At least he'll know his name, right?

When we decided to try to get pregnant, we started brainstorming names.  We had picked out our girl's name years ago.  In fact, the "Project Roosevelt" blog name came from our girl's name.  Eleanor.

We were at a loss for boys' names.  We had some ideas, but nothing really struck us.  Until Jude.  People ask us today how we came up with the name, what he is named after, but we don't really know.  I think that we were having the typical "What about ____?" conversation and someone said "What about Jude?" and the other one said "I like that."  And that's it.

And that decision has led to what some might call an obsession.  That is an obsession with personalized items for Jude.  Others in my family share that obsession and feed my problem.  As I look around Jude's room, I see puzzles, toys, art, towels...

Here are some of my favorite personalized things!

Jude's growth chart...he's 31" now!

A special piece of artwork for baby Jude.

Jude's very own name puzzle to match the stool I had growing up.

Dental hygiene starts early.

You know how sharks grow seven rows of teeth so that they can shed them and have replacements?  Jude isn't quite to the 7 rows of teeth yet, but the kid has a toothy grin that stretches from ear to ear even at the age of 11 months.  Right now, he has the four front top teeth and the four front bottom teeth.  So to start his dental hygiene early, we have started brushing his teeth before bedtime.

We were reluctant at first.  He's going to hate it!  There's now way he'll let us brush his teeth!  But Sneaky Baby strikes again, and in fact loves getting his teeth brushed.  Maybe it's the Elmo toothpaste.  Maybe it's the mirror that he gets to check himself out in.  Either way, Jude is an oral hygiene champ.  Here are a couple of pictures of the mini-dentist in action!

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to one, and you want to have a little fun, you brush your teeth (ch-ch-ch-ch ch-ch-ch-ch-ch)....

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to two, and you wish you had something to do, you brush your teeth (ch-ch-ch-ch ch-ch-ch-ch-ch)....

When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to three, and your mind starts humming, twiddle dee-dee, you brush your teeth (ch-ch-ch-ch ch-ch-ch-ch-ch)....

And Again....

Jude is sick. Again.
Another call from daycare, another dash from work to the school.
This time it's just a fever. Just a fever. So far, anyway.
I called the nurse line and they said he didn't need to come to urgent care unless his fever went up to 105, any other symptoms showed up, or he still has the fever in the morning.
I'm beginning to get better at this whole "parenting a sick child" thing, but I'm not so sure that's a good thing.

Since Jude is sick, we won't be going to our ECFE class tomorrow (Early Childhood Family Education). I'm kind of bummed because I was looking forward to the conversation we were going to have. But since we became parents, we've also become cancellers. I hate that. I hate that we are no longer dependable. I hate that we may or not come. I hate that we may or may not be on time. I hate that we sometimes have to miss out on the things that we'd like to do. I hate that I had to cancel a meeting at work today. I hate that we make plans and then can't follow through with them.

I know. I was probably too anal about all that stuff before and this is the healthy dose of "get over it" that I've been needing. I also know that other parents of small children totally get it and are definitely not judging me because honey, they've been there, too.

I think it's more the reality setting in of what everyone always told us - having kids will change your life. I knew that on an intellectual level, but learning that on an emotional level has been an entirely different story. Pre-baby, it was not unusual for us to hang out in our pajamas until 1:00 on a Saturday, then go run errands all afternoon and top off the day with dinner out. Now I'm up at 6:30 and planning my time away from the house in 2-3 hour increments. Or canceling work meetings. Or eating dinner at 5:00.

Ok. I don't want to complain. Because though the adjustment to life as a parent hasn't exactly been smooth sailing all the way, words can't describe how much I love Jude and honestly, a little change is quite worth it. Today, though he had a fever of 103, he was practicing standing on his own. It was amazing. There he was in his little footie pajamas with the guitar on them, squatting, then standing, then squatting again. Like a person.

So I guess if I have to cancel a meeting or two (or ten), it's ok. But I still hate that he's sick.

Sicky

This past week was really trying to be a parent - especially a working parent.  On Tuesday afternoon, on the first week back after two weeks off, we got a call from school that Jude had a high fever and we needed to pick him up. 

