the life of baby jude

Over the weekend, Meema & Mama had one of the most unsuccessful yard sales in history! You see, Meema is moving and well, she has a lot of stuff. So she thought she would have a yard sale. She asked Mama to help, which she was more than happy to do. Since we were going up there anyway, Mama decided to try and sell some of her own crap; my baby stuff included. So on Friday, we loaded up the car and drove upstate. I mean, our Focus was packed. I couldn't even see Mama from the backseat. Well, on Saturday, we got hardly any customers and the ones that did come didn't even buy anything! And I even gave them a hug as they walked up Meema's driveway and learned how to say, "Please buy our cwwwwap!"

So we decided that Meema's house was a bit off the beaten path, so we moved it to Sandy's house. Sandy & Meema have been friends for 20 years and so have Mama and her daughter, Jen. Jen has three sons-- one, Dalton, who is just a little older than I am. Even though Sandy's house is on a main thoroughfare, no luck. However, I had a fun day.Dalton and I mainly fought over toys and ate snacks together. Then, Peepa Bobo picked me up and I spent the afternoon with him and Marion (AKA Maaaa-yin). We played in the woods and had lots of delicious food. It was a nice way to end the weekend.

So the yard sale was a bust, but the way I see it, I get to keep a lot of my old toys. And I got see friends and my Meema & Peepa, so that can never be bad!

My mother, bless her heart, is many things, but an athlete is not one of them. Recently, Mama completely overhauled her life-- she quit smoking, lost 20 pounds and even lightened her hair again! She figured since she accomplished all this, she would try something that she never thought she would be able to do-- running! She is currently on week 4 of the "Couch to 5K" running program on coolrunning.com. It's program that's designed to get you from "couch potato to joggger in just eight short weeks!" Mama decided that it would be fun for me to be able to run with her sometimes, so she found this nice jogging stroller on craigslist. Little did she know that jogging is actually much more difficult when you're pushing 45 pounds of toddler and stroller around. But no matter, she survived. And I had a blast! I got to whiz around the lake in Verona Park at top speed (okay, not really, but faster than normal) and had a great time pointing at ducks, dogs and bicycles. And I got to eat snacks, which is always nice. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Mama is hopeful to be running her first 5K in early November. Nevermind that it's only actually 3 miles and Lucy's mommy ran one three months after giving birth just for giggles; I think this whole thing is pretty cool! Go Mama!

PS-- This is my 200th blog post! Who knew I would still be going strong a year and a half later!

The way I see it, I might as well enjoy the last couple weeks of summer. And what better way to cool off on a hot, steamy day then to splash water on yourself while saying, "Mama, I'm all wet!?" Since I'll have to wait about 9 months to do this again, I figured I would live it up.

I haven't been sleeping that well lately. Well, that's not true, I sleep just fine-- as long as I'm in a big, comfy bed. As much as I love it, it's not the most comfortable. Mama & Gaga decided it was time I got a nice, big bed that keep through my teenage years. And look what they got me! It's a bunk bed, but I'm sleeping on the bottom for now. I don't mind-- there's tons of room. Mama thinks it's so cute how tiny I look in it! And when I'm older, and if I'm so inspired, I'll sleep on the top bunk. Gaga moved the ladder because I was rather enjoying climbing up onto the top bunk, jumping and banging my head on the ceiling and then getting stuck up there.

Mama & Gaga also got me some very cute bedding! The quilt is actually pirate themed!Target was all out of the sheets and lampshade that look *really* pirate-y, but Gaga spent all of one rainy afternoon this week trolling the internet for what he wanted. And he found them! Way to go, Gaga! I'll be sure to update everyone when they arrive. It's very, very cute. Doesn't my room look adorable?

I like wearing glasses, no matter how nerdy they make me look. I think with my button down school shirt, I look especially bookwormish. However, Mama thought I looked a lot like Elvis Costello, so let's go with that one, shall we?

So I ask you this: what's so funny about peace, love & understanding?

Mama's friend, "Auntie L-Train" came to visit over last weekend! Apparently, they met at NYU and have been friends for years. Her real name is Laura and no one is really sure where the nickname L-Train came from. But naturally, as Mama's son, I was instructed to call her "Auntie L-Train." You should hear the way I say it! It's a show-stopper!!

After Auntie L-Train left NY, she moved back to Indianapolis where she was born. But now she lives in Colorado! We actually went to see her last May. Please refer to my post "Rocky Mountain High" for that adventure! But this time, she came to visit us. Mama dumped me at daycare on Friday so they could go into the city to have fun (after, of course, they got their hair and nails done), but I got to hang out with her the rest of the weekend. Gaga even took us out to dinner on Friday while Mama wasn't there! I was sad to see her go at the airport, but now, every time I see her picture, I proclaim, "AUNTIE L-TRAIN!!!!!!" So even though she's far in miles, she's always in my heart! Since Mama didn't get a picture of us together, here's one of the two of them. Cute, no?

