Merry Christmas- I mean, Happy late Halloween, and Happy Thanksgiving?

I promise to add a picture of Jude in his pumpkin costume soon, but we just got back from the weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's in Ohio, and have been busy every night since. But, I did get this picture emailed from a friend of Ryan and his family growing up. She had a boy a few months after we had Jude, and couldn't wait for them to play together now that they are a little older. Well, you can see from the picture how that turned out. Logan just reached over and grabbed Jude's Halloween shirt and he just started wailing..... He had a long day the day before- daycare during the day, traveling all night, sleeping in a new place, etc. He is still getting used to the daylight savings time change now too.... Used to wake up everyday at 6:00, but now it is 5:00. (no matter what time he goes to bed.... little stinker) . But he is pulling himself all the time now, and the doctor said that he lost the reflexes in his foot and that he will start walking any time now! Wow- we thought we were busy before, but I think it has just started.

Oh, yeah- one more thing- GO OBAMA!!!!!! This country (and world) needed a change, and that is what we got. We are so excited at the Hall household..... This is going to be amazing! (Jude even wore his Obama sticker at daycare all day yesterday to cheer him on.... and both Malia and Garrett called to say "Go Obama" - even the two year olds knew who the best candidate was)

It's almost Halloween! (or the beginning of Christmas with my family)

Well- only one month until Jude's first birthday! I can't believe it. Time is flying, although it seems like he has always been in our life. He is crawling and moving like crazy - our time of just playing on his little foam mat is over. Now it is on to better things, like finding the dog food, or discovering the little orange lights we hung around the window (Christmas is going to be fun!). Grandma and Grandpa from MN came in this last weekend. We had a great time shopping on Michigan Ave., popping into my work (and Ryan's) to show him off, going to the Lincoln Park Zoo, and shopping at Old Orchard (oldy but a goody). Then on Sunday after the took off for their car ride back, we met some friends at the good ol' Apple Holler. It was a lot of fun, but a little disappointing that they only had 2 rows of trees that had any apples left at the far end of the orchard. We just got some that had already been picked- but man, were they were delicious. Perfect crisp, sour but sweet apples. Apple Holla! We got a big pumpkin to carve and a little one for Jude to decorate. I think Jude wasn't quite sure why we put him on the dirt next to those pumpkins, but the photo op was too cute to pass up. I wanted to put him in his pumpkin costume next to the real pumpkins, but it got left in the car (which was good, since it was hard enough walking the 10 miles (it felt like) back to the car with Jude, a 16 lb pumpkin, 6 lbs of apples, a diaper bag, you get the idea...). But he will get a chance to wear it at Grandma and Grandpa Halls when we go there for Halloween weekend. Maybe we will make him trick or treat at the gas stations along the way!

Jude is crawling!

We had a great time this last weekend. We took a car trip to visit the family in Minnesota, and to help host a baby shower for a long time neighbor/friend of the family. Betsy and I grew up together (one year apart) - taking dance, driving to High School, etc. It was a lot of fun - except for the mistake I made on the game I put together (really my one and only job and I messed it up! - opps!!!!). Jude was such a trooper through it all- car ride, missing naps, different schedule on his food... But, he thought it was all worth it to get to see everyone - Grandma and Grandpa, Shelley and Malia, and Jeff, Amy, Garrett and Aislinn (and the answer to the picture on the side is Jude, although you may think otherwise). And most importantly- Jude was excited because he got carpet and started crawling!!!! YEAH!!!! He also was standing up all on his own, holding on to a little Winnie the Pooh scooter. I can't believe how in just a few days he is doing so much more. We will have to get out his truck Grandma and Grandpa bought him so he can do that at home too. I picked him up at daycare yesterday, and they showed me the pile of toys that he had taken down from the shelves and played with - they are glad he is crawling, but maybe not so glad either :) I also have to wish my sister-in-law Amy a Happy Birthday. Poor girl had to go to three showers (yes, three) this weekend (two on her birthday), and then we heard a good story that cute little Aislinn threw up in her mouth and on her shirt! AH!!! (Amy was holding her up for a kiss after a long day of work, and... surprise!) I am not sure what Ryan would have done if that had happened to him. We don't even want to think about it.
In other news, I guess Ryan has a new spot on TV for Papa Murphy's now. Everyone thought the one was done playing, but now they came out with another spot, and he is in that one too! Everyone in MN is pretty excited. Tomorrow is October, so I will be keeping an eye out for the Luna spot. And anyone in the western chicago/suburban area should be looking out for Ryan on a car shop spot. (I know, I know- Ryan as a mechanic?)
Well- hope everyone had a great summer. The high is 60 today, so I think fall is here. And remember, only 31 days until we can start playing Christmas music! :)

Ryan is 30!!!!!

