Sweet Sixteen Months

Jude Dylan turned 16 months on the 19th, but I have had no time to blog about it.  Or maybe I was just finally hoping I could convince him to take some good pics.  Catching this moving target is becoming more and more impossible these days.

He's learning new words like crazy I feel like.  He says "look, see" all the time which sounds like 'oo sees'.  He's learned bottle and repeats words I say pretty often.  I think he understands most of what I say because he follows my instructions easily without accompanying gestures.
 

Lately, his new trick is to shut himself in the kitchen cabinet.  Completely.  I don't think he is one who will be afraid of the dark, because he can tolerate playing in there and talking to his toys for several minutes before he comes out.

Our best trick lately is that he is actually sleeping all night and even his naps in his crib.  I got him in a bad habit of letting him sleep in bed with me when Michael and I seperated.  At the time, I couldn't emotionally handle much and was just too tired to deal with walking to his room for middle of the night feedings.  I sort of tried to work him back during the summer, but then teething happened.  Well somehow, after enough times of getting clocked in the jaw by a sleeping toddler, I just put him in there and decided I couldn't handle it anymore.  I think he maybe cried one night, but overall it was a pretty easy process.  He still wakes up in the middle of the night a couple times, but I just rock him for a minute or two and he's fine.  And hopefully that will get better over time.

Overall, he's doing good.  Still happy and silly and sometimes entirely too energetic for me.

And in case you forgot what Jude looked like a year ago, here's a 4 month pic from the archives.

Climb every mountain.....

...or at least every single object possible in the house.  Seriously these days Jude is either climbing on something, into something, or out of something.  We haven't gotten in to anything crazy like somehow managing to get on top of the fridge, but I feel like I should brace myself for that.

As I was uploading the pics from this weekend, I noticed the theme of 'Jude likes to sit in boxes'.  Not sure why this is or how it's comfortable.  But he certainly is in to chilling in baskets.

Nothing like kicking back with your beverage of choice and relaxing on a Sunday.

His faces and his body language make me laugh.  He acts like it's totally comfortable, he's totally cool, and I am totally crazy for even attempting to photograph this.

Valentines Attempt #1

Saturday I put Jude in his Valentines shirt for this year.  I was attempting to photograph its awesomeness which is the Beatles, "All You Need Is Love".  Unfortunately Jude was really not interested in this.  I did laundry today specifically so he could wear this shirt tomorrow, on Valentines Day.  I play to attempt this photo op again.  Stay tuned.

Hello Gogog

Given Jude's recent fascination with dogs and saying 'gogog' anytime he hears one bark, I thought I would point out that he has a stuffed 'gogog'.  He said hello, told him to sit.  Then he invited his new/old gogog to visit his clubhouse, the kitchen cabinet.  They had a good chat.  Then it was off to the next adventure.

Toddlerhood is.... Part3

Toddlerhood is storing your sippy cups and pacis in the tv stand cabinets.

I wish I could have caught this on video.  Jude was standing around holding his paci and drinking his water as per usual.  Then he walked to the cabinet, opened the door, carefully placed his most prized possessions on the shelf, shut the door, and went about his playing business.  Like it was the most logical, methodical decision in the world.  I love toddlerhood at times like this.

This Kid

This is me trying to take a picture of the fact that Jude was walking around with his sippy cup hooked to his clothes like this was a totally normal and intentional thing to do and it was hilarious.

This is Jude crying because he really just wanted me to put him in his high chair so he could eat his dinner.

Confession

Confession: Jude still drinks out of bottles.  I really did try putting his milk in his sippy cups for awhile, but getting Jude to drink whole milk has been heck.  I tried a little spoon of sugar, but that was hit or miss.  I tried chocolate, but I really hated the idea of giving it to him.  I tried it in sippy cups and that was out and out refused.

Then I discovered 1 drop of vanilla.  And Jude looooooooooves it.  I think he would drink milk all day like this.  But he won't drink it out of a sippy cup.  So it becomes one of those things where you debate whether to listen to what the doctor says or do what seems to work for your child.  At the end of the day, I want my child to drink milk.  And for now, this works.  We'll try taking the sippy cup another day.

