Sometimes you win

Jude has started sleeping in most mornings and taking at least a 2-hour nap most days, and at first I thought he was growing, but now I think it's all brain development. In the past couple weeks Jude has started singing entire lines of songs and talking up a storm about fire trucks and ladybugs, and everything is coming out more clear. He's in full parrot mode, so he repeats everything we say. He is also really enjoying being in the kitchen while we cook dinner. He likes to sit on the counter, and he is doing a great job standing in the dining room anytime we need to open the oven. "It's too hot!" he says.

We've been taking a Red Cross swim class this week at a local park, and we have had an awesome time. Jude's been learning to blow bubbles in the water, kick on his stomach and reach out, kick while on his back, and how to safely climb out of the pool when not by the ladder. Today he was totally under water for a second a couple of times, and he did great, giving his teacher a high five. (He rarely turns down a high five). The best part about the class is how much fun Jude's been having. He laughs and smiles and tries things. It's been a lot of fun for me, and goodness knows I am not big on the whole pool thing (more of an ocean person). We will be doing this again, for sure. Won't be long before he can take the class without me!

Because of how much he is enjoying the lessons, we signed up for another activity today--soccer. We were at a birthday party last weekend, and some kids were playing soccer in view of the party. Jude had his nose pressed against the window, saying he wanted to play soccer. We have also been passing a soccer field on the way to swim lessons, and he says he wants to play soccer. The class starts later in the summer, and it's inside! It's a parent and child class for little ones, so it's not really soccer so much as just kicking the ball around, kicking the ball in the goal, bubbles, and parachute games. I'm hoping to get some exercise too. We'll see how that goes and decide if we want to do anything in the fall. I'll only have 3 classes in the fall, so we might have the time AND the energy!

6 years

Today is our 6th anniversary. I'm not so sure what's unique about this anniversary than all the ones before it, but something feels different. I feel proud of this anniversary, and I feel sentimental.

Some of toughest times have come over the last two years, so maybe it's that we've come through those together. When bad things happen, we cling to one another. When joyful things happen, we cling to one another.

When I was growing up, my dad once told me, "You can't change a man." I took this to heart, knowing that I wouldn't marry someone who I thought needed to be molded or shaped in some way. I wanted someone who fit just right from the start. Someone who shared my values, as well as my sense of humor. Jon is that person for me. I wouldn't want to change a thing.

We spent this morning roaming a festival and eating barbecue, and tomorrow we're taking Jude to his first baseball game. I'm so happy to be celebrating our marriage this weekend as a family, doing the things we enjoy together. As Jon said in his card to me this morning, thanks for the first 6 and here's to 60 more.

Like father, like son

Amanda's 2nd Mother's Day

This Mother's Day started off beautifully when Jon brought Jude in to tell me good morning. Jon said, "Tell Mom 'Happy Mother's Day,'" and Jude gave me the longest, sweetest hug. I got two sweet cards and a gift card for a pedicure at The Spa. The boys then took me to brunch at Zest. I had the crab meat frittata served with a salad, corn bread, and fresh fruit, Jon had the breakfast casserole served with fresh fruit and a raspberry scone, and Jude had the strawberry pancakes. Breakfast was delicious! There was a special menu for Mother's day, so we are hoping to go back and try some more from their regular menu.

On the way home we got a big surprise-a blowout on the interstate. We called C&A to pick us up when we thought the hubcap was not going to be able to be removed, but Jon muscled through and we were able to call off the rescue. Thanks C&A for coming out. We had an awfully lazy afternoon, followed by a trip to purchase a new tire. Jon made a great dinner, courtesy of Trader Joe's--salmon in a mojito sauce, sweet potatoes, and rice.

The total cost for dinner at home was only $9. We are really trying to track our spending on dinner and what of what we buy we actually eat. We want to reduce our wasted food, spend less eating out, eat more local and organic foods, and eat less processed food. We are having trouble with some of the organics because they go bad so quickly, requiring more trips to the store or farmers market during the week. We'll find a balance in there some where. I'm excited to see how we do.

This is going to be a long one...
In other news, Jon's job may be ending in September, so we are continuing to be more conscious of our spending habits. This is very hard with a 2-year-old whom we love to indulge in! We're hoping Jon can find something in this area. If worse comes to worse, I could probably live somewhere else and finish my last semester online because after the fall I would have all of my on-campus classes finished with only my masters paper and 2 electives to go. I also think I may have just finished my hardest semester, so that is good news too. If anyone is in need of an awesome psychometrician, evaluator, statistician, I know one!

I am currently working in a local middle school to complete my field experience hours. I am glad to be back in a school, but it is so crazy to try to learn an entire staff and meet all my goals in just 150 hours on site. The school has really welcomed me with open arms, and they are being quite patient with my learning process. I am so thankful they took me on, and I look forward to making some positive contributions to improve student learning.

Jude is doing really well, and he is talking sooooo much. He's really into football, tennis balls, basketball, fire trucks, motorcycles, and all things with wheels. He is really ready to turn 2, and get this next year started. He is having a joint birthday party with Tyler on July 17, so let me know if you need any more details now. Save the date--invitations to follow! As always, music and books are part of Jude's everyday, and he is enjoying his kitchen and cooking for his stuffed animals.

