I got my Paxton dude!!

Yesterday, Jude and I went to ride the train in Grapevine.  Every year they turn the train in to a Thomas the Train.  There are lots of other events.  We took a special momma boy date to go take a ride.  It was a lovely spring day- great for a walk down Main Street and to the train station.

We hung out with some friends of mine who live down from Main Street beforehand.  I don't see them enough, but they are the loveliest family.  And some of the angels in disguise God sent me in the midst of divorce.

We got to the station in enough time to get our tickets and get in line to board the train without being at the end of the line.  Perfect timing.  Jude was mesmerized by the whole thing.  He didn't have much to say, but he contentedly stared out the window.  It was mostly a really pretty ride through the Texas prairies.  I don't know if it's because of my obsession with Little House on the Prairie as a kid or that we spent 7 weeks teaching about the prairie in second grade, but I feel so alive when I see prairie grasses blowing in the spring.  So lovely.

After the ride, we tried to do some of the other things they had for the kids.  There are tons of events, but Jude was too tired.  Most resulted in tears.  So we got a Salty the train tattoo, bought a new train named Paxton, and called it a day.

This morning right after Jude woke up he told.  "I got my Paxton.  I got my Paxton dude!"  So all in all it was a great day!

Cute Story for Your Tuesday Morning

This morning (actually all night) was full of rain, thunder, lightning... Perfection I tell you.  Could I have asked for a more relaxing spring break day.  Um no.

Anyway, it got pretty loud earlier this morning.  Jude was afraid of the thunder and asked me what it was.  I explained that it was the sound the lightning made.  He immediately got excited and said, "It's my McQueen!?!"  (As in Lightning McQueen the racecar from Cars)

I laughed and went along with it.  Now, Jude's not afraid of lightning and thunder so much.  But he does run to the window each time trying find 'his mcqueen".  It's adorable.  And I guess thunder and a race car kinda sound similar....

This weekend

Please don't die that I am actually blogging.  I realize this is like the 5th blog post in the year 2012, and that is beyond pathetic.  What is it about single mom/teacher that makes blogging impossible?  time!  We actually have been up to a lot.  I have loads of picture I would love to get around to editing and sharing (like christmas pics!  or last weekend at the children's museum).  I make 0 promises about getting around to that, and I'm sorry.

This weekend things have slowed down.  This is mainly due to the fact that Jude came down with fever/croup Thursday night.  For the most part, he is not complaining.  Sleeping can be difficult, but it's managable.  The biggest thing it's affected is his apetite.  I am desperately trying to get him to eat or drink anything, but he's really not interested.  He mostly is just laying around watching tv.  If you know Jude, you know this is telling because this kid doesn't stop.

It has given me a chance to just have time.  Oh that coveted precious lover, time.  I had to take Friday off, so it's given me a 'three day weekend'.  I've been able to get all caught up with my grades which are due tomorrow for progress reports.  I have spent hours cuddling with Jude.  I actually watched a movie (shut the front door- that never happens!).  I've read some Voices of the Martyrs articles.  I've read my Bible.  I've read my book, Millenials.  (Oh why yes, I am a nerd who reads sociology books in my spare time.)  It's been kinda nice.

See the first pick?  That cat is the cutest, fattest, fluffiest cat I've ever seen.  Jude is IN LOVE with that cat.  But alas, his love is unrequited.  You can see Jude in the pic trying to follow him.  Yet, the cat walks away despite Jude's adorable pleas for the cat to come back.  Oh if only Cat knew how deep Jude's love was for him.  It's unfortunate for Jude that I am deathly allergic to cats, because he is in love with them.  One of his favorite activities is to pretend to be a kitty.  Adorable.

Picture below:  it's been a rainy, chilly weekend in North Texas.  I've loved every second of it.  The sounds of rain on the windows, the grayness making you want to cuddle, the refreshing cleanness of the after rain smell.  I don't think I could photograph more perfection if I tried.

Thank you Jesus for the perfect weekend, minus the whole Jude being sick thing.  Hope your weekend was lovely.

The son, the son! Tradition!

