Why having a 1 year old is pretty much the best thing ever

As Jude and I were sitting in his rocking chair laughing and playing, I realized how I've been missing out on how much fun having a 1 year old is. Then I started to think of other ways in which having a 1 year old was super fun, instead of thinking of the negative all the time. These are the things that rolled over in my head throughout the day:

• 1 year olds think everything is funny. I can dance around silly, blow raspberries on his belly, or just give him a funny look and he cracks up. Listening to him laugh is really my favorite thing in the whole world.
• 1 year olds give really funny, but sweet kisses. Sometimes they're open-mouthed, sometimes tongue is sticking out, and sometimes they're just regular--lips closed and tongue inside. I never know what I'm getting, but they're all gladly accepted, just the same.
  
• 1 year olds love to sing! At least mine does, and it's so sweet to listen to.
• 1 year olds are so fascinated with everything. Everything is so new to them and they're unsure about everything, it's really interesting to watch them figure this world out.
• Before I go in to get Jude every morning, I can hear him in his bed talking up a storm and then I walk in to get him and his whole face lights up and sometimes he squeals with joy...it makes my insides melt everyday.
• [Some] 1 year olds like to kiss their rubber duckies every night when they get out of the bathtub.
• 1 year olds blow kisses with their wrists instead of their hands, so cute.
  

These are just a few reasons why I love being the mom of a sweet, frustrating, adorable, hilarious 1 year old boy named Jude.

As for an update on this blog, we are doing much better over here. I have realized the key to dealing with a 1 year old is patience. I have been more patient and Jude is really not been as much of a Taz as he was. I'm pretty sure my frustration was making it worse.

Chillin at the library in a bean bag

Just thought I'd share some funny pictures that Ross took of Jude with his phone during our library run yesterday.

Ross thought it was so funny that he put Jude in this bean bag and he stayed there! Guess he thought it was comfy. Maybe we should get one of those...

You can really see how sunken in he was here--

ha!

Lovely Days

Yesterday was such a nice day that we decided to go to the park. We laid out a blanket, read some, relaxed, it was a nice time. We really enjoyed the beautiful day!

Jude's first time on a swing....he was lovin it!

Stoic Jude.
I'm tired of this thing always being in my face!
Eating some grass, yum yum.
Pretty lake background.
This pic is merely for Emily to see how short my hair is now. It doesn't normally look like this...the wind made it look big!
Here's the better one of us 2.
Lookin sleepy.
The best family pic we could get...of ourselves.

The only thing that was missing was our dogs. We didn't think we could handle them plus Jude, but definitely next time.

My 5th love

A 5th love sounds pretty far down the line, but not when the first 3 are pretty important.

My loves are as follows:
1. God
2. Ross
3. Jude
4. Coffee
5. Frozen Custard

In that order. So, if you really think about it, it's only #2 on my list of loves, other than people and God, which isn't really that far down the line. :)

We don't get custard very often because it's so dang expensive, but today was a special treat! Nothing really special happened, except we got some custard. That's what made it special!

Can I get some money for this endorsement?
Ross enjoyed his too.

And even Jude enjoyed some!

I told Ross we're probably the only people in the world that would go get frozen custard on a cool, dreary day. But after awhile, we saw some others go through the drive-thru too! Guess we weren't the only ones. :) Oh, and my family most definitely makes that list, above the coffee and frozen custard, but I'll save that list for another day.

Through tears I write this

Ok, so I'm not really crying right now. Maybe I was a few minutes ago, as I was reading this. I was reading someone's blog (a recommendation from another friend's blog) and her life story about infertility and adoption. Now, I don't normally do that, cry while reading someone else's blog... especially someone I don't even know. But, it so tied in with what I'm going through lately and I felt I needed to share. Although I'm not battling infertility, and not considering adoption (at least not for a long time), I really have been struggling with this "mom" thing and needed some perspective. I got that perspective tonight. Jude has been going through his toddler phase. Whining, complaining, trying to get what he wants and getting so frustrated when he doesn't get it...yep, the works. At times I think I'm at the end of my rope with what to do. I don't want to raise a whiny boy who complains about everything. I know too many people like that and they are not pleasant to be around. So, after I emailed a couple of my awesome mom friends for advice, I left to go to the grocery store, thinking that I desperately needed time away from that little Tazmanian Devil. When I was at the grocery, I overheard a conversation that stopped me dead in my tracks. An employee walked up to a shopper and asked him "how is your son doing?" Which is a normal question you ask any parent whose kid you know. I figured the man's reply would be something normal like "my son's doing well in soccer this year" or "he's doing really well in school." He didn't reply as I thought. His reply was this "Well, he had his first round of chemo the other day. He didn't really know what was going on, so it was kind of hard." And then I stopped listening because my mind drifted to Jude and what I've been dealing with lately. I immedately felt convicted of my stupid attitude. At that moment, I started thanking God that we are dealing with normal toddler stuff, and not having to go through what that man and his family are going through or others who are going through things just as hard. When I read that blog that I mentioned earlier, I just broke down and cried, reading about her struggle with trying to get pregnant many times and not, then adopting her son, holding him and cherishing every minute with him....how much I have taken and continue to take for granted! I truly am blessed, and honestly, I really don't have it that bad.

