Oh, Rudy.

Our boy is turning 1 tomorrow!  Can you believe it?  His momma sure can't.  In the meantime, we have a little watermelon thief on our hands. 

At least he's a generous watermelon thief. 

He's a Movin'

Life has been flying by.  We took the youth to Kentucky for Ichthus, celebrated our five year anniversary, and in a week our little Dude is going to be 1 year old!  I've had to work this week and have been trying to get a few last minute things together for Rudy's party since I have to work Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday coming up.  So, that's why you haven't heard from me.  Here is a little video to show you the progress Rudy has made since the last video. 

That's My Boy

He's a walkin....

Kind of.

Josh took this one of the boys the other day.  Arent they sweet?

Motorcycle Man

Rudy is Grandpa's little motorcycle man.  He didn't get to go for a ride, but he enjoyed his sit on the bike.

  Other Breaking News:  Rudy is taking some steps.  It won't be long before he is full out walking.  About 4 days ago he started trying to take a few steps without holding onto anything, but would basically just fling his body forward.  Today he took 3 or 4 very controlled steps in a row several times.  I will try and get a video to post some time this week. 

My little boy is growing up.

11 Months

 What's Rudy up to at 11 months? 

He is wearing 12 month clothes and size three diapers mostly. 

You won't ever see him in shoes because he pulls them off as soon as we get them on his feet.

He doesn't rock the faux hawk as much these days because his hair is starting to get pretty long. 

He is still just cruising around the furniture and crawling at the speed of light.  No real steps yet.

He knows how to wave bye-bye, but doesn't do it often because he'd rather clap.  (When he learned how to wave, we would clap for him.  So now he just skips the wave and goes straight for the clap.  He loves to be praised!)   

He raises his hands in the air when you ask him how big he is and will lift up your shirt and find your belly button if you ask him where it is. 

He can say Uh-Oh  and often says it just before he throws something on the ground.  He can also say bye-bye. 

He is still a Momma's boy, but is really starting to like being around his Daddy more and more. 

He loves to give great big bear hugs and gives snuggles out pretty freely, but he can also throw fits like the best of them.  He has started screaming at high pitched screams when he is not happy about something.   

He usually takes 2 naps a day, and is starting to do a really good job of taking them in his crib.

He still doesn't usually sleep all the way through the night, but does on occasion. 

He recently started loving books and will play with and "read" them for a really long time.  He will also tear them up. 

He is obsessed with fountain drinks (I have no idea where that came from ;)) and will throw a fit if you have one and don't let him hold it slash drink from the straw. 

He has been able to drink out of a straw for quite some time now, but immediately lets it all run out of his mouth. 

He will eat just about anything you put in front of him, as long as it isn't pureed.  He loves yogurt, string cheese, blueberries, bananas, puffs, pizza, turkey, mac-n-cheese, and chicken and noodles.  He is an eater.

He snacks on butter crackers and graham crackers quite often, but usually ends up giving more to Murphy than he eats himself.  (He is a very generous boy, haha.)

He loves to climb on everything and pull EVERYTHING out of the kitchen cabinets. 

He has such an adventurous spirit and is SUCH a boy.  I love it.

This little kid is crazy and wild and sweet and fun and honestly the best little boy ever. 

Here are some of the out-takes from our photo session: 

What is this stuck to my shirt?

Get it off!

Not interested in sitting.



Spaz-tastic.



This is fun.

And funny.

Can't touch this.

Isn't this just one of the sweetest pictures you've ever seen?

And a pouty, jealous big brother.

Why, Hello There Friends!

I really haven't had the desire to blog for the last few weeks.  When I get home from work I am EXHAUSTED.  I spend an hour or two playing with Rudy before he goes to bed,  shower, then head straight for bed so I can get five or six hours of sleep before I get up and do it again!

I've been trying to make the most of my days off.  Usually we go for a few walks (unless it's 95 degrees like today) and hang out by the pool.  I mean the baby pool, of course.  

Rudy turned 11 months old last week and I am still working on his 11 month post.  He is getting more and more mobile and is not so easy to photograph these days.  We had to have 2 sessions with his 11 month onesie and we still didn't get one that we were REALLY happy with.  (But we got one that will work.)  So stay tuned for that post soon!  Here are a few pics to show what we've been working with.   

Sitting inside the end table.  Pushing out all of the VHS's that we need to get rid of. 

He was being bad so I put him in time out.  In Murphy's crate.  Haha.  Just kidding!  He loves to crawl in there.  And he is playing with the wooden spoon I have been shoving through the cabinet handles to "babyproof" them.  Whoops!  Probably time for some real babyproofing. 



And here are my Smore's masterpieces.  Notice the peanut butter.  Perfection!  We've had a couple of campfires over the last couple of weeks, but I bought the flat stackable marshmellows and they fall off the stick as soon as they start to melt.  So I've been making them in the oven.  Delish!

Sorry it took so long, but that's a little taste of our last week and a half!