 As a little girl, one of my favorite holiday memories was making cookies with my mom.  My absolute favorite part of it was eating the dough, which had a delightful nutmeg flavor.  To this day I am still obsessed with using nutmeg, especially in pancakes.  Yum!

I had wanted to try to start this similar type tradition with Jude using gingerbread cookies.  (Incidently if anyone has a really good gingerbread recipe, please give it to me!  Every year I try a new one and am sadly disappointed...)  Anyway, Jude ended up with pink eye that day so I cut out and baked all the cookies by myself.  Maybe next year we can bake together....

Then I figured well, I can set aside some cookies for him to decorate.  He will just have to eat those cookies and make sure no one else does.  When I was a kid and was more patient and a perfectionist, I put insane amounts of effort into the decorating process.  And I do mean process.  I definitely didn't expect Jude to be as detailed....

He didn't even attempt it.  I stuck him up here with a few cookies.  He definitely went to town on them.  But not decorating them.  He just went to town eating them.  Toddlers :)

In fact, my neat freak child DID NOT LIKE the icing.  He tried to clean it off and greatly lamented getting his hands dirty.

This was all me.  And it was the closest we got to cookie decorating traditions this year.  Next year perhaps?

PS. I don't think I can say the word tradition without wanting to break out in song.  Thank you Fiddler on the Roof.

Last year, I took a picture of a 13/14 month old Jude next to our tiny tree in the back yard.  I wanted to do the same this year.  It's crazy to see how much he's grown.  The tree not so much.  It's amazing how much I just don't have a baby anymore.  And a little sad to think about too.  But I really love how easy Jude is now.  The past couple days he's started saying "Let's Go" and grabbing my hand to go play with him.  Trains, of course.  Today he told me I love you so much mom.  He's so sweet and loving I can hardly stand it.  It's crazy how much you love your kids.  

Update

Here is a little photo/update on Jude as of late.  Have I mentioned before that I love 2 year olds?  I seriously do.  He's so much more fun nowadays.  Plus, its lovely to be able to verbally communicate with him.  It's usually pretty funny too!

Here is Jude talking on the phone perhaps?  Can't remember.  Sometimes he just is adorable and rests his hand against his face.

Jude has started saying 'cheese' for the camera when he sees me trying to take pictures of him.  This is pretty cute.  I'm not sure when I taught him to say that.  He seems to pick up everything these days, even if it happens 1 time.  The problem is that he doesn't say cheese in a way that creates a smile.  I get this goofy teethy look.

At least its still cute :)

Jude is too cool.  Somethings he is into saying these days:

* ice berries, ice juice, ice fruit- if it is made of fruit, it will have ice in front of it

* surprise!

* love you too mom :)

* woo hoo!

* my belly screen (belly)

* singing twinkle twinkle little star, spider in the rain, bubble song from yo gabba gabba

* A couple days ago we went to look at some Christmas trains.  When I told Jude about it, he says "Wow! That-Is-Great!"  And then when I reminded him we needed to get ready to go see the trains he said, "ok! sweet!"

He's a lot of fun.  I think I could stop time right here and keep him 2 years old forever.  Think I'll get that for Christmas?

To The Rescue

Is this not the cutest picture!?  I am pretty sure it's going to get framed soon!  This picture is from a couple weeks ago when we had a rainy Saturday morning.  We all wandered out in to said foreign wetness despite the cold.  And well, Kyah needed to go outside.  It was lovely.  Jude wore his boots, and while we were only outside maybe 120 seconds, I was able to get some cute shots!  I love the view of life behind my good camera!

Day 2: Smile

Smile- Boy if this picture of Jude's smile doesn't show his personality, I don't know what does.  Megan is way in to my camera.  She babysat for me Saturday night.  I found this beauty when I uploaded my raspberry photos yesterday.  The day 2 gratitude photo challenge was a smile.  I'm sorry, but this was just too perfect to pass up!

