A Box of Chocolates: Tuesday Tid Bits 05.29.14

Jude

- Is he talking? Jude looks at me and says “Mamma” or “Mom” all the time. We have had many experiences where he will be with someone else and see me and say “Mamma?” or I will go in to get him in the morning and he will get excited and start saying mamma. The dr. says they usually don’t start speaking until 10 months and we still have a little over a month until he is at that mark. Many of our friends and famly are convinced he knows what he is saying. I don’t want to start skipping to conclusions and begin proclaiming that my child is a genius but who knows, maybe he is! After all, he has always been a mamma’s boy so that particular word choice as his first is very appropriate if you ask me. Especially because I clean up that cute boy’s poop each day. I think I deserve it. J

- The poor boy is a bit fussier then usual but here is his list of some pretty good excuses as to why:

- Allergies/cold

- Teething

- On meds for constipation

- The Cutest Baby in The World – a pretty demanding title to keep up

As a result of all the above ailments, mamma gets good snuggles. :)

- He is consistently the happiest baby ever when he is outside. Jude and I take walks like we are preparing for a pretty serious walkathon (but really, how serious could a walkathon be? I need a jogging stroller!). And I am quite committed to my bitsy little garden so he will sit and watch mamma play in the dirt while he sits in the grass and watches the world go by.

I set a little tent up for Jude in the backyard and gave him his Mary Poppins bag and a Grandma Jones quilt (grandma quilts are the best kind) and he thought it was the coolest thing ever. Kept him happy for a long time while I read a parenting book.

Michael and Arianna

- We spent our Memorial Day visiting our loved ones, my favorite of which (sorry, but yes, I do have my favorite angels) is my Grandpa Fender. I would say that Jude got to meet his great grandpa for the first time but I don’t believe that. That headstone isn’t my grandpa and I know little Jude’s been with my gramps much more recently then I have. I still cry every time I see that stupid headstone. He was taken far too soon and with every big life event of mine I get discouraged that he isn’t there. But then I am reminded that he is. I’ve always had a particularly special relationship with my grandpas and it has been so neat to watch how Jude responds to his own Grandpa Fender. His behavior is just slightly different with him then with anyone else and you can see the sincere love that little tiny heart has for his gramps.

Jude's "I just woke up in a different place then the one I fell asleep in" face.

- On another very personal note, I was putting some of Jude’s things away that he doesn’t fit into anymore and had a very tender experience as I began thinking about my next baby in those little things. I often think about continuing our family in generalities but this was the first time I thought of my next child very specifically. I felt his sweet little spirit. It was one of those spiritual experiences you just kind of hold your breath through and enjoy for the moment that it lasts. I am excited for that next baby but happy to enjoy Jude for the next couple of years first.

Michael consistently brings home flowers for me. This last time he decided to go for something different and boy did he succeed! I have no idea how they got each of those petals to be a different color!

- We discovered our new secret spot just 2 minuets from our house (don't know why it took us so long). It’s a nature park of sorts but not ever very busy and BEAUTIFUL. As a child I could have spent hours looking for fairies and building them homes in this place. It’s pretty magical. It has a pond with many ducks and we were getting a hoot out of the different generations that would come in their little gangs in response to our bread. There were the senior citizen ducks, the young parents, teenagers, preteens, and little ducklings.

- I helped my dad throw a surprise party for my mother who is concluding her teaching this year. That was a special day. It’s been quite the journey for her and we are proud of her. Teaching a class of 30 young children, more of whom have emotional/learning problems then those who do not, is exhausting. Since teaching, she has had some light shed on health challenges that make the job even harder. She is a selfless woman and kept trucking along for the good of her students (she is a phenomenal educator and turned lives around each year) and her family but at the expense of her own health. So we are glad that adventure is coming to a conclusion! Dad did a great job planning and throwing that thoughtful party and mom was lit up all night as she visited with other teacher friends and long-time personal friends who’ve been an incredible support to her over the past several years. Congratulations mom, we love you!!!!

This is my Great Auntie Linda (Jude's great, great). I help clean her summer home every other week. This woman travels the world more then she doesn't and could easily be a stand up comedian. Her home is FILLED with one-of-a kind treasures she has collected and masterfully incorporated into her interior design. I anticipate doing a blog post on her and her decorating someday. A very cultured, unique, and talented woman.