Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Tis the Season

Jude had a great 2nd first Christmas!! Last year he was just a few weeks old, so it felt like this year was his first Christmas.  Although he had no idea what was really going on, he enjoyed being around friends and family and playing at all of the festivities!!  He was into present opening for the first few gifts and then just prefered playing with what he already opened or just the box!  If it was a box of clothes, he would instantly loose focus!!  We got to spend a full week at home in Amarillo, so we were able to get lots of family time in and even got to see a few friends!  The Lord has blessed us abundantly and although we tend of make this season of celebrating His son's birth about worldly things, He still chooses to bless us through it all.  May we never loose focus of what we are really celebrating.  I look forward to the coming years when Jude will be able to understand this joyous occasion a bit more.

Christmas card photos





 What he does the majority of every day - throw the ball

 Looking at the deer at Grancy and Pop's house

 Playing catch with PePaw

 Looking for the birds with MeMaw and PePaw

 Going for a ride on Meme's walker!

 Visiting Meme

 Touching snow for the first time (this did not last long!)

Christmas Eve
 Christmas Eve service - he might have only lasted for the first 10 min, but he loved it for a short time!

Grancy and Pops - Someone wasn't in the picture mood! 

 Just too much to look at to be taking pictures!

 He loved Grandma and Mel's dog, Cici.  
To bad the dog didn't much like him!!

Loved being the center of attention and watching everyone open gifts

 Playing with Grancy

Christmas Morning!!!

 Time to open the gifts!!

 He's working hard because the tongue is sticking out further and further

 He loved shaking daddy's M&Ms

 Putting on his new house shoes while playing with mommy's lotion

 Favorite gift - his vacuum!! He knew exactly what to do with it
since mommy always holds him when she vacuums.

 Still going!  Too bad this doesn't really pick stuff up!  

 All dressed up to head to Memaw and Pepaw's house

 Had to get one last vacuum in!

 Playing peek-a-boo

 Checking out the pretty tree with Memaw

Playing with his new ball from Aunt Sara 

 Helping daddy open his gifts

 Look what PePaw got at the gift exchange...looks like Jude actually won on this one!

 Playing the wind chimes with Pops

 Playing catch with Grancy
 Last pics before we leave - Grancy and Pops

 Memaw and PePaw

We also took some time to catch up with some of our closest friends that sadly we don't get to see very often.
 Playing the drums with RyRy!  They did this for quite awhile and he really started to get into it. 

 Playing with the Jackson crew!  

 Best friends - Ryan and Sam

 Graham giving Jude a sweet huge!

 Daddy's other childhood best friend, Josh, and his little boy Graham!

One of Mommy's best friends, Ashley and Hollis 
(the other three kids were too busy playing to take pics with us!)

Sam and Brad - Jude still looks confused and Hollis with her sweet smile!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

12 Months


My baby is ONE!!  This has been the best 365 days of our lives! On one hand I can't believe he is already one, but on the other, I can't remember what life was like before this little guy came into our lives.  The night before his birthday I was remembering hour by hour in my mind what happened exactly one year before, and I could remember every single detail; it seriously felt like yesterday! It truly has been the most amazing year with enough memories to last a life time.  As I look back I can re-call each and every day, and all of the little steps that we conquered.  Was every day easy, no way, but every day a blessing of loving on our sweet boy.  He has become such a fun little guy with so much personality!  He keeps us entertained from the moment he wakes up.  Literally, he starts talking, pointing, and laughing from the moment his daddy gets him from his crib!  Speaking of, this little guy LOVES his daddy!  Their bond is so sweet and I am so lucky be able to be a witness to their every moments.  Everyone says, he's attached to me.  I say, yes, until his daddy gets home!!  Ha!  He is still our little explorer and so interested in the smallest of details.  If one little thing is out of place, he will discover it instantly.  He walks around all day checking everything out.  We like to say he's doing his "laps" as he walks around checking on everything, sometimes picking up a toy here and there (most likely a ball), and just keeps going back over and over!  He is also talking up a storm and starting to use some of his sign language even more.  We saw a lot of family this month, which is always so much fun!  He's always a little unsure at first (as with any crowd), but once he sees that they are still there the next morning, he starts to warm up!  He is already loving all the fun of Christmas with the lights, presents, fun music and all that it brings.  I can't wait until he can understand the true meaning behind this joyous holiday!  We praise the Lord daily for each and every day that He has given us with this little guy.  I pray that I never take one day for granted, through the good, bad, and ugly!  Here's to the next 365 days of loving, discovering, hugging, laughing, tickling, playing, kissing, and exploring with our baby boy!  (yes, he will ALWAYS be my baby boy)
 Happy Birthday baby!
 Winter baby all snuggly and warm
Our first busted lip 