I am absolutely thankful for the ornery boy smiling in this photo.  He is my gift from God in ways that I can't even wrap my mind around.  He was definitely never planned, but God in His sovereignty used him to motivate me to get out of my marriage and file for divorce.  I'm so thankful to have him, because he defied so many odds.  Scientifically, it was pretty unexpected for him to come at all.  Plus, having him marked the first time I ever told Michael no, the first time I ever stood my ground.  I often wonder what my life would be like if I'd ever given in to Michael and not had him.  There are no words to describe the gratitude I have that I didn't give in to him, the gratitude I have to God for giving me the strength to stand, the gratitude I have for having this hilarious, adorable, loving, wonderful embodiment of all that is grace and God's goodness in my life.

James 1:17- every good and perfect gift is from above....


Side note:  The other day Megan was over and playing around with Jude.  She playfully smacked him on the bottom to which Jude replied, "Noooo... that's mine!!!!"

Died.Of.Cute.The.End.

Thankful- To Choose Joy

Today I'm thankful for the continuous opportunity to 'choose joy'.  If I had a slogan to live by, it would be that.  Not because I am good at it.  Because I need to be good at it.  I'm the worst person about not seeing the forest for the trees.  At a pumpkin patch with Jude, I got so caught up in capturing the perfect picture, I forgot to just laugh at all the things Jude did.  Even this evening, I found myself caught up in editing pictures and not just enjoying Jude.  And to top it off, I'm a perfectionist.  I get upset with myself when even the smallest things fail.  It's really stupid.

So tonight, to start off the season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I can start over each second.  I'm thankful that maybe I didn't 'choose joy' to start with, but I can 'choose joy' now.  Because it's not the past moments that count, it's this very moment right now.  And now, I choose joy.

Awww Happo

Jude has this hippo.  For whatever reason, he thinks this hippo is crying.  Everytime he finds it, he says 'awww happo cwying'.  Then he gives me the hippo.  I have to pat the hippo and make him feel better.  While I do this, Jude says 'aww'.  Then I give the hippo back to Jude.  He gives the hippo a kiss.  Then he hands it back to me and the cycle starts over.  He could play this game for quite a long time.

Also, lately I will ask Jude for a kiss.  He will smile and say no.  Then I pretend to bawl my eyes out.  He gets all concerned, comes and sits with me, and says 'aww'.

I die.

On a totally unrelated note- Jude pronounces 'Thomas' as 'Chamain'.  Don't know how he put that together.

2 years old

 Jude Dylan turned 2 on Wednesday.  Yes, it happened.  I have no idea how, because I swear he was just 4 months last week.  Sigh.... It happens so fast.

His newest things are saying 'i sahie' for everything.  I don't know what made him think he needs to apologize for everything under the sun, but at least he's polite :)  He also says 'i'm ok anytime he slightly bumps himself.  It's pretty cute.  I got him to watch Cars yesterday, which was thrilling.  I will be so happy to move to movies that have a plot that lasts longer than 6 minutes.  The saddest thing is that he hasn't wanted to be rocked since the night before he turned two.  He just crawls in his bed on his own; I cover him up; he goes to sleep.  Very sad.

So we have started our two's with new independence.  As Jude's approached 2 he has thrown more and more fits.  I try to just walk away from them, although most of the time it's because he doesn't want to get in his carseat or having to get his diaper changed.  Both of which are triggered by him having to stop whatever he's doing.  He's a really great kid.  I'm not saying that because he's mine, but he just is really easy going.  He rarely gets so upset he throws a fit, and even when he does it lasts 60 seconds at the longest.  I'm hoping this will continue.

I really think God has had a lot of mercy on me with his behavior.  He says thank you and you're welcome (actually he says i welcome, but you get the idea), and I'm sorry so easily.  I never taught him any of these things.  He is always happy and reasonably compliant.  If I give him 5 minute warnings and count down till it's time to go or stop, he always listens.  I really don't have the time he deserves to pour in to his behavior.  Sometimes he is just so sweet and respectful and non 2yr old ish that I can't help but think that it's God raising my child, not me.  Which just goes to show how much we can trust God to provide for us and take care of our needs.  He's been one step ahead of me all along making sure Jude made it this far becoming a kind person.  It makes me feel better about the next 16+ years.

Anyway, we haven't celebrated yet, because I would like to wait until my family is all here.  These pictures are from his actual birthday.  He was my little British train engineer.  Adorbs.