Jude's First Day of School August 17, 2010

Can you believe it? Jude started preschool last week at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Holly Springs. 

We started the morning off with a waffle, milk and grapes. Because of the syrup, we (being me) decided to take off the shirt of my little man and let him go to work. He loves feeding himself and it gives me time to make the coffee and let the dogs out - a win-win for both of us. 


Shortly after breakfast, Jude went running around the downstairs, as I chased him with the camera to capture his first day of preschool. He decided to stop on the stairs with this...? I don't even know - what. Huh?

Future wrestler?? or Velociraptor??

So we went upstairs and cleaned up and put on a bright green shirt to make the girls swoon. Niles helped Jude get dressed and let him practice driving his car over large obstacles.

Mama's Boys

He looks so big! Over the last two months, he has grown like a weed. This summer he has grown 1 1/4 inches and gained two pounds. He is still an itty-bitty little thing but now weighs 19lbs 4oz and is 31 1/2" tall. He's almost as tall as a yardstick! And handsome as ever if I do say so.

Mini-Daddy - ready for his pre-school orientation

After getting dressed, we went outside to take some traditional "front of the house" photos. He didn't sit still long enough for me to get many, but I did get a few.

So went went to school and met Ms. Vicky and Ms. Stephanie who have been teaching at Mt. Zion for a few years each and have their own children who attended the program. Jude had a fun time meeting all of his friends and playing with new toys. 

After Jude's afternoon nap, he was wandering around downstairs when he came over to the garbage can (by where I sit on the computer) and threw something away, as Daddy's been teaching him. I look over at him and start praising him for throwing actual garbage away and what do I see? This.

Apparently, he had pulled the tab off his diaper (a clean one thank goodness - we had just cleaned up a big duke) and he was doing just what had learned by throwing it away. 

So what do I do as a response? Grab the camera. And that was Jude's first day at school (orientation). 

Since then, weather has been "cooling off" (which means the heat index has been back down to 90 degrees by 7 PM) and that means evening walks! And now that Jude can walk, his favorite thing is to take his popper and walk the quarter mile down to the lake to visit our resident ducks.

Mama! Snap it! I'm too cool to be lookin' so hot!

This particular evening, Jude walked all the way down to the lake with us while pushing or dragging his popper. He examined the trees, leaves, ants and cars along the way. I could almost see the wrinkles forming in his brain!

My heart walking down the sidewalk

I love him.

8:00 AM. Footie pajamas. Crocs. That defines my son.

His new thing is to run full-speed toward the camera and grin. I don't know where he gets it....

MUST KISS THOSE LIPPIES

How 'bout 'dem apples, Ladies??!

The following Tuesday, Jude went to his first full day of school from 9-12. His class is 7 little boys and 1 little girl and two teachers. Can you imagine?! Their day consists of craft time, story time, music time and playground time. 

Here are some new videos too!!

Dress Up with Niles

This morning, Jude decided to empty my shirt drawer. It's not entirely uncommon, however today, he ventured to put every shirt he pulled out on Niles's head. Niles was a good sport and just sat there as his BFF clothed him. 

(can you see the tip of Niles's nose??)

Where's Niles?

Jude was laughing SO hard.

I like the contrast of stripes against his white coat.

More?

A few minutes later, they work on a new approach: clothing his back?

Who cares if the laundry is dirty. Its for the DOG mom!!

Careful..... balance.....

MY TURN! (He literally laid down and did this to himself. So smart.)

6 Years.

Today, Nathan and I are celebrating 6 years of marriage. I cannot even describe what it feels like - its feels like its only be 3 years but it also feels like a lifetime. 

When I think back to 1998, when I met Nathan, we were both coming out of long-term high school relationships - "our first loves". I met him, officially, the weekend I gave my life to Christ. We were on a church retreat and he was the cutest one in the room. He radiated confidence, humor and love for the Lord. I actually have some old photos from that weekend (labor day 1998) but they are in Indy at my folks' house. I'll have to scan them in sometime.

I'll never forget the ups and downs of our "non" relationship. Nathan was a lady killer and refused to get into a long term relationship, despite us telling each other that we could see ourselves married - such insight at the age of 16 and 17!

We were so desperately in love, but we both knew that we had to go to school and grow into ourselves. Unknowingly, we we're destined to grow into ourselves and into each other, while growing up together. 

I'll never forget standing at my locker my senior year of school, telling my friends that we were supposed to be together and the looks on my best friend's face! I thought I was nuts too and that I was destined to have my heart broken. Not to say he didn't upon occasion (but I think we're both guilty of that)!

When Nathan asked me to marry him, we had been dating for 4 1/2 years. I knew I would be with him forever and that is all I wanted. I also knew (its an intuition thing) that our first child together would be a boy. Now, I know that sounds crazy - but whose laughing now!! ;-)

Once married, Nathan traveled and I worked in Carmel. We saw the world and were so desperately love-sick. I would miss him when he was on the road, but it was one of those things - we just did it. The longest stretch he ever did was 6 straight weeks. I'll never forget pulling up at the closest show to Indy (probably somewhere in Ohio) after 6 weeks of not seeing him, throwing the car in park and RUNNING and LEAPING into his arms. I think at that point, we knew that we couldn't live like that forever. 

