Dear Jude :: 10 months

My sweet crazy boy,

You clearly are a busy boy!

You are no longer in the single-digits, but such a big boy at 10 months old!  And what a monumental month it has been.

Let's start with the obvious.

You are sitting up, pulling up, standing up by everything.  And badly badly want to walk.  You sometimes forget that you can't (without support) and will just let go and take a tumble.  I think the days are numbered before you actually do take those first steps.  Life is different now with such a mobile baby!  We've had to up the baby-proofing to keep you safe.  You are actually a pretty obedient baby so far (knock on wood).  You understand "no" and will often listen without a fuss.  Sometimes you get really sad when Mama has to get stern with you, but overall, you listen great.

You are still taking two naps a day, but have started to show signs that you might be ready for one nap before long.  Your naps are usually at 10am and 2/2:30pm.  You go to bed around 7-7:30pm and wake up at 8am most days.  You get three 6-8 oz bottles a day!  One at 8am when you first wake up, one around 2pm, and one around 7pm before bed.  You are no longer eating any purees, but basically eat what we eat.  I pretty much just have to share my lunch with you every day. :-)  I don't mind.

You still love playing with Daddy ("ah-da!") and Macy (Doggy, aka "dugg-uh").  Lately you've enjoyed chasing Macy around the house... which basically looks like you squealing with joy while Macy runs in circles around you.  You love your Touch and Feel books and legos you got for Christmas.  Oh, and let's not forget Praise Baby.

The world stops for Praise Baby.  This continues to be the only TV show that grabs your attention.  It has been a life-saver for me, as I just plop you in your jumperoo and put it on for 10-15 minutes so I can grab a shower.  And it is the only time you will sit in my lap and snuggle.  I usually put it on for 10-15 minutes to wind down before naptime and get a few extra snuggles from my boy.

I'm not sure how big you are.  I'm guessing at least 21lbs and close to 30" if not more.  You don't have another doctors appointment until 1 year (what?!?!), so it'll be awhile before we get fully accurate measurements.

You are finally getting over a cold that was hanging around for the past month.  Luckily, it seemed to be just a cough, but it has prevented us from going to church for the past 3 weeks!  I'm eager to get you back to church and used to the nursery, since we have only had one successful Sunday in the nursery so far!

You clap when you are excited, or when you copy Mama and Daddy clapping.  You have started signing "More" and "All Done", although only on your own terms. :-)  You will point to things when asked.  Light, cup, doggy, kitty-cat, Mama, Daddy, etc.

It is just crazy to me that you are basically a toddler.  This huge transformation from baby to little boy is happening right before my eyes.  We love you oh, so much, little boy!  Happy 10 months.

Love,

Mama

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, two of my favorite boys grow up a day.

The bigger one will leave his beloved twenties behind and take on the responsibility of a thirty-year-old! 

I tease him about it, of course, because I have to, being that I am 3 years younger.  But I have a feeling that our thirties are going to be some of the best years yet.  Raising our family.  Our kids starting school.  Hopefully adding more kids to the mix somehow.  Maybe moving.  Maybe a new career direction for Jordan.  Who knows.  I'm excited for this new era in my hubby's life.

 

And I'm SO happy that it is him that I am doing life with.  He's such a servant.  His actions convict me to be more giving.  He's an amazing father.  Regardless of the kind of day he's had at work, he pushes it all aside and gets down on the floor with Jude to spend every moment he can with him.  Family comes first with this man.  

He's passionate.  About our marriage.  His family.  Music.  Politics.  History.  Truth.  Christ.  Discipleship.  The Church.  Reading the word every day.  Get him started on any of these topics and you'll know what I mean.

He's quirky.  Spontaneous dances in the kitchen are not unheard of.  Crazy nick-names for everyone in the house (I'm surprised anyone knows their real name).  The goofy voices he uses when reading to Jude.  

He knows who he is.  In Christ.  As a man.  And that is super attractive.

