I Want Daddy!

Recently you've been reaching for your dad to hold you and rejecting ME! What is going on?! Up is down! Black is white! Left is right!


Honestly I couldn't be happier. I gladly unburden myself of your watermelon-weight and love that your dad now has to do more of the heavy-lifting around this house!

The Great Judini

Lately you've become the fearless, flying Great Judini.


When we beckon you toward us you let go and hurtle headlong in our direction, giggling all the way.


Sometimes you fall forwards. Sometimes you fall backwards.


And sometimes you fall flat on your face cuz we didn't catch you in time. Poor baby. Surely it won't be long now before you start walking around all on your own. I must say that will be a great day for me and my aching arms and shoulders!

Your First Words

Many parents recount their baby's first word with great certainty, but I doubt that is most parents' experience. In your case, I'm pretty sure you say a few things deliberately, but then again, you're not totally consistent.

You started babbling really young and I'm not sure if or when you've said your first word. But I do know that 3 words seem really special to you.


The first one is "da-da", which I first heard you declare while pointing right at your dad and smiling. This is probably your first word since you did it around 7 months.

The second one is "hi", which sounds more like "aieee" cuz you leave out the "h" sound. You say this while waving your hand and smiling at someone, often strangers at the grocery store. You also did this around 7 months.

Recently, you started saying "that", which first came out with a very aspirated ending, more like "dathththth", but now sounds more like "dat". You say this while pointing at all kinds of random things (that's right, you point now, no more wristing!)

My question is--when are you going to say ma-ma?!

The Cuz

Last week we went to visit your newborn cousin, your first and only so far--Manfred.


I marveled at how small and light he was, being only 4 weeks old.


You didn't seem too interested in Manfred, but you were plenty jealous when I kept holding him. You kept pawing at my shirt to nurse non-stop.


Here's you with Manfred's parents. Bet they can't imagine how Manfred will be as big as you one day, and that it will all happen in a blink of an eye.

Sqeeeeeeeeeeeze

I made you squeeze into this 9 month outfit (you currently wear 12-18 month sizes) because you look so darn cute in it! (Actually, your nanny dressed you in this and I did nothing to stop her).


I'm such a sucker for baby overalls--cutest apparel item ever!

Board Books are for Babies

Now that Judah's almost 1, he's grown tired of his board books. The only books that seem to capture his interest now are Dr. Seuss.


I thought I didn't have to deal with green eggs and ham for at least a couple years, but nope. It's all Seuss all the time now! I've practically memorized Hop on Pop.

Nature Boy

Recently we took you to our favorite hiking spot. We used to hike here every week before you were born, but had to stop after you came along since you refuse to sit in your stroller.


We thought you might accept your stroller now that you're much older, but we were wrong! Not only do you not sit still, you now have the annoying habit of crying until we let you PUSH the stroller. Of course, this is all kinds of pointless and counter-productive.


Nevertheless you (and your exploding hair) got to enjoy some fresh air.


You skillfully and carefully walked around a tree trunk--no easy feat considering all the gnarly roots in the way. Good job baby!

Just a sec' Mom...

...you can change my diapers in a minute. I just have to send out this one email first...


Seeing Judah chew on my blackberry makes me feel bad for several reasons.


(1) It reminds me of work.
(2) The only reason he's obsessed with it is because he sees me on it all the time.
(3) I know I shouldn't let him chew it because it has toxic electronic particles, but I'm too tired to 'fight' with him. Honestly, anything that buys me 30 seconds of peace--I'm going to do it.

Nap Buddy

You love napping on your favorite sitter, Mur. The two of you snuggling together is the cutest sight!


Ordinarily I would be concerned that you'd get used this napping style, but I read somewhere that babies expect different napping methods from different people. So as long as you don't expect me to nap with you all the time, it's fine by me!

The Happiest Place on Earth (for Moms)

Recently we chanced upon a store called Rockridge Kids and it was like stumbling into a new-mom Disneyland of delight. They sold every single cool, hipster, innovative, hard-to-find, BPA-free, but very expensive baby gadget I've ever known or imagined.

They also had a ton of fun toys which kept you entertained for quite a while. Here's you and the giant bear. You were obsessed with poking the bear's eyes.


You loved the train table. I'm afraid Thomas the Train is going to be a requisite part of your future. So much for college--Thomas and his pricey friends are going to bankrupt us!


And they even had a little shopping cart so you can practice being a future homeless bum, just like the ones that walk down our street everyday.


(Aside: Mandi--if you're reading this, I totally thought of you as I walked along all the cute shops at Rockridge and ooh-ed and aah-ed at all their vintage and handcrafted boutiques. It reminded me of the Paisley Tulip ;-) If you ever come visit, we need to go here! I can't believe I've lived in the East Bay for 2 decades and only just now discovered this gem!)

Born on the 4th of July

Okay, that title has no relevance here, but it just has a better ring to it than "naked on the 4th of July".


These last few days have been hotter than heck so you've been dressing down accordingly.

Recently you've been really protesting your bedtimes and consequently pushing them later and later. I used to be able to nurse you to a nice sleepy state, but now nursing does nothing to make your lids close. Instead, we've been resorting to having you scream in your crib for 10-15 min each night until you finally tire yourself out. And while you scream you get so worked up your hair is dripping with sweat. It's so hard listening to you scream and wail bloody murder, poor baby.

