10 weeks

Sooo big. Literally, his cheekers are OUT OF CONTROL! Haha. I think he sleeps so long at night because he is storing milk in there for a secret 3 a.m. feeding. No? Well I forgot to post a few pictures from last week so let's do those first! Alright well, after reviewing, they are not all from last week...so just enjoy!


Good morning mom! I missed you sooo much! :)

Ahh, you caught me off guard mom!

My latest buy $3.99 at Carters.


You know, after comparing, I actually think Jude looks more like me in these pictures. We both sorta have that round, cheekers, face....lol

Shopping Jude!

Hanging out with my cousins!

10 Weeks. Double digits! I feel like just 10 weeks ago I was excited about single digits...now double! Awe, Jude is growing up so fast. This week he's really focused on more toys. I caught him staring at a lion toy talking to it! Sooo cute! He talks to us all day long! He's a little chatterbox. Okay, my family has only him as sleepy Jude. If he's not chatting he's sleeping LOL. Loves to sleep. It's funny, after being awake for an hour and half he's ready for a nap! Granted, if I could nap all day I would be too! He also found his hand this week. LOVES to chew it! It's so cute to watch him suck on his little fist. Definitely a thumb sucker in the future.

We have started mall walking again with Rachel and Eli! What a good time :) He's great in the stroller. In fact, I tried to wake him to eat at one point but he just wanted nothing to do with it. So on we went with walking!

Baby Carrier Adventures: Well I thought it would be fun to sing and dance while Jude was the carrier...and things were going great. We were singing nursery rhymes, helping daddy do work stuff (right, let's not kid myself, I just agreed and smiled to support. Had no actual clue what he was doing :), but then I look down and boom, the kid is out! Sleeping in the carrier. Adorable sure but the problem with this (and all mothers who have this and use this know) is that you can NOT do anything with the kid in it. I have a few things to do: unload dish washer, switch over laundry, fold laundry, put away cookie cake I made (this isn't the worst), clean up the cookie cake mess, etc. BUT this stupid thing does not let you bend over, sit down, or move at all really (So I'm updating this :). I mean it's great and all, but man, now I'm forced to have a baby strapped in front of me until he wakes up because I am not waking him. He looks so sweet and peaceful!


Jude before...

Jude after...

Top 10 Baby Items (that I could not live without-for me!)
1. Swaddleme! Most fabulous thing, I will be swaddling Jude when he is 17.
2. Burp clothes! I think we go through about 4 a day.
3. Baby Khakis! Everyone knows I dress Jude in the same khakis because they are SO darn cute! I have sizes Newborn, 3months, and 6months :)
4. Stroller! As previously mentioned, how did I live without this?
5. Swing. I heart the swing :)
6. Childrens music. John knows I sing nursery rhymes all day/night :)
7. Books!
8. Pump. Enough said.
9. Anything that lights up! (overhead lights, toys, rattles, miners hats, etc.:)
10. Daddy...another hand off!

Just for my (and your) entertainment, I wrote down a whole day of Jude activity (or lack there of) so here goes:

January 11, 2011
9 pm-6 am-Bedtime!
6 am-feeding/back in bed by 6:15
7:30 am-up for day
8 am-feeding/play
9 am-9:30 am-short nap
9:45-starving...sigh (seriously Jude, 1.5 hours...?) then play
11 am-3 pm afternoon nap!
3 pm-feeding/play
4:30 pm-fell asleep in baby carrier
5 pm-up from short cat nap...
5:30 pm- feeding/play
6:42 pm-nighttime nap
7:15 pm-awake/play
7:40 pm-bath
8 pm-"midnight" snack (to Jude)
9 pm-bed
6 am-feeding/up at 8 for day! He's usually up by 7:30 though.

January Week One Update: Well, I have to admit, the weekly walk as a family just didn't really happen this week :( BUT, he did workout and I did mall walk! And did Wii fit with Jude sitting in those carrying things! It was highly entertaining! Jude seemed to like it!



January 13 Week Two! Board names every night! I hope we have 7 board games here! If not, we'll be playing Yahtzee daily. Ha. Hoping to kick John's butt at sorry! Will report back how Week 2 goes!