Gaga and I are both sick. So we decided that soup was the way to go for dinner the other night. What a pleasant surprise! We had turkey chili and that's one of my faves. I like anything that's eaten with chips, though. I'm getting excited for the chillier weather because I know that means more soup. YAY!

We won't mention how Mommy left her keys by the chili bar at Whole Foods and some nice lady had to come running after her. I think she secretly blames me since I had them in my hand. But come now, I'm two years old and can barely talk!

Oh that Gaga! He comes up with the coolest games! Last night, we played "Kiss the Thomas." In case you're not familiar, this game entails pretending kissing Thomas is the grossest thing ever. Since he's a steam engine, I'm guessing this isn't far from the truth.

Oh wait... I'm nude. My mistake.

Ahh, jumping on the bed. I find this age old pastime more than a little enjoyable. I know there's lots of kids (and adults!) that enjoy jumping on beds, but I bet very few say, "BOUNKY BED!" whilst doing it. For anyone that hasn't witnessed it, that's a hard "c" in "bouncy." More like a "k" really. The way I pronounce is almost as cute as the faces I make and the tricks I do. If only this Bob-o-Pedic had a bit more bounce....

I went to my first movie ages ago. Before Mama went back to work and before I could move or protest anything that my parents did, she would take me to the "Mommy movie." Basically, it was a place where stay-at-home moms could take their babies to see movies. Actually, it was there that Mama met Auntie Sarah and Auntie Katie. So if we didn't go to the movies, I wouldn't even know Lucy & Evie. But anyway, I went to my first movie as a "big boy" yesterday. I came down with bronchitis on Saturday, so we kept the weekend pretty low-key. Mama & Gaga thought I would enjoy seeing "Ratatouille." We went to that very same theatre that I used to go as a little guy. However, the movie-going experience was much different. At first I demanded that they playing "Nemo" or "Thomas," but I soon realized that this was a bit different than watching movies in my living room. Mama is very clever-- she brought two trains, a juice box, candy AND popcorn to get me to stay in my seat. And I must confess, it worked-- at least for a little while. About halfway through, I wanted to bust out. Mama and I went into the lobby to play video games and take pictures. Of course, I was all excited for the booth until it actually started snapping. Then, Mama and I duked it out to get all four taken. Silly, huh?

We never saw the end of the movie, but I think I did pretty good for two years old and I hope to go again someday. Now if only they can work on a Thomas movie in the theatre, I'll be all set.

On Sunday night, one of my favorite babysitters, Aunt Arlene, came over to watch me! We had such a good time together! I showed her all my trains and she earned an even more special place in my heart by bringing me a school bus cookie in honor of the new school year beginning! It was great. She's really fun to be with and she adores me so much. She likes to refer to Mama as "LOML" for "Love of My Life," so I have been dubbed "LOML Jr." I like it!

Mama has taken me to Aunt Arlene's apartment a few times and as soon as pull up I say, "Ahhh-weeen! Ahhh-weeen!" because I know exactly where we are. She bought me all sorts of cool toys that she keeps at her apartment so when I'm there, I have something to play with besides her breakables, her pens and her business cards. I appreciate that. I like when Aunt Arlene comes over, though, so I can show her all my cool stuff. And at the of the night, we snuggled on the bed and watched TV together before I passed out and she watched episodes of "The Sopranos" on OnDemand. I suspect she likes the cable almost as much as she likes hanging out with me! ;-)

As Meema so delicately pointed out, I am a "carb baby." I love bread, rolls, muffins, waffles, pancakes, toast, and basically all carbohydrates. Here I am enjoying one of ShopRite's finest twist rolls. Yum. Mama thinks it's so funny that if she gives me bread with butter, I lick that off first. Although I look like Gaga, there are some parts of me that are *all* Mama's side-- Pasquale mostly! Meema would be so proud!

In my two short years on this planet, I have had many obsessions--my Mr. Whoozit toy, my bouncy seat, Elmo, wheels, "Cars," and now... Thomas and Friends. It all started with Lucy's cousin, Stan. When I met him, I liked Thomas and all, but it wasn't my favorite. I didn't, however, have all the cool trains that Stan did. After that day, my love slowly grew and a grew and now they're my most favorite thing ever!! Every time, Mama or Gaga go to Target I say, "Thomas toys? Thomas toys?" in my most annoying voice until someone takes me to the aisle where they keep them. Every week, Mama takes me the library and we rent a new Thomas movie. Then for the next 7 days every time we're inside I say, "Watch Thomas video?" The only time I stop asking to watch Thomas is when I'm either asking to watch "Finding Nemo" or asking to sit on Mama's lap and play Thomas games on the computer. Yes, it's that bad. I may need an intervention.

So here I am with my prized collection. Believe it or not, I know the names for all of them and can identify each one even if I only see it quickly. Pretty good for a kid that doesn't even pee on the potty, don't you think? P.S.- I even go to sleep at night with one clutched in each hand. Nothing comes between a boy and his trains.