Self Play!

Some new baby developments make parents' lives harder, but some of them make them easier, or at least sweeter.

Recently, you've started to play on your own! You'll sit in front of your box of toys and take them out one by one. You don't even mind if I'm eating a sandwich next to you (which would previously cause you to yelp in anger until I share some of it with you).


And also last week, I saw you hugging your stuffed animal for the first time ever! You cuddled with your little lion stuffie (pictured here) for a good 5 minutes. Awwwwww.

Of this I know

There is the way that things should be, and then there's the way that things are.


Many days I feel the gravity of knowing that things, many things, seemingly all things, are broken beyond repair, gnarled and twisted beyond straightening, and gone with the wind.

I can almost feel all of creation groaning along with the wheezing in my own chest.

The senseless destruction goes as far as my eyes can see, to the ends of the earth, and begins in the seed of my own heart--my own self. I can not part the foolishness from the fool.

Of things that are true, I know very little. But of this I know...substitution, exchange, imputation, clothing, covering, hiddeness, redemption, grace, and hope.

Baby Love

Hi buddy! Mommy's at work now but I miss you so much. This last week has been so brutal because I worked almost non-stop all week. Instead of my usual 60% schedule, I've been working at more than full-time. I barely spent any time with you and I can feel my Judah-stores have depleted. I should be concentrating on the monstrous pile of work I have ahead of me, but I just keep thinking about how much I want to smooch your chubby cheeks.


I wonder if you miss me as much as I miss you. I really hope that's not the case because then you'd be in a world of pining. I hope you're happily oblivious to my absence and having a grand ol' time without me.

Another working mom once told me that leaving your baby to go to work is like that crazy feeling at the beginning stages of falling in love where you can't stop thinking about the other person and can't wait to see them again.

She is exactly right.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

You got this electronic dog from your dad's dad and you are totally obsessed with it. Everytime you see it, you point and scream until I bring him near you and activate him. The other day I even caught you trying to give him your beloved pacifier as if the dog were a real person!


Me and your dad aren't thrilled because the music it plays is kind of annoying. But at least it's entertaining to watch you shake your bootie to it.


Dancing Dog from El Bebo on Vimeo.

You sure know how to shake your money-maker. Maybe one day you can teach me and your dad those smooth moves.

And then there were 3...

Our church plant started last year with zero babies, and then you came! There was no need for a real nursery since you would just sleep on Mur during the service.


But then Alexa came and sweet little Keira a few months later, so we now have a real legit nursery! Aren't you a lucky guy, surrounded by lovely ladies!


Alexa loves to grab your snacks (here she's got your bread), and feed you.


Although, in this pic, it looks like she's decided to just keep your snack to herself! Funny girl.


I just love holding Keira--she's light as a feather compared to your chunky self, and I've never heard her fuss once.


I warn Keira's mom that I'm going to secretly switch our babies one day. She'll look down in her infant carrier one day and discover, to her horror, that you're in it! But of course, we all know that would never happen. You could NEVER sit quietly in an infant carrier!

Judah Fact #001--You have insatiable curiousity

You absolutely hate it when I lay you flat to change your diapers. You have such an insatiable curiousity that you can't stand to be lying down and NOT exploring your world.

So every time I have to change you, to avoid you bursting into a wailing tantrum with giant elephant tears rolling down your face, I have to give you an interesting object to hold on to.

Lately it's been a toothbrush.

But I know the novelty is wearing off after just a few days so I need to find a new interesting and baby-safe object soon.

Reunion!

Recently your auntie came back to see you after being gone for 3 weeks. We were worried you would forget her, but judging from these pics, it looks like you welcomed her back with open arms...and open drooly mouth.


You love your auntie!


Later we went to CPK to celebrate and you enjoyed some water and bread...




...and the company of course.



We marveled at how easy you've become. We could never have done something like this when you were younger as you were so fussy. You're still a handful (yes siree bob you are), but it really does get easier every day!

Dada Day

Every morning when I bring you into bed, you open your sleepy eyes and point to your dad and shout "Da-da!"

After months of preferring me over your dad, it's remarkable that you seem to know his "name" before mine! I have never heard you say "ma-ma" to indicate me, but every single day you happily greet your sleeping dad.


I can't wait for you to get older and realize more fully what a fun, loving, patient, and caring Dada you have. I love imagining all the great times you'll share reading, building blocks, playing ball, walking, chatting, etc. together someday soon.

I can't wait for you to realize more fully how much your Dada loves you.

The Boy and Girl Next Door

I love our housing complex, not least of all, because there are tons of kids here. You have 2 little buddies that live right next door to you!

Here's you with the girl next door. She's just 1.5 months younger than you and just as big and tall as you (prob cause her dad is almost 7' tall)! You have a huge crush on her.


And here's you playing with our other neighbor who's almost 2. He's the sweetest, most generous little guy. When he's inside his house he'll spot you outside and shout "Baby!" at his mom and make her take him outside to see you. On this day, he made his mom get his box of Thomas trains out to share with you.


I feel kind of bad because he's usually sick with some kind of germ so I don't really like you playing with him. I know you need to get sick to build up your immune system, but it's just so miserable watching you sniffle and hack.

Other moms...how do you balance the need to socialize with the need to keep your baby from getting sick?