Lindsay whisked him off to Urgent Care where she had to endure a chest x-ray - Jude's second.  Because infants can't lay still on an x-ray table, they have to be clamped upright into a device that looks pretty much like a torture device:

No, that's not Jude in there... just a random pic from the internet.  And that baby doesn't appear to be crying.  Jude cries (as I'm sure you can imagine one would).  

Anyway, it was determined that Jude had "subtle pneumonia."  Awesome.  We got him on antibiotics, gave him some Albuterol via his penguin nebulizer (now named "Puffy") and began the delicate dance of "I HAVE to be at work tomorrow, but I can clear my calendar for Thursday."  In the end, Jude's fever lasted for only a day, but we each took a day off of work to make sure he had plenty of time to recuperate.  Now, a few days later, we're still talking to each other and Jude is back to his normal self (though he does have a lingering cough).  It was tough, but we all made it and it certainly made me realize how lucky we are to have a relatively healthy, happy baby.  

In the midst of it all, Jude was still learning, growing, and playing, as exampled below (both were shot while we were home with him, respectively, thanks to our new iphones - side note: HOW did we live without those things?)

More more more (How do you like it, how do you like it)

It's been a while back now, but over Thanksgiving, I started noticing Jude doing something interesting while he was eating.  In between bites, he kind of slapped his wrists together.  I almost didn't recognize it for what it was, but Jude was signing "more."  It was really amazing, because both Lindsay and I had been making the sign for more since Jude started eating solid foods.  In other words, months.  And finally, in an "Ah ha" moment for Jude, there he was... signing! 

Since then, Jude has decided that more is a universal communication tool.  Want more food?  More.  Want to keep playing?  More.  Want to get out of the carseat?  More.  Want someone to pay attention to you?  More. Want to take a bath?  More.  Of course, we've been challenged to try to guess what Jude wants and we certainly don't always get it right.  We've also been trying several other signs with him.... all done, drink, eat, milk, bath.... but unlike more, Jude hasn't figured out that there are different signs for different actions/needs.  The look on his face says it all, "Look, assholes.  I know that you do something whenever I slap my hands together.  Figure it out."

Supposedly most babies who are taught to sign will hit a "sign explosion" sometime around 14 months.  They'll start to realize that there are different signs for different things and suddenly want to know everything.  So maybe that time will be coming soon in which case, I'll need to brush up on my signing quickly. 

I love this video... Jude is just in a super good mood... cracking up about everything Mommy says and if you watch, you'll see him doing more.  More funny, please Mommy!

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.

Thanksgiving Blues and Surviving the Plague

Let's just say Jude's first Thanksgiving wasn't quite what we'd expected it to be.

First there was the Monday before T-day: we literally walked in the door from his 9 month "well baby" appointment, and the vomiting began. 6 times in four hours, to be exact. After the second time, we were on the phone with the 24 hour nurse line and Lindsay was off to Walgreen's to pick up some Pedialyte. It certainly wasn't fun, and that's definitely the most vomit I've ever had on me in my life, but we made it through the night. I stayed home with Jude the next day and we thought that was the end of it. But Wednesday, Lindsay woke up throwing up, too. So far, Thanksgiving week was promising to be awesome.

We got ourselves together, and by Thursday were good enough to make the 7 hours drive down to Illinois. It was great to see the family, and Jude had his first official "kid table," complete with cousin Quentin picking up his sippy cup every time he dropped it.
But by 3 am, I'd been hit by the plague, too. So I wound up spending the day on Friday eating Saltines and ginger ale and trying not to get too grossed out by all the things you can do with leftovers they were showing on TV.

And while the week really hadn't been much fun so far, it all got worse on Saturday morning when we woke up to SEVEN more members of Lindsay's family with the same thing. We'd totally brought the plague to Thanksgiving. So what did we do? We packed up our things and drove back to Minnesota a day early.

Here's hoping our Christmas in California will be better....

Jude was feeling better and had so much fun with the family

Layli and Jude, munching their turkey dinner at the kids' table