Other pictures of the 10th week (we were busy this week!)


Ha I think Uma does this to get a better view of the neighbors dog and because she's right next to the vent now.

Do you see that!? The light!


What are you trying to tell me mom? I stink!?

Cutie pies! Eli and Jude at Breadco:)

2 Weeks apart!

Well, there ya go! A snowy week = long, fun filled blog (for me at least!)

Cheers!
John, Kate, Jude, and Umadog

Happy 91st Grandma (Great-Grandma) Rita! Jude turns 9 weeks!

Forgot to post this earlier, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Grandma (Jude's Great Grandma!) She turned 91 on December 31! John, Jude, and I brought her a birthday lunch of Chinese food (YUM) last Wednesday. We had a great time! Good food, shared some stories and snapped some pictures with Grandma!


Jude got just a bit sleepy with Great Grandma's stories :)



9 Weeks! WOW. Jude has changed so much this week. He is far more alert than ever! Following his cousins, other people, and animals. He sits in his bouncy seat looking up, smiling, and cooing at his animals. He loves his floor zoo mat thing A LOT now too! He is soo adorable. I suppose I'm suppose to throw him down there then get things done around the house, HA, however, I find myself staring at him, snapping 100's of pictures because his smile does not leave his face :) It is the best thing! I think now I am a pro at detecting all his different cries. He doesn't have many but I know the "mom I'm exhausted cry," and "entertain me/hold me cry." So he's pretty easy to keep happy :)

This week we've been working on establishing a bed-time routine. Not bad at all! In fact, what I've learned is that Jude needs to be home during the night time. Not only is this his most alert, awake time, but around 7:30/8pm we start our bed time routine! Lesson Learned: For New Years Eve we went to my sisters house and although it was a blast, I thought we could leave at 8:30 and then put Jude to bed around 9 when we got home, but he had a different plan. The traveling that late did not work. He stayed up until 11 pm (maybe he just wanted to bring in the New Year?!) Soooo, I think we're restricted to our home at night but I do not mind. That's probably the best for him anyways. He can calm down, play with his toys, take a bath, read books, one last feeding at 9 and then bed time. I lay him down, usually drowsy, then he's out by 9:30. It's perfect for now. I'd like earlier than 9/9:30 but he sleeps until 4 am then is up around 7 for the day! Perfect I'd say. I can do this :) So don't be offended if we are anti-social now at night...or if just one of us goes out... I'm all about the routines and since Jude is sooo easy going with most things, I can perfect this and work on getting 10 hours of sleep straight a night :) Ha, just kidding, 7-8 is just fine :)

I think it's too early, or from what I read/research it is, but I think I'm going to try and get him on a nap schedule now too. If bed time was that easy, nap time can't be that bad right? Does this mean that shopping Jude will have to be sleeping Jude?! Ah...Nah, just means he'll have to nap in his carseat! Ha. But really, two-three solid naps a-day would be great, however he is only 9 weeks old. I suppose he has to eat...darn, may have to wait longer on this. I like to try and keep the 2-2.5 hour feedings during the day. I think 2-2.5 hours of feedings during the day = 7 straight hours at night. :) Okay so nap time routine later! Thanks for talking that through with me.

Oh the pregnancy brain! Okay, not quite the pregnancy brain anymore obviously, but I am still having episodes of baby brain! WOW, this week I was going to recycle old boxes but tried to put them in the washer...yep. Classic right? So make sure you don't tell me anything important or if you do write it down. I can't wait for my brain to come back. Hopefully before class starts. Right, taking another class this Spring but really almost done! Only one class left and a year intern. But we won't talk about the intern, makes me sad thinking I'll have to leave Jude for a few days.

Oh have I got a surprise for you! Well not for you at all, but rather for John and I. John and I have decided to do something together every week for the entire year. Right, Kate, you guys do this always. Nope, this is different. It can be anything! For example one week we may decide to cook dinner together every-night, one week we may play board games nightly, one week we may see how clean John can get the house (hahaha, just kidding) but you get the idea. Something together for a week for the entire year! The weeks will start on Thursday because that is when the update begins! Of course before telling you the new goal of the week, I will update how successful the last one was. So begins...

