Punch.

Jude is a man of many tricks. One thing that he is learning early is to always be ready to protect himself from danger using only his fists.

Though he'll do it with a smiling face, do not be deceived.

Isn't it even more intimidating when he has a mad-talking face on?

Power stance.

This is his "don't you touch my paci" face.

Rockin'

While we can't leave him alone on furniture, because he arches himself all over the place, we can let Jude sit in the rocking chair alone if Emerson is playing on youtube. He loves watching Emerson. In fact, one night this week I went to run an errand and Robert was supposed to put Jude to bed and when I returned, Jude was watching Emerson instead.

What a couch potato.

He's always such a happy boy when he isn't wearing pants and when he is watching youtube.

Yuck, fingers.

American Idol

Wednesday is a very long day for Baby Jude and I because Dad has night class so we are all alone until bedtime. This also means that Jude misses his nightly walk in the SRC, an essential dose of sights and sounds. But, we found a way to improve our Wednesday by a good dose of sounds through American Idol. Jude watched practically the whole show which allowed me to make dinner. What a treat!

For the first half an hour he even watched commercials and enjoyed them.

Jude has also just begun grabbing things that he wants, even if he only kind of wants them. As you can see here, he did not want to be in his chair, but if he had to be in his chair, then he wanted the monkey. But he spent the whole time mad-talking.

Doesn't that look like fun?

He also has learned how to grab the washcloth that we put on his tummy to keep him warm and discovered that it is covered in warm water, which he loves to suck on. Feels good on his teeth!

Trapped

When I have to do things in the kitchen, Jude sits in his running stroller and plays with the animals that I hang for him. Or he just mad-talks. Okay, usually he is mad talking. But recently he has been putting his hands up on either side of the stroller and mad-talking. It looks like he feels trapped and is dramatically protesting.

But sometimes we can get a half smile.

Get him outta there!

He also has been falling asleep for nap while nursing and when I get ready for the real nap, he snoozes wherever I put him. Doesn't he just look so sweet? Too bad he won't take a full nap like that...

Slouching Summertime

Well it has been really beautiful outside lately, so we were able to break out the summertime attire! This outfit I was positive wouldn't fit Jude by the time warm weather rolled around because it almost didn't fit him a month and a half ago, but he has stopped growing, so now all of his summer clothes are fitting perfectly! Note: Let me be perfectly clear, he has stopped growing lengthwise.

Anyway, he gives one punch to the paparazzi, and a second ready to punch his stroller.

But the looming stroller approaches, causing a little man to worry. How dare we go outside on a beautiful summer day in a stroller? He will have none of that.

So he flips off the stroller.

What else is new?

Or maybe that's his way of asking for Grandma?

Jude has also recently learned the joys of arching his back, not in anger (Marin) but just because he can. Normally I can prop him up in a corner and get ready to go someplace, but lately he has been arching and then I find him all slouched up in his corner. Doesn't look comfortable, but whatever floats his little boat.

Look at how cute he is in his little slouchy corner! A special thank you to Miss Megan for his puppy shirt. It is a stable in his wardrobe nowadays.

Side Part

There have been comments made regarding Jude's hair, or lack thereof. I would just like to take this blog opportunity to assure all readers that he does in fact have hair, even enough to make a stunning side part! What a fancy boy.

Try to tell me he isn't ready for church.

Jude also loves to look at his little jungle scene which is supposed to go in his crib. He does not like to look at it in his crib, however.

Peeking at Daddy.

A day in the life.

Here is a post-bath picture of Judebug. We haven't broken out the monster towel yet, but I think it is about time...

Here is another picture of Jude and Briasson. Jude is looking a little nervous because this was about the time when Briasson was stroking his head. It was only bringing back the memories of a certain head-bopping encounter with his bully cousin Marin.

Usually on Saturday, Robert will take Jude for one of his naps so that my back doesn't break off by the end of the week. This picture shows where Jude gets his desire to nap for 2-3 hours twice a day.

Jude is quite the snuggle bug in the early morning.

And look at how cute he is naked!

Birthday Part II

Jude had a blast playing with his cousin Briasson. We even caught them both smiling! Probably at the bug book...

We have had more success lately at getting them to smile at one another. One boy will smile and then that will make the other. It is so cute!

Briasson attacks...

But there is retaliation!

Typical.

Birthday, Part I

This past Wednesday was my (Emma) Birthday, and Robert had to work then go to night class so I was worried I would be alone all day, and that Jude would be cranky- but that wasn't the case! Jude had a great day and Grandma and Aunt Jillian, cousin Briasson and Uncle John came over for a visit and wonderful lunch! Then Ms. Bethany, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Megan came over with treats! It was a great day. First, Jude played with all of the colorful beads that Grandma brought over. Its like the rich mans vitamin box...sorry Marin.

Grandma tried to teach Jude how to chew on the cold toy to help his teeth feel better, but he still didn't really get it.

Listen, I don't know where he is learning to use that finger so frequently but I do know that Grandma is always around when he does so I'm beginning to have my suspicions...

Jude loved his Grandma time.

And here you can see Uncle John holding the bubbly mouth- something he must have been learning from his cousin.

The best birthday photos are coming tomorrow: featuring the cousins together! Stay tuned...

Getting Stronger

Jude is getting much stronger and is very good at holding his head up, so we put together his toy a little early. It took him a few days to get it, but he spends a lot of time in it every day now!

We think he is teething, also. He's been drooling and chewing on his bottom lip and some days being a little bit cranky, etc. One morning he was chewing on everything, even his bug book. He wanted to chew on it, though he wasn't sure how he felt about the taste...

It was no paci, and it didn't taste like milk.

But the boy does what he needs to do- he suffered through it

Jude is always so happy when he first wakes up. Here he is right after he woke up, relaxing in the big bed.

Independence

So we have recently been making use of our iphoto on the mac- where you can take pictures right on the computer (description for Grandma)

Jude really started to get the hang of it...

So he tried it out by himself one day.

AND LOVED IT!