the life of baby jude

"Take 'er away boys!!"

Check me out! Yesterday, I went down the shore with M&D and went on Uncle Jack's boat. What do you think of the cool life preserver that he bought me? Nice right? AND, I got some use of my cool sunhat from the Denver Zoo. Anyway, I really enjoyed the boat. I was all giggles at first, but the nice breeze, gentle rocking and white noise of the engine put me right out. I was asleep within minutes!!




Uncle Jack and Daddy didn't catch any fish, but it was still a great afternoon! Mommy even dunked my toes in the water, but I wasn't that fond of it. That water is too cold still, geesh! I can't wait to go on the boat again. Thanks Uncle G!!!

We also went to the boardwalk, which was a blast. I was a little cranky at first, but I came around. : ) I ate a hamburger and got a few licks of M&D's ice cream. Although I'm still getting the concept of ice cream cones down. A few times, I grabbed the ice cream! Oops! M&D wised up and one of them held my hands down while the other one gave me a taste. Hehehe, they're so clever. I also took a carousel ride which, as you can see, I enjoyed very much. Whheeeeee!!!



In other important news, I cut my second bottom tooth and it looks like my two top ones are going to come in at any moment. After 11 months of waiting, those teeth are just going crazy now!

What a fun weekend with Grandma!! I don't know if you know this, dear readers, but my grandma, Lisa has a candy business she is trying to start up! Well, this past weekend was her first time selling. She did a flea market at the Black Bear restaurant up near where she lives. Of course me and Mommy were there to offer moral support AND to lure in customers with my obscene baby cuteness. As you can tell in this picture, Mommy even made me a "promotional onesie." Even though this picture looks more like I'm praising Jesus then promoting candy, the sentiment was there, I swear. It says, "Sweet Lisa is my grandma!" and shows a picture of me chowing one of Grandma's delicious chocolate pops. What's better advertising then a picture of a little guy like me enjoying Grandma's wares?!?! Here's a picture of her table and her bride and groom caramel apples. Didn't she do a great job??




I was such a great baby both days, even though it was pretty hot! Mommy brought my playpen and when I wasn't chilling in that playing with toys (well mostly Mommy's keys and Grandma's display American flag because Mommy forgot proper toys)I walked around with Mommy or Grandma. I'm such a trooper! Grandma's friends and the other vendors even complimented my wonderful behavior. Geez, what a lucky baby I am. I have throngs of fans! Here I am munching carrots in the captain's chair and acting cheesy in the playpen. Aren't I such a big boy?




Grandma, we're so proud of you! You did a GREAT job! Sweet Lisa's straight to the top! Next stop, QVC!!!! Love ya!

Look how happy I was yesterday!!! I was all giggles and smiles all day long and I was actually posing for the camera. I don't know what came over me, because that's soo not my style. But I decided to throw M&D a bone and allow them to get some cute pictures. Also, if you look REAL close you can see my little tooth coming through! Isn't it exciting?? You can also see a hair stuck to my face, probably one of Mommy's. Have I mentioned how much I like to pull her hair out? She doesn't seem to appreciate it very much, but I think it's one of THE funniest things ever.

Yesterday the day started off well enough. We had pancakes for breakfast! YUM! Then, M&D and I drove Auntie Marilyn to Port Authority so she could take a bus to JFK, so she could fly home to Miami. We hit a pretty big street fair, though, so we had to take a detour to get home. We went right through Times Square and I loved it! I couldn't believe how pretty all the lights were. I do love hustle and bustle. We were suppose to go to the Essex County Carnival, but the weather was dubious... AGAIN! So instead we went to Panera, so I could eat my new favorite soup,Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice. It's really delicious!The rest of the day was just spent lounging around and I got to help Mommy plant her flowers. I was a big help, I must say, even if I did spend most of the time trying to grab at Daddy's beer. I love beer. : )

All in all, it was a very good day! I love Sundays!

Today is my cousin Isadora's fourth birthday!!! Mommy says she just can't believe that Izzy is four already, although I don't really know what that means. I've only known her for a year, not even! Anyway, we used to live in Buffalo together and here's a picture of us last summer. They live in Las Vegas now and I miss her, my Aunt Jenny, Uncle Erik, Uncle Paul and my other cousin, Ava SO MUCH! I can't wait to see them again. I know that M&D really miss them, too! They mention it all the time! So, Izzy we hope you had a GREAT BIRTHDAY! Love ya!

I cut a tooth! Yes, that's right, I really have! I've been working on it for awhile, I think, but M&D just noticed yesterday. It's only a little bud, but it's definitely there. Mommy said it felt rough to the touch. She tried to get a good look, but I like to be coy. Everytime she pulls my lip down, I stick my tongue out! Yeah, I'm a stinker like that. Hopefully, it'll grow a little more soon, so we can get a good picture!