Mom, those presents you put under the tree are just too pretty not to unwrap!
 (I quickly learned to wrap the gifts rather than put them in bags if I don't want them unwrapped!!)  

 Matching mustaches!
 Trying to figure out how this snowman that pops up suddenly works! He would get scared every time, but was still so interested!
Playing with some new birthday gifts 

Batman in his cape! 

Happy Birthday muffin 

 Meeting Gingy! 
Wasn't sure what to think at first, but was giving him high-fives by the time we left!
Checking out the snow! 

 Brrrr mom, enough pics, let's go inside please!!!
Maybe he'll be a Santa fan next year!
Stats:
-Weight: 18pds 14oz (15%)
-Height: 29 inches (15%)
-Head: 15% 
-Still eats like a champ.  There really isn't much that he won't eat at this point!  I am surprised that it doesn't seem that he loves sweets at this point.  At his birthday I felt like he was just asking "where are the veggies"! 
-He still speaks "Judenese" but is also starting to say a handful of other words: dada, mama, uh-oh, hi, bye-bye, love you, no, thank you, stinky, kit kat (kitty kat), doggy, turkey, get you, tickle tickle tickle, and airplane.
-He has always loved his music toys and instantly stops in his tracks if he hears music on TV, but his love for music just keeps getting stronger and stronger.  He loves playing his musical instruments and has started singing.  Simple tunes like la, la, la but its just the cutest.  Sometimes we'll be in a store or somewhere and he'll just start belting it out!
-This kid is addicted to balls, trucks, and toys  he can push!  Not too interested in much more!
-Loves to open drawers.  Luckily he hasn't figured out or able to reach all of them yet, but the ones that he does, he has mastered.  He has his own drawers in the kitchen and bathroom, and if we keep them stocked with enough things to keep his attention they will usually occupy him for a bit.  
-Loves to jump on the bed!
-I think we might have to breakdown and get a pet one day.  If it moves, Jude loves it!  He starts kicking his legs and squealing in excitement. 
-Not all is exciting and good though.  Let's just say Jude is getting more of an "opinion"!  Its not often, but something that we'll have to learn to deal with soon!!
-His favorite game is chase!  He loves to run to the "safe" person and play this over and over!  
-Just got in 2 new teeth, so now we have 4 on top and 4 on the bottom.
-Still wearing size 2 diapers during the day, but up to size 3 at night.
-Mostly wearing 6-9 month clothes, but has started to wear 12 month pjs. 
-Most days takes 2 naps
-Tongue STILL out 24/7!
-We have given Jude a few hair trims this month, but thinking that we may have to break down this next month and get a real haircut.  Things are starting to get pretty out of control!  We could put the back of his hair in a ponytail! It just makes us both so sad at the thought of cutting it; I had no idea that we would be so emotional about his hair!
I pray the Lord would lead our each step as we raise this child of His.  May He capture Jude's heart early and protect him from the evil of this world.  I can already see the fun-loving, outgoing boy the Lord is molding and can't wait to see what the future holds.  We love you baby boy!