Snowday- again

Yes, my school district has closed for winter weather for the 5th time this year.  Last year I thought it was crazy we had a total of 3 days.  2011, you have surprised me.  I am thankful for a pajama day to hang with Jude.  But I am not so excited about the fact that I didn't get the call from the district until after Jude and I had already gotten up for the day.  We have to get up so early to get to school for my morning duty, that getting a district call at 5:50 means I'm already up.  Most mornings Jude is up because gasp he usually sleeps with me from around midnight on.  So I guess there's no back to bed for us.  Bummer!

In other news, Jude has added 2 new words to his repertoire.  He can say dog, but it sounds more like gog gog or something like that.  I know its dog though because he says it every time the neighbors dog barks.  He also says baby anytime he sees himself in the mirror or he sees himself when we use photobooth as seen in the pic above.  I think this makes 10?

Sitting on the Dock

I introduced Jude to Otis Redding this evening.  Does that count as a milestone?  It wasn't intentional, really.  He was just a wild man, literally running from one end of the house to the other.  To be honest, I think some of it was he was enjoying comparing the sound of his bare feet on tile and the sound of them on carpet.

When Jude gets wound up, he loves drumming and music.  For most of his life, I've just sang to him, usually reworking old songs to new ones about Jude.  Such as 'Honey Pie' which became 'Wild Jude Pie'.

I decided tonight, though, that maybe Jude was ready for 'real' music.  I put on the 60s revolution channel through our cable, and Otis Redding 'sitting on the dock of the bay' was the first song that came up.  So Jude and I danced around to that, and 'Help', and 'Turn Turn Turn'.

For me, there is one thing that has always stood out in the whole 'I can't wait until I have kids and I can....' fantasy- singing and dancing to classic music, preferably on vinyl.  This has always been my dream moment.  I have all these daydreams of myself over the years doing just that with my future children.

I have lots of awesome memories with my dad, but most of my earliest involve him, me, headphones, and Bob Seager's Old Time Rock n Roll or Aerosmith's  Walk This Way.  I have pictures of me not much older than Jude being danced around our old living room with the headphones on.  Or even better, no headphones and music so loud the walls shook.  Those are some of my favorite memories.

I'm certainly my daddy's girl, and I've looked forward to the day I could make my own memories like that.  So here's to me and Jude and Otis Redding and the Beatles and The Clash and Dropkick Murphy and all my other favorites that Jude will get introduced to.

Long live Rock 'n' Roll

Toddlerhood is.... Part2

Toddlerhood is thinking that no chair should be allowed to have blankets, cushions, or throw pillows on them.  Ever.  If toddlerhood sees momma attempt to fix this, toddlerhood immediately comes and destroys it once again.

Toddlerhood is a fascination with doors and shutting them.  And then getting stuck in a room.  And laughing in momma's face when she opens the door and says it's time to get out.

Toddlerhood is discovering that some chairs are light enough to tip over.  And then push around a room.

To be continued...

Jude Pie Loves Momma

Ok guys, just need to share this.  So cute!  A few minutes ago, I was changing Jude's diaper.  I had him standing up while I pulled his pants up.  I whispered to him, "I love you."  He looked at me, grinned, and gave me a big smily, slobbery, open mouthed 'kiss'.  I died!  That is the first time he has responded to 'I love you' before.  How sweet!

Snow Thankful

It has seriously been snowing all day long.  We have got to have gotten at least 6 inches of snow today.  I'm anxious to catch the news and find out the statistics.  I did my best to try to photograph some of it today.  The first 2 pictures are from around 10:30 this morning.  The last ones are from around 2:30 this afternoon.

I did my quiet time today while Jude was napping.  I was really convicted about not being thankful enough for 4 snow days in a row.  I have been so focused on dealing with a toddler who would love desperately to get his energy out, that I have been losing sight of being content and thankful for what God is giving me with this moment.

I have gotten to spend 4 whole days with the baby love of my life.  I'm not too sick to enjoy it like I was a couple weeks ago with the flu.

I've gotten to read my book and do my quiet time while enjoying the cozy white goodness outside my window.

I've gotten to snuggle under blankets with Jude and be lazy.

I've caught up with my grading.

So really, life is good!

Comments

Hey Jude-readers,

I was recently informed that I had my comment section restricted.  I guess in my haste to make this private, I disabled that.  Just wanted to let everyone know ( I think) I've made it so anyone can comment.  Go ahead a try it out!  If it doesn't work, let me know!