Soon thereafter, Nathan's band Kids in the Way dissolved and he joined the crew for Third Day about 6 months later. I was starting a new job at Bucher and Christian and was VERY happy at my new job. We were ready to start a family and felt that the Holy Spirit was telling us it was time. 

After a three week trip to Italy, we began the baby-making process and conceived Jude in May 2008. 

So here we are,  6 years into marriage, 11 1/2 years into each other. I can't imagine my life any other way. Nathan and I have grown up together, but by the grace of God, we have grown toward one another and not apart. I can only describe it like this: Nathaniel Craig is my better half. Without him, I am incomplete. When I'm not with him, its like I'm not with me.

Cheers to this anniversary and at LEAST 58 more.

BURNING UP!

Well hello everyone! It is blazing hot all over the US, but tonight took the cake with a heat index of 99 at 7PM! To beat the heat in "Hot"-Lana, we've been spending a lot of time in-doors and at the pool. Going anywhere else is INSANE!

Since mid-July, I have been home from Indy and Nathan has been off the road, so we have spent a lot of time reconnecting as a family after a year of constant travel. My final engagement with BCforward concluded the last week in July, so I am currently in the job market, but we are taking advantage of every minute we have together, trusting that the Lord will open up a door (assuming I knock on as many as I can)!!

During my time off, I traveled to Portland with Nathan and Third Day for some rest and relaxation. We used the time to celebrate my birthday and our 6-year wedding anniversary, which is this Saturday! Jude stayed with Mamaw and Papaw Ehman while we had six days with no baby!! Upon our return, Jude got his second haircut. It was so hard to cut all his curls off, however it had grown unevenly and needed a clean up desperately.

Because Jude's room gets morning sun, he is usually getting up around 7:30, which is early for us (I know, we're spoiled). So Nathan and I have established a good routine of alternating mornings and who gets up with Jabroni (Jude). He is still taking two naps a day, so he usually goes back down around 10:30-12 and we'll have lunch and go to the pool! Our neighborhood pool is great and is the ONLY way to beat the heat. Jude LOVES it and now that he is walking, he spends a lot of time walking around the pool deck, playing in the grass and playing with his newest friend, Liam. This week, we have been practicing counting to three and going underwater. Jude is doing great! He doesn't inhale water or get upset - he just pats his chest and gets wide eyed - its SO CUTE! I'll try and get some video next week.

Last week, Nathan’s career was taken to the next level when he received a gold record for his work with Third Day – their live album and DVD sold over 500k copies! We are so blessed to be included in their "family", as they continue to increase Nathan's responsibilities and input. Recently, he started blogging on their website about his experiences on the road as a crew member. Check it out and follow him on twitter for his funny quips: 8/9 Milwaukee, WI (blog) and follow him on Twitter.

As Jude approaches the 18 month mark (can you believe it!?) he is constantly evolving into a little boy... here are some of his recent milestones and activities:

• Physical: Walking, two ear infections, 19.3 lbs, 3 of four molars in (11 teeth total) and the 4^th molar in the works. His other eye teeth are getting ready to cut too - poor guy!
• Words: ball, go!, uh-oh, truck, “hi doggie”
• Favorite toys/activities: TRUCKS, balls, anything NOT a toy, water, crayons, dropping things over the balcony. He can also complete tasks when asked like “put up the dog bowls” or “put it back” – he will put the item back from where he got it, like laundry or Tupperware from the drawer. He loves turning light switches on and off and pushing any and EVERY button within reach. When asked to "go pet Niles", he knows to go to Niles (not Fiona) and pet him (and vices versa when asked to pet Fi). He points at airplanes and helicopters and yells "uck!" when a truck goes by - even if he just hears it! Last night he fed the neighborhood ducks for the first time and laughed so hard he nearly fell out of the wagon (which he likes to ride in standing up). He still loves books but cannot sit long enough for me to read through one... in time, right!?
• Favorite/New Foods: Spaghettios, waffles, guacamole, supreme pizza, anything dipped in ranch!, ritz pretzel crackers and GRAPES, GRAPES and MORE GRAPES!
• Nicknames: Jabroni, Jabroni Pepperoni, Judums, JuJu, Pickle, Pickle Pants, Homes... thats all that I can recall.

Tomorrow, August 12, he starts nursery school at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. It is not our church, but Kathryn (next door) enrolled her kids and helped me through the pre-screening process. Her son John and daughter Claire will be starting there too so we will hopefully be able to carpool some. Oh motherhood ;-).

Below are some fun pics we took recently. As always, there are more posted on our MobileMe page: http://gallery.me.com/bonnie.ehman

Jude likes to open the armoire and get into his toys. He finally fits into some AWESOME boots his Aunt Vicki bought him for his birthday!

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Jude and Niles are BFF.

Jude and Mama during my photo shoot (by daddy) for a new professional headshot!

Showing off his mad-skills: walking and drinking.

Starting to look like a big boy. Bittersweet....

Just after receiving his gold record from the FedEx man, Jude is giving his daddy a pat on the back - so proud of you Papa!!

Jude and Mama at the Georgia Aquarium!

Jude holding Daddy's hand while looking at the Beluga Whales

Mom?! Look how close I am to these SHARKS!? HELLO!?

Here are some recent videos!