Dear Snoring Monkey,

I’ve been horrible about updating this blog lately. I have no real excuse. I’ve simply been tired. I’ve been napping when you nap, and occasionally using your down time to catch up on cleaning. (Okay, that happened once. Who’s counting?!?!) We also right in the middle of summer, and you just go, go, go hour after hour, day after day. You run circles around me, literally. Simply put, you tired me out, Jude; but I’m not complaining.

Summertime suits you well. We spend our mornings visiting local playgrounds or, if Papa’s home, playing at the beach. Sometimes we cap off playtime with a trip to Charmer’s for a bagel with veggie cream cheese. After nap time we usually play indoors; you love to finger paint and draw, dance and listen to music. If the weather is crummy, or if you’re not feeling well, I make popcorn for us to share, and we snuggle up in bed together and watch The Incredibles.

Your favorite books right now are Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems, The Peace Book by Todd Parr, and Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes.You love ‘reading’ these books on your own, and you love describing what you see on each page while flipping through the books with Papa or me. You’ve (thankfully) gotten through your obsession with The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree, and have moved on to requesting Agony & Irony by the Alkaline Trio. How grateful I am for this progression, I’ll never be able to adequately put into words. Thank you, Jude. Thank you.

Earlier this month, your Aunt Erin and Uncle Grant came to Chicago and stayed for a week. We met up with them a few times during their vacation and visited Shedd Aquarium with them. That same week, you, Papa, and I stayed at the Belden-Stratford Hotel for a night. We had a great time there, living the high life, and were reluctant to leave. This past month we also purchased a child seat for my bike so that you and I could go for rides together. Sadly, I don’t have much biking skill and was unable to balance you, the seat, and the bike well enough to take you on any rides. BUT! not to worry, sweet boy. Yesterday we returned the seat and ordered a bike trailer for you to ride in. By this time next week (hopefully sooner!), you and I will be cruising all around Rogers Park in style.

In other, pointy-er news, your second set of molars are on their way in. So far, I’ve spotted those sharp little buggers on each side of your bottom row of teeth. You’re dealing with them fairly well, though Papa and I have both noticed you chewing on your had a lot lately. Also, there’s the crankiness, but who’s to say that’s from the teeth? It could stem from your refusal to go to bed before 10 the other night, or your subsequent refusal to nap for more than sixty minutes the following afternoon. Thankfully, you went to bed at a decent time this evening, so tomorrow, if the crankiness ensues, we should know what it is we’re dealing with.

And on that note, Monkey, I think I’ll sign off and join you in bed. The weather is supposed to be nice again tomorrow, and we have an early playdate scheduled with your girlfriend in Lincoln Park. Sleep tight, Jude. Thanks for another great month.

Love,
Mama