Posts Tagged ‘Mo Willems’

  • Letter to Jude: Month 26

    2

    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.

    STA70771

    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.

    STA70807

    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.

    STA70861

    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.

    STA70822

    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

  • Letter to Jude: Month 21

    0

    Dear Jude,

    Do you realize how close to being two years old you are? Today you turned 21 months old: that means you’ve been on the outside for one and three-quarter years. Eep! I don’t know if I’m ready for you to be two! Slow down with the growing up, please! Please?

    STA70386

    February brought with it some impressive accomplishments on your part. Your vocabulary has tripled? quadrupled? in the past month. And, while you’re not quite able to say “I want ice cream” with the diction of a college English professor (or that 19-month-old super geeky baby girl), you rarely have trouble getting your point across.

    Near the end of January, you realized that you’re able to clasp your hands behind your back. That trick kept you occupied for a few days. Early in February you learned to “clink and drink”– that is, tap your sippy cup to Papa’s or my cup and then drink from it as though you were toasting to our health– and now you incline your cup towards mine on a daily basis. You’ve been honing your imitation skills this month as well. After watching me run down the hall and jump up and down trying (but failing) to turn off the smoke alarm, you smile, laugh, and mimic my flailing to a tee. You like to dance. You make up your own songs, sing them, and applaud yourself at the end of each one. You’re learning to feed yourself with a spoon and fork, and you’re already doing quite well with each!

    You, Papa, and I were all sick with the stomach flu a few weeks ago. None of it seemed to bother you…I wish I could say the same for Papa and me. The worst thing about you (and us) being sick is that we got (back) into the habit of watching numerous videos each day. Or, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that we got into the habit of watching the same video over and over and over again each day. Jude, you LOVE the VeggieTales movie The Lord of the Beans. And, as much as I hate that you love that video, or videos in general, I love watching you watch that movie. I love seeing your reaction when Larry the Cumber comes on screen. I love it when you laugh at “Randolf” and “Todo Baggypants” at the beginning of the film. I love how you sway back and forth to the VeggieTales theme song. I love everything about you. Have you picked up on that?

    STA70373

    Papa and I got you a Learning Tower earlier this month, and at the end of last week, I was (finally) able to put it together for you. I think I might love this piece of furniture more than you do, Monkey! I love having you at counter-height. I love that you can watch what I’m doing and that I can include you in the work I have to do in the kitchen. You simply love to be in the middle of things. You love playing with your toys on the counter and you love helping me cook and bake.

    You and I have made a few really good friends since moving to Rogers Park in December. We spend a few days a week with our friends Miles and Aimee, and we have a standing date with your friend Stella and her papa, Ian, on Wednesdays. We’ve been getting out pretty consistently, despite the cold weather. We go to Stories with Nadine on Saturdays at The Common Cup and we hit the library at least once weekly. Right now, your favorite books are Hippos Go Berserk! and Snuggle Puppy, both by Sandra Boynton. Next week I’m hoping to pick up a few Mo Willems books from the library because you really love Knuffle Bunny, and I think you would enjoy some of his other books as well.

    STA70376_1

    Winter is on its way out, Baboo. Spring is just around the corner. In just a few short weeks (cross your fingers!) we’ll be spending our days outside, going for walks and playing at the playground. I can’t wait to explore our neighborhood with you…to discover different shops and places to play. I can’t wait for you to be able to play in the dirt and build sand castles at the beach. Only a few more weeks, Jude. The countdown is on!

    Love,
    mama