we are, Jude will find the dog bed. This one was conveniently located at the front window so he could watch the world go by.

Gramps and Jude in matching shirts. No, that wasn't planned.

Jude having fun on the rocking zebra. Every time we visit he gets more comfortable with this toy. Although, his favorite thing to play with there is the kid's kitchen. Grandma and Jude rocking out

We celebrated my birthday while visiting. In this video, Jude has devoured the cake. He is finally getting the taste for sweets. This is the first time he has shown any interest in them. I guess that's probably a good thing.

Pi Kap Family

2011-03-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

One thing I think many parents worry about is what happens to your social life once you have a child. It certainly changes the dynamic of your party plans. When we moved back to Birmingham, we had lots of friends from college that we used to hang with. But, that was pre-baby. I have to say that Jeremy's fraternity brothers have welcomed us back with open arms. I'm touched that they remember to invite us when they have parties. And Jude is always welcome! Granted Jude's early bedtime often prevents us from attending. But, it's always nice to be asked!

Recently we were able to attend a cookout down the road of one of the guys. Jude had a great time and all of the friends, wives, and girlfriends were so helpful with Jude. I think a good time was had by all. Thanks to the Pi Kap family! The good times keep on coming, ten years later.

Jeremy and Jude playing cornhole

It's way more fun to climb on the board and place the beanbag in the hole.

Jeremy, Harper, and Jude Jude helping out with the cooler. Probably because he saw that it was a popular place to be!

If you notice Jude's hands, he is signing more right as we took the picture.

He wanted his sippee cup.

Happy Mardi Gras

2011-03-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

We were sad not to be in Mobile for Fat Tuesday. Especially, after spending the weekend there for Jeremy's MOT Ball. We thought the best remedy was to have some neighbors over for our own PG fun. We went super casual serving red beans and rice and jambalya, straight out of the Zatarain's box. It was a fun evening. The best part....the night was over by 8:00 p.m. Times sure have changed since being a parent. I feel like I say that a lot. I should change the name of our blog to Times Have Changed.

Let me just say that I love our neighborhood. There are so many great families here and kids Jude's age. We have really enjoyed getting to know everyone and look forward to watching our kids grow up together!

Tiffany, David, and Juice

Belinda, Jeremy, Gina, Luke, Brian, James, and Emily Grace

Cooper, Volree and Jen

Jeremy, Nick, Bob, Dave, and Evie

Jude and me at the end of the evening. He looks like he's been enjoying too many Fat Tuesday festivities!

All Things Considered

2011-03-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

I changed the title of our blog and want to explain. It may not seem significant, but this expression has become my mantra. This was the name that I thought about in the beginning, but I went with the Beatles reference a Day in the Life because of peer pressure from my hubby. However, 15 months later I'm still using this expression daily. I think it is the perfect adage for life. Whenever I think about how life is going, how I'm doing as a mom, wife, daughter, and friend I always think that all things considered we are doing alright.

Thanks to anyone who reads our blog! I'm honored to think that anyone takes the time to read it.

Jude Loves His Daddy

2011-03-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

Could they be any cuter? Jeremy was rushing around trying to get out the door to an appointment this morning. Jude and I were reading a book, giving Daddy his space. Then Jude got off my lap, took his book, and carried it to the next room to Daddy. He wanted Jeremy to read him the story. Of course, Jeremy couldn't turn down that heartfelt request. So he stopped to read to Jude before he left for work.

Daddy in his suit and Jude in his pajamas. It made me so happy to be a wife and mother.

Jude watching Jeremy pull out off the garage and head off to his day.

Grandma

2011-03-10T07:47:00.001-08:00

Today is a special day for Grandma! It's her birthday! Too bad she has to spend it not feeling good. She had toe surgery yesterday. Hopefully, these pictures will help bring a smile to her face. Special wishes from her youngest grandchild. Happy Birthday and we hope you get well soon!

Snow Days and Days and Days

2011-02-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

When we first moved to Birmingham, I was excited at the prospect of snow in the winter. Now that we've had so much of it, I'm over it and am ready for some sunshine! That being said, after all the snow we've had I haven't once gone out to play in it. So, I bundled up Jude and Wrigley and we went for a walk in the snow.

Jude in his winter coat courtesy of Gigi.

Wrigley in her winter coat. I promise we didn't buy them to match. That's just a bonus!

I love that I can now put Jude down and he stands up.
This is Jude's weather shield for his stroller. Don't worry, it's designed for the stroller. You can't see him, but he's in there.

Our house in the snow

Hoover Fire Department

2011-02-11T12:44:00.000-08:00

Now that Jude doesn't go to Mother's Day Out, I've been trying to get out there with the neighborhood and church playgroups. It's been really fun and I've gotten to know some great women and their kids that are close to Jude's age. One of the girls invited us to the firestation for a tour. Her father is the Chief. I know what you are thinking, "What are one-year-olds going to get from touring the fire station?" The answer is not much. But us moms got some great pictures! And Jude liked seeing the trucks. Thanks to Gina for inviting us!

Cooper, Luke, Harper, Bobby, and Jude

He even got a fireman's helmet. Of course, he wouldn't wear it for a picture.

Grandma and Jude

Here Jude is with our host Chief Brocato, Gina's father.

Grandma was up for a visit that week while Jeremy was out of town. She picked a great week to visit. The weather was pretty gross and cold. The sleet hindered some plans to visit Jenny and the kids. But, it gave us an excuse to hang out in our pj pants. That's always fun!

Grandma, Jude and Roxie all snuggled up.

Who needs expensive toys when you have a dog crate. Roxie's crate was a source of great fun for Jude while Grandma visited. He liked to crawl right in and hang out, opening and closing the door. Hey, whatever works!

Warm Weather Tease

2011-02-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

This past weekend gave us a glimpse towards the Spring. It was sunny and 70 degrees outside. We tried to do as much outside as we could. We went on lots of walks on our neighborhood trails and took Jude to the park. Jude played on the playground for the first time. Up until now, all he has played on were the swings. It was a dirty trip because he liked to crawl in the dirt to get from one place to the next. When we go the next time, he will be walking around instead. What a difference a week can make at this age!

Here we are on a trail that we hadn't walked on before.

Practicing his walking. This picture was taken before he was making his move this week.

Crawling on the playset. When he concentrates, he sticks his tongue out as shown below.

Going down the slide with Daddy

Crawling up the steps, which of course was his favorite thing.

Busy Weekend

2011-02-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

We had a busy weekend. Jude and I started out the weekend with a trip to the zoo with the neighborhood playgroup. Now that Jude is leaving mother's day out, I'm working on getting involved in some activities. Jude is used to hanging out with the ladies (Emily Grace and Maddy), but it's a bit different hanging with the guys.

Jude, Jack, Luke, Cooper, and Bobby

On Friday night we went on a triple date with BB and James, and Jude and Emily Grace. Let me just say that in theory, going out to dinner sounds like a great idea. In practice, it is quite a different experience. First of all, we were there for the early bird special at 5:30, trying to eat before the kids got tired. Jude is hit or miss when it comes to eating out. Sometimes, he is good as gold. This was not one of those times. He just wanted to be on the move. We spent the meal taking turns holding him and finally I took him outside to walk around. We might wait a couple of months before we go out to dinner again.

BB, Emily Grace, Julie and Jude

On Saturday night we had some friends over and made pizzas. I made a New Year's resolution to invite people over more. We've lived here since June and have hardly had any company. Since going out to dinner is off the table for the time being, we can bring our friends to us instead.

