Ouchies

Eli got a little scratch on his knee today while playing outside. I didn't even know he had hurt himself until I saw it. It wasn't very big and it wasn't even bleeding but once I asked him about it he became quite concerned with it. So we put a little medicine and a band aid on it and he was pretty happy about it.

Jude also got his first big bonk this week. He leaned onto a little bucket and it flipped up and hit him in the head. He immediately had a little bump and bruise. He cried for a bit but once I picked him up and gave him his blankie he was ok. The bump went down pretty quickly but the bruise is still there. It really isn't very big and you can't really see it in the picture but I thought the picture was cute anyway! This is his new smile :-)

Pool Fun

We found a way to make the pool even more fun for Eli!

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NBA Draft

Tonight was the NBA draft so we all had to get into our Pacers gear! Unfortunately we only have one outfit for the boys. It is a 12 month shorts romper. This was going to be the 3rd year for this outfit to be worn on draft night. Here are pictures from the past 2 years in this outfit. My plan for this year was for Jude to get to wear it since it was actually his size. I thought I would put it on Eli with his shorts for a quick picture and then let Jude wear it for the day. Well once I got it on Eli it wasn't coming off. He wanted the wear the "basketball shirt". So Eli got to wear it for the day and then when it was time to get into pajamas I put Jude in it for a couple pictures. Maybe Jude can wear it next year with some shorts because surely Eli won't be able to wear for a 4th year in a row! Go Pacers!!

Eli in his Basketball shirt

Jude ready for the draft

Eli and Daddy in their Pacers gear

Jude and Daddy

Jude's First Word

Jude can officailly say ball!!!! I am sorry the video quality isn't great, it is from my cell phone. That is also why it has taken me so long to post it. It took me awhile to figure out how to get it from my phone to the computer. I am just so proud of my little guy! Go Bubba Jude!

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My Little Swimmer

Here is Eli LOVING the water!! He would swim all day if he could, as long as mommy got the bugs out for him!

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Swimming!!!!

On Saturday we got our pool set up in the backyard! Eli was so excited about it. We set it up in the morning and then ran some errands and told Eli that we had to wait until after nap to swim so the water could warm up. After I started to fill the pool I noticed that it was at a little bit of an incline but it was too heavy to move. I thought we would have to try a different spot next time but it actually worked out perfect. There was a deep side where Eli could jump and swim and splash like crazy and there was a shallow side where Jude could just sit and play! Eli had a blast in the pool! He just jumps right in with no fear. Well almost no fear, he doesn't like the bugs in the pool! :-) Jude had fun too. I got in with him so he could swim too. At first he just wanted me to hold him but I eventually got him to sit on my lap and then I moved him onto the pool bottom and then he kept trying to crawl away. We didn't get to stay out too long because the water was still pretty chilly and both boys were shivering.

Ready to Swim!

Momma and Jude

Of course we need the basketball hoop by the pool (that was Eli's idea!)

Sunday was a much better day for swimming. I wasn't planning on swimming with Jude so I only got Eli in swim gear and brought a blanket and toys out for Jude. It was so hot that he just laid down. I decided that it was too hot for him to just sit outside so I stripped him down to his onesie and plopped him in the pool. He had a BLAST!!!! He splashed and splashed! He also kept trying to crawl away from me. I wish I could have gotten a few pictures of Jude in the water, but when Jude is in the water I am right there with him! The boys played great together too. Eli kept bringing Jude toys to play with and they would splash together. Jude loved it when Eli would swim across the pool towards him. They both got to laughing so hard that I was laughing too. We are going to have so much fun this summer!

My little swimmer!

Jumping

Playing Ball

Too hot for Bubba Jude

I think Jude wanted back in!

Wonderful Weekend!

We had such a wonderful weekend together! Friday Mike and I celebrated our 5 year Wedding Anniversary. I can't believe that it has been five years already. The time has gone by so fast and yet so much has changed in the last 5 years. It has been the best 5 years of my life and I wouldn't change anything! We celebrated by going out to eat and then came home and watched our wedding video. Eli thought it was pretty neat seeing Mommy and Daddy on the TV. I also got out our wedding albums and had so much fun looking through all the pictures. It was a beautiful wedding and a wonderful day with family and friends. I had only planned on uploading 1 wedding picture, but I couldn't decide on just 1 so here are 5 :-).

Happy Anniversary Babe, I love you!

Saturday wasn't too eventful. We went and got groceries as a family in the morning and got our little pool set up and then after Eli's nap he got to swim. He had a blast swimming this weekend and I have tons of pictures and a super cute video so I am going to post about that later. Sunday was a pretty good Father's Day but unfrotunately Mike wasn't feeling the best. I took the boys to church with me and then we came back home to take care of Daddy. The boys got to wear their special shirts for Daddy. The both had shirts that said I am a Hawkeye just like Daddy. Mike normally doesn't like them to match, but he didn't mind today. :-) After nap the boys got to swim again and they sure love it!

Happy Father's Day!