So, with all of that being said, I've had some realizations lately that I'm gonna share.

• Lately, I've been spending way too much time on the internet. I need to spend less time doing that.
  
• I don't feel like I've been real lately. I've just been kinda coasting through life. Not a good way to live.
  
• I need to stop numbing myself! Been doing that a lot lately with tv and internet.
  
• I'm getting rid of my other blog and just having this one, for pictures, family stuff and me stuff. I'm tired of trying to keep up with so many different things.
  
• I want to start a blog design business. I'm learning about it and trying to set it all up, and I'm really excited!
  
• I need to stop sweating the small stuff. Jude is going through a phase (faze?) and yes, I need to deal with it, but not freak out all about it all the time.
• I really want to cherish my little boy. I do love him and the time I spend with him, he constantly keeps me laughing, but I need to take the time to cherish the little things, too. He is an awesome boy, and we are crazy about him. Can't you tell? I take a gazillion pictures of him ALL the time! :)
  

Yep, I take lots of pictures

What can I say? My kid is cute and I want to get EVERYTHING on camera. He sometimes does this really cute thing where he plays with the curtain that hides his closet, and I'm sad because whenever I go to grab the camera and come back, he stops doing it. Not this time. I was able to get it all, and boy, was it cute!

He loves looking out the window!

These were totally all Jude, I didn't pose him at all...except maybe once when he was standing at the window. I wish my camera were better, the pics are kinda dark, but I'll take anything at this point!

Good ole boy fun...

Since the weather was so nice the other day, we took Jude outside and had some good ole boy fun by playing in the dirt!

Standing on his own like a big boy!


He thought he'd try some dirt...
I guess he kind of liked it.
Daddy had to clean his hands off. :)

New Camera Fund

So, I'm saving money to buy a new camera. The old point and shoot (piece of poo) camera we have had for about 3 years is about on its last limb, it won't even flash anymore. And I am obsessed with pictures! Especially since I want to get all I can of Jude while he's little (and our future children too). This is the one I want...

I'm pulling out the stops on this one, I don't want another crappy point and shoot. I want a DSLR, one that will last me a long time. Honestly, I'd really like to have the Canon XSi, but that one is too expensive. With that being said, if anyone knows of any extra ways I can make money to help me buy this camera, please let me know! I'm already selling some things on eBay and I deemed all future gift money to be put towards it, too. So, any ideas?? Thanks in advance!

Funny Pic of the Day

So, Ross and I were outside yesterday taking pics of Jude, since it was a nice day and all. I got a couple of cute ones, some funny ones and then this one. I thought, Ross kissing Jude while Jude looks at me, too cute! Needless to say, it didn't turn out as well as I had planned...

Yep, that's my boy, just a spittin'. That's his new thing. No longer does he let the drool just fall out of his mouth like any normal baby...he now spits it out!

Well, what can ya say, we do live in Arkansas!

All My Friends Are Havin Babies...

Remember this post? It was all about my friends Emily, Adrienne and Laura. The last picture from that post was from Emily's baby shower back in December. Well, guess what? Baby Addie (Adelaide Tallu Ranson) was born on February 18 at 11:18pm. She weighed in at 8lbs 2oz and was just as healthy as she could be! I stopped in Memphis for a night last weekend to see Emily and meet Addie. I got to spend a lot of time over there and it was a really sweet time. I was extremely grateful!

Addie is SO sweet! It kind of made me want to have another one, hehe. And Emily is such a great mom already. She didn't seem overwhelmed or anything. Lucky her, I was pulling my hair out at that stage.

Ok, now onto the pics!

Lookin like her mama...
Me with my sweet niece (well, honorary niece anyway:))
Mama and baby

And I even got to see Adrienne, too! Yep, I look rough, don't judge me. It was snowing that whole day and my hair was a mess!

Then I thought it would be a good idea to drive home at 6pm after it had been snowing all day....BAD IDEA. I went 30mph the whole way home, it took about 2 1/2 hours. I was freaked out the whole time, cried some and prayed a lot. Thankfully Jude and I got home safely!!