Full time Daddy!

We new this Melbourne trip was going to be a big one! First, the three hours on the plane (piece of cake), then, riding in the back of a taxi (a little whingy, but not so bad), then, sussing out his new home for the week - bed, play area, and no bath (no worries), and then....., full-time daddy care for 4 days!

Day 1 started off a little shakey with mummy not wanting to leave.., just one more kiss, ohhh, just one more (need I go on more??), daddy dressing Jude which resulted in his shirt being back-to-front (he he he), and a million phone calls back and forth between us with a zillion questions, both ways! But, after the initial hurdles..., I think the 'boys' had a fabulous time spending their days shopping in the city, walking along the Yarra, sightseeing, and out for dinner! To be honest, I struggled being apart from Nudie which is so amazing considering I have only known this little man for 14 weeks!

Tuckered out after day 1 in Melbourne (Jude was tired too - he he)

A little bit of fun at Grandma's...

After the week in Melbourne, it was back to Brisbane to meet two of mummy's friends who are living in the UK, Pippy and Trina, and also to meet a very special little girl who just entered the world - Anastasia. There were lots of smiles for all the girls who were very surprised at how big Nudie is! Girls...., we forgot the camera!

Then, it was all about having fun at Grandma and Grandad's house. Grandma became a little silly one day when Jude experienced a typical hot, humid Brissy afternoon right before a Summer storm. Mummy gave Grandma a nice wet washer to cool Jude down, and look what happened.....

Jude the Snake Handler

Sister Jude

Egyptian Jude

Egyptian Jude is personally my favourite! Straight to the blog... he he!

Playtime with Presley and Grandma

Well, what a very busy two weeks. As soon as we arrived back to Rocky, it was straight to sleep for the little guy.... Zzzzzzzzz

3 months old - ALREADY!!

Our newborn baby is now a little boy and I can't believe how fast it has gone! It feels like just yesterday that I read him his very first issue of Vogue at the ripe age of 10 days old. Unfortunately for me, he now prefers books like Harry the Dirty Dog, and The Hungry Caterpillar - why!!!!!?

Anyway, our little boy is now 'not so little' weighing 6.7kg at 12 weeks of age with 6kg of that weight is in his cheeks - he he! He spent the first 12 weeks of life mastering swimming, babbling, laughing, sleeping (oh thank you my guardian angel - aka 'Kirsty'), crazy kicking, flapping, and grabbing mummy's hair, toys, clothes and whatever else comes within reach! Jude is officially a massive cuddle tart, and has been soooo lucky to meet so many of his family and our friends!

At 3 months of age, Jude loves.....

- His most favourite person in the world, his dad

- Anything to do with water

- Kisses (lucky - cause they come in thick and fast!)

- Talking with grandma

- Kicking around under his playgym

- Staring at his brother Presley

- Blowing raspberries

- Dribbling

- Eating!

- Rolling over to the left (and only the left???)

- Grocery shopping - weird I know!

- Shopping

At 3 months of age, Jude doesn't like.....

- The sound of the whipper snipper (pardon the spelling??)

- The thirty minutes between 6pm and bathtime (6.30pm)

- Going out for brekkie, lunch and dinner all in the one day (sorry little man)

- Sitting still for more than 10 minutes

- Watching the flight attendants do the safety demonstration on air planes

Dale and I feel so lucky to have Nudie Judie and can't imagine a day without him. He makes us laugh so much and we are treasuring every day, every moment.

Happy 3 months old Jude!!!

Out with the girls...

Smiles for the girls!

Good conversation!




Cuddles with Nanna while blowing raspberries!

Jude was up for a bit of Christmas shopping in Brisbane, but not before a little morning tea with his Nanna, Grandma (or Nona/Uba/Noni - anything else Kath wants to be called), Aunty Emma and of course, mummy. And, good thing we had our cameras as there were lots of 'kodak moments'!

I have my 'L' plates already!

Lucky Jude is the first person to sit in his Grandad's new Clubman that he is building. It was a race earlier this year as to who would arrive first..., Jude, or the car. Jude won (thank goodness as the car didn't arrive until much much later)! Mummy thinks Jude should learn to drive in Grandad's Clubman..., Grandad doesn't think that is a very good idea - Hmmmm, I wonder why? Something tells me there may be more 'progress' piccies to come with little Jude in them.

My First Swim

It was such a hot day so the Barnes Family decided to take a dip. And, so surprise..., where there's water, there's Jude. So at 12 weeks of age, after a few dunks of the feet, he was totally in, no whinging, no crying, just lots of kicking and babbling. We think our little man is so fabulous as he is willing to give anything a go (or so we think - he he)! Since then, we have been doing a little pool session each day cause he looks so cute in his swimmers!