So, today is his big day! I already told him he doesn't have to worry about getting older- we already are old.... We have been married for 5 years (this Saturday), own a condo, have a baby, our big night out is getting Chillis to-go and renting a movie. Actually, we had a big night out on Saturday. We went to the new Trump Hotel and Residences and ate at the restaurant, Sixteen. it is (obviously) on the 16th Floor and had great views of the city (see the dark picture with the close up of the Wrigley Building in the background), and great food. We went with our good friends, and had a perfect evening. (Thanks to everyone for coming along with us, and humoring Ryan on his expensive dinner) We then went to our old hangout "The Irish Oak" in Wrigleyville for drinks. I limited Ryan on the drinks at the restaurant because they were so expensive, and figured we should just wait until we got to the bar for some "cheaper" drinks. We did get some chocolate covered strawberies that said Happy Birthday for Ryan, complementary from the chef. It was a great night! Our neighbor watched Jude (and Stitch) for us - it was really nice of her. Especially since she ran a marathon the next morning! And... we are lucky enough to have another night out to see a dance show this Friday for our anniversary. I know, I know, a dance show? But, I swear, Ryan wants to see it too!
Jude had his 9 month check-up, and did really well. He is now 20 lbs 4 oz, and is 27 inches tall! Poor guy has an ear infection, but the doctor said it wasn't anything to worry about (like too many in a year, etc). He is supposed to start eating more foods and really start working on that sippy cup. We tried to mash up some spaghetti for him last night (that is what we were eating), but it was a little hard for him to eat it. Oh- and he did one crawl for me this morning.... He gets on his hands and knees now, and will move his hands forward but just can't quite get the legs going. But I am pretty sure I saw the knee go forward once this morning. Anyway... he is getting really close!
Hope everyone has a great week, and make sure to wish Ryan a Happy Birthday!

Jude (and Ryan's) first trip to California

We just got back from California and had a GREAT time!!! We got a lot of time to visit with our friends, Chris and Scott (Thanks Chris and Scott- you were the best friends, hosts, inn keepers, travel guides, etc), and they kept us busy showing us all around. We, of course, went to Disney. We went to Malibu beach and Santa Monica beach. We saw the Walk of Stars, listened to John Williams conduct the Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, went to Rodeo Drive/Melrose, shopped at The Grove, saw a production of The Actor's Gang (Tim Robbin's theatre - our friend Scott is part of it), ate at Geoffries in Malibu right on the beach, tried Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, In n' Out Burger, Pink's Hotdogs, and found a little time to sleep. Jude did so well, especially since there was a time difference, he had a plane ride, and a new tooth is peeking through. He is such a good kid! He also learned to sit himself up all by himself while we were out there too! And he really is going to finally crawl any day now. Oh, Jude the Dude!!!!

773-202-LUNA!

So Ryan and I both shot a commercial for Luna Carpet yesterday. For a while we thought we might get Jude in on the action too, but just the two of us. That is fine, though - we want to make sure Jude has a "normal" childhood. :) It will air in October, for Luna's 50th anniversary. I think it will be really funny. Maybe a little cheesy, but funny. I will try to get a copy of it for everyone to see. Maybe if I even get advanced enough I can try to get it on the blog. (probably not since I am not very tech savy). And we apologize now to those that live in the Chicago area- I guess they are going to be playing it a lot..... But can you ever get sick of seeing us?

Oh, yeah.... and Jude is 9 months today! Can you believe it? 9 months ago at this time he was just about to be born. So weird and awesome at the same time, how much your life can change.

First tooth!

Mr. Jude the Dude got his first tooth. The other night Ryan and I saw a little fleck of white when we were feeding him and upon closer look we saw that it was his first tooth trying to poke through! It is almost all the way through now but still just flush with his gums. I tried taking a picture but it is probably a little too hard to see since the picture is so small. I swear, he is just doing something new every day now. Still not quite sure about the crawling, though. But... last night I was sitting on the couch and he was right below me on the floor playing with his toys. He scooted over to me and then reached his arms up and tried to pull himself up! I couldn't believe it.
Also- just found out my goddaughter, Aislinn, weighs the same amount as Jude. She is definitely going to be a model :). And my other goddaughter, Malia, said her first unsolicited (as my sister calls it) "I love you" to her mom. Guess everyone is growing up! (even Ryan- don't forget that his 30th birthday is in a few weeks - he, he, he)