Dear Jude: 20 months

Dear Judesy Roe,

Happy 20 month birthday!  I cannot believe you're so old, and I can't believe you haven't been around forever!  You are the perfect second (maybe last) child for our family and we are so enjoying this stage of your wild little life. 

As you can see from these photos, you are basically a giant. I have no idea of your actual stats, but you seem to have filled out more this month. You are a solid little boy and you love to eat anytime of the day!  You are a total Cookie Monster. The minute I come home from work you scream, "momma!" And then run to the pantry and scream, "cookie!"  I guess we go hand in hand. 

Jude, you continue to be a precious little sweetie but you can pack a punch. You definitely hold your own with your big brother and have had to learn to say "sowwy," and give hugs as an apology. You love to wake Liam up from his nap by jumping on him and giving him kisses, and you still love to sit in my lap...don't ever stop with that business. 

You are talking up a storm and can clearly convey your needs and wants.  You say "tink you," without prompting, which makes us so proud.  You are really good at identifying, and saying, body parts and love sticking your fingers up my nose.  "Twinkle twinkle" is still your favorite song to sing, but you loooove music and I've heard you signing the "na nas" from "Hey Jude" a lot recently, which is just the most precious thing ever. 

Throwing toys/balls/anything is your favorite game and I'm routinely amazed at your coordination with all things gross motor. You jump and run better than most two-year-olds, and you can walk up and down stairs like a pro. I'm getting nervous you will crawl out of your crib any minute since you've started climbing out of high chairs like danger is your middle name. 

Judes, you are deeply attached to your paci, which you call your "bay," and your stuffed bunny. Both are strictly reserved for sleep times and you get them out of your crib every time you go into your room during the day. Little sneak!  I'm hopeful to take your paci away around your second birthday, but I'm pretty sure you neeeeed it for now, and our big move.  Poor little baby. 

You are an independent little love with an extremely determined demeaner. You can do a lot of advanced things because you have put your mind to it, I'm so excited to watch you take on the world as you get older, I'm sure you will accomplish great things!  We just love you to bits, sweet boy. Please don't ever forget that!

Love you forever, and ever,

Momma

Foldies forever

Last weekend was one of the most fun weekends I can remember having in my whole life. It involved three nights away in Breckenridge with three of my bosom friends. We laughed, we cried, we nearly keeled over from the altitude...it was perfect!

Do you have friends that are spread across the country/world and you can go years without seeing and still be on the same page?  I am incredibly blessed to have more than a handful of these types of friendships, and I am so thankful to have people quite literally all over the world that are cheering me on in this thing we call life. 

Chelsea, Amy, Hannah, and I all worked together at Shepherd's Fold Ranch as camp counselors in the summer of 2005. I was twenty years old!  For Chelsea's thirtieth birthday we put this scheme together to have ourselves a little reunion and it was worth every penny!  

We spent a summer together pouring into the lives of teenage girls and showing them their value. Nearly ten years later we spent a weekend together doing the same thing for each other. Ahh. My very soul is refreshed. 

Girls, I am so thankful for you, and so glad we followed through and made this happen!  I'm so proud of the women we have become!  

Dear Jude: 19 Months

Dear Jude,

You turned nineteen months old on June 25th, while we were on vacation. So, I'm just now getting around to your monthly update...whoops!

This month went by really quickly, mainly because we traveled for half of it, and I feel like you've turned into a giant over night!  When we had your 18 month check up you were in the 80th% in both height (37.25 inches) and weight (27 pounds). 

The big news this month is that you've almost doubled your teeth!  You got three molars, bless your heart, and your fourth one is about to burst forth. It's encouraging to see you chewing more proficiently, you definitely seem to eat faster and continue to consume vast quantities of food of all kinds.  Unfortunately, you've got my sweet tooth, you adore cookies and suckers and sweets of all sorts.

Judes, you are aceing all of your developmental milestones and some of the two year ones as well. You can climb, run, jump, kick and throw balls/toys/cups/food/etc. You get bored easily and prefer to be on the go and actively playing to watching television or reading books.  That being said, you do like books and shows. You have recently expressed great adoration for "gabba gabba." And you love all Eric Carle books. 

You continue to baffle us with your receptive and verbal language skills. You understand all, and follow most, commands, including being asked to throw trash away. You say more words than I can keep up with and learn more everyday. You love to say, "no" and "mine" to your brother. You tell us when you are "hungry" for a "snack," and ask for "milk" or "water." You still tell is when your "diaper" is "stinky" and when you are ready for "nigh nigh." You adore the dogs and call every dog either "Gu Gu" or "Zeppy." You speak in 3-5 word phrases and continue to have the sweetest little voice in all the land. 

Outdoor play continues to be your favorite. You love to run and dance and you love splashing in the water table. You did not love the pool while we were on vacation but seem to enjoy all other bodies of water.  You could climb stairs all day long and love jumping on any bed, or any surface really. Judes you also love to get into trouble. Your favorite "no nos" are messing with the fireplace, resetting the electrical outlet on the island, unplugging lamps, and stealing the remote control. 

Baby Jude, you are an imp in the truest sense of the word. You are such a delight in spite of your orneriness and there isn't anyone who meets you that isn't enchanted by your big eyes and enthusiastic, "HI!"  You've got spunk, little love, and I am thankful that your will isn't easily molded. You will give us lots of challenges, I'm sure. But I'm also sure that we will all be stronger for battling your determination. I'm excited to see where this life takes you, and I hope you will always love to curl up in my lap (or maybe just sit closely when you tower over me)!

Love you forever, and ever,

Momma