Playtime

We have been having so much fun playing lately! It is so neat to see what the boys are into. Eli is such a boy! He loves all sports and he wants to play whatever we happen to be watching. Basketball is his absolute favorite and he is always asking to go downstairs and shoot baskets, but this week he has gotten into playing soccer (after we had the World Cup on TV for maybe 2 minutes). Mike got an empty diaper box and set it up and Eli had a blast playing soccer. His little face just lights up when he is playing any type of sport. It is so exciting just to watch him. It makes me wonder what he will want to play as he gets older. Right now he likes everything so I want to keep his options open. That means if he wants to play soccer he can!!!! :-)

Playing Soccer

Kicking a goal

It has also been a lot of fun watching Jude play these last few days. Now that he is crawling he is able to play with whatever he wants instead of what I give him. Now we know what Bubba Jude likes to play with, cars and trucks! He sits and holds onto the vehicle and rolls it back and forth with the biggest smile on his face, it is so adorable! He also pulled himself to standing for the first time yesterday. He crawled over to our ABC train and pulled himself up! I wasn't able to get a picture and he only did it the one time so we will see when he does it again.

Jude playing with his favorite truck

This is what he pulled up to

Jude is Crawling!!!!!!

I wasn't kidding when I said it would be anyday! I am so proud of my little boy!

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Happy 10 Months Jude!

Bubba Jude is 10 months old today! I really can't believe it. In 2 months the Bubbers (as I love to call him) will be 1! Where has the past 10 months gone. He is getting so big on me now. He is still scooting a little. If he spots something that isn't too far away he will scoot to it, but if it is too far away he won't. He pretty much gets anywhere by rolling all around. He has also learned something new just yesterday. He can now go from his belly to his hands and knees to sitting. He has been going to his hands and knees from sitting for awhile but rarely went from his belly to his hands and knees. Now he is constantly going up and down. Now I am just waiting for him to take off crawling. He is so so so close. Yesterday he even took 2 little crawling movements. He hardly moved at all but he had the crawling motion. Any day now!!!!!

He is also becoming very vocal lately! He has been able to say Dada for quite sometime now and just in the last week he has finally started saying Mama!! I have waited so long for him to say it, but for some reason he only says it while he is in his booster seat. Silly, silly boy! He started off only whispering it really quietly but now he yells it! I love it!! I also think he is very close to saying his first word, ball. He definitely has baba down but when we were playing this week and I gave him a ball and said "ball" it really sounded like he was trying to repeat it. I am trying to get it on video. But his favorite noise of all to make is a flat out scream. He is always up for a screaming match. Eli can really get him going and then Jude just laughs and laughs! I love my boys so much!

Jude Michael at 10 months

So close to crawling

Getting so big!

Playing outside

Having a screaming match with Daddy

The Big Brother (Such a cutie)

Jude's 9 Month Pictures

I figured since Jude will be 10 months old on Monday I should go ahead and post his 9 month pictures. I have taken these myself over the last few weeks. I am still learning different lighting techiniques but I am very pleased with how these turned out. Jude has been teething for the last several weeks so you will notice that his hands were constantly in his mouth! Enjoy!

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Look Who is Feeling Better!

Jude's fever is finally under 100!!!! Yay! He is in much better spirits today too. He actually wants to play for little bits at a time. He is still extra cuddly and most definitely Mommy's boy but I can see the sparkle coming back in his eyes. I am so happy he is doing better. It is so difficult to see my baby boy sick. I like to see his smiling face ! Eli has been extra sweet to Jude while he has been sick. He has been bringing him his taggies and Pa Pas left and right. I know he is happy that Jude is feeling better!

Finally Turning a Corner

After another rough day for Baby Jude, he is finally turning a corner. Up until about 8:30 tonight he still had a fever of 101-102 even with Tylenol. I felt so bad for him today. I could see in his eyes that he was miserable. He just wanted to lay in my arms all day. He wasn't interested in table food but wanted his baby food. He ate his lunch at 11:00 and I gave him Tylenol at 11:30 and at 11:35 he threw it all up. Poor baby was so so warm at that point and he couldn't have more Tylenol until 3:30. The only way I could cool the poor baby down was to hold a cool wash cloth on his head. I got him cooled down a little and he fell asleep. He ended up sleeping from 1:30 to 3:30 and when he woke up his fever was back up to 102 and it was time for more medicine. I got him to drink a little diluted juice to keep him hydrated and by 6:30 he was really wanting to eat so we tried one jar of baby food and he kept that down fine and then at 7:30 he had his bottle and he suddenly perked up. He had a little bit of his sparkle back in his eyes! He sat on the floor and played a little and was even jabbering. I hope this means that the antibiotic is doing its job and the fever is behind us.

Poor Baby didn't feel well

Cooling off with a cool wash cloth

Not feeling the best but still a little playful, Where's Jude?

There he is! (with a little smile)

Starting to feel a little better (and looking so cute is his big boy jammies!)