Jan 5 Week One-(John's wants to get in shape, so like all others...)This week we will go on a nightly family walk! John, me, Jude, and Uma. Okay, right with weather permitting. I won't take Cheeks out in 20 degrees! 21, yes. Kidding! But if not, well all 4 try and get on the treadmill together. What a sight right! Haha. Wish us luck!

Pictures of the week!


Chilling in Joey's bouncy seat. What a life.

LOVE my zoo.

One lazy, sleepy guy.


Your Favorite Family of Four
John, Kate, Jude, and Uma

8 Weeks!

The Many Faces of Jude!


Mad Jude!

Happy Jude!


My baby is two months today. How the time flies! I watch him grow more and more each day and it amazes me. Tons of firsts this week that occur:

Jude's First Christmas! What a great, busy, crazy Christmas's it was! Jude was spoiled rotten with the latest Fisher Price toys and cutest clothes on the market! He was a happy boy and traveled from party to party without whining :) He also gave me a very merry Christmas with two nights of 8 hour long stretches! So sweet isn't he!

I heard Jude laugh for the first time. Right, 8 week old's don't laugh however, he was sleeping in my lap and started bursting up laughing. He was dead asleep but laughed! Strange but cute!

John and I have took our first step to our workout! I have vowed to eat everything unhealthy/sweet/fatty/etc in the house so that we can start our workout routine and not be tempted by the fabulous things I buy. . . HAHA. So after a few sausage links, cookies, and spaghettio's, I will move on to the pantry items. Ha. I know I know, I said I was going to clock my routines, and that I will. Once I start them!




My FAVORITE picture of the boys! John was just talking to Jude and Jude couldn't help but talk back. (They were discussing who received the best Xmas gift thus far...)





One of his favorite new toys! Go Zoo!

Your Favorite Family of Four
J,K,J,Uma

7 Weeks!

Remember that kicking baby? Well, I thought he'd come kicking and screaming! Only makes sense. But after thinking about these last 7 weeks, I realize he really must have got it all out of his system in-utero! He's very calm. I can lay him on a mat on the floor and he'll just look around. No screaming and little kicks/movement. He's chill. Speaking of chill. WOW, we had a fun Christmas with the Reardon's on Sunday and Jude was up all day. Well you know, cat naps here and there. But not like his usual. Well, we got home around 7:30 p.m. and he was cranky because he was so tired. Just a little whiny that's all, no real crying. But I knew he was exhausted. So like a good mom I try everything: swaddling, the swing, feeding, burping, walking, bouncing, etc. To my surprise, I laid Jude down wide awake (because I was tired) and what do you know, just laid and fell asleep himself about 10 minutes later. Ha, he didn't need me! Just wanted his bed :)

The swing. Another thing everyone needs! John and I now call the swing THE BABYSITTER. It's the best thing ever. He loves it. Will play in it for 30-45 minutes then fall asleep. Best thing ever!

Mall-Walking Adventures:
Well, Rachel and I have taken our mall-walking hobby back up! As you know, when we were pregnant (very pregnant) we'd meet at the mall and talk about the upcoming arrivals. It was sooo much fun! Well, the last few weeks we've been meeting up with our boys and walking! They love it, we love it. It's great to get out and talk to someone whose is going through the same thing. And I think Jude and Eli really like seeing eachother and talking about all the love they get :) The boys are 2 weeks apart. Our last trip was on Friday and of course we talk about old times (walking 9 months pregnant), the boys, the "big" boys, etc. but then we were wondering how many steps we walked. Over the summer, we'd walk for about 2-2.5 hours. And now that we have little guys, we try for that but take frequent stops to eat, change, just look at, etc. Well, Rachel brought her pedometer and we clocked about 9,000 steps. That's about 3-4 miles! Go us! Then, Rachel had this brilliant idea! The stroller manufacturers need to make some type of wheel rotation counter that can be converted to miles/steps/etc. You get the picture. Not only would people buy this to get in-shape (like us, we'd buy that stroller, we already mall walk) but the stroller manufacturers would be promoting exercise that would take off! I really think it'd be awesome. I mean, they have jogging strollers, well why not make a counter on them. Or have they? I know what you're thinking (because I'm thinking the same)...why not just wear the pedometer? I do not yet have an answer to that question! I'll get back to you! :)

Doctors Appointment Update:
Good news, I'm healthy! Blood pressure is down along with my weight! Life is good. We're expecting the next one here in September. Ha, just kidding!

