Father's Day 2012

Happy Father's Day to a guy I personally and daily observe doing a wonderful job.

We love you.

16 Months

Oh 16 months, I love you.  Spunky, social, full of energy, snuggling like his cheek is magnetized to my shoulder, making up little games, copy-catting us, learning to eat with a fork (depending on his mood), eating a big breakfast every morning, showing off his tongue, spazzing out when Dad comes home.  No more napping in his diaper on hot summer days like last year; he knows how to rip off that diaper and chuck it across his room.  He's constantly saying "whoa" and "wow" and "uh-oh," but has also started calling the things he wants "bubby" or "baby" or "bee bee".  Something about the way "bubby" rolls out of his mouth makes it especially difficult for us to hold our ground when he wants something off-limits.  So darn cute.  He's a little hot and cold with water; in the bath and pool he either loves splashing or acts offended by it.

He still wants to whack the shutters, get into the fireplace (now baby proofed), doesn't like it when I'm cooking because of all the many ways that takes him off the main focus, and he still puts everything immediately into his mouth.  I look forward to the day this phase ends; it's been going on for a year.

Tantrums are still among us; I'm in the middle of reading Happiest Toddler on the Block and the methods I've been putting into action have already been helping.  He wears me out at the end of the day and sometimes I sit on the couch in a wide-eyed zone-out for 10 minutes after he's hit the hay.  Woosh.

Summer Begins

We've been going to the pool a lot.

The park too.

I feel so grown up making PB&Js and meeting up with friends for these outdoor excursions -- how did this happen??

I know the summer will go fast so I'm trying to maximize.

Summer trip = once again, UT.  We are excited.  We love UT.

Lots of watermelon being consumed over here these days.

Loving my happy guys.

Some iPhone Dump of Jude

Per Mimi's request:

At the pool this morning with his friend Beckham.  We are so lucky with friends and pools. 

Hmmm.  Jude has taken to picking up bags and carrying them around like a purse.  Like mother like son?  Although after a few minutes he looks at it like it's this leach and "How did THIS get here???  Get it off of me!! Get it off!!!"

If you want to make Jude happy lie down on the floor.  I think he likes feeling like the big guy in town.  He also offers me some refreshment a la his sippy cup and is almost insistent when I try to gracefully decline.

"OOOOOoooooh I LOVE feeling big!!  Look at mom down there, so small and helpless!"

Having a nice chat with that handsome kid that's always showing up in front of mom and dad's closet at the same time he is.

PB&J!!!

Ha HA!!!  I finally found a way to baby proof this drawer, and the fireplace.  If you want to know which kind, just ask.  No holes need to be drilled and minimal inconvenience when the adults want to open the drawer.

Things I'm Loving Lately

1. The Californians skits on SNL: Jeff and I can not stop watching them over and over and laughing our heads off.  Sometimes I talk to Jeff like Kristen Wigg's character.  What will we do without her?? Is she "off" SNL now???

2. Satellite Radio: With my car came a free 3 month trial of XM radio.  I am almost planning my errands around Dr. Laura's 11:00 a.m. show.  Mostly I love hearing her destroy her devout followers. I enjoy the dead silence after she pulverizes someone with a simple "Should you send your grandchildren birthday presents even though your daughter won't talk to you??  For goodness sake YES!  Sending birthday gifts is a nice thing to do!!  Why wouldn't you??" I also appreciate her traditional views and "No whining" attitude.

I also was listening to the Oprah radio channel the other day (it replays popular episodes) and found myself roped into an interview with an Indiana woman whose ex-abusive-husband tried to kill her, and nearly succeeded, and the officer who found her.  It was a very heroic and compelling story and just wrapping up when I returned home.  I had to know about the ex-husband's comeuppance.  At the time I was in the middle of refinishing a dresser in the garage, so I opened up all the car windows, cranked the volume, opened the garage door, and worked on the dresser a bit while I listened.  Unfortunately the officer went on and on about how to get out of an abusive relationship before depositing the story's final nugget.  I'm so glad all of our neighbors are at work all day or they'd probably assume Jeff beats me and that's why I was listening so faithfully.

3. This picture:

It popped up in my inbox the other day and I laughed big time.  Oh, engaged people.

4. This:

Actually, just kidding.  That's gross.  What is he, 60??  But I texted this screen shot to Jeff because when www.people.com deals with french no-lebrity news, he must be informed.  And I always love texting Jeff.

5. IKEA: We got 4 dining chairs and 2 barstools last Saturday for an Ikea price, and when Jude beats them to a pulp I won't pull my hair out.

6. I finally painted the back of the glass kitchen cabinets and am 150% pleased with the result.  It took very little time and $15 for the paint.  I just wanted the ceramics to not be lost in there.  Done and done.

BEFORE

AFTER

7. This is the dresser I refinished while listening to Oprah:  

Darn it, no "before" picture.  It had been the lightest wood with ghastly handles.  These handles aren't amazing either but the holes weren't spaced in a standard fashion and these fit.  "Anthro" is just not going into the budget for this.  It's going into Jude's room once we get the energy to haul it upstairs.  I have decided I'm not crafty but I love refinishing furniture and painting large surfaces :).  So if I ever have a daughter I'll have to buy her headbands but her furniture will be enhanced and fancified by moi. 

While Jeff was on the phone with Grandma & Grandpa...

this boy could not believe his good luck!

His facial expressions kill me.  I love my Jude!