The older Jude gets, and the more I dress him in Noah’s hand-me-downs, the more I am seeing double.

Observe Noah as a baby:

Now Jude:

Each with his own unique look, but unmistakeably brothers.

Speaking of brothers, I stumbled across this scene the other day:

Now that he’s mobile, Jude is always interested in what his big brother’s up to, and they are starting to “play” together, though Jude’s version of playing is mostly chewing on things. Noah is beginning to incorporate him into his storylines, recently asking me if the “Emperor” was done with his nap so that they could continue their galactic battle.

I am glad to have these two little people to occupy my mind and arms and life. Nana (their “Grand-Nana”) is slowly slipping away from us, and I find that I am hugging and kissing the boys all the more, celebrating the life here that precedes the life to come. Please continue to keep my grandparents in your prayers.

What kind of mother lets her children wriggle all over the library floor
while she finds a book?

Um, yeah… That would be me.

Let’s not even discuss how dirty that carpet might be. I really wanted a book.

Jude, happy to be liberated from the stroller, took that opportunity to MAKE HIS FIRST OFFICIAL CRAWL. Knees up, one scooting in front of the other.

Which, poetically speaking, is just too perfect.
A library should always be a place of discovery.

Later in the day, we went over to Beki’s new house for lunch and a swim.

Noah, perhaps inspired by his brother, also felt adventurous,
surprising us with what became the first official swim of 2010.

CANNONBALL!
(Actually what he shouted was, “Captain Piggies!” an inside joke
with Owen which I have yet to understand.)

A wiggleworm and a tadpole, my two sons. It is going to be a busy summer.

Our grocery store has a program where they send newsletters, coupons, and free gifts to parents of preschoolers.

Yesterday they sent us a chef’s hat. Noah told me to give it to Jude.

I’m not sure if they want him to cook an omelette or say the Easter mass.

If the latter, his is the first Popemobile to feature teething toys.

The face of a new campaign.

Yesterday, as I was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Noah announced, “I made Jude’s hair curly!”

Sure enough, sitting there in his walker with a drooly grin on his face, Jude did look rather coiffed. His thin crop of hair was damp and swirly.

I laughed, then stopped. “Noah, what did you use?”

“Orange juice,” he replied, in a tone that said, “Isn’t it obvious?”

So off we trucked to the bathtub.

Thankfully, it looks like Jude is turning out to be a natural redhead—no orange juice necessary.

Pretty soon I’ll need to start supplementing Jude’s diet with this:

And these:

Oh, and this:

He is, after all, a growing boy.

Jude’s 4-month stats are in:

Height: 26.5″ (90th percentile)

Weight: 18 lb., 12 oz. (95th percentile)

(And cute as ever.)

When selecting a Thanksgiving centerpiece, one should always consider the following questions:

(1) What is my centerpiece budget?

(2) What materials do I already have on hand?

(2) What is my decorating style? Country Casual? Minimalist? Shabby Chic? Traditional?

(4) What will serve as the most memorable accent to our Thanksgiving feast?

For those of you still looking for ideas, here are some suggestions:

“Harvest Tableau” ($20-$25)

“Pumpkin Cluster” ($5)

“Classic Cornucopia” ($10-$25)

“Indian Baby in Bumbo Seat” (Priceless)

You can guess which one I’ve selected.

Jude

= Jude the Dude

= Joodle Doodle

= Joodle Doodle Dandy

= Doodle

(Also “Doodlebug,” “Magna-Doodle,” “Joodle-Doodle-Doo”)

This is what happens when you become a parent.

*Photo by wondermade (our talented friend Nathan)

Noah:
“Mama, is Jude my best buddy?”

I love when Noah’s questions have easy answers.