Daddy's Day!!

We had a wonderful day celebrating Sam on Father's Day!  Jude and I slept in and arranged for Daddy to play golf with his buddies (win, win!).  He came home to a happy little boy to play with and then we had a cookout to celebrate all of the dads and their favorite foods!  We are so blessed to have each of these men as apart of our lives.  They seek the Lord with all of their hearts and lead our families well.  They deserve so much more than one day to celebrate!!

Amarillo by Morning

We headed back "home" last week to spend some much needed time with our families.  It was a fun week of playing, cooking out, and seeing family!  We are so blessed to have both families in one location, so that we can get some good time in with everyone.  Jude soaked up everything single minute of it!  He realized quickly that he was the center of attention where ever he went and ate it up.  I have never seen him ham it up like he was with all of his grandparents.  Its such a joy seeing him really bond and form relationships with everyone now that he is getting older. He even started saying everyone's names without being prompted.  He is the sweetest boy and brings so much joy to all his family.

Riding on daddy's old puppy

Playing "Frisbee" at Meme's

Why is Jude so happy???

Oh, because Meme has cookies!

"If you give me cookies, I'll stay still long enough for you to give me a kiss"

 Playing horsie with Pepaw

Snuggling with Aunt Sarah

He played more ball this week than ever (if that is even possible)!

Sam and Gramps

Playing an interesting game of ball with Memaw 

"Helping" Pops water the plants

 

Bubbles with Grancy 

Taking a "swim" at Grancy & Pops

Playing in the pond at Grancy and Pops

Jude and Great-Grandma Liz

Learning to climb the stairs - fun for baby, not for daddy!

Nan & Gramps - all weekend he would say "Hi Nana"

Jude and Great-Grandpa Mel

18 Months

HOW IN THE WORLD IS MY BABY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD!!!  I am having a hard time letting this reality settle in.  The majority of the time I still call him "baby" rather than Jude and realistically he's not my baby, but my toddler/little boy! Although the thought does make me a bit sad, I would not trade this stage for anything. This fun-loving little guy brings so much joy to every single day.  He is talking up a storm and becoming so independent.  He wants to try things on his own and mimic everything mommy and daddy are doing.  It is so fun watching so many things that we have been trying to teach him all come together and become understandable.  Its just amazing how quickly he learns and picks things up!  Along with all of these fun things, we are also seeing glimpses of the "terrible two's"!!!  He is trying to figure out how to express himself and finding some new "emotions".  We are working through these times, but I could do without the new high pitched screaming when he doesn't get his way!  Inside it makes me laugh a bit, but I can't let him know that!  We know this is just another stage that we must learn to maneuver through.  Not to mention that we used to think that Jude was crazy energetic, but we have learned that an even crazier stage exists!!  Keeps us on our toes, but adds even more fun around here!  The majority of the time though he is still our sweet, loving, easy-going dude.  Each day brings new adventures and new cherished moments that I pray I never forget!

Early morning of golf and baseball - this boy's obsession with balls is unreal!

Loves baseball just like his daddy

Playing tick-tock with Uncle Richard and Tripp

Chasing Tripp - I see a lot of this in the future

Making some eggs in his new kitchen! 

 (It pays to go on early morning walks and find a great garage sale deal!)

Family day at the zoo - loving the monkeys

Trying to figure out those huge elephants!

Trying to touch the birds

Fun times with cousins and 2nd cousins

Toddler swim day - Jude's best buds, Ethan & Jacob

Enjoying a poolside snack

Watering the concrete! 

Somebody loves his new water-table 

Back at the pool 

First time to eat watermelon like a big boy - pretty sure he had at least 5 pieces!

Helping daddy at Home Depot

I think he's on to something here, gets the job done faster!

Open play at the gym - this guy loves any tunnels he can find

Where's Jude????

I can do it mommy

Stats:
Weight: 23 lbs 6.5oz - 40%
Height: 33 1/2" - 85%
Head: 20%

-His favorite foods right now are grapes, "cookies", and muffins (mu mu), and his veggie-chicken nuggets

-Favorite toys are still balls and his bats.  He even practices with himself by holding the ball up with on hand and hitting it with the other. 

-Becoming obsessed with poo-poo - thinking that we may start introducing the toilet since he seems so interested! 

 New words for this month: I get (I ge), apple (apll), grape (gape), jump (ump), rock rock (ock ock), oh no, snack (nak), amen (men), pray (pay), muffin (mu mu), milk (ilk), please (peas), beach (beac)
-He has been able to point out  features for awhile - eyes, ears, hair, mouth, tongue, nose, hands, feet, fingers, and toes, but can now also say most of them also.
-Loves jumping and always seems to incorporate jumping into his constant dancing! This boy LOVES to dance.  He has quite the moves too!
-Has started yelling YAY when he gets really excited, especially in public!
-Animal noises: cow - moo, cat - meow, dog - bark, duck - quack, monkey - ooo ooo, bird - chirp chirp

-His new favorite game is called bing bing.  Its something him and Sam invented on our vacation.  It basically means that he wants you to bounce him on something such as stacked pillows.
-Loves to rock rock in his little rocking chair and his big rocking chair.  We are working on always staying on his bottom though.
-Since he was a little baby he always gets the hiccups when you get him into a deep laugh.  I thought he would out grow it, but he still does it every time!

-Still has 4 front teeth on top, 2 top molars, 4 front teeth on the bottom, and 2 bottom molars.  Currently has his side front teeth coming in.  

-Wears size 3 diapers

-Wears mostly 12-18 month pants and 18-24 month tops.  

-Still takes 2 naps most days, but can do fine with only one longer one.  

-His tongue is basically always in unless he is in deep thought or working on something really hard!