Snowfabulous February

So Tuesday we got like 2 inches of straight ice with maybe an inch of snow coating it.  The ice is what has caused us to be out of school for 4 days now.  This morning we awoke (at 7am) to at least 2 inches of snow that had fallen overnight.  It has not stopped snowing since then, and it is now 10am.  Right now actually the snow is falling quite heavily.

Due to the fact that I have a toddler with loads of energy to kill, I decided to take Jude outside.  He only lasted for 5 minutes maybe.  It was like 20 degrees.  He is currently wearing socks, footie pajamas, jeans, a sweater, a jacket, a scarf, and my gloves.

This is a scene out of A Christmas Story.  Literally.  Jude is so top heavy with that huge coat on.  He fell over and began whining because he couldn't move.  So much like Ralphie...

Is it just me, or would these pictures be so much cuter if I could crop the ridiculous, oversized gloves out of them.  Poor Jude.

"Hmm, need to ponder this..." - Jude

"Hey, you there" - Jude

I am fascinated by pictures of snow covered roofs against the snowy, cloudy sky.  This one is cool to me because you can't even see where the roof and the sky meets.

This is my attempt at showing how deep the snow is.  Underneath our footprints is a solid layer of ice.  You could hear it cracking as we walked across.  Doubt we get out of the house anytime soon.  I have some better pictures of this I will post later.

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever- we definitely have it around here.  Normally, Jude and I do not spend every day all day at home.  Obviously, on normal weekdays I have work, and he goes to the sitter.  Even on weekends, though, we are always running errands or going shopping or meeting up with someone.  We are both going crazy.  We can't go outside, because it is just too cold to be safe for him with our lack of appropriate gear.  We can't go anywhere because our driveway and road are still covered with ice patches.  I haven't spent this many consecutive days in my pajamas since college probably.

Jude is frustrated too.  He is being such a whiner.  He is getting in to everything.  He is testing boundaries left and right.  He is destroying anything he can.  Pent up energy isn't good for adults, much less toddlers.  Hope it warms up enough soon so we can do something.

Jude the Mad Science Dude

Due to the 15* temps we are still having around this place (which has resulted in not 1, not 2, but 3 snow days) Jude's hair is like this constantly.  He looks like quite the mad scientist.

Punk Rock Jude

Punkin It from Ashley Doner on Vimeo.

Jude On a Boat

Jude's on a Boat from Ashley Doner on Vimeo.

Snow Day Naps

My snow day pictures this time around aren't too exciting.  With the temps in the teens and the windchill below 0, it's just not good weather for little boys.  Sad!

Jude has had a lot of fun though playing inside.  He hasn't napped as much as he normally does.  Guess it has him all excited.  Today he slept for an hour in my bed, then woke up.  He was all a-chatter.  I took him to the couch and sat him on my lap.  He turned around, put his head on my shoulder and promptly fell asleep.  He ended up sleeping another hour and a half just like this.

Sweetest!

Take a Seat

Please notice Jude's seat.  It's a cookie tin.  Normally, this is used as one of his many drums.  Today, however, it was a seat.  A perfect, toddlersized seat.

And of course it is stationed right in front of Sid the Science Kid, or some other show.  Although, Sid is still my fave.

Snuggling in Snow

Last night our overnight low was something ridiculous for Texas such as 9 degrees.  I don't even want to imagine what it felt like with the windchill.  Luckily, Jude was able to sleep peacefully all snuggled in his blankets.  I love how he scoots his head up next to his bear and sheep.  (this is done intentionally on his part.  I never place him there.)  Anyway, I think I take a picture of Jude sleeping once a month.  I have no intention of stopping that anytime soon.  He's just too sweet!

Momma's Boy

Jude at a seriously well balanced meal for once in his life yesterday.  Normally its all green beans, or all cheese, not a variety.  Yesterday though, he ate bread, cheese, turkey, green beans, and dried fruit.  Hallelujah!  I went to take a picture to commemorate the occasion, and the above face is what I got.  I wonder where he gets that.  Oh perhaps from me- see below.  I have several pictures spanning my entire childhood of me showing off my food.  Nature?  or nurture?

New Words

Also, Jude has learned 2 new words recently- walk and uh oh.  I think this puts him up to about 8ish now...

Discoveries!!!

Look who discovered the door stopper.  He played with this shortly after destroying the bathroom towels for the millionth time.  Such a cool sound!