Judah's Laugh

We got Judah's really fun laugh on video a couple times. The first video is Eliana making Judah laugh, and the second video is Daddy making Judah laugh.

Silly Little Monkey

I've noticed that a lot of little boys' clothing features monkeys. Here's our little monkey in some of his gear:

Dress Up

Don't you love the Daniel Boone hat with the sparkly sequined tutu? :) That's my girl!

Reunion with Friends

Last Saturday, we got together with some good friends from college. Justin & Christine Kam, and Ben & Joni Fuller, were two couples that are still close to us. All of us live in Ohio, so we met at a centrally located Bob Evans to catch up and enjoy a meal together. Ben & Joni have a 10-month old daughter, whom we hadn't met until Saturday. She is a cutie! :)

The girls (and Judah)

We made the guys take a pic as well. Don't they look thrilled? ;)

Playroom

In December we were blessed with some fun, imagination-inspiring toys for Eliana's birthday and then Christmas. We were thus presented with the question of how to organize these toys in a way that would be fun & functional for the kiddos. We have an area designated in the basement as a playroom, and I decided to call on my days as an infant & toddler teacher at Ball State's lab school to set up the space.

We organized the room into several categories: Active Play, Music, Dramatic Play, Science/Math, and the Reading Nook. We tried to label things with words and pictures, to help Eliana learn to start picking up after herself, and to encourage word recognition. In our crazy life, I am trying to channel organization ... haha!

Eliana has really enjoyed her playroom. At the moment, Judah mostly just lays on the floor, but soon he'll enjoy the playroom too!

The whole playroom, centered around the art table Jeff's grandfather made for him when Jeff was a boy.

Eliana enjoying her art table

New Sweater

Judah received a sweater knitted by Mamaw Thompson, and it was a good thing we tried it on him and got some pictures, because he won't fit in it much longer. Here are the pictures we got, including one with his Mommy wearing a hat also knitted by Mamaw:

Like Father, Like Son

Jeff, 29 years ago

Judah, last week

Judah David at Four Months

Judah turned 4 months old on Tuesday, and he is an absolutely delightful baby. He is a big boy; at his well baby visit he weighed in 17 lbs, 12 0z & was 26 and 3/4 inches, putting him in the 95th percentile for weight and height. He is very laid back and flashes a huge, gummy smile at whoever is looking at him. He also has a precious little laugh.
Judah loves playing on his activity mat, reaching and grabbing the toys dangling above him there. He also is discovering his toes. Tummy time is definitely not a favorite activity. We love him so, so much!

Judah David at 4 months:

Jones Family Christmas

We spent the days between Christmas and New Year's with the immediate and extended Jones/Reynolds families in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. Judah enjoyed meeting most of his extended family for the first time, and Eliana enjoyed opening many more presents.

Judah meets Aunt Nancy

Judah with Great Grandmommy Reynolds. We originally tried to get Eliana in this picture too, but it came right during a toddler tantrum :-)

While in PA, we met up with Chris and Katie Wells and their 1-year old son Elijah. The Wells are friends of ours from college.

With Katie

Grandma Jones reading "The Grinch" to Eliana

Finger painting with Uncle Christian's girlfriend, Kara

Judah and his cousin Hosea. Hosea is twice Judah's age, but they are the same size!

Roughhousing already!

Grandma Jones and her grandchildren

Judah meeting Aunt Dianne

Eliana found a friend in Jeff's cousin Molly. Eliana is wearing her play dress given by her Great Aunt Liz

Judah meets his great grandfather, Pop Pop

Christmas 2011

We spent Christmas this year at home in Columbus with Eliana and Judah's "Mamaw" and "Papaw" Thompson. Eliana loved everything about Christmas, from the lights to Christmas music. And of course, she loved opening presents. Judah, of course, was just "along for the ride", but we look forward to telling him all about his first Christmas.

Before Christmas, we visited the zoo and saw their impressive light display

Eliana loves riding the carousel at the zoo

The kids with their grandparents just after our church's Christmas Eve service

Our Christmas Eve appetizer & dessert meal

Jeff and Dad building Eliana's toy kitchen. This was the first of many Christmas Eve "assembly" projects for the kids.

Judah, as happy as can be, soaking it all in on Christmas morning

Eliana opening one of her presents. Between her birthday and Christmas, she became really good at it over the last month.

Eliana playing in her new kitchen, wearing a new apron and chef's hat that I made.