Jude got to play with a buddy, too. Emma and Robbie, who recently moved back to Birmingham, have a son named Jake and he is 11 months older than Jude. He must have been a good example for Jude because two days later, Jude was walking around.

When making pizzas, Casey's previous work at Domino's really came in handy!

Jeremy and Brad enjoying some vino at our little pizzeria.

Jake and Jude look so much alike.

Emma and Robbie

Now you know it's party! When the clothes come off, the fun begins!

This One's for you Daddy...

2011-02-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like Jeremy was right. He said that as soon as he left town, Jude was going to walk. And that's about how it has happened. Since Jeremy's not here to see the huge progress he's made since yesterday, here is a video for his viewing pleasure.

It seems that holding something in his hands gives him better balance. In the video he is holding a ball that Grandma gave him. It's almost like he feels like he's holding his walker.

Animal Lover and Ladies' Man

2011-02-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

Jude loves our neighbor's cat, Stubby. And Stubby is very sweet to Jude, letting him pet her. And in true boy fashion, he tries to grab her short tail. Boys will be boys!

Wrigley is such a patient big sister. She lets Jude pet and grab her. She also doesn't mind when Jude tries to grab her tongue. It's funny to watch, but don't worry. I keep a close eye on them together.
I've been listening out for a word that resembles Wrigley. I just know that he must have one. A word that kind of sounds like Diggy could possibly be it. I'll keep on ear out to see if it keeps up.

Milo helping the kids with the dishes.

Jude and Emily Grace were helping us clean up the kitchen. I'm already teaching Jude how to win big with the ladies. Emptying the dishwasher always makes a woman smile!

Another thing that helps with the ladies is offering to drive her around. Jude loves to walk the walker and Emily Grace enjoys the ride!

Get Out Your Running Shoes

2011-02-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

Looks like my relaxing days of motherhood are soon to be over. Jude is officially on his feet and on the move. And something tells me it won't be long before he is running, not walking, everywhere. Grandma is coming up for a visit just in time to witness Jude's big accomplishment first hand.

Here is his practice session with Jeremy.

And here is the real live thing.

Gift of Gab

2011-01-23T20:08:00.001-08:00

Jude is getting more vocal these days. He has lots to say, not that I understand it yet. His favorite and only discernible word so far is light. He makes a sound like Gooba gooba. It's pretty cute, but I don't know what it means. And he uses da da da, a lot and not always when talking about Jeremy. Enjoy his words of wisdom below!

Zoo

2011-01-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

We had our first trip to the zoo during daylight hours. I wondered if Jude would even be interested. T0 my happy surprise, he was. This was lucky for us since we paid for a year membership!

One of his favorite things was a simple fish tank. He kept trying to reach for the fish.

His other favorite thing was walking amongst the bamboo reeds. It was perfect for him to walk along while holding onto something.

You could get really close to a lot of animals. Here's an ugly rooster.

Our little lion.

I couldn't resist this picture. He was driving multiple vehicles

We aren't at the zoo, as you can see. But a good video of Jude showing off one of his new skills of throwing a ball. One day, Wrigley and he will have some real fun!

White Christmas in Alabama

2010-12-27T18:26:00.001-08:00

I think this is one of the best Christmases that I have had as an adult. Being a parent during Christmas was a totally new experience for us and I loved it! Watching Jude on Christmas morning was so much fun and getting ready for it was even more so. Although, Jeremy may sing a different tune. It took him over 2 hours to put together one of his gifts from Grandma and Gramps. Thus begins many more years of reading manuals.

We started the morning opening Santa gifts. Jude even played with them and not with boxes! Then we went over to my sister's house and had breakfast and more presents with my parents and sister's family. On the drive up to Trussville, we watched as the rain at our house turned to sleet and then to snow during the drive and by the time we got to my sister's it was sticking to the ground!

My family left to drive back to Dothan and our little Luker family went home to our house. Jude went down for a nap and Jeremy and I relaxed and watched an actual movie on our new blu-ray player (thanks Mom and Dad!). Jude woke up and we had round 2 of presents. It took us 3 times to get all the gifts open.

On Christmas Eve, we went over to BB's house where Santa was visiting. As you can see, Jude wasn't a big fan. Maybe next year!

I think this was his favorite toy. You can only see the bat, but it has a basketball, football goal, and baseball to hit. He almost didn't pay attention to anything else! A rocking golf-cart (instead of a horse). Breeding our next Tiger Woods, minus the cheating and affairs.

I couldn't help myself! Matching shirts for Jude and Daddy.

Kendall, Justin, and Jude

My handsome boys!

No matching shirt for me. I thought that might be a little much.

He was playing with the golf cart and found another toy to play with at the same time. My little multi-tasker.

One Year

2010-12-23T12:54:00.000-08:00

Eat your hearts out ladies! That is one handsome boy that we have. We got some family pictures taken to celebrate his first year. We all made it through the year and are a happier, closer family. It has certainly been a wild ride and we have loved every minute of it.

A quick snapshot of Jude at a year old:

He weighs almost 24 pounds and is 31 inches long. That's more than 3 times what he weighed when he was born and 10 inches taller.

His two favorite things are Wrigley and his toy walkers.

His first bonafide word was "light," although it sounds as if he's saying "ice." Of course, he's been saying mama and dada for awhile, but I think he just likes those syllables the best.

He will eat just about anything you put him front of him and has since he was born. He's always been a hungry man.

He is the best sleeper and napper, for which I'm truly grateful. Although, it took many sleepless nights to get to this point.

Separation anxiety has just set in. He's been really great with other people until he hit the one year mark and now it is in full affect.

He does not like to cuddle, nor sit still. Even at bedtime, he wiggles and will push you away if you try to snuggle. No mama's boy here!

I can count 5 teeth that have come in and one that his been right there for at least 4 weeks. He really doesn't like for you to mess with his mouth to try and see teeth.

He smiles and laughs a lot. It truly warms your heart when you achieve a belly laugh out of him.

Don't worry, we were inches away from him while taking this picture. But, boy was I nervous! I was thinking about how cold the water would be if I had to jump in.

Good looking family, if I do say so myself. If you haven't seen Jeremy in awhile, he now shaves his head pretty short. Took some getting used to!

I'm jealous of his eyelashes!

Hanging on to Daddy's legs

Hanging on to Mommy's legs

Photographs courtesy of Carly J Photography. She rocks!

Thanksgiving

2010-12-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

I'm officially a grown-up. I hosted my very own Thanksgiving dinner at our house. I managed to cook dinner without making anyone sick. It helped that I had a friend fry our turkey. At least the main course wouldn't be messed up! Thanks, James! I hope everyone had a good time. I know that I did! It helps that I enjoy cooking.

My sister and brother-in-law were very happy with me hosting the meal. It meant they didn't have to drive anywhere but Hoover! Look how happy they are!

We started a new tradition and joined families for the day. Pam, Jim and his son Chase drove up from Mobile for the day. Somehow I didn't get a picture of Jim or Chase. I guess I'll get them next time!
Gramps and his two girls all grown up.

Jude having some fun with his Gigi

Mom passing the torch to her daughter. I never realized what all went into cooking this big meal. Makes me feel bad that I didn't help more in the past!
Feast your eyes on the spread. I cooked some old standards and tried a few new recipes (to my mother's chagrin). All in all, I think it was tasty. Although, I can't take credit for everything. Everyone contributed a dish. We celebrated Jude's birthday again on Thanksgiving with the whole family. We were only missing Mimi, Aunt Hayley, Uncle Mark, and Maddie. But, we'll see them and baby Luke in January 2011!

