My Loves

I feel time creeping up on me and I would like for it to slow down. My children are growing up right before my eyes and it’s a scary and exciting thing. Like, look at this, Jude just learned how to pick his nose and yes, unfortunately, eat it too.

How and where did he learn to do such a thing? I told him to stop and that its was yucky and Jude repeated back yucky. Jude knows what yucky means because he will come up to me and tell me when his hands are "yucky". So I walked away and when I looked back at him he went back to picking his nose. Lets hope this is just a phase of exploring what is inside his nose and doesn’t put anything up inside of it. 

Noah was sick yesterday with a fever of 102 degrees and he was a cranky baby. He just wanted to be held and snuggled the entire day. When he rested his warm little head on my shoulder I just wanted time to stand still.

Its an amazing feeling when your kids need you to help them feel better. And its not only me that he was looking for to make him feel better. Noah cuddled with his big brother and Jude was so elated. I could just feel how proud he felt that his baby brother needed him.

Jude had an early night last night. He fell asleep around 7:30 on our living room floor. He had preschool in the morning and they did a lot of running around outside. Look at that little guy sleeping in his toddler bed. I remember like it was yesterday that we had to bounce Jude to sleep every night when he was a baby.

Noah, on the other hand, was up pretty late due to a very long nap during the day which helped him to break his fever. He was feeling better, so he stayed up with Mom and Dad and watched Family Guy and American Dad. I swear that no one grows out of cartoons! I think I watch more cartoons as an adult than I did as a child.

This morning after I drove Jude to preschool, I felt bad that Noah was still cooped up in the house. So Noah spent some quality time at the park with his Momma. It’s not very often when I just don’t have both of them with me. And when one of them is gone it’s like I’m missing one of my friends.

Noah enjoyed the time outside but I can tell that he was looking for Jude. Ever since he was born it been Jude and Noah, and Noah didn’t really know what to do without his big brother. We went on the swings, slid on the slide and walked around but I guess it wasn’t the same without watching Jude run around like a silly monkey,

I love wild flowers

Feeling guilty that Jude missed out on our trip to the park, I took Jude outside when Noah went down for a nap. Jude’s new thing that he does is that he goes around to all of the “roses” (flowers) and smells them. when really all he does is a l snot rocket out of his noses. cute and nasty all at the same time.

We found some dandelions in the backyard and I was so excited to show him how if you blew on them they would fly in the wind.

He blew onto the flower and the little seeds blew away and Jude was amazed! This is another moment I wish time would have been slower just so I could soak in his little smile.

Jude going to sleep in the grass

Jude wanted to touch the rim but I am vertically challenged...sorry Jude

Jude was so excited about the dandelion that he wanted to share it with his daddy. I love this fun little moment. They are like the same person. same expressions and happiness. Jude really looks up to his dad.

Time is a scary thing and I do not want to let their childhood to slip through my fingers. They are getting too big way too fast and there is nothing I can do to slow it down. I’m scared that when I am older I will forget how it was like when they were little. Like the cute little things that they did, the way they feel falling asleep in your arms or the way they laugh. I pray that time will slow down for me.

Weekend Wrap Up: Tents and Cake

there are a lot of things that I have learned having Jude. Jude being my first helped mold me into who i am today and i wonder who i would have been if his story didn't begin the way it did. One of those things that I have learned is not everything is a race. 

Jude throwing the ball out of the tent

 I know that its human nature to want to be the best or be the first to do something. but whats wrong with being in second place or even just finishing the race? 

I love their brotherly bond

 When Jude was was first born i had a hard time reading mothers bragging about what their kids were doing on facebook or reading those baby center emails with what milestones that he should be at.

plastic balls are delicious!

  but one advantage that i did have was i was a new mom and i really had no expectations or experience on what kids should be doing at certain ages

I love Noah excitement!

but when Jude rolled over for the first time or when he took his first steps i definitely did not take it for granted. if only i could bottle up how proud i feel every time he does something new. 

Kiddies found the Balloons at Rylee's first birthday party

 Don't get me wrong it is important to know what milestones your child should be hitting and what age range it should fall under and if they are not meeting you should speak with their doctor. but why must parents compare children?

Noah, Rylee and Nikolas

 In the long run does it make a difference that your child said mama or started walking before someone else's? to even brag about it to make the other person feel inferior? or to test the other person's child to ensure that your kid does what you say they do?

i think its time to get jude a train set

I am so glad that those feelings have left me long ago and i do not have to give into other peoples insecurities. As long as my children are learning, growing, and are happy that is all that matters to me.

this is one of my favorite pictures of Noah

 enough with that rant. As you can see from the above pictures. we had a village of tents all weekend long. the kids just had a lot of fun in them so i didnt put them away when Collette left (or maybe it was just me being lazy)

Mama up!