Jude's First Ear Infection :-(

Poor Bubba Jude just doesn't feel well today. He has been fighting a little cold since last week but I couldn't decide if I thought it was teeth or something more. He had a runny nose that was clear and a few soft diapers and had been a little cranky. He is so close to getting his 2 top teeth that I figured that was all it was. Over the weekend he started to sound a little congested and he sure didn't like that. Poor baby couldn't breathe through his nose and I think it scared him. On Friday I ended up sitting in the bathroom with him while I ran the shower as hot as can be so he could breathe in the steam and that helped the congestion a little bit. He wasn't running any fever so I just figured it was his teeth with a little cold. This morning he woke up with a fever of 100.9 and was super clingy and cuddly. I knew that was a little high for a teething fever so I kept checking his temperature and even with Tylenol it never broke 100. After lunch his fever was 102 and wouldn't come down so I made an appointment with the doctor. Poor baby has his first ear infection. Hopefully the antibiotic will help him get back to his smiley self.

Poor baby doesn't feel well

Jude Scooting

At 9 1/2 months old Jude is finally moving! He has been rolling around for awhile now but not scooting or crawling. Eli never scooted and didn't crawl until 10 months so that is what I was expecting Jude to do. I have been trying to get him to move to all kinds of toys but nothing worked, and then he sees the diapers and decides that he is going to get them. Silly boy!

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New Friends

We have been talking lately about wanting to take Eli to Build a Bear since he is really into stuffed animals. He already has so many, but we thought it would be special for him to make his own. We also wanted to get a gift card for our niece's birthday coming up. Since we didn't have anything planned for today we thought it would be a fun outing for the day. Eli loved it! (We knew he would!) We let him look at all the different animals to pick out which one he wanted. He had to give several different animals hugs but we narrowed it down to a dragon and a leopard and Eli picked the leopard. We asked him several times and each time he picked the leopard. We also wanted to make a new friend for Jude so Eli helped us pick out a nice puppy since Jude was sleeping in the stroller. Eli had a blast going through the process of making his new friend. We looked at all the clothes and accessories but since Eli likes to sleep with his stuffed animals we figured his leopard didn't need anything extra. The last part of the process was filling out the birth certificate and picking out a name. Eli had no problem picking out a name for his leopard, Baby Jaguar. :-) For Jude's puppy we decided on Spot!

Eli filling Baby Jaguar

Picking out a heart

Giving it a kiss

Brushing him

He loves Baby Jaguar!

Sleepy Baby Jude

Checking out the tag

Jude and Spot!

Eli's ABCs

How did I not know that Eli could say his ABCs? We have been working with him for a little while but he honestly was never interested. He occasionally would say up to K but never past that and then all of a sudden he said the entire alphabet today!!!! I was so so so so proud of my little boy!

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Memorial Weekend (Sunday&Monday)

Sunday was another fabulous day! We spent the day at Mike's parents house and Beth, Ken, Madeleine, John Paul, my mom and Jackie stopped by. We had a cook out for dinner and went swimming. The boys ended the day doing bubble with grandma. It is truly wonderful to be able to spend time with family. I love seeing the boys with their cousins. They are blessed to have cousins so close in age on both sides of our families. I know they will be close buddies growing up!!

I love my little family!

Grandma and Papa with the boys

Eli and his "Rescue Pack" :-) he is really into Diego right now

Jude had a good time in the water

Eli swimming with Daddy

Eli's favorite thing to do!

Cool Bubba Jude

My sweet little guy!

Jude and cousin John Paul

John Paul is such a cutie!

Madeleine is the only girl cousin (so far)

Waiting to be fanned :-)

Eli and Uncle Ken, his Godfather

The 4 cousins

Bubble fun!

Blowing bubbles with Grandma

Jude loved it!

Whose gonna get it?

:-) Bubba Jude was exhausted after our wonderful weekend!

We got up Monday morning and packed the car. Beth and Ken came over with M and JP for breakfast so we got to see them all one more time and tell everyone goodbye. It was so hard to say goodbye even though I know we will see them all again in August. We had and interesting ride home. We got about 1 hour and 20 minutes into our trip and Eli threw up. Luckily it only got on him, butta, and little bit on his carseat. We pulled over at the next exit and got Eli changed and cleaned up as best as we could. Surprisingly Eli was ok with not having butta. I told him butta was dirty and Mommy would have to clean it when we got home and he was fine with that. We got back on the road and Eli was fine. With in 5 minutes he was asking for graham crackers. We told him we needed to give his tummy a little while to rest. We were going to try to make it til 11:30 before we stopped for lunch but we decided to stop at 11:00 instead because we hit a huge storm. It got windy so fast and just poured and poured. We actually sat in our car for 15 minutes until the rain let up a little. Eli had some apples and crackers for lunch and kept it down fine and was fine the rest of the day. We got back on the road and Eli was asleep in no time. I was worried that he would get upset because he didn't have butta but he was fine and we made it the rest of the way fine. It was a crazy trip home, but all worth it for the wonderful weekend we had. I already miss everyone and Eli is already asking to go back to Indiana!