Month 20

We had an great month of enjoying summer!  Oddly enough we have had some of the most amazingly gorgeous days this July!!  We spend the majority of our days playing outside and playing in the water.  Since Jude's swimming lessons, he has become so confident in the pool.  We strap on his Puddle Jumper, put him in the water, and let him do his thing!  He even gets mad when we try to hold onto him  and just wants to "swim" on his own!  Speaking of doing things on his own, he is starting to get a pretty strong independent side.  We realize this can be a good thing, but at times can be trying.  He also LOVES to use the "no" word to everything.  I have to laugh at times because he says "no" so quickly that he'll often realize he really didn't mean to, and actually does want something!  Hopefully these are both just phases that too shall pass!!  Even with these little things, he is still the sweetest, happiest little boy.  He spends most of his days running non stop and playing, but is also starting to enjoy some slow moments in his days of doing puzzles or reading books.  His communication also continues to grow and amazes us daily.  It is so nice to be able to communicate with him and know (most of the time) what he is trying to tell us!  We ended the month with another airplane trip, but this time to the mountains.  I'll post about this soon, but let's just say Jude's all-boy side came out twofold!! 

Morning golf game

Enjoying some breakfast at one of our new favorite spots

Waiting on our food and playing with mommy

Taking a ride on Mia and Tripp's swing.  He wasn't too sure what to think about it!

Just a typical Target trip 

(we bought the sunglasses, not the plunger!) 

Playing softball with daddy - it takes all that I have to keep him off the field during the games!

Enjoying his first snow-cone!

Just lounging 

Getting to taste his first Otter Pop Popsicle 

I'm pretty sure he could do this all day

Sitting all by himself while getting his hair cut!

Enjoying a unseasonably cool August day at the Arboretum with our cousins 

This is the best we could do for a group pic!!

Putting together a big flower

Checking out the waterfall...good thing Mia was prepared!!

Playing in the fountains at Klyde Warren Park with his bud Ethan

He spent most of the time stepping on the fountains...ok with me, keeps the clothes dry!

Trying out the hula hoop...he got the basic idea down!

More swimming

Celebrating Riley's birthday!

Don't worry, Jude's has it all under control! 

A baseball kind of morning...I promise we DID get out of our pjs this month!!

Playing with his new friend, Grady 

A little baseball....

and then a little cooking!

His new favorite thing...eating a banana all by himself each morning! 

Stats:
-His favorite foods right now are grapes, bananas, mac & cheese, cheese, and anything mommy and daddy are eating.  

-Favorite toys are still balls, his bats, and golf clubs.  Although he still loves baseball (ba-ball), his newest obsession is basketball (ba-k-ball).  He says basketball over and over and over, and points out every single basketball goal we see (and pretty much every neighbor has one!).  He loves to have a family basketball game and even tries dribbling his mini basketballs.  He has also been very interested in books and puzzles. 

-He can pretty much make anything into his baseball bat - wooden spoon, rolling pin, fork, daddy's fishing pole holder, etc.

-Points out and goes crazy every time we drive by a baseball field.  He gets so excited when we drive up to "daddy's baseball field" to watch him play softball!
-He loves each of his grandparents so much.  We were just in the mountains with all 4, plus two great-grandparents and he had the best time.  He has now pretty much decided what he will call each of them; some are pretty creative and we have no idea where he came up with them - Sam's parents: ba-paw and mo , Sam's great-grandparents: nana and gamps, and Mandy's parents: Pops and Gan Gan.  He also started calling Sam's sisters yay yay (Aunt Sarah) and Teppie (Stephanie). 

-Still likes sitting on his toilet, but we haven't taken any further steps.  We are working on pulling up his pants, which he is doing great at.  

-He always wants to shows you something or take you somewhere; he'll come to you with his hand out and say "hand" and then take your finger and pull you where he wants you to go.  Its so darn cute!!  I think he uses it for his advantage sometimes though when we want him to do something else, because he knows he's cute!

-He points out every hole "hoew" he sees. 

-He's getting pretty tall, so we must watch what we have on tables and cabinets.  He is very good and pulling things off and putting things up.  

-Always says "down" when he really wants you to pick him up.  After he says it, we'll say "do you want up" and he'll say "yeah" like that's exactly what he said the first time!

 -Still talking up a storm; some of the main new words I can remember are blanket (banket), bucket, pocket, good job (dud dub), Jude (more clearly than before), I did it, gosh (osh), and oh gosh (oh osh). 

-He has learned to cover his ears when something is loud or when he wants to pretend he can't hear us. 

-He now has 6 front teeth on top, 2 top molars, 5 front teeth on the bottom, and 2 bottom molars.  

-Wears size 3 & 4 diapers

-Wears mostly 18 month pants and 18-24 month tops.  

-Takes 2 naps most days, or one nap and one "rest" period in the afternoon.