He had a much better go with the cupcake this time around! We got the mess that everyone wants to see in their pictures.
Justin, Kendall, Jenny and Julie at the end of the day.
Jude getting ready for bed in some new footie pajamas. They are so stinking cute!

Jude's Birthday Party

2010-12-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

Jude had his first birthday party and the theme was dogs. If anything can elicit a smile or a belly laugh from Jude it's a puppy dog. I briefly entertained the thought of everyone bringing their pets, too. But, then I thought better of that. Kids alone are enough to chase after without worrying about dogs, too.

When it came time for him to eat his cake, he wasn't too interested. It didn't help that I left it in the fridge and the icing wasn't soft enough to really mash into. So no picture with a huge mess of icing on his face. But, stay tuned. He got a little more into it when we had a cake for him at Thanksgiving.

When it came time to open presents, we made the mistake of giving him Grandma and Gramp's gift first. It was an actual walker; not a laundry basket or equivalent that he's been using as a walker. So he took off with it and showed no interest in any other toys. Which meant that I got to open the presents instead. Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate opening presents in front of people. Oh, well. I hope that I oohed and aaahed appropriately.

Below is a video of Jude on said walker. The road kill that he leaves in the dust is our neighbor Maddy. Sorry Mads! He promises to share in the future!

This was another favorite toy that Jude received from Casey and Jennifer. As you can see, the whole family was enjoying the fun!

We were really touched at the friends and family that were able to join us for Jude's big day. I hope everyone had as much fun as we did! Thanks for being a part of Jude's first year!

Just because he's cute...

2010-11-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Took some pictures and videos of Jude and thought I'd go ahead and post for absolutely no reason other than his cuteness! That and hearing of my friends impending babies has me truly excited for them and appreciating my own. Congratulations Chasity! This is what you have to look forward to!

Feeding himself Cheerios. Some independence for Jude and for mommy!

(Jessica, if you are reading this, sorry for referring to myself in the third person. It's just something that happens with motherhood, I guess.)

Jude has learned that he doesn't need a walker when he has the laundry basket. He loves pushing it around the house. See the bottom for a video of this activity.

He will make a jungle gym out of any piece of furniture. He likes to crawl under and over his highchair, dining chair, barstool, etc. The other day I had to stop him from crawling right over Wrigley!

This is how Jude typically looks in the morning. He has some crazy bedhead! I love his hair and will be sad the day I have to cut it. I guess when someone mistakes him for a girl, I will know that it is time.

One of Jude's new favorite activities is to lay on Wrigley's bed in the dining room. Below, Wrigley is being nice enough to share with Jude.

In his Sunday clothes. No john-john's for this boy!
(Does anyone else think he looks a bit like Justin in this picture?)

The promised video. Please disregard my talking through it. I can't help myself but to narrate. Hearing my voice on video is embarrassing.

11 Months

2010-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Jude turned 11 months on October 27. Eleven months seems like a noteworthy birthday. It's like your 29th birthday before the big 30. I can't believe he will be a year old in a couple weeks. This year has flown by. And I still feel like a brand new mom. Shouldn't I have more figured out by now? I feel like he's really started a new phase in the past week. He's becoming less of my baby and more of a little boy. I'm sad and happy all at the same time.

In the past two weeks, Jude has cut two more teeth, with two more on the way. He loves any kind of animal, cats and dogs. They always make him laugh out loud. He has learned how to use a walker. Good thing he's getting one for his birthday. He's finally figured out how to feed himself. Grilled cheese and cheerios were the break thru foods. He weighs in at 23.5 pounds. All in all, he's a pretty happy baby. Please enjoy the following videos of our happy, baby boy!

He loves playing with Wrigley. And Wrigley is a good sport about it.

Here he is feeding himself grilled cheese. He keeps looking up because he's trying to see me over the camera.

His new thing is playing with Wrigley's bed. He lays on it like he's going to sleep. He also does this with any soft surface in the house, bath mats, kitchen mats, etc. I don't know where he learned it from, but it's pretty funny!

This was taken on Halloween. We didn't do much trick or treating, but he enjoyed greeting the kids that came to our house!

Gigi and Mimi

2010-11-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

The whole family went to Mobile over the Halloween weekend for a bonafide Big Fat Greek Wedding. It was nice to have Jeremy make the trip with us. The past few trips I've made to Mobile and Dothan have been just me and Jude.

My friend, Maggie, that I used to work with, got married this weekend in a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding. The ceremony and bride were beautiful, not that we understood much of the wedding. To quote "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," it was all Greek to us! But, I'm so glad that we got to be a part of her day.

Gigi and Mimi got to have quality time with Jude on Saturday as Jeremy and I made a quick trip around town to catch up with some friends. They took him to Wintzell's Oyster House and he enjoyed crackers on the deck while Gigi and Mimi enjoyed some Mobile seafood. I thank them both for watching Jude for his all day! I think a fun time was had by all!

Jude having fun with Gigi and Mimi.

(Poor guy always seems to be coming out of his costume in really inappropriate ways.)

Jude and Mimi

Hopefully, this will be the one and only time he will be on a motorcycle. This was the first time we got to see Poppy's motorcycle. Jude liked his faux ride!

Julie, Maggie, and Jeremy

Shana and the Julie's

Let's play a game of Where's Wrigley?

Bayfest

2010-11-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

When we decided to move to Birmingham, I promised myself that I would get back to Mobile for my favorite events, Bayfest and Mardi Gras. Jeremy always said that Bayfest was like my Spring Break. I always stayed out a bit too late and had a bit too much fun that weekend. I went down for a quick trip, but well worth the drive. It was nice to spend time with good friends and have a night out on the town. Shana is the Executive Director of Bayfest and has always gotten me involved in the event as a volunteer. This year, she let me just ride around with her in the golf cart and enjoy backstage of the concerts. We saw Earth, Wind, and Fire and Nelly. I could care less about the acts. I was happy just hanging out with friends.

I got to stay with Jessica for the night. In all the time that we spent together in Mobile, I never once spent the night at her place. We did have many sleepovers at my house, though. Our nearness to Dauphin Street had a bit to do with that.

Shana, Julie, and Jessica

Julie and Jessica

Jude's First Halloween

2010-10-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

After a fun weekend in Mobile (another blog to follow), we headed back to Birmingham and made it in the nick of time for trick or treating. Our neighbor had a party and we barely had enough time to unpack the car, whip up chili and pizza dip, put on a costume, feed Jude dinner, and get out in time for the fun. Jude enjoyed his first Halloween, no nap and all.

Getting pumped for Halloween at Gigi's house

Me and Mickey Mouse

Couldn't forget our firstborn. Good thing she is so easygoing when it comes to costumes.

Our neighbor Allison and her daughter Maddy. Maddy is only 2 months older than Jude. They are great neighbors and are always having us over.

We didn't know that he could walk with a walker. He surprises us every day!

Now he's just showing off!

By the end of the night, he was coming out of his costume. Not necessarily the most appropriate look...

Babysitting Trade

2010-10-13T18:53:00.001-07:00

My parents and I negotiated a trade. I babysat their dog, Roxie for a week while they went to Disney World. And they kept Jude while I made a trip to Mobile for Bayfest. Pictures of that will be in another post. Jude loved having the additional houseguest. The first belly laugh we ever heard from Jude involved Wrigley. Adding another dog to the mix just added to his enjoyment. Watching the two dogs play always got him giggling.