So at the tender age of 11 months and 1 week, I finally have a tooth! As you can tell by this poll, most babies get them earlier, but who cares. They broke the mold when they made Baby Jude! But, anyway, I'm gummy in NJ no more! London broil, here I come!

Just do it. You won't be sorry.

Me in my new shirt "posing" with Mommy

Yesterday, M&D and I celebrated Mommy's first official Mother's Day. This time last year, I was just finishing baking in Mommy's tummy. The sound was kind of muffled in there, but it seemed like a good time. Anyway, this year Mommy was an "Official Mommy" and got to celebrate in a very exciting fashion. Daddy and I got Mommy lots of great stuff. We got Mommy a card and I wrote some really cute stuff in mine (I think Daddy did too because I saw Mommy get all teary-eyed). Anyway, here's the exciting part. Daddy bought a bed for Mommy (and for him, I suspect). It's a Tempur-Pedic and they're suppose to be really comfortable. Daddy took Mommy to Target under the guise that they were getting new bedding for the bed they already have. But then Daddy whipped out the receipt for the new bed right there in the store. It was so cool and Mommy was so surprised and excited! Ahhh, that Daddy. I'm pretty excited, too, because it's bigger than the bed they have now and I look forward to snuggling in it many a morning. The new bedding they got is pretty cool, too. I have a feeling that M&D are really going to make their bedroom look nice when they have their own room! Not to mention, when we do get our two-bedroom in July, I'll get M&D's old bed in my room! Woo-hoo!

Anyway, we had a really nice day yesterday. I was a really good boy all day even though my eye was still bothering me. Daddy cooked Mommy breakfast and let her plan the whole day. They bought some pretty pillows for their new bed and Mommy got flowers for her little garden. And here's the best part: they even got some stuff for me. I think that baby clothes in Target are just too cute for M&D to resist. Even though I noticed they got some stuff on clearance, I am still very much appreciative. You know I like to look my best!

I would also like to say Happy Mommy's Day to Grandma Lisa, Grandma Ginny & Great-Grandma Ellie! I really hope they had a wonderful day. I didn't get to see any of them and I know that my two Grandmas didn't get to see their kids yesterday, but we all love you SO MUCH!!

As you may have noticed, I was MIA last week. Well, I was on quite the adventure. Mommy took me to Colorado to see her friend from NYU, Auntie Laura. We had SUCH a good time! We flew into Denver airport last Monday. It was my ver first plane ride, and I was a very good boy, if I do say so myself. Auntie Laura has a very nice apartment in Westminster, a lovely Denver suburb. I couldn't believe how new everything looked! I know I'm just a baby, but I could tell that this was newly devloped and certainly a lot different from where I live in NJ.

Auntie Laura has two very cute cats, T'Pau and Nami. Wow, did I enjoy chasing after them!!




On Tuesday, Auntie Marilyn joined us. I was really happy to see her!
We did lots of fun things together, all of us. We went to the Butterfly Pavilion, a butterfly conservatory and science museum. It was a little warm and humid in there, but there were so many beautiful butterflies to look at, I didn't mind. I loved watching them fly around and looking at the pretty flowers. It was so cool! After that we went to the Denver Zoo. It was quite fun! I've never been to a zoo before. And get this: we got to meet more of Mommy's friend from her internet board. We met Cheryl and her kids, Allison and Liam(whom I share a birthday with) and Kim and her baby, Maddie. I can tell that Mommy was really happy to meet them and I must say, they were pretty cool babies. And their moms were really sweet too! YAY, friends! Here's a picture of all of us. Auntie Marilyn tried to get us all looking at the camera, but like that would really ever happen!




On Thursday night, we went to a hockey game! We got to see game 4 of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks & Colorado Avalanche series. Sure, the Avanlance lost and thus got knocked out of the playoffs, but it was still fun. I ate a pretzel, drank some of my bottle and passed right out. It was noisy, but I really didn't mind. What can I say, I was tired! Plus, I realized that Mommy was not, in fact, going to let me dip my baby fingers in her beer. So what was the sense of staying up? To see mullets?? No thanks, I say. I already sort of have one myself.

My only complaint about Colorado was that the air sure was really dry. Me and Mommy came home with a nasty cough and my baby eyes got so dry that I got an eye infection. I'm on the mend now, so don't worry. : ) It didn't stop me from having fun, though! Even though my eyes were super crusty, I never let it dampen my spirits! I'm good like that! We came home on Friday and I did just as well on the flight home. I conked out for most of it and was even complimented by other passengers on how wonderful my behavior was. Mommy was very proud of me, I could tell, not to mention very relieved. Since I was so well behaved I hope to be taking many more trips!! I was very happy to see Daddy when we got to the airport. I really missed him and I think he missed us too! He looked really happy to see us.