Shout out to Tim! John and I really appreciate all your support and guidance with church on Sunday. You are the perfect person to be with John. Jude and I tried but found ourselves in the hall way, changing diapers, talking, you know.

Favorites: Just Jude. Everything about him. His smiles are soo sweet, coos, blue eyeballs, stinky milky smell that I can't clean off, little feet, sleeping patterns etc.

Funnies of the week: Let's see, we only blew out one outfit this week! I suppose with age, more funnies will occur!

What we've learned this week: Even though I LOVE Teen Mom/16 and Pregnant, I have got to go to bed when Jude does :/ I decided to watch the hour and a half long finale instead of sleeping an hour and half...made for a long, sleepy next day! Ha.



Really mom? Another bath? How much do I have to weigh to graduate from the sink?!

Uncle Nate!


Love hanging out with cousin Joey!

Yup, I fell asleep during tummy time...

My three favorites. UMA made it this week :)


We haven't forgot about Uma, don't worry.
Love my bath time! (finally, in my real tub!)

Your favorite family of four!
J,K,Uma, and Jude

6 Weeks

Holy cow! Where has the time gone! I know, into shopping. Haha. I can't believe he's 6 weeks already (I know, I say this every week). Well, this week, Jude has become "shopping Jude!" Ha, John says I'm suppose to be a "stay at home mom" and STAY HOME but Jude insists on shopping Jude! And how can I tell him no? I mean, someone has to get this Christmas shopping done! And he's SO great at shopping. Wakes up enough to eat a little, rejuvenate himself, then more shopping! I swear we have the best baby. Just goes with the flow. Good thing he's like John and not me. Also, Uma is slightly obsessed with Christmas music. She asks me to play it for her while we're gone, I can't help but give in. Speaking of Uma, she has rebelled. Once Jude was born, we let her sleep in our room on the floor, but when I go to feed Jude, she runs out and destroys things: pacifiers, wrapped Christmas presents, etc. So now, Uma is forced in her cage at night again :( Maybe with the second child she'll learn she just can't destroy the house at 2 am, because I walk in the kitchen at that time, and get extremely mad then can't go back to sleep. Ugh. She'll figure it out...

Well I have MY 6 week checkup this week. Not that it is about me anymore but hoping that goes good and I can resume (or start rather) my running! I'm thinking about documenting my workouts on here. I'm thinking if I do that, I'll be more inclined to workout. HA. You know, with all my fans reading this, I'll feel fat and guilty if I don't keep up. May work. Or not. We'll see.

Favorites: Our baby is SO happy. Smiles all day long now :) Soo sweet. The other day, I was so tired. I just let him sleep on me for a few hours. I couldn't resist. I figured I won't be able to do this long so why not? We took about a 2 hour long nap. It was great. Cherish those times!

Funnies of the week: Hmm, let's see, well honestly, not much funny stuff has happened this week. He's been great. No major blowouts, etc. Great week. Keep up the good work Jude.

What we have learned: We have learned that Uma is highly jealous. I feel so bad. I will be in a room talking my baby talk to Jude, then Uma will run excited (used to be her baby talk), see that my baby talk is toward Jude, then just put her tail down. It's so sad. I try to talk to her but I know it's not the same for her. She's still adjusting ;/ Poor dog.