Wrigley, Jude, Roxie and Julie (trying to get a picture with everyone looking at the camera was near impossible)

Grandma and Gramps with Jude fresh from their Disney trip

Grandma and Jude in semi-matching outfits

Jude was scared of the rocking zebra at first. But he warmed up to it and hopefully will be rocking it up next time we visit.

I made it to town in time for Whatley's 98th birthday party. That's right, I said 98! Pictured above are Nanan and Whatley with Jude and me.

This One's For You...

2010-10-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

This picture is for you, Grandma! I thought you would enjoy these pictures. A couple of times I have found Jude tinkering the ivories. We have discussed selling or donating the piano. It takes up a lot of space and I really don't play it very often. But, then you see this cuteness and it makes it hard to let the piano go. It was a big part of my childhood. I took lessons starting in third grade after I begged my parents to let me. I only stopped taking lessons my senior year of highschool. As you can imagine, I thought I had way more fun things to do than play the piano. I'm glad I can play and wish I did it more often. However, it's hard to justify keeping the piano for sentimental reasons. I'm still trying to decide. Maybe Jude can take some lessons one day...

Ten Months Old

2010-09-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Jude is 10 months old as of Monday the 27th. He is crawling all over and pulling up on everything. He still army crawls around, too. He alternates between the two modes of transportation. He has even started cruising on the furniture a bit. Scary to think that walking is around the corner. He has his two bottom teeth and is working on four up top. I realize that the next two teeth that are the closest to cutting could possibly make him look like a vampire when they come in. Luckily, it looks like the top two front teeth are not far behind. Lucky for Jude, vampires seem to be "in" right now. Edward Cullen, look out!

I realized that I haven't uploaded any videos lately. Please enjoy the following.

Disclaimer: Please disregard the loud music and my narration. What can I say? I jam to my iPod while we do chores and play throughout the day. Please don't make fun of my music choices.

In this video I was trying to capture him chewing on his teething cookie for the first time. He even held it himself. He wasn't cooperating, but he was so cute in the end of the video, I couldn't help but share.

The next video shows Jude wearing pants and socks for the first time in awhile. You see him stop and look back several times. He is looking at his feet and trying to figure out what the socks are on his feet. And it took him a few tries to figure out how to crawl wearing pants on the slippery floor.

Here I am getting him up from his afternoon nap. I love what he has to say to me!

Roll Tide

2010-09-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Season tickets to the Bama game are a lot easier to enjoy this year. Only an hour drive from Birmingham, versus a 4 hour drive from Mobile. My parents were nice enough to come watch Jude while Jeremy and I went to the game. Did I mention that Jude was a sick baby? They get stars in their crown for the weekend. Especially when they didn't tell me he was sick so that it didn't dampen our day. Poor baby, though!

We got to Tuscaloosa around 2:00 and it was blazing hot! Never did I think I would be grateful for rain. But, the clouds in the sky definitely helped cool it off. Thanks to BB and James for suggesting that we bring ponchos. I may not make as many games this year, but we had a great time! We also decided that Jude will not be attending any games for many more years.

Heath, who we bought our season tickets from, informed us that Bama hasn't lost a game since we bought our season tickets. I guess we are good luck! That's what it is, not all their hard work and great coaching. It's the fact that the Lukers bought season tickets!

Julie and BB holding a plate as a fan. You do what you've got to do to keep cool!

Casey, Jeremy, and AJ

Us

Casey, AJ, Jeremy, Brent, and ?

Julie, Jeremy, Casey and Heath

(Someone offered to take our picture. I believe they were trying to get more

of the stadium and less of the people)

End of the Summer

2010-09-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

With Jude starting Mother's Day Out on September 8, I decided that we deserved a summer vacation week of fun before he started. Being a stay at home, you would think that every day is vacation. I find the opposite to be true. I'm always working on something, running errands, cleaning the house, making babyfood, etc. I'm also realizing what a bad housekeeper I was before. So we did minimal cleaning and errands for a week and hit the pool. Believe it or not, we've only been to the pool 4-5 times all summer and those were always on the weekends. We picked a good week to go. With all the big kids back in school, we had the place to ourselves. And Jude really loves the splash pad. He can crawl around to his pleasure. And I love it because I can relax in a chair and gets some sun while he plays.

Crazy hair day (every day)

All protected from the sun

He loves crawling on the chair. His own mini jungle gym.

Blowing bubbles with Daddy

Playing peekaboo, his favorite game (Jude's not Jeremy's)

He likes watching Jeremy play guitar. Another thing that Jeremy doesn't get to do often.

Getting ready for Mother's Day Out

About to go in for some fun at MDO

Side note: As soon as he got home from school, he and I proceeded to get sick with a tummy bug. So for the next two days, we hung out at the house being totally gross. Poor Jeremy!

Beach Trip

2010-09-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

Beach trips have certainly changed since becoming a mother. My great friend Gail invited Jude and I down to stay at her father's condo. It was a fun trip with two college friends and theirs kids. A first trip like that for me. It's funny how different a vacation is with a little one. My car was packed to the gills. I used to only require a suitcase for clothes (another one for shoes) and maybe a cooler. Now, we're trying to fit all the stuff required by little man into my car. It took me an hour and a half to get everything packed and ready.

The first thing we did when getting to town was hit the grocery store. Instead of picking up mixers, chips and beer, we loaded up with fruit and stuff to actually cook dinners. The next morning we woke up and attempted to hit the beach. With a napping baby, that doesn't always go as planned. By the time we got everything ready and out the door, Jude was ready to take a nap 15 minutes after hitting the beach. His nap schedule is not conducive to beaching. Every time Gail and her girls were going to the pool, we were heading in for a nap.

All that to say, it was a really nice, relaxing trip. It is great to not be on a sunbathing schedule and going to dinner at 9:00 at night. Instead we relaxed in the condo, read our books, cooked dinners, and watched movies after the kids went to bed. Gail's girls are so well behaved and fun to be around. They were great little helpers with Jude. Thanks Gail for having us!

Hanging at "The Hangout"

Julie, Jude, Gail, Julie, and Camiel (an actual group photo)

Jude in his borrowed pool bed. Now that he's on the move, trying to contain him is futile.

Fun Times in the Circle City

2010-09-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

When Jeremy leaves town during the week, it's often a good excuse for Jude and I to take a trip to Dothan. We had a really nice visit! Jude loves his Grandma and Gramps. The trip was good with the exception of Thursday. Jude is on a pretty solid routine. He naps at the same times every day. So, my mom scheduled a much needed hair appointment for me during one of his typical nap times. Of course, just when you think you know your baby's schedule, they tend to change it up. My poor mother had to deal with a crying, tired baby for the duration of my hair cut. He then proceeded to keep us all up that night crying. Who would have thought that being overtired makes you stay awake instead of the opposite.

He made up for his bad mood for the duration of the visit. He was much nicer the rest of the week. Hopefully, his good mood will get us an invite back to Dothan. Ha-Ha. That's the beauty of grandparents! They love him no matter what!

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

Playing with Mardi Gras beads with Grandma

Swimming with Great-Aunt Bobbie

Swinging with Gramps

Bathtime with Grandma

What? Mommy actually made a picture?

His first time standing up by himself! Right before we left town.

Now if he could just figure out what to do with his feet now that he's in the position

Happy Nine Months Jude!