Today we went to Rylee's first birthday party! We arrived early and of course Jude has took his shoes off on the trip over to the party. as i was getting his shoes on for our walk on over another car had pulled up and we met another girl named Ashley and her son Nikolas. So me and my kids started to walk over to the party and Ashley stopped in her tracks looks at Jude and goes "oh my gosh, he is beautiful!"  

Noah Loved that Dinosaur!

 and I didn't know what to say. of course i said thank you. but normally the people that call him beautiful are friends and family. but a complete stranger out of no where. wow she made my day. I personally think jude is adorable and he completely melts my heart every time he smiles and his almond shaped eyes just turn up he gets me every time.

There's that smile i was telling you about

 I am a very emotional person. i think that i wear my heart on my sleeve. and i think Ashley may have seen it sitting there on it. and she got it. i waited for her to get her son out of the car and walked in with her. on the way over to the house i got all teary eye. another proud moment of mine. Jude is beautiful inside and out and I am proud to parade him through this world

Noah loved that Dinosaur

I don't know why kids are drawn to the tv!

During the party I caught up with her and i dont remember what we were talking about but i told her that Jude had down syndrome. its not something that im ashamed about saying and i hate labeling him but i felt like it was something that she needed to know. and it turns out she works with special needs people as well. and we became instant friends and later that evening we exchanged numbers! how exciting it is to make new friends.

Birthday girl Rylee

The party was super cute lots of babies, presents and cake. and I finally got to shop for a little girl! what a treat that was. The boys and I wandered Target's little girl section for a long time i couldn't decide everything was too stinkin' adorable!

How cute is she!

Jude and Noah having a brother talk

after the party we enjoyed the last couple of hours of the sun in the alley in the back of our house. the kids enjoy ripping out the dandelions and grass and running in the alley

always so happy

exploring!

My precious Noah and I

Jude playing peek-a-boo in the fence

I love his little face

I know I say this a lot but I am truly lucky. My life could have been so different. I don't think it would have been as rewarding if things were changed. I am madly in love with my kids and what the future is going to bring our way! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend like we did!

Movie Night

Friday morning started off in a rush. I had an hour to get the down stairs "clean". that means finding hiding places for all of my kids toys and finally bring up the basket of clothes that I've been trying to forget about.  We were getting a visitor. Little Collette needed a babysitter and she was coming over to hang out with me and my boys. Jude also had a hearing test that morning so Jeff was left with Noah and Collette for a little, while Jude and I did that.

Princess Collette!

Jude welcomed her with kisses

Jude and I headed to the hospital for his hearing test. if I would have been allowed to bring my camera I would have! it was so cool how they tested him. they put us in a soundproof box. inside it had a little table with blocks in the center and a little chair for Jude to sit on. the chair was positioned in between two speakers, one on the left and one on the right. and each speaker had a light above it to get the kids attention if needed.

The doctor that helped us was so friendly and answered every question that i had and was so kind to Jude. when we were in the box or room whatever you want to call it. the doctor would start making sounds in either of the speakers and then Jude would start to mock him it was too funny. the doctor would go babababa and then Jude would do it right back. 

after we were done in the box. he put something in jude's ear and what it did was it sent a sound to the cochlea and if the cochlea could hear normally it was send the sound back. the doctor said that he is not concerned about his hearing. Jude's ear looked and heard like normal!

 When we got home i relieved Jeff of his baby sitting duties and it was was me and the 3 kiddos. i must say it wasn't as hard as everyone makes it seem to be! but then again Collette was an angel.

 Noah was happy to have someone his own size to play with

I got a little smirk out of her

 Noah and Collette having a baby talk

 At this point my boys were starting to get bored and started doing thing that were bad so it was time to bring out the fun. i took out all of tents that we got as gifts and the kids loved them! Collette was crawling in and out of tunnel the whole time it was adorable

Noah liked it too!

 So we were suppose to go to Becky's drive in but Jeff was concerned that he was going to be tired for work in the morning. so we had a movie night at home with the works. we had popcorn, Jones soda, and some candy. 

 but before the fun could begin Jeff helped his friend Irving with his mac. Jude thought it would be fun to try on his helmet.

 After Irving left, i laid out our outside blanket and some pillows and we were all set. we all laid on the floor of or living room and watched a movie 

About half way through the movie, the kids stopped watching got a little hyper from the soda and treats and we needed to get up and turn on something they liked. it was fun while it lasted!

at the end of the day i am feeling so blessed. I know that things could have been more bumpy for Jude. he could have had heart, thyroid, hearing problems but he is a happy healthy little boy. I thank my lucky stars for his health. I can only imagine what other families are going through. the only things that we have to worry about in the future is Jude's eye surgery and his sleep study. but wow that's it that's all we have to be concerned about we are so blessed.