Side note: My JINX of last week....well didn't jinx!!!!!! Jude has strangely transformed his sleeping habits over night and I get up ONCE a night. Generally around 4 am and that is it. I did not jinx myself! Crazy. I mean really, what 4 week old gives you 5-7 hours of solid sleep, eats in about 8 minutes, then lays down and falls right back to sleep? I'll tell you, mine! Thank goodness he's like John and loves his sleep. Speaking of sleep....John has volunteered to get up with Jude this Saturday morning. (Okay, he didn't volunteer, I'm making him). It just sounds so nice to sleep past 7.

How I will JINX myself this week: Well, all this talk of a great baby, it's bound to be shot back at me, right? I mean, I'm sure this week he'll be colicky and I'll go crazy. I'll keep you posted.

My 6 week old cutie!


Thank you Reardon's for my SWEET moose outfit! I'm styling now :)

We can not have tummy time with Uma dog being so involved.

Thank you Nana, LOVE my new swing. See I'm smiling!

THIS is how big I am everyone.

Psh, don't know what my mom is talking about, I've been working out, look at this!

Alright, alright, I can see why they call me CHEEKS now! Ha!


I'm a happy boy!

"Shopping Jude" she calls me. I've really got to get a new nickname...

5 Weeks

Ahh, my baby is getting SO big!

Doctor Appt Update: Jude weighs 9 pounds even now! His pediatrician was very pleased! He thinks he's catching up from being on the smaller side inside. Ha. Jude is 20 3/4 inches long (grew an inch). He is in the 25th-27th percentile for everything. But is doing great! I asked the doctor about a red spot on the back of his head, big birth mark! Better there than anywhere else really! Until he's an old man. . . bald! Ha. Oh well.

On a side note, it's sad to me. The Doctor updates are no longer about me :( Lol. It's all about Jude now! Funny to update his doctor appointments!

We had a very busy week! Shopping, shopping, shopping! Gotta get those Christmas presents bought! Thank goodness he's still little and just sleeps the whole time! Jude had his Baptism on Sunday, December 5 and did a great job! No cries at all! He was a sweetie! Don't worry, that will be the majority of the pictures this week!

Favorites of Week 5: We love each other more each day (If that's possible)! He smiles one more time each day making TONS of smiles for mommy. It's the cutest smile too! Croaked sometimes. Melts my heart everytime. I still get teary-eyed sometimes! Jude was also spoiled rotten by Auntie D and all his other family members for that matter! Such a great week really.

Funnies of this Week: Major blowouts multiple times! Makes me sad because of course, he was wearing MY favorite Mizzou onsie :( I mean, if you have kids you know, it's nearly impossible to get that yellow stain out! Ruined. And, not to mention that he did this at Umsl. Last class and he blows it out! HA. Speaking of that, another class done, another A, successful semester. It's amazing, I had my first baby, only missed two classes (out of 16), and got a perfect 100% in the class. Luckily, the professor was great with me missing those two classes! Who said doing class and having a baby would be hard. Piece of cake. Okay, well the hard part was leaving him to go to class...

What we have learned this Week: We have a great baby. Really. I mean we can't compare him to our other children, because we don't have any...but I can compare him to others I know. He's fabulous. He reminds everyone of John! Funny, the last class on Monday, my professor said "He is just so laid back like you Kate." Well, I took my friend Natasha to class to watch him and when my professor said this, we both stared at eachother, laughed, and said, "No, he's like my husband John." Ha, me, laid back? Well that was nice of her.

How will I JINX myself this week: Okay, so I hate to brag, but here goes! This week Jude's sleep schedule has been amazing! I mean truly awesome. Here are the last 5 days:
night one: 5 hours straight
night two: 5 hours straight
night three: 4 hours straight
night four: 5 hours straight
night five: 7 hours straight (right that is not a typo-Jude slept from 9:30-4:45!!!!)
I can only hope he keeps this up and it's not a growth spurt or fluke! I was pleased with 4 hours straight, so when I get anything more, I wake up every 30 minutes to look at the clock and make sure I don't hear him. Nope, never, he's been a great sleeper :0 So that's how I'll jinx myself this week :) See you great nights sleep! Lol.

Pictures! Enjoy my cutie-pie!




Mall walking cutie pies!

Catching some Zzz's with Dad!