2010-08-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that we have had 9 months of Jude. For some reason, 9 months seems like a noteworthy birthday. He is so much fun these days! I feel like each month I say, "This is the best month!" I guess it goes to show you that your child just gets better and better with age! He's got two teeth. He can crawl. I've seen him do it many times at the pool splash pad. But, he prefers the army crawl at home. I had to cut his hair for the first time. I love his crazy hair! His absolute favorite toy is Wrigley. He'll pick up Wrigley's toy and try to hand it to her. She'll try and get it from him and sometimes they play tug of war. Wrigley is really good with him. He loves peekaboo and any kind of spoon. Babies are so funny with what entertains them. No need to spend money on toys at this point. I don't know how much he weighs, but I would guess around 22 pounds. Which I think is big. My friends' older babies don't weigh that much. He's definitely a healthy, happy baby boy!

Trying to pull up

Check out the two teeth

He loves playing on Jeremy's computer

Pulling up achieved

Swinging in the park behind out house

This was just funny

Trussville Cousins

2010-08-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

A great blessing to us moving back to Birmingham is that we are in town with my sister and her children. Jude loves to visit his cousins. And they love playing with Jude. If I dare come out to their house without bringing Jude, the kids are disappointed. I think it's great that they love him so much! Jenny and Bryant have babysat for us many times, which is another bonus. Hopefully, we can return the favor!

Justin, Kendall, and Jude (their new dog Ellie and Wrigley in the background)

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE their new covered porch?

Justin and Jude

Everything goes in his mouth. A mother has to get over any germ phobias, that's for sure!

2010-07-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

Gigi and Mimi came up for a visit. It was great having them here and Jude enjoyed spending time with his grandma and great-grandma. This was Mimi's first time at our house. They were both surprised by Jeremy's lack of hair. As you can see, he has decided to shave it. He keeps going shorter and shorter. Pretty soon he's going to be bald! Watch out Tim, you have some competition!

Jude, Mimi, Gigi, and Jeremy at the park behind our house

The grandmothers offered to babysit and gave Jeremy and I the chance to have a date night, just the two of us. We tried to think of the last time we had gone out just us and we couldn't remember a time after Christmas. And that was at the Waffle House! We've had many weddings and parties we've gone to leaving Jude with babysitters. But no one-on-one dates! We enjoyed our time together and relax over a delicious dinner. We'll have to make that happen again...before Christmas hopefully!

Jeremy and Julie getting ready for date night

Beach Trip

2010-07-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

Jude had his first beach trip last week. Jeremy had a convention in Destin and we got to tag along. Fun for us, but not for Jeremy since he was working. My parents joined us and brought my niece and nephew.

It took us 6 hours to get there, a trip that should have taken 4 1/2 hours. The joy of traveling with a baby! We did manage to get down to the beach for a few minutes that evening so that Jeremy could be with Jude on his first visit to the beach. Of course, true to Jude form, he didn't have much of an opinion about it. He is so laid back and along the ride for just about anything.

The next day Grandma and Gramps came we loaded up Jude, Justin, and Kendall and headed for the beach. Gramps dragged the cart full of stuff across the street and down the beach. We set up the umbrella, towels, and hit the water. It was beautiful and oil free. We made it a sum total of 15 minutes before all the kids decided they had enough. So Gramps loaded everything back up and hauled it back across the street and we hit the pool. No sand or saltwater equals happier kids!

Grandma and Gramps left on Friday and it was just Jude and I for the day. We went to the pool in the morning and Jude actually took a nap there while I enjoyed a good book. It was a nice morning for us both.

Six Months

2010-07-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Carly J Photography I have some beautiful pictures of Jude commemorating his six month birthday. I know what you are thinking, isn't Jude almost 8 months now? And your math is correct. However, my blogging has been less than consistent so I'm a bit delayed. Go visit http://www.photosbycarlyj.com/ for a great photographer for weddings or children.

And let me tell you, scheduling these pictures was no walk in the park. Trying to work it around his naptimes, with enough time for me to get there and him be pleasant wasn't easy. Lucky for us, Carly had a dog there. Anytime we needed a smile from Jude, we just brought in the secret weapon. Next pictures, I'm going to include Wrigley. Our two babies!

Below is Jeremy's favorite picture. Of course this would be his fave!

Old Friends

2010-07-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of moving to Birmingham and our neighborhood is that we are close to some old friends BB, James and their little girl Emily Grace. It has been so wonderful getting together for playdates and cookouts! There are only a few months difference between Jude and Emily Grace. And BB has been so helpful to me over the past few months with great motherly advice.

One of my favorite stories is the one BB tells me about Jeremy and James and a conversation they had as they watched an Alabama football game. Jeremy turns to James and asked "What is your burping technique?" Game day conversations certainly have changed since becoming parents.

My little man is a bit of a prude. Anytime he's with a girl in the bath or pool he starts crying. I know what you are thinking. How many girls has he been bathing with? The answer is two. So, maybe he's not a prude after all. Maybe he's just not a two timer.

Lights, Camera, Action...

2010-07-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

I think I have finally figured out how to upload videos to the blog. The old way apparently doesn't work anymore. Please enjoy watching this adorable baby boy as he chats, tries to crawl, and all around is cute!

These are the Huggies denim diapers. So ridiculous that I had to get some. But, not too many. They are priced too high for more than one purchase.

Silly Boy

2010-07-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Wrigley and Jude having a good time together. Let me rephrase, Jude is having fun, Wrigley doesn't look like she's enjoying life at this moment!

He loves to burrow into the corner of his crib. I always worry about whether he's breathing. His little foot poking out was too cute to pass up on a picture.

Jude's bitchin' combover! Lucky for him, it's growing in. He looks less like an old man and more like a towhead these days.

Memorial Day at BB and James' house. Don't you love Jude's summer outfit right down to the shoes? He should be at a Jimmy Buffet concert.

Old House New House

2010-07-01T07:44:00.001-07:00

Let me just say that I was very sad to leave Mobile and our old historic house. The night we moved out, I cried as I mopped the kitchen floor and tried to make it last a bit longer, because I wasn't ready to say goodbye. That was the first house that Jeremy and I owned together, a place where we made lots of friends, threw some fun parties, and the place that we brought Jude home. It was a great place with great neighbors. We really enjoyed living in an older home with lots of character. It's something I have always wanted to do.

Here is Jeremy digging up the St. Joseph statue. We prayed a lot to sell the house and God really answered our prayers. The timing was perfect. We closed on our house in Mobile and two weeks later our house was ready in Birmingham.

But, I was very happy to buy our new house. I never thought I could withstand buying a brand new house. Picking out cabinets and paint colors always sounded like a stressful decision making process. But, I really enjoyed it! And we love our new house in Ross Bridge of Hoover. There are a ton of kids Jude's age (mostly girls). He has turned into quite a ladies' man already.

The most exciting part of owning a new home is the big bathroom. Two whole sinks, a tub and a separate shower (except I still haven't had a chance to soak in a hot bath). Jeremy and I are in hog heaven. No more sharing a one sink bathroom with Jude!

One of our favorite features of the house is the keeping room with the stone fireplace. Now if we could just settle on some furniture for the room. Right now it sits empty with only Jude's toys as decoration.

We can walk to the park from our backyard. A must when you have Wrigley the frisbee catching dog! .

In the Meantime...

