Look Who is Crawling!!!

And we're off!  It only took a dirty hotel room floor and some corn puffs to get him there!  While we were in Phoenix for the baseball tournament, Jude decided it was time to reach his next milestone.  He is a much happier baby now.  Instead of whining and crying because he wants to get somewhere, he just gets up on his hands and knees and goes!  I'm looking forward to being in constant motion behind Jude, making sure his fingers and toes aren't in the way of Riley's rocking horse, or that he isn't getting into Riley's stash of barrettes.

Life is a Highway, take two

Jude recently discovered how much fun it is to drive the red cozy-coup.  He bounced and yelled the whole time he was in it!

That face speaks of pure elation from the independence of driving your very own car... or the car you share with your sister, and the independence of sitting alone while your sister pushes you.

Riley really enjoyed pushing him in the car too.  I love soaking up all of these moments of them playing so well together.

Riley-isms

Now that Riley is talking, she is full of the cutest statements, just a few for example:

• While I was making dinner one night, we were listening to "I like it" by Enrique Iglesias and dancing.  Needless to say, the song says "I like it", A LOT.  At the end of the song, Riley said "I like it too Mommy!"
• We were watching Sid the Science kid when he asked, "When I breathe in air, where does it go?"  To which Riley promptly responded, "In Daddy's closet!"
• One morning I walked into the living room and found Riley sitting directly in front of the mirror (placed there to encourage Jude to crawl) singing "Jesus Loves Me" to herself.
• When I sat her dinner in front of her one night she said, "I not like it, Mommy."

Take me out to the ballgame

And so baseball season begins.  We started off our season with the Razorbacks.  We've already been to 3 games!  That's more than we've been to in 6 years.  The first two games were rather chilly, so the kids benefited from some super cute game attire.

"I make this look good." 

"Dad, make sure you get my good side."

"This is my contemplating pose."

"That hot dog you are holding really looks good."

Even though the temps were chilly and windy, the kids did GREAT at the games.  We learned that Riley is scared of "Ribby" the mascot, but Jude isn't...yet.  All the way home, Riley repeated how she was scared of Ribby and she cried, but he gave Jude a pound.

Then last Sunday the weather was wonderful.  We gathered up kids, coolers, snacks, and chairs and met Alex and Jane at the game.  We sat in the outfield which was perfect because Riley got to do a lot of running around and playing without disturbing other people. 

It was nice and sunny, so both kids got to wear their hats.  We had NO sunburns at the end of the day, success! Jude fell asleep in my lap for about an hour, so he was in a very happy mood for the afternoon.

I realize her hat is a Cardinals hat, but that's what she wanted.  Her other choice was a bright pink bucket hat like Jude's, but she wasn't feeling it.  Look at all of the room to run around in!  She stayed close and never ran too far.  But when "Ribby" the mascot came over, she was quick to run and get into her daddy's lap.  No tears this time!

We all had such a great time that we are thinking it should be a Sunday afternoon tradition, at least when the Hogs are in town.

I love this swinty-eyed picture.  We tried to get her to wear her sunglasses, but it was a no go.  Those two are cute.  I think I'll keep them.

10 Months

Aw, 10 months.  These photo shoots are becoming more difficult as Jude never stops moving!  Nope, not crawling yet, but that doesn't keep his top half still!

Here is what he is up to these days:

• He loves to babble.
• He is waving like it's his job.
• He loves to feed himself and would rather do this than have me feed him.
• Eats like a horse, somedays he even eats more than Riley.
• He loves to kiss Riley and hug her.
• He is reaching for any- and everything.
• Plays peek-a-boo.  So cute.
• He is also pulling up! He might just skip crawling all together.

I wish I could tell you that he has already learned how to call the hogs, but he is just reaching for the camera.  We went to his 9 month well baby visit a month late.  But we learned some interesting stuff.  He is in the 50% for his head size, but only 3% on his height and 2% on his weight.  This is one little boy!  We knew this already because he is the smallest baby at play group.  His pediatrician wasn't worried because his body mass index (weight compared to height) is right on target.  Good to know.  I wasn't too worried before (because Woody and I are smaller people), but now I'm not worried at all.  Even though he isn't in full control of his lower body, he is definitely in control of his upper body.  I expect him to start coloring and writing his name soon.  Just kidding.

Jude is thriving and healthy and we are so blessed that he has completed our family.  Watching Riley and Jude play together is the highlight of my days.  I'm enjoying the last few days or weeks that I can leave the room for a minute and he is in roughly the same place that I left him.  :o)