NINE MONTHS! and a new year

There was a time when Jude was, I don't know, 6 or 8 weeks old when I used to lie there with his sleeping body pressed against my chest and believe that I would never ever have a baby any different than this. He was never going to be any older. Never sit up. Never giggle. He was just going to sleep on me forever. He was going to cuddle his mama forever and always and never change.

Sometimes I thought I would never get any kind of a life back. Yes, it was a very dramatic time for everyone involved. Now I just have to look back and laugh and also remember how soft and snuggly and still this bouncy baby boy once was. Oh so full of snuggles! Of course he will still snuggle when he is tired and sleepy but these days! These days this bouncy baby boy immediately pushes off my chest with his paws the second he is done nursing and tries to crawl off the bed or something else equally daring. He had the audacity to start pulling himself to his feet on things like the pantry shelf, boxes, or bookshelves. Who said baby Jude? Not me! Be little just a little bit longer. This is my plea. Just like my mother did, I smother you in 'stop-growing' kisses every chance I get but so far no luck. It worked for your grandma though- I am only 5 feet tall. Maybe somehow they will keep you little for just a little bit longer too?

It was around Jude's 10th week that I was talking with Eve on the phone and told her that I was doing fine with the way things are now. I told her that once I decided twenty twelve was going to be The Year Of Jude I started to feel more in control of things I needed control of. I should have had that all figured out before this child was born, but you know. I don't think I would have really got it until after I had the baby anyways.

The end of twenty twelve leaves Jude at 9 months old. He is such a doll, this kid. He smiles and babbles to himself all the live long day going from one thing to anther, always trying to pull himself up on whatever is at hand. This can be a somewhat dangerous pursuit so we have to watch him really close now. Before we were just like do what ever you want kid! So instead of every day feeling like Saturday, now I would say we are at about a constant Friday mentality here. I hear toddlers make every day feel like a Monday- I'll let you know when we get there. Jude loves to eat! Upon high chair placement he starts waving his arms and kicking his legs in anticipation of his meal. Squash! Oatmeal! Cheese! The things he loves he devours and the things he does not love- he usually squishes them around in his mouth and then slowly spits them out letting them sit on his chin until we clean it up. I have to give him credit for his willingness to try new stuff though. This kid is so funny. Jude also loves his books. He loves to chew them. To wave them around. To keep them under his hand, sliding them across the floor as he crawls to and fro. He also likes to be read to but pays the most attention to the story when he is a little on the tired side. His favorite book is probably On The Go by Dr. Seuss judging purely by the fact that the illustrations make him laugh and laugh. He hates having his teeth brushed which drives me crazy. How we try to brush those three (soon to be four) pearly whites! Some evenings are more successful than others. As soon as it is time he pushes out his bottom lip real far and turns his head to the side. If it wasn't so cute I'd probably want to shout. But Jude, you know what is not cute? Cavities. That's right kid. This paragraph is getting a little out of hand but I'll just mention one more thing. Jude's babbles! Some of his favorites are "ma-ma" and "da-da" and he will typically repeat after me which brakes my heart.

The proclaimed Year Of Jude comes to a close this evening in which I will take the opportunity to proclaim twenty thirteen The Year Of Jude part II. It never ends and I am so glad and so grateful for that.