2010-06-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry we've been out of touch. Moving has been very hectic and if that wasn't enough, our Internet has been screwed up. Thanks AT&T and HP for that problem. And thanks HP for erasing my hard drive without giving me a warning. So glad I backed up all of my data...NOT! Life is still very busy. Until I can get a proper post up, here are some pictures of Jude being cute and 6 months old!

I snuck this outfit on him for church before Jeremy could protest. Too cute!

Holding his teddy bear from his cousins Kendall and Justin

Our new neighborhood pool

Taking a bath like a big boy. No more baby bath tub.

Packing Up

2010-05-18T16:27:00.001-07:00

We left Troy on Sunday and I headed down to Dothan to pick up Jude and my parents. We caravanned over to Mobile to pack up our home. My mom and dad were a huge help during the process. They entertained Jude, packed boxes, labeled, and were indispensible. They helped so much that I didn't have to use the packers that I had scheduled for Friday. Mimi was also a big help. She took care of Jude in the mornings and allowed me to get even more things done in the latter part of the week. She also put us up on Saturday night when it took us longer to clean than we thought. Jeremy got down to Mobile on Wednesday evening to finish the job. There will be more pictures to follow.

Thanks to Patty for lending us her exersaucer! We pretty much brought everything but the kitchen sink from Birmingham to entertain Jude. However, the baby gym wasn't about to fit in the car. In fact, our neighbors laughed at me as I was unloading the car. They observed that I should be bringing things out of the house rather than hauling things in.

Jeremy, Jude and Mimi enjoying one last meal at the Original Oyster House. It was delicious and oil free!

Somehow I didn't get a picture of Gramps during the week. I guess he was so busy working that I missed him. Here's another cute one to represent.

Congratulations Chad and Sally!

2010-05-18T15:52:00.001-07:00

I'm way behind on my posting, but we have had a lot of things going on. It all started with a trip to Troy to celebrate Chad and Sally's wedding. It was the perfect wedding! It was outdoors on Sally's lawn of the home she grew up in. There was a beautiful backdrop, Sally looked lovely, and Chad was so happy. They make a perfect pair and we couldn't be happier for them. Plus, it was an excuse to tour Troy. There's a family picture below at the fountain on campus. It wasn't there when we were in school. Troy has grown so much since we attended. There is always something new to see. This time we saw fraternity row that is under construction. We'll see the finished product during Homecoming in the fall. If you haven't already made plans to attend, make sure to mark your calendar for November 13.

We also got to visit with one of our favorite couples. One of Jeremy's friends, Dave from college and his wife Christy visited us on their way down to the wedding. They have a 5 week old, Libby. It wasn't that long ago that Jude was that little, but it seems like forever ago. It was neat to see how much he has grown up. We can't wait to schedule a trip to visit them in Knoxville. Another bonus to moving back to Birmingham is that we are closer to them. Whenever we get together with them I'm always laughing. They crack me up!

Dave, Chad and Jeremy

Jude, Julie, Libby and Christy

Jeremy and I marked a big occasion over the weekend. Jude spent his first night away from us. My parents babysat him in Dothan while we attended the wedding. It was nice to have a night out, but I was ready to see him on Sunday!

5 Months Old

2010-04-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Jude is five months old this week. Here are some pictures and videos to show how much he's grown. Time sure flies when you are having fun!

He's getting a lot better at the Johnny Jumper! Sorry about the commentary.

He's working on getting good at the Exersaucer

Julie Time

2010-04-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

I've been making an effort to schedule "me" time and that's not always easy. I'm always coming up with things that I need to do and somehow I get left out of the equation. Well, I got some good time in this weekend. Some friends from Troy came in for a visit and we had a spa day at Ross Bridge and dinner at my fave restaurant, Surin West. Jeremy had man time with Jude overnight and I had a bona fide girls' night! It was very relaxing and energizing to hang with the girls. It made me want to try and schedule more of these visits. When I see Jeremy heading off to a weekend with 44 of his closest friends/fraternity brothers (that's right I said 44!) it makes me wonder why we can't get big groups of girls together. That is my new mission! I think as women, we are conditioned to feel that we need to be at home to take care of the house, errands, kids, husbands, boyfriends, etc. Because who can do it as good as we can, right?

Well, we are going to change that. If you are reading this and agree, let me know! My plan is to start slow. So all Troy Phi Mus in Alabama and nearby unite. Let's just do lunch. Montgomery is pretty central. Perhaps we could go to the zoo (with the kids) and have a picnic. Once we get that together we can think even bigger! Maybe another time we could plan an actual night out! And then a whole weekend down the road. But, let's start with babysteps. Surely we can handle lunch!

Disclaimer: Sorry for all the exclamation points in this paragraph. Can you tell I'm passionate about this?

For anyone looking to schedule their own "me" time in Alabama, I have a tip. If you have a golfer husband, you've probably heard of Robert Trent Jones trail cards that gets them discounted golf. Well, they now have the equivalent for women, only it's a spa card. The card is $40 and gets you 20% off spa services for a full year. I used it this weekend and it paid for itself. It can be used at Ross Bridge in Bham, the Battlehouse in Mobile, the Grand Hotel in Fairhope, the Renaissance in Montgomery, and the Marriott Shoals. It is well worth some pampering for yourself. Visit the following link for more information:

http://www.rtjgolf.com/resorts/card/

Lisa and Julie (class of 96) Gail,and Kara (class of 95)

Circle City

2010-04-15T18:49:00.001-07:00

Jude and I made our first visit to Dothan since Christmas. Jude met his great grandmother Nanan and her husband, Whatley. (On a side note, they got married at 75 and have now been married 22 years!) Nanan thought I said his name was Dude at first. Once we got that figured out, we had a nice visit. I guess Jude the Dude nickname is going to stick. Even Nanan is on board. She may be 97, but she's still cool. I can't believe it, but we got some great pictures of everyone. Aunt Karen was there, too. It's nice to have my mother's family now all living in Dothan. Aunt Bobbie and Aunt Karen both moved here in the past couple of years from the Chicago area. It's a bit different for them in LA, but nice to have family close-by.

Aunt Karen, Joyce, Nanan and Whatley

Jude and Nanan

We had lots of fun at Grandma and Gramps house. It was nice to relax and hang. Although, my poor parents had to deal with Jude's digestive difficulties over the weekend. (What a way to start a paragraph...) Poor guy has had an upset stomach for over a week. There were some screaming fits in the night. I promise Grandma and Gramps, he's not always like that! I'm happy to report that he is on the mend. Boy, am I relieved and I'm sure he is, too! Our Diaper Champ was definitely put to the test.

Grandma and Jude
Gramps and Jude

Happy Hour

2010-04-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

Jude and me/BB and Emily Grace

Something about the spring weather has me craving fruity drinks out on a patio. Since bars aren't necessarily the best place to bring your baby, BB and I have instituted Friday evening happy hours once a month. A good excuse to get together, enjoy something fruity, and cook dinner. We even let the men join us. This week BB's husband James was kind of enough to cook homemade pizzas for us. He used basil grown from his own garden, along with homemade pizza sauce and fresh mozarella. The pizzas were delicious! And it inspired me to start cooking with some fresh ingredients. I love to cook and I am trying to keep it up now that I have my hands a bit fuller than I used to. Jude helped me cook dinner last night by being carried around in his sling on his mom. He wasn't happy in any of his other spots. Maybe it will inspire him to be a chef one day.

