Velcro Baby #2

There was a little joke before Jude was born that since Maddox looked more like Andrew, but was more of a high-maintenance kid like me...maybe Jude would look more like me, but be more of a laid-back baby like Andrew (wow, talk about a run-on sentence...).

Well!

Jude does look more like me, but sad to say...he is also a high-maintenance baby! Yes, he is perfect and quiet and happy WHEN he is being held. Luckily I still have my baby wrap and can "wear" Jude, which puts him right to sleep. Will I ever have one of those happy-go-lucky babies???? Maybe...but for now, looks like my kids are cling-ons (at least I will have killer arm muscles!).

Plumpin' Up!

Somebody is getting fat around our house (and thank God it isn't me anymore!).

Chubby cheeks...

...double chin...

 ...and all that fuzzy wuzzy hair!

 I could pretty much just hold him all day, but then he would be spoiled rotten, so...I have to keep myself in check.



My Shopping Buddies

Day by day, we are getting deeper into the terrible twos. But at the same time, Maddox is getting funnier (like when he told me I had two butts). I like to think of our life right now as mostly a comedy with a splash of drama.

 Getting Maddox to cooperate for pictures these days is next to impossible. There is usually a tongue sticking our or a finger up the nose, as you can see.

 Jude is still at that age where photographing him is easy. He just stares at the camera shot after shot.

When I decided we should do a family shopping trip to Destin, I knew it would be an adventure, but I was up for it. The key is in the prep work...go after naps, pack snacks, extra everything, and pump a bottle. Amazingly, Maddox had few meltdowns (except when he thought he was too big to hold hands) and Jude slept (except when he demanded his dinner).

Toward the end of our adventure, Andrew stayed in the car to give Jude his bottle and I took Maddox in Baby Gap to try on about five pairs of pants (that's all he could handle). What a job! Maddox is in desperate need for pants, BUT...he's too skinny for 2T and too tall for 18-24 months. So, it's a challenge. He whined that most were "tooooo big!" We settled on a pair of sweat pants and called it a night!

The biggest and last meltdown came when Maddox decided he should "drive Mommy's racecar."

But distracting him with some food put an end to all the fuss.

And then...home at last! Pajama time, stories, brushing teeth, putting Maddox to bed and of course...Jude wakes up.



Bears, Bears...in Florida?!

Maddox calls our neighbor "Beard." His full name is Bob Beard. Every time we go outside, Mr. Beard is on his screened porch, drinking diet soda and smoking a cigarette. Maddox is faithful with his, "Hey Beard!"

This morning, someone knocked on the door about ten times. Out of my peep hole, I could tell it was a man, but I couldn't see his face...so I didn't answer! Anyway, I found out it was Mr. Beard. He had some important news.

(The pictures below have nothing to do with this post, but I thought they were good pictures, so there ya go!)

He warned us that he spotted a bear (he guessed he was around 400 lbs or so) this morning.

That's right.

A BEAR.

You hear Florida and you think - snakes, gators, lizards...but bears?!

This is probably the same bear that broke into our trash can a few weeks ago.

Mr. Beard said he was beautiful.

If I happen to see our new visitor, I don't think I will use that word.

I will, instead, probably pee my pants.

Then again, I would like to get a picture....

Early Risers

One day, my boys will appreciate sleeping in. Until then, I will keep getting up with my 6 am early birds (and doing goofy stuff, like putting 2 contacts in the same eye...because I am sleep-deprived).

We have a routine now. I open the nursery window blinds, we plop down on the fluffy rug and we play (as I gulp my coffee).

Jude loves kicking his legs and looking out the window.

Maddox is usually sweetest in the morning and wants to hold his little brother. He then shows him his "racecars" (anything with a steering wheel counts as a racecar in his book) and insists that I drive his racecars with him.

So by 8 am, I have made breakfast, dressed 2 boys, changed a big poopy diaper no doubt, taken the other stinker to the potty, and driven racecars.

(The picture above is Maddox going in to shake Jude's hand and saying "nice meet you.")

By 9 am, I am wishing for a nap.

I am just no good at this broken-sleep-during-the-night thing.

But I usually get a nap at some point, so that keeps me going!

And, yes, these two are a LOT of work, but they are worth it. They are adorable, too. Andrew said Maddox should be Frankenstein for Halloween and Jude should be the Mad Scientist because of all his crazy hair (it's a joke...they are going to be dressed up cute, I promise, but in something more simple!).

Anyway, Jude has a mullet now. His hair is growing at lightning speed, though, so the front should catch up soon enough.

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

Before the Gamecocks lost to Kentucky, Saturday was a perfect day! We started it off right: with an adventure to Niceville (yes, that's really the name of the town). We knew we had reached our destination when we saw a field of ORANGE. Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!

Maddox made his choice right away!

Then he thought he would try out a few more, just in case. TaTa held the potential winners while Maddox tested the rest.

He was mesmerized by all the pumpkins...green ones, white ones, warty ones, and of course orange ones.

Jude never even saw a pumpkin.

I picked a weird one. Too much orange is boring!

 And then came the petting zoo. After a near panic attack at the sight of a miniature pony, Maddox calmed down. He realized he could grab the hay and throw it at the animals. This brought him great joy!

On the way to the car, he cried, "No home! More pumpkin!"

I'd say, then, that our pumpkin patch adventure was a success and kicked off my favorite time of year just right.

Return of the White Bonnet

Once upon a time, Mr. Maddox wore a sweet white bonnet (picture on the left). Now, it's Jude's turn: (obviously picture on the right).

I couldn't stop taking pictures of Jude in it. Babies in white are my favorite.

He didn't mind the bonnet, but...he'd rather be naked (like any boy).