The Daily Jude 1/31/12

The kid is suddenly all about striking poses.

The Daily Jude 1/30/12

He may not have his very own train table, but that doesn't stop him.

The Daily Jude 1/29/12

Today was the day that we first took Jude to Choo Choo Bob's in St. Paul and I think the kid's mind was thoroughly blown. But Lindsay has promised a whole blog post on that adventure, which leaves me free to post this picture for today. This is the result of the little bath crayon Jude received for Christmas. For obvious reasons, it's not an every bath kind of toy. After covering all four walls of the bathtub he sat in the middle if the tub, looked around and said, "wow." He even amazes himself.

The Daily Jude 1/28/12

Jude is now in the stage of wanting to see the pictures I take of him, though I'm fortunate that he hasn't started approving which pictures I use. When he saw this one, he actually tried to reenact it. Crazy kid.

The Daily Jude 1/27/12

I just couldn't get a good shot today. We introduced Jude to the concept if racing today as we all climbed the stairs to prepare for bedtime. I don't this he got it. Unless, that is, he was trying to come in last place.

The Daily Jude 1/26/12

Post-bath curlies

The Daily Jude 1/25/12

Mr. Stripey

The Daily Jude 1/24/12

Choo choo!

We're raising a Minnesotan

I often think about the fact that Jude will need to write on forms that his place of birth is St. Louis Park, Minnesota.  I know that I have lived here for over 6 years now, but I am still in denial that I am a Minnesotan.  However, there is absolutely no denying the fact that my son is a Minnesotan.  I put together a table to illustrate some of the differences in our childhoods.

Growing up, Lindsay… Growing up, Jude… Had earthquake drills Will have tornado drills Had to siphon the pool when it got too rainy Will have to shovel the driveway when it gets too snowy Knew salt only as a seasoning Will understand that the important uses for salt are water softening and road maintenance Thought icicles were something in movies Will have to watch for falling icicles that can stab him in the eye Never owned a pair of winter boots Will have to master the art of wearing boots and changing into shoes Had a locker only big enough for a backpack Will have a locker for his snow pants, boots, coat, hat, mittens, scarf, and backpack Did not know that other kids didn't get to ride their new bikes on Christmas day Will know that the best gift for Christmas is a sled, not a bike Needed to know how to pronounce Spanish words to navigate her hometown Will need to know how to mispronounce Native American words to navigate his Always played Duck, Duck, Goose Will have to lead a double life of playing Duck, Duck, Grey Duck at school and Duck, Duck, Goose at home Ate casserole Will eat hot dish

I understood another of these differences on Sunday when Liz and I took Jude out sledding.  First, I realized that I had never, in my entire life, put on a pair of snow bibs.  Not on me.  Not on anyone else.  My son knows how to say "snow pants" and he isn't even 2.  I don't think that I even knew what they were until high school.  

But back to the bibs.  We decided to go out and try his new sled, which meant putting on his snow bibs.  First, I had an internal debate about whether he needed to wear regular pants if he had snow pants on.  I decided that of course, he had to wear regular pants (okay, I totally doubted myself and did not say of course, but I was right anyway).  So I got his snow bibs unzipped and put them on.  Backwards.  I put my son's snow bibs on with the zipper in the back.  Liz came downstairs and was mortified.  She explained that his pants were on backwards, proceeded to show me that there was a "butt pocket" that was now in the front, and insisted that I turn them around.  I asked her how she knew that the snow pants were on backwards.  She looked at me incredulously as if to wonder how I did not know that fact.  

Here's why I don't know that.  My family is not a fan of "gear."  More than once, I have heard my mother say "I like being at the beach, but I don't like going there.  It's all that 'gear.'"  Here, she was referring to sunscreen, towels, change of clothes, umbrella, etc.  The Heys are infamous for refusing things that take "gear."  Which is precisely why, I believe, we never did any snow-related activities.  Too much gear.

This gear overload concept was well-demonstrated as we spent 15 minutes getting our toddler ready to play outside.  At the end of the process, the kid had so many layers on that he "couldn't put his arms down" like Randy in the Christmas Story.

But we finally made it outside.  And although it was cold (listen to the wind whipping in the videos), Jude had a blast.  At the top of the hill, he yelled "Ready, Set, Go" as Mama and Mommy raced down the hill.  He said shrieked "Bump! Bump! Bump!" as he glided down the sidewalk.  And although you can hear him ask to go home at the end of both of the videos, my little Minnesotan had a fantastic first adventure playing in the snow. Even if his mom would rather play in her flip flops.

The Daily Jude 1/23/12

Ow! Cold hands!

The Daily Jude 1/22/12

Finally! Some snow we can play in!

The Daily Jude 1/21/12

Oh, don't mind him. He's just thoroughly enjoying cake at Isabelle's 2nd birthday!

The Daily Jude 1/20/12

June and Jude - dining buddies!

The Daily Jude 1/19/12

Funny way to eat a hot dog, if you ask me!

The Daily Jude 1/18/12

Just try to tell Jude that his purple spoon is dirty. Just try it.

(Yes, that's the same shirt he was wearing yesterday. Don't judge)

The Daily Jude 1/17/11

I can't explain it, but this kid CAN NOT get enough of the tunnels book. He was home sick with Mommy today and she reports that he wanted to read it at least 10 times today.

The Daily Jude 1/16/12

Sicky Von Sickerton, thwarting mommies' plans for a day of kid-free errands.

The Daily Jude 1/15/12

Jude and June (classmates, now!) hanging out at the zoo together.

The Daily Jude 1/14/12

Turns out he can put his own hat on, even if it's backwards.

The Daily Jude 1/12/12

Thanks, K&A, for the awesome hand puppets! The monkey is the fave, for sure!

The Daily Jude 1/11/12

Did you know you could fit TWO raspberry chewies in your mouth at once?!?

The Daily Jude 1/10/12

YES! Thanks, Grandma, for sending the Tunnels book!

The Daily Jude 1/9/12

It's Cold, Cold Yogurt night!

The Daily Jude 1/8/12

Ummmm, I think you have some veggies on your face.

The Daily Jude 1/7/12

Jude and his buddy Milo. At first, Milo was a threat. Jude was sure he was plotting to steal all the toys. They made their peace, eventually, and were hugging fools by the end.

The Daily Jude 1/6/12

An extra little gift from Grandma - Cars and Trucks and Things That Go! AND it's got a purple cover. WIN.

The Daily Jude 1/5/12

"The Guys." They never get old.

The Daily Jude 1/4/12

Watching trains on TV, holding a purple ball. *bliss*

The Daily Jude 1/3/12

Check out the new purple hat from Mama's co-worker, Mel!

The Daily Jude 1/2/12

Cleaning out his nose all by himself. I'm so proud.

The Daily Jude 1/1/12

Happy New Year! Mommy is sleeping, Jude is reading, and I'm thinking it's going to be a good year.