......

NOT A FUMBLE!!!!!!!!

You all better write a giant thank you note to that official.

Soul Song

I am setting off on a noble quest. A quest to make the Ultimate "Soul Song" Playlist. I don't mean the music genre: soul, but I mean a playlist of those songs that when you listen to them, something happens. You know what I mean? It's not just good music, or great music, or even fantastic music. It's music that was inspired to be made because it comes from a place of pure truth. Songs that rise up inside you. Songs that get inside you and won't get out.

Maybe it's something different for everyone, I don't know. Maybe some people are scratching their heads right now thinking what is she talking about? music is just music, man. I don't know. Maybe different songs work this way at certain points in your life and lose their lustre over time. I don't know. But, I'm on a quest to find out.

I think it would be truly orgasmic to have all my "soul songs" in one place, one after another. I don't know if I could take it, but I'm going to find out. And, if you please, maybe I'll share the journey. It's going to take time, careful deliberation, and intense scrutiny to find the "it" that I'm talking about. With each song choice, I'll post it on this blog. Feel free to scrutinize my findings and see if maybe they are "soul songs" for you as well. And, if by chance none of my songs do it for you, be my guest and start your own quest. I'd love to be introduced to more possible "soul songs" for my own collection.

once a week at least

Wow...the blog posts lately have been very few and far between. I don't know what happened! But, I think it should stop now. Or, go, as it were. I'm going to try and post once a week at least, even if there is nothing to say. Could be scary. Topic of this post: Jude is crawling!

ridikulus!
nuts!
unbelievable!
fu-get aboot it!

No, it's true! And, he's already knocked over two sodas. Don't worry, I cleaned it up. He's also a teeth-making machine. He has two top and two bottom, and I swear, they're still coming like there's no tomorrow. We bought him a baby-sized nerf football because he loves the full-size one so much and he ripped a big chunk out of it with his freak teeth and tried to eat it.

It wasn't too shocking, however, because he tried to swallow a bandaid a couple weeks before that. He took it off his own leg and put it in his mouth. Did Dad miraculously see and stop it just in time? No. Did Mom sense something was wrong and swoop in? Uh-uh. Thank goodness for Uncle Jake who always seems to alert us responsible parents to the fact that our child is about to choke on something yicky.

and I just keep thinking: is this real?
is this happening?
is someone kidding?
Nope. It's really real and really happening and freaking funny.

Halloween

I know I said Jude would be the Son of Rambow for Halloween this year, but we decided it would be better to do that when he is a little older. So, Jude went as a puppy for Halloween. Here he is when we went Trick-or-Treating at the mall:(And, yes, I shamelessly used him to get candy for Justin and I.) He was a little subdued while we were there, but he made the cutest little puppy. It fit his personality so well.

"I've been a good puppy! Where's my treat?"

Jude Laughs...a lot

And sorry about the crazy camera work, it turns out it's hard to tickle and film at the same time.

I read and read and read

I need stuff to read!! Help! Everyone who reads this blog should give me some suggestions of good books to read in the comments section. I'm running low and I blow through them so fast, please help my habit. I really appreciate it! Thanks!

Oh, and I'm keeping track of all the books I read in the sidebar link "I Read," just for fun.

All About...

JUDEI've been totally slacking in the keeping-people-updated-on-Jude department, and since he's almost 5 months old, I decided to share the best moments of being 4 months old. Jude is getting more and more aware all the time!

And he's quite the looker, too!

He's still not too crazy about being on his stomach...

but he tolerates it for small durations of time.

He prefers sitting up and playing with toys. He's getting pretty good at doing it on his own, but he likes someone to be right there just in case he falls over, or if he reaches for a toy and then can't pick it up because all his weight is on it.

Everyone who knows him knows how happy he is. He loves to smile...

and be tickled by Grandma Betts...

so much so that he can barely stand it!

He has a ton of personality!

AND, look closely, TWO bottom teeth!

He can be silly, but he can be thoughtful, too.

I'm sure everyone has heard Justin and I bragging about how tall Jude is, but that's not always a good thing! Check out these pants, and yes, they are supposed to be pants:

Thanks, Jude, for stretching out to your full height for the picture!

Yesterday, we went to the park with Grandma and Grandpa Betts, Jason and Heather, and their two kids: Lincoln and Lily. This is how Jude felt about going down the slide with daddy:

Not too sure about that! But, he made a new friend. Lily is fascinated with him. She wants to touch him, but doesn't know if she should.

Despite having a little cold, Jude was really good the whole time we were there. He's okay as long as he's hanging out with daddy:

and mommy:

He spent some time pretending he's a puppy!

But, by the end of the day, he's a tired little puppy.