I want my baby back, baby back, baby back...

I came home to Minnesota on Tuesday and Liz and Jude flew up north to Sacramento to see her family.  Since I took so much time off in February when Jude was born, I had to work (for the first time in my life) between Christmas and New Year's.   

I always knew that I wasn't the kind of person who liked "me time."  Or maybe it is just that I only need about 5 minutes of "me time" every day, and the rest of the day I want it to be "we time."  So it is expected that the last four days of hanging out by myself have been a little much for me.  I just don't want to know that much about myself (like the fact that I would eat junk and only junk if I didn't have Liz to keep me in line).

It sounds like Liz and Jude had a fantastic time -- Liz can give you a report on all of the antics with the cousins.  He even had his first experience walking behind a push toy.  What a big boy!  You never know how much they change until you don't see them for four whole days!

Here are a couple of photos of the whole family.  Baylee and Aubrey sure looked like they had a fantastic time hanging out with their cousin Jude!

The good news is that since we got our iphones for our birthdays, Liz has no excuse but to send me pictures of Jude's day by day.  Good news: I get to see lots of pictures of Jude.  Bad news: The pictures make me miss Jude! 

Mama sent me a "good morning" picture of Jude waking up in Sacramento...

And then I also got a couple on the plane ride back thanks to Delta's in-flight wi-fi!

Before take-off...

Munching on a biscuit before nap time...

Shhh...baby sleeping.

I can't wait until they get home today to celebrate New Year's Eve with my little family!

Ju-ju the Wonder Baby

Every day I am amazed by Jude. I mean, it's really incredible to see him grow and develop almost literally right before our eyes, but sometimes what amazes me most is his adaptability.  Since we've been here in LA, we've really mixed things up for him.  While we've tried to keep his schedule as regular as possible, we go somewhere new every day, there are so many new people who want to play with him and talk to him and hold him.  I can imagine that would be exhausting!  Yet there we were at a holiday cocktail party this evening, and Jude was just great.  He was cute and charming and... well, it was just so great to just sit back and watch other people enjoy Jude as much as I do.  And he ate it up!  Despite a short afternoon nap and a late bed time, he was a trooper.

Jude really showed off his adaptability when we visited Santa yesterday.  Frankly, I wasn't looking forward to it.  I thought we'd be dragging him to the mall, standing in line, and giving him a later nap time all for the privilege of paying $25 for a picture of a terrorized, screaming baby.  But oh, how I underestimated my adaptable little guy!  I set him down on Santa's lap and stepped back.  Jude was fascinated by Santa!  He couldn't stop staring at him and running his fingers through the REAL beard.  The elves stepped in a ticked his chin with a feather duster and viola!  They snapped an amazing Christmas picture... I was so so proud!

And while his adaptability is what I'm most surprised by, California must agree with him because he's reached several milestones while here: He's waving (!), cruising around the soft furniture, and forgetting he doesn't quite know how to stand and letting go, if only for a moment.  

And all the while I marvel at the differences between this year and last year.  Last year, I was enjoying baby showers and fretting about my blood pressure.  Now I'm marveling at the amazing little guy that I am so excited to spend Christmas with.  

Who said it never rains in Southern California? They lied.

We arrived for family Christams on Sunday, December 19th.  And it was raining.  We didn't really care, because rain is better than snow which is better than rain/snow mix.  Then we woke up on Monday morning.  It was raining again.  Or still.  Then we woke up on Wednesday morning.  Rain.  Rain.  Rain.  Which leads to Storm Watch in Los Angeles.

Rain always leads to some drama in my parents' house.  This year, the drama has included:

• Plastic draped over the balcony to prevent a flood in the guest room below.
• A hole chopped in the garage ceiling to release water that was pooling there and making the drywall sag.
• Siphoning the pool using hoses. 
• Circuit blowing on the electricity that runs the pool hoses for siphoning.  
• Dishwasher breaking with a full load of dishes inside.  (This was not a direct result of the rain, but drama nonetheless).

I think that if one more piece of the house breaks, Grandma might break, too.  Aunt Megan, Uncle Andrew, Grandpa, Mama and I are working to keep her distracted.   However, the weather is looking up!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Since the day that Jude was born, I have been waiting for his first Christmas.  I wrote a song in honor of it.

On the first day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me a smile underneath the big tree.

On the second day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the third day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me seven photos with Santa, six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me eight tickles from Grandpa, seven photos with Santa, six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me nine nights of good sleep, eight tickles from Grandpa, seven photos with Santa, six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me ten days with family, nine nights of good sleep, eight tickles from Grandpa, seven photos with Santa, six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me eleven snotty noses, ten days with family, nine nights of good sleep, eight tickles from Grandpa, seven photos with Santa, six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my JuJus gave to me twelve poopy diapers, eleven snotty noses, ten days with family, nine nights of good sleep, eight tickles from Grandpa, seven photos with Santa, six frosted cookies, five sippy cups, four sticky bows, three footed jammies, two mommies laughing, and a smile underneath the big tree.