That evening I did bake brownies from scratch. They were melt in your mouth delicious, if I do say so myself. It called for a pound of butter and over a pound of chocolate chips so you know it had to be good. Take a look at Barefoot Contessa's Outrageous Brownies if you want something truly decadent.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/outrageous-brownies-recipe3/index.html

Earlier that day I went to lunch with my friend Emma from Chattanooga and Brooke who lives here in Birmingham. It was great to see them and their little ones. It was nice to get together. It was a good day of hanging out with friends. That's not something I get to do like I used to. But, I get to hang out with my three best friends a lot more, Jeremy, Jude, and Wrigley. If you are in Birmingham and looking for a great sandwich place, visit O'Carrs. They have recently franchised and have several locations. Their chicken salad and fruit plate is delicious.

Jude and me, Jake and Emma, Brooke and Anna James

Jude the Dude

2010-04-01T07:36:00.001-07:00

Aunt Jenny and I went to dinner and a movie on Friday night for a nice kid-free girl's night. While killing time waiting for the movie to start we shopped in Target. Nothing like celebrating a kid-free evening than by buying stuff for the kids. Jenny suggested the cute baby sunglasses and I couldn't pass them up. We went to Justin's soccer game on Saturday and sported the new fashion. Kendall dubbed him "Jude the Dude." I like it! That adds to his other nicknames of Mister Man and Judeable. The latter is thanks to Nelson pointing out his name spells that on its own. I can't decide which one is my favorite. What's your vote?

Kendall, Jude and Aunt Jenny at the soccer game

All the cousins sporting their cool shades

This Saturday also marked Jude's 4 month birthday. See below pictures of how much he is growing! We went to the doctor on Monday and he is 15 lbs, 26 inches. He is in the 75% for weight and the 90% for height. We hope he keeps on growing tall like Gramps! His feet are almost hanging off his bouncy seat and car seat.

One Year Ago

2010-03-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

Jeremy and I celebrated our birthdays and St. Patrick's Day this week. And we couldn't help but reflect on how much our life has changed. One year ago, on the day after Jeremy's birthday we found out that Jude was on his way. Let's just say, we are glad that Jude turned out ok. We did our fair share of celebrating our birthdays.

This year the festivities were a bit different. For my birthday I sampled the fine cuisine at Sneaky Pete's Hot Dogs (my favorite guilty pleasure). We did go to dinner that evening at a kid friendly restaurant with our friends BB, James and Emily Grace. For Jeremy's birthday he enjoyed his favorite past-time of golfing. Although, he had a small mishap on the course that involved a rock and his 7-iron. I don't think steel clubs should ever bend at that angle. He was not happy about his ruined club. And it was the first thing out of his mouth when my cousins arrived for dinner that night. Cousins that we haven't seen in over a year. I don't think they were too concerned, but it just goes to show you how annoyed he was about it. What can I say? Jeremy loves his golf game. And he's even managed to work in a few games even after having a baby.

I actually made it into a picture! Don't you love Jude's golfing outfit? Thanks Gigi!

Johnny Jump-Up

2010-03-24T19:54:00.001-07:00

Jude has a new toy that he tried out this week. It's the Johnny Jump-Up courtesy of "The Bob" from the Chamber. (Have I mentioned how much I miss my Chamber family? "It was really cool working for the Chamber.") Jude really is taking to it. He likes anything that allows him to stand up. Take a look at the video of him trying it out. This is going to be great when I'm trying to get things done around the house!

Nursery

2010-03-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

As you may recall, the Lukers have been living in a rental house with rental furniture since we've moved in Birmingham. What we had hoped would be a temporary situtation is becoming more and more like home. When we made the decision to move to Birmingham and then had a friend that offered his home and furniture to us, we jumped at the chance, assuming it would be short term. It has been three months now and more and more of our things are making their way into this guy's home. However, that is just stuff, no furniture has been moved. So all the time I spent agonizing over decorating Jude's nursery was for naught. He hasn't spent but a few nights in his well decorated room. Since we moved here, he's been sleeping in his pack and play. Well, he has officially outgrown it. Now that he rolls over and kicks, he was beating the poor thing up. Enter Mark and Sarah. They graciously offered us their crib until we move our furniture up here. Jude has really loved it and been moving all over it. He starts off the night in one spot and has moved clear to another by morning. I've witnessed him turning 360 degrees in the night. I have a hard time spotting him on the monitor.

One thing that can be said about living here, I've realized just how much stuff we had accumulated and how much of it we don't need. All Jude wants is food, diapers, and loving parents. He doesn't care what his room looks like. He's happy with a burp cloth to play with and

Wrigley to entertain him. Something tells me that when the time comes for us to move, a lot of stuff is getting thrown in the trash. If we've lived this long without it, we probably don't really need it! One thing I do totally miss is the glider. We visited Mobile this weekend and Jude loved rocking in it.

Jeremy and Mark putting together the crib

Jude enjoying his new digs

The nursery in Mobile. Isn't it cute?

I really wish we had the glider in Birmingham when he has his crying fits

(which is more often than I would like)

Thanks also Sarah and Mark for the surf board tummy time mat! It's his favorite spot to roll over!

Grins and Giggles

2010-03-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

We caught it on tape! Jude loves to watch Wrigley play with Jeremy. Watch the video to see his cute giggles. Thanks Grandma for the Superman onesie and Mimi for Jeremy's Bama pants.

Three Months

2010-03-10T13:48:00.001-08:00

Jude turned 3 months old on February 27. He gets cuter day be day (I'm not biased or anything). Right now he is working on rolling over, which is giving me some sleepless nights. Everything you read tells you not to let your baby sleep on their stomach. I guess when he can roll over, that must mean he can handle it. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. First, he needs to get his stubborn arm out of the way. It's the only thing holding him back at the moment.

He smiles all the time and is working on his laugh. The favorite part of my day is when he smiles at me, which is often. All of these pictures were taken at his 3 month photo shoot and he smiled in every one of them. He's my happy man! Makes me think I'm doing at least something right. As a first time mom, you always have your doubts!

In his very own boxer shorts, courtesy of Amanda N.

He is also eating me out of house and home. I think his favorite activity is eating. His ounce intake is a bit higher than other kids his age. And when I take him out in public, people always remark how big he is. That's right, he's my big boy! I was in church sharing a pew with a woman and her small baby. I was thinking how I remember when Jude was that little. I then asked how old her baby was and to my surprise, they were the same age.

Jude in his Baptism gown

Number Two

2010-03-03T08:46:00.001-08:00

This post is not for the faint of heart. If you get grossed out easily, stop reading now. Chasity, if you want to cure your baby fever, keep reading. And forward it on to David, too. Last night Jeremy and I walked in on our dog, Wrigley, tasting a Jude diaper concoction. Something new I learned: Never leave a dirty diaper on the floor for your dog to find. I know, you would think that is common sense. I blame pregnancy on stealing some brain cells. I was worried about Wrigley after she ate her treat, but it didn't seem to faze her. I should have known it would come back to haunt me.

This morning I decided to be a good mother and play with Wrigley in the backyard. After throwing her toy a few times, she took a break to do #2. I threw the toy some more and then all of a sudden she wouldn't fetch the toy. She kept pawing at it, but seemed afraid to pick it up. Well, lazy me wasn't about to go get it for her, so I kept on insisting that she bring it to me. She did. And I threw a few more times. At this point I kept smelling something foul. It kind of smelled like Jude had dirtied his diaper again. However, I knew that wasn't the case. Upon further inspection I saw that Wrigley had some mysterious smears on her paws. That's when I realized that Wrigley had stepped in her #2 that was the result of Jude's #2 from the night before. EEEWWWW! And let's just say that I know this because Jude produces a certain color that is hard to ignore.