So, thanks, Auntie Laura for sponsoring our trip and showing us such a great time! Love ya and can't wait to see you again!

A special thanks goes out this morning to my Grandma Ginny!!! Look at this cool phone she bought me!! It's just like M&D's phone and I like it *almost* as much! I was so happy to receive in the mail on Wednesday! Thanks for thinking of me, you're the best!




Oh, and I don't know if you know this, but I'm a Super Space Explorer. Not sure if you can read it, but it says so right there on my tee-shirt. See? It's a pretty cool gig... for a baby.

In other exciting news, I have mastered how to stand in my crib in the morning! I find it's much easier to chuck my binky at M&D from a standing position. Of course, this has lead to some early mornings because as soon as I open my eyes and see it's not that dark anymore, I want to get up and try my new trick. THEN, I get so excited about it that I can't fall back to sleep. I get the distinct feeling that M&D don't in fact want me waking up at 5:30 in the morning. Hmmmm.... I'll think it over because I must say, I do get kinda tired by about 8:00am, just in time to start my fun day at school. I'll mull it over. No promises. In the meantime, let's hope that Mommy gets a picture sometime soon. It's mighty cute, if I do say so myself.

Last night, I enjoyed a delicious piece of pizza!! I mostly ate the crust, but man was it a good. I mean, everyone loves pizza and lest we forget, I'm half Italian. I even ate some pieces of sausage from Mommy's slice (saus-EEGE for all my goombas out there). It was delicious, although I don't think Mommy wants to make pork prodcuts a steady part of my diet just yet. But someday, ahhh, someday, I'll enjoy it with some peppers & onions on a nice roll and make my Grandpa Robo proud! I'm really starting to get into all types of exciting new foods. I'm pretty darn tired of that swill in a jar M&D have been giving me for months. Organic or not, I'm over it. Boring! Plus (and this is the most important part), I can't really feed it to myself. What I am supposed to do, just sit there with my mouth open while M&D shove food into my mouth, like I'm some kind of trained monkey?? HA! I think not! This baby is INDEPENDENT! Give me pizza, give me crackers, give me cereals of all kinds! I'm ready! Crap, I really need teeth. Or even just *a* tooth would be nice.

It would also be nice if I could eat in peace every now & again, without a flash in my eye.

On Sunday, M&D took me to the Ken Lockwood Gorge. They actually got the idea from reading Lucy's blog. She went there with her family and it looked like such a good time, we all decided to go. Thanks Franks family!!!

So, we got a little lost getting there, but once we arrived, we had such great fun! We walked around, looked at the water and the fishermen, played with the leaves and even sat on a rock and ate lunch. Mommy kept talking about how "gorge"ous it was-- a joke she cracked way too many times. I guess it wouldn't be an outing without my mother cracking cheesy jokes, but still! Give a rest, Good Times Sar! : ) One of the best parts of the day is when I got to ride on Daddy's shoulders.
What a view! I can't wait until I'm a little older and can hold on better. That way Daddy will be able to hold me up there longer. I guess it gets a little tiring holding onto my hands. I'll learn someday, I'll promise. Hey, Daddy, at least I didn't puke in your hair like that time in Old Navy. Oops.

Anyway, I had a great Sunday and can't wait to do more outdoorsy stuff. A special thanks to Auntie Cheryl for loaning Mommmy the hip hammock that I rode in most of the afternoon. It was quite the comfy ride. Even Mommy said it was a pleasant way to cart a "baby load" like me around. Oh, and for a full catalogue of photos from the day, click here. I strongly recommend that you do, because I took some choice photos!

Hi Everyone!!! After a fun four days with Grandma, I'm back in Jersey! On Saturday Mommy met me and Grandma at Woodbury Commons and brought me back home. I had a great time with Grandma, as always. We took walks, met up with her friends and even went to see a band play! But, the best part of the trip was probably the tumble class that we went to. On Friday morning, we went to the Little Gym in Kingston. We met other babies, did fun exercises and even blew bubbles. What a blast! Mommy said that we could go to the one near us and take a class. I think I heard M&D talk of signing me up for the "Birds" class, which is for babies, but "big" babies like me, 10-18 months old! Sounds fun!

Anyway, to summarize, I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA! Thanks for the great time and being such a great grandma. And I'm sure of one more thing... you took a nap on Saturday when you got home!!! : ) Love ya!