Sundays with Jude

I don't know what it is with Sundays. It seems like she has a play or development spurt every Sunday.

Two weeks ago she suddenly became obsessed with her big Lego-like blocks. She built all day long, making careful color and size coordinated structures.

Last Sunday it was a day with her dolly. She spent the morning giving the doll a bath, rocking her, and putting her to bed. She then insisted on taking the doll to church for more of the same. And she sat in the pew like an adult, instead of sitting Indian style on the seat.

Today it's all about the blocks wagon, which has sat in the living room untouched for months. She's spent the last 2 hours pushing and pulling said wagon around and around the house.

Wish I knew what prompts it; I could bottle it and make a fortune.

1 = 2 of everything

There are some things the other parents neglect to tell you before you become one yourself.  Not out of spite but out of pure 'we just do we don't think about it'-ness.

For example, they don't think to tell you that for just one child you will be required to have two (and some times three or more) of everything.   One set of diapering supplies for downstairs and one for upstairs.  Plus another for the diaper bag, and maybe a fourth for the car.  Multiple tubes of every cream (ezcema lotion, itch cream).  A set of sun supplies (towel, suit, sunblock, hat, glasses) for home and one set for day care.

And don't get me started on the pacifiers.  At least the makers of baby pain relievers package the stuff in twos.  Saved me one trip to the store.  One.  


And for my family and friends - a bit of financial advice.  If I were you, I'd buy stock on a certain store with a bulls-eye logo.  I give them at least half my paycheck every week.  Sixteen + more years before she's off on her own.  I will be keeping that company in business.


Now for Jude's 4th of July picture.  We didn't do much, and she was in bed before the fireworks.  Then again, so was I.

Beach Baby, meet water

Continuing our Memorial Day tales, it was too hot on Monday to catch the tail end of the Asian festival. We spent so time with friends at the Easton play fountain.

Jude enjoyed the water and showed no fear of the spraying fountains. I got soaked myself.

Visiting the aquarium

It's Memorial Day weekend - hot, muggy, bad air. Ah summer in Ohio!

I'm still having breathing problems (I don't want to hear it!) so we're delaying the Asian festival until Monday.

I opted for the Newport aquarium instead for today's activity. Yes it was a bit busy, but Jude liked it.

Her favorite by far were the the jellyfish. She'd have been happy to spend the whole day watching them.

We came home to a quick bath and then she crashed. I'm not far behind.

A first and a last

Today was my first Mother's Day!

I haven't celebrated this day for 10 years, since my own mom passed away in late 2001. It was wonderful to hear from so many people wishing us the best.

Jude made it through a whole church service today too - a little Mother's Day miracle.

Now to the last. Today was my last day of FMLA. I go back to work tomorrow. Jude begins full time day care as well.

Fingers crossed for us both!

Animal crackers

I've discovered you cannot share a bowl of animal crackers with Jude.

She bites the head or leg off of a cracker then puts it back with the rest.

Nothing so pleasant as grabbing a soggy, pre-gnawed nugget out of the bowl. Nummy num!

M

Verticality and Mobility

Yesterday was Vertical Day. Jude spent most of the day standing and toddling.

 She has been able to stand and get up and down, as well as walk with assistance.  She walks around furniture and holds your hand. She takes three or four steps on her own. I've been working on encouraging her to walk, as she has to be walking for her day care center.

Sunday she took off on her own, stepping out over and over to walk about. She figured out how to ride her push horse and how to push her shopping cart. I moved the portable gate blocking off the living room too (that was there to keep the dogs away from the baby).  She rarely sat down all day.

Today was Mobility Day.  Back to the shopping cart - she chased me around the first floor for a bit.  I noticed she didn't want my help to stand or get back up, which was a first.  She walked between furniture and the TV, then from the toy basket to the TV, and so on.  Her longest walk was a walk around the dog, a perfect circle.

I think she's had her breakthrough.  The house is no longer my own!

m