Jon's parents will be visiting soon, and we are excited to see them. The flooding in Nashville included their neighborhood, and we are so thankful they were able to go to a safe place and return to a mostly dry house. Water got under their house, and did some damage to the HVAC and duct work, but man-oh-man it could have been way worse. The loss of life is so tragic, and I am so glad people reacted quickly to keep one another safe and help their neighbor.

HOWEVER, if you call the flooding in Nashville "the next Katrina" to my face, I will smack you in the mouth. Sorry. The comparison is ridiculous.

Finally, to end on a nicer note. I am so very thankful to be a mother today. The details of Jude's birth day are forever in my memory, and I remember every moment that was so happy and so desperately scary. We got so much support when he was in the hospital-the longest week of our lives. I think so often of how many folks stepped in and supported us and supported our mothers. This Mother's Day for me was about all the "Moms" who prayed for us, thought of us, read the blog, loved us, and loved Jude. I share this day with you.

Dancing! also egg hunting and a sheep

We had an absolutely wonderful Easter weekend. Jon was off on Friday, so we had the opportunity to spend a great family day together. We spent the morning hours doing our weekly grocery shopping and had lunch at one our usual spots. After nap, we headed out to a farm in a neighboring county to kick around and see the animals. We played in a huge bin of corn, fed the ducks, explored a fort, and saw all kinds of critters. Jude was particularly smitten with the goats, but he had a run in with a very loud sheep. The sheep walked right up to the fence and gave us his best, "Baaa-aaa." Jude wasn't quite sure how to take it, and he just about climbed up my leg saying, "Hug, hug." I don't blame him--that sheep was loud!

We topped off the day at Backfins, a seafood restaurant in Wake Forest. We started with the crab dip, which was served with house made tortilla chips. The dip was not as good as that at the Village Tavern in Winston-Salem, but it was pretty good. They have a pretty limited menu for entrees and specialize in blue crab. Jon and Jude had the flounder, and I had the shrimp basket. The portions were HUGE. We brought home about half of our food and all left the place stuffed. Jon's onion rings were lightly battered, very nice, but my hush puppies got mixed reviews. The hush puppies could use a little whole kernel corn or onions in the mix to add a little moisture. The flounder was extremely fresh tasting and the batter was really good. The shrimp were also very fresh and very plump!

Saturday morning we went to a friend's house for brunch and an egg hunt. We had a great time, and the kids enjoyed Easter baskets and finding the eggs. We had bagels, a fruit tart, an egg casserole, and fruit. The kiddos had delicious sweet potato pancakes made by our hostess.

Saturday night and Sunday were low key, but we did bake a pecan pie for Chris's birthday. Sunday evening we had dinner with the other Raleigh Brasfields, dining on salad, ham, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, the aforementioned pie, and the aforementioned remaining fruit tart.

All in all, a weekend of lots of food, family, friends, and farm animals.

Jude readin' and peein'

So Jude can now read his first corporate logo as seen in the video, and he peed in his new potty for the first time! Here's how it went: He walked up to me and said, "Kee." "I said, "Do you have to pee pee?" I took off his diaper and sat him on the potty in front of the TV so he would stay put. A few minutes later he stood up, and Voila! pee pee!

Snowed in

Well, it snowed down here in Raleigh, our state's capital. As always, the city was utterly unprepared for the 5 inches we got plus sleet, and we were apartment bound all weekend. The state DOT has described the predicted road conditions tomorrow as a nightmare, so we will here tomorrow too. Jude has been under the weather, so he and I had been in most of the week. Feeling a major case of cabin fever, we all ventured out today to play in the snow and walk to the grocery store. C&A also braved the 2 mile stretch between our houses to come visit, eat junk food, and watch "Arrested Development."

If you look closely at the last picture you can see pug prints on the snow. There was a layer of ice on top of the snow, and the pugs weren't heavy enough to break through. They are not enjoying the snow and look forward to being able to smell where they pee again. Apparently it's something super important to dogs.

Juder

Jude woke up from a nap recently with one sock on his foot and the other on his hand. Jude is also doing a bit of Mr. Potato Head work these days.

The video is Jude demonstrating proper spoon usage.

Christmas Take 1

We decided Christmas at our house would be today since we are leaving for our tour of the I-65 corridor on Monday. Jude attacked his stocking like he had been planning it for days. He found some books and his first Little People. (As in the little toys, not as in "Little People, Big World").

Jude received a wonderful book from one of Jon's co-workers and several gifts from his daycare provider, Mrs. Kim. She said Jude will be starting the preschool curriculum after Christmas break :)

From mom and dad, Jude got new pj's, a Wonder Pets book, and a huge lion that we named Barry. Barry is, of course, named after Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders. Jon is also a Barry Zito fan, and we can never name a kid Barry. I mean Barry Brasfield. No. No offense to any Barries out there. Yep, I changed the "y" to "i" and added "e-s."

Jude also received a neat-o book from Nana Lou. It is "T'was Night Before Christmas" as read by Nana Lou! Each page is a recording of the text on that page by my mom. The reading is activated by turning to that page in the book. It's mega cool, so I'm uploading a video.

Jude plays guitar and sings

Jude loves the ornaments on the Christmas tree, especially the one that looks like a guitar that Jon got from my mom. He also really likes the Coca-Cola Polar Bear in the Coke machine. Enjoy, and happy holidays!



Also, don't forget to protect your smallest guests this holiday season by having hand sanitizer available. Put poisonous plants and choking hazards out of reach, and plug those outlets!
-Amanda