What we Were up to Last Fall

Played with oats, cars, and brothers.

 Renovated with little ones afoot.
(And an even littler one in front)

 Washed dishes with naked babies.

 Built things.

 Slept in.

 Hopped on Pop.

 Made cookies. Lots of cookies.

 Forts.

 Pretended to take naps, but only pretended.

Lots of forts.

No baby loves bath time quite like Jude.

I hold his head and he floats in the kitchen sink.

The water laps his baby soft skin, hugs his round tummy and thighs.

He stares at me. I look in his deep, blue eyes.

He doesn't even protest when I lift him out to wrap him in a towel.

This is a ritual that I love.

The Party

Poor, tired boy. This is the closest he would get to his cake.

Luckily Dean had no problem stepping in to blow out the candles.

Shared the party with cousin Andrew (Happy 11 today Andrew!)

Grilling--yum.

Spring--hallelujah!

I'm serious about my frosting layers, and about my seriously delicious boy!

Stubbs never misses a party.

A chunk!

!!

Maddux's 2nd!

It was warm and sunny on Maddux's birthday, so we went outside in our shirtsleeves to soak up some vitamin D. Dean ran ahead, Jude slept slung to my chest, and Maddux held my hand.

For the past two years Maddux has been the baby. I balanced him on my hip, Dean held my hand and we intrepidly ventured out and about. He started walking at 13 months, running last summer, but if I intended to get anywhere alive, not lost, and timely-ish then I held him. Even at one of Jude's early doctor check-ups I had to resort to carrying a car seat in one arm and Maddux in the other. Would he ever just be able to walk with me and not run nilly willy here, there, everywhere?
Yes, we're getting there. The shadow on the grass of the chubby little arm attached to mine showed me that. And I remembered that it was the same with Dean before Maddux. It seems as if right up until the next baby the previous one is glued to my hip soaking up all their babyhood.

My sweet baby Maddux Ray is two. He has ginormous smiles, and torrential tantrums. He is oh so vociferous, although unintelligible--unless you understand...whatever language it is that he shouts. Heaven help anyone who tries to change his course, or his shirt, or put on his shoes, or take them off.....But his happiness is exuberant, his laughs and hugs and wet kisses melt my insides.

Dean is his favorite person to play with and to bite. And oh those bites.....lightning fast with piranha force.

He looks like his daddy. They make the same expressions. Sometimes I make Maddux laugh, just so I can see Luke's smile.

So here's looking forward to his year of two. A year of holding hands, aaaand chasing him down, because he will run off. Yep, he will. And I will find him, kiss his chubby cheeks, and man-handle him back to my side. Amid screams of protest, because he is two. Good thing he is irresistibly cute.

Jude!

Last night I paced the floor of the room on the second story of my parents' house, the room that is full to the brim with sunshine in the morning and moon shadows at night. Two and a half years ago I paced the same floor with my first baby, then 15 months old. Holding him close, bouncing to a Nat King Cole song, hoping that the bouncing would work my calves out, and looking at the imprint of my feet in the carpet and wondering what it said of my posture. I think I would have laughed if I had been told that in two and a half years I would be back visiting doing the same thing with my third baby. My third boy two months old.

I've been writing a post more detailed about Jude's birth, but it has turned into a personal journal item, not really right for a blog open to all the Internet. So the short and sweet version:

My past labors were quick, but Jude beat them all by coming suddenly and furiously fast--at least that is how it felt to me. We had an appointment at the hospital that morning. Nothing seemed to be happening so my doctor didn't check me. We left at 12:30 p.m. By 2 p.m. we had driven out of town, turned around in pain-ridden near panic, raced back, and had a baby. No epidural, he came too fast. And although I love epidurals dearly, and the pain was crazy intense and scary I would do without an epidural next time too. If I'm brave enough.

I held and nuzzled Jude, then while he was being warmed, wrapped, and checked out I'm pretty sure I beamed at Luke, "we have a baby!" Sappy I know. You'd think we didn't already have two, but it feels just as exciting every time.

Luke held on to me and I was feeling very proud of myself. I had survived! The human body is an amazing thing. Our sweet baby Jude is-----AMAZING.

Jude Robert Christiansen, 7lbs. 12oz, 20 1/2 in. long. My biggest baby yet. I'm pretty awesome (I can say that now its over, during I'm pretty sure I was a mess of I-want-this-over-now-and-I'll-be-as-loud-as-I-want!).

Love, love, love him.