Then there is this little guy, who will be 10 months old tomorrow (although these beautiful pictures were taken when he was 7 months old).  I'm savoring his last day as a single-digit baby.  But we'll have more updates on how crazy much he's grown in the past month tomorrow.  Just looking at this picture it blows my mind how much a baby can grow in a few months.

All of that to say, I love my little (growing) family.  I'm so excited for what this next season holds for us!

Happy last-day-of-being-29, my love!

...

Solitude

I'm being challenged today to find solitude in Christ.  Less stuff.  Less distraction.  More HIM.  Less facebook.  Less TV.  Less entertainment.  More listening.  More JESUS.

Why does that seem so difficult?

What are you challenged by today?

Sharing the love on Mondays.

Mondays weren't always my favorite.  After spending a weekend relaxing and enjoying friends, the alarm clock was often a rude awakening to the work day ahead.  Thankfully, I was lucky enough to have a job I looked forward to going to.  And then once the little man arrived, those days of sleeping in were long gone.  I still don't look forward to Mondays in the sense that my hubby goes off to bring home the bacon and Jude and I look forward to 5pm (or 6 or 7 some days) when we get to see him again.  

But lately, I love Mondays.  The last two especially.

I have joined a women's bible study, and in just two weeks I can tell this was just the relational and spiritual boost I was craving.  It is SO uplifting to spend Monday morning with other Christ-following ladies, who have crazy kids running around, preggo bellies galore, and marriages that need some extra attention (just like mine).  

Since being home, I have missed community.  I love being home with Jude, but I miss being filled each and every day by people.  This, I know, will be the perfect way to start my week.

So, yesterday, we got talking about the topic of being filled, and pouring into our children  (okay, so maybe I was talking about it... being that it is heavy on my heart for 2012).  I talked about how I realized it was important for me to be filled with things that are holy, worthy, good... so that I could have a Godly perspective as I spend my days with Jude.

I mentioned how we listen to Beth Moore podcasts during lunch, and how blogs have been a tremendous encouragement to me as a stay at home mom.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE sharing life with other women.  Women who love to write (like I do), are just such an encouragement to me as they share their daily struggles and triumphs.

So, they asked that I send them a list of the blogs that I love to follow.  And I thought, why not share with all of you?  So here you have it.  These women (or men) have no idea how they have encouraged me to be a better woman, wife, mother, person.  

A Holy Experience 

Written by Ann Voskamp, the author of One Thousand Gifts.  This book is on my MUST READ ASAP list!

desiring God

John Piper's blog.  Lots to learn from this man.  He recently did a post about abortion that I really liked.  Some of my favorites, though, are from guest authors like this one.

Do Not Depart

Awesome encouragement to get into God's word.  Along with tools to make your study times more effective.  Just overall encouraging!

Living Devotionally

A sister site of Do Not Depart, this site offers encouragement for women in their walks with the Lord.

We Are Grafted In

This blog focuses on adoption, a growing passion of mine.  Lots of powerful testimonies and encouragement!

I Take Joy

Sally Clarkson's blog... author of The Mission of Motherhood.  I've been encouraged and convicted time and time again by this woman in my journey of motherhood.

(in)Courage

A faith blog written by many wise women.  Just love it!

Living Proof Ministries Blog

Beth Moore's ministry blog.  Need I say more? :-)

Inspired to Action

This blog has been tremendously influential in my life to encourage me to spend my time wisely, and gives me tools to do so!  She has a HelloMornings challenge every few months.  I joined once shortly after Jude was born and failed miserably.  I hope to join again soon!

OnePlace.com

This isn't a blog, but a collection of Christian podcasts that you can listen to for free!  Jude and I will often listen to Beth Moore, Ravi Zacharias or Family Life while we eat lunch!

Now, I don't check each of these every day.  I use Google Reader to subscribe to all of my blogs, and I have these in the category of "Faith".  I'll skim through every couple of days and read the ones that catch my interest.  These are definitely favorites of mine though!

What blogs do you find encouraging?  I'd love to hear your suggestions as well!