So I got to add bathing the dog to my chores for the day. Totally disgusting! And something tells me that is probably not the grossest thing that I will have to deal with as a mother. I guess it's a good warm up for the future!

A freshly bathed Wrigley

Wedding Weekend

2010-02-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

We had our first out of town guests this weekend at our house in Birmingham. Granted it's not our house, but I enjoyed playing hostess. Ben Chabbatt (real name David) and The Munns came into town for Casey and Jennifer's wedding. Both Davids are great friends of Jeremy's from college. And lucky for me both are married to awesome girls. Chasity was here and we had lots of fun hanging out. Now if we could just convince them to move here, I would have a great shopping partner. Although, it's convenient that she doesn't live here because we buy a lot of the same clothes knowing we won't run into each other wearing the same outfit. Ben's wife, Christy couldn't join us because she is weeks away from delivering her second baby. I look forward to seeing her and their new addition soon. They live close-by, so I'm sure we'll be driving up to visit sometime soon.

The two Davids are some of the funniest guys I know. Of course, they couldn't take a serious picture.

The wedding was beautiful and lots of fun. Jude went to Aunt Jenny and Uncle Bryant's for the evening and Jeremy and I had a fun night out with friends. The wedding was for one of Jeremy's friends, but I have never felt that they were only his friends. Jeremy's fraternity brothers have always welcomed me with open arms. And many of them have are married, engaged, or dating some fun girls that I always enjoy seeing when we have Pi Kap get togethers, which let me tell you is often. I was kind of bummed that I didn't get to continue the evening with everyone. I was the good mom and picked up Jude while Jeremy went out with the group. I love being a mom, but it's definitely different being the one going home early.

These were only some of the guys that were at the wedding.

I learned something new about blogging from Chasity this weekend. From now on, I'm going to try and post new things I like or have learned like recipes, websites, and entertaining ideas. Today's note isn't so new, but it's new to me. Anyone that knew me as a kid, knows that I've always been a picky eater. There were lots of foods that I said I didn't like. The problem with that is in many cases I had never actually tried what I said I didn't like to eat. I'm now making a conscious effort to change that. BB introduced me to lima beans and they are delicious! A little bit of butter, salt and pepper and you have a great side dish. Veggies are never my strong suit, so having something to eat other than green beans and corn is definitely a plus! Now lima beans are certainly not something new to everyone else in the world. So in keeping with blogging something new, here's a great website for mothers of young children. Go to http://www.dollysimaginationlibrary.com/. You can get a new book mailed to your child every month until they are five years old. Thanks to Amy O. for turning me on to it!

Ode to Our Firstborn

2010-02-23T06:21:00.001-08:00

Poor Wrigley's life has certainly changed. She went from being the only child to having to share her world with a pooping, crying baby. The pitiful looks she gives us when Jude is crying say to us "what is that racket and can you make it go away." They don't call them puppy dog looks for nothing! She also lost her backyard where she partook of her drug of choice, the ball and Chuck-It. She is suffering from serious withdrawals. I have found a field for her to play with her frisbee. The only catch is that we have to load up in the car to get there. So now every time I'm getting ready to go out, she thinks she is supposed to go with me. She shoots me another pitiful puppy dog look when she realizes she isn't going. We tell her often that we'll get her a backyard as soon as we can. Hopefully, that is true. If we could just find a buyer for our Mobile house, we could make that promise a reality.

Some nights I've gone looking for Wrigley and found her curled up in Jude's room.

Look closely at Wrigley's reading material. She's studying up on baby tips.

Curled up next to Jude's Boppy.

Miss You Already

2010-02-15T12:13:00.000-08:00

We went to Mobile and were good Catholics. We celebrated Mardi Gras on Saturday night and Jude's Baptism on Sunday. It worked out well because we had great babysitters in town. Both sets of grandparents got some quality time with Jude and Jeremy and I had some quality time together. We're back in Birmingham and Jude is stuck with just me as company during the day. He already misses all his special attention he got from grandparents, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousins and even a great-aunt and uncle that came into town for the Baptism.

Grandma and Gramps

Poppy, Gigi, and Mimi

This was Jeremy's first year in the MOT organization of Mardi Gras. We had a great time at the ball. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures on my camera. I wish I did because I managed to fit into my formal dress that I wore to the first ball that I went to with Jeremy. Not bad for having a baby 3 months ago, if I do say so myself. I still have a few pounds to go and some definite gym time in my future. Luckily, there a few months until summertime. Of course, as a mom this year, I'll probably be sporting a tankini!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

The Baptism was beautiful. Jude wore the gown that my mom, sister, and I were all Baptized in. Jude was the typical Baptism baby and cried through most of it.

My sister, Jenny and Jeremy's friend Craig served as Godparents

Both sides of the family at St. Mary's in Mobile, AL

Jude's saw his first snow before we left Birmingham. It was a beautiful drive down to Mobile. It snowed the whole way!

Mastering New Things

2010-02-09T15:39:00.000-08:00

Jeremy was out of town this week. This should be the last extended work trip for awhile. We definitely miss him when he's gone. A two month old can be a handful when you have sole custody of them for several days. It makes me really respect single mothers.

Grandma made a trip up to Birmingham to visit. She was missing Jude. She's seen a lot of him since she's helped me while Jeremy has been out of town on his other trips and when I was in Mobile. She's been a big help!

Jude had a fun playdate with Emily Grace, BB's little girl. We are already making plans for a swimming mommy and me together. We are ready for summer time and happy to say goodbye to this cold weather.

Jeremy came home to a little boy who is mastering tummy time and smiling. He is also loving his hands and kicking his feet. This is probably the last time Jude will be wearing his tye dye onesie. If you haven't noticed, those onesies are our favorite, as they have been in a lot of pictures. He has officially outgrown them. I knew when he popped a snap while he was wearing it one day.

(Christy and CG, does this pose look familiar?)

And can you tell who Jude's father is? When Jeremy is holding Jude, I look from one to another in amazement of the Mini-Me that Jeremy created.

Jude's Many Looks

2010-02-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

While Jeremy is out of town we are having some fun. Take a look at Jude's many hairstyle choices. It's tough to choose what look to wear each day.

Every day look

Lloyd Christmas

Flock of Seagulls

Spiked

Mohawk

Life Changes

2010-01-31T18:41:00.001-08:00

So, you think having a baby changes your life! Try having a baby, selling your house, leaving a town, job, and friends that you love and moving to the list and you have our current life situation. Jude was born on November 27, bringing good luck to the Iron Bowl.

Bama turned it around with his arrival and came out with a win. We had four sleepless weeks in Mobile before we had to get moved to Birmingham. We are renting from a friend (shout out to Jay!) that really came through for us. His house is in Bluff Park and he didn't require a lease. So as soon as our house sells, we can move into something more permanent.

If you know anyone looking for a good house in a historic neighborhood, send them our way. We are reconnecting with good friends and family here in Birmingham. We are looking forward to eating in some restaurants that we've missed. I've already had a Sneaky Pete Friday like the old days with Sarah and her family. It was as delicious as I remember.

To get you up to date, here are some pictures of our beautiful baby boy!

Check out my current conversation skills! To the untrained ear, it may sound like crying, but it sounds like the first stages of talking to this mom.