Water Boy!

Jude LOVES the water! Bathtime keeps getting longer and longer as there is just so much to do! Kicking, licking the washer, sitting up, floating, talking.., the list goes on....

Who said I loved cuddles.....

Just a little bit of proof that Master Jude Barnes LOOOVVVVEEESSSS cuddles....

Jetsetter!

Rudie Nudie Judie is now officially a frequent flyer! Before the year is out, he will have been on about 10 flights so you can imagine how nervous mummy and daddy were before his very first plane trip! If this was not going to work, then what were we to do?? But, as always, Jude was such a good little boy. It was mummy who was painful as yet again, our flight was delayed! Here he is with dad, saying good-bye before flying to Brisbane...

Meeting the family....

What a spoilt little man! Over the past couple of weeks, Jude has been soooooo lucky to meet most of his family and have lots of cuddles. Our little boy is a massive cuddle tart! There is still a few more to meet at Christmas time, but so far I think Aunty Nat definitely takes the prize for 'Jude Calming', and Aunty Emma wins the award for 'Jude Entertainer'! Nevertheless, Nudie is growing so fast, and changing everyday. At 11 weeks of age, Jude can out-talk his mum (I know.., it's a first for anyone - he he), laugh, and smile at the 'baby in the mirror'. He LOVES spending time outside under the trees, hates the pool (thanks for trying daddy), and his favourite toy is Mr Lightyhead.

Brisbane here I come....

OMG - 8 weeks old already!!! Jude was up for a Brissy trip, dressed in his car outfit, to see as many people as mummy and daddy could cram into the week - crazy!! A few things had to be rescheduled though as Jude was a bit overwhelmed with the long drive, new city, new bedroom and so many people to meet. His parents have learnt for next time! He was such a fabulous little boy though and very much loved the trip down south and all the cuddles that went along with it!

Jude has now started to have these fantastic conversations with a range of things including his monkey mirror in the car (of which he thinks is hilarious), the wall, the lounge, mummy's patterened tops, his fist, Presley and his cot mobile. He also loves talking to anyone that will listen, which is usually followed by a giggle and a huge smile. He is oh sooooooooo cute!! He loves 'kickie' time on the change mat, being nude (hence, his new name..., Nudie Judie), baths, and watering the garden with daddy.

Jude was a very brave boy for his 8 week immunisations, but the consultation went on FOREVER as all the nurses at the clinic had to have a cuddle. One of the other patients thought Jude was 5 months old - how wrong she was (he he he)! Jude just told her he is carrying a little 'insurance' for a rainy day when perhaps the world runs out of food : )

Grandma came to stay with the Barnes Family for 10 days when Jude was 4 weeks old. Mummy was very thankful and hardly had to lift a hand the whole time. Jude LOVED playing with Grandma, and started to smile properly for the first time! Aunty Emma and Chris also stayed a few nights which was heaps of fun! At 5 weeks of age, Jude weighed in at 5.1kg, and was 59cm long - a big beautiful boy!!

Poor Grandma went home with some dark circles under her eyes. I think she may have breathed a sigh of relief as she boarded the plane!!

Whoops, we had a bit of a scary moment early one morning and ended up back at The Mater Private Hospital. Our precious little 14 day old boy was admitted for observation over the weekend which made us very worried, and of course sad. But, the good news was that after a few tests and some medication, Jude was allowed to go home on FATHER'S DAY! The best present in the world for dad. That, and some SABA clothes - good choice Jude!

Judie had many many many visitors over his first few weeks which was so lovely. He met his Nanna, his Grandma and Grandad, his uncles and aunties and lots of mummy and daddy's friends from Rocky and Brisbane. We found out that Jude LOOOOOOVES cuddles with anyone and everyone to the point where if he is not being cuddled, the ear drums get a workout!

Home Sweet Home

Jude, 6 days old, arrived home to meet his older brother, Presley! Gina, Will and the giant Teddy were Jude's first visitors at home which was very exciting! I think he will be about 4 years old by the time he is as tall as Teddy. Most of the first week was spent sleeping in his favourite position, until he was 11 days old when he decided to stay awake for 2 hours - daddy and mummy didn't know what to do with him! So, mummy read him the latest edition of Vogue. Never too early!!

Welcome to this world little man...

After much excitement (and anxiety!!), Jude Barnes arrived at 9.45pm on Saturday 23rd August 2008 weighing 3.8kg and 50cm in length. He didn't want to join us 'outside' as after many hours of labour, mummy couldn't get him out so the doctors had to do an emergency c section and then there was no turning back!! We knew his lungs were functioning quite nicely as he let out a huge wail! I'm sure he was saying, 'I have arrived..., big wide world, here I come!!!'