a post while jude naps

Happy Saturday to you! I hope you're finding time to rest and if you live in Winston-Salem, to enjoy this ridiculously nice weather. I'm in the process of washing cloth diapers and am excited to dry them on the line today (I've been drying them in the dryer...which I think makes them hold the smell more, or on the back of our kitchen chairs...which doesn't exactly do wonders for our decor), and I'm thinking I might take Jude for a walk in the park a little bit later today. Shawn left yesterday to drive to Atlanta with a bunch of Jr. High students for CIY:Believe, so I got to bed a little earlier last night and am buzzing from that extra hour and a half of sleep (or it could be because I've had two cups of half-caff coffee as compared to my usual one...and I think I accidentally made it a little more caff than half this time). I used to get really bummed when Shawn was gone on youth trips that I couldn't attend, but about a year ago I started using his absence to "pretty-fi" myself - face mask, painting my toenails, nice long bubble bath, eyebrow damage control, etc. I still miss the living daylights out of Shawn, but setting some time aside to pamper myself made the time go more quickly. Obviously I don't have nearly the time with Jude that I used to, but I did manage a face mask and some eyebrow plucking last night after Jude went to bed.

I took Jude to the Doctor yesterday because our home scale was showing that he was steadily decreasing in weight and it actually weighed him at 12 pounds yesterday (compared to the 13 pounds it weighed him at about a week ago). I was concerned, but relatively un-freaked. It looks like our scale isn't weighing him all that well - he weighed in at 12 lbs 12oz at the Doctor's office. The Doc said he had gained about a half an ounce a day, which is well within normal range. Hooray! I had also noticed that he seemed quite reflux-ey lately and didn't seem to be eating as well, so I talked to the Doctor about his medicine. I wasn't sure if reflux medicine can just begin to lose its affect like that, but was assured that it can. She gave us a nine day sample of Prevacid to try. I think that's the medicine that finally did the trick for my nephew, Asher. Hopefully Jude will grow out of this whole mess soon!

If you'll allow me a brief aside, I need to let you know that as long as I've been writing this blog, I've pondered whether the "D" in "doctor" is capitalized or not. You may have noticed that I go back and forth between capitalizing and not...any grammar freaks out there know the protocol? You might wonder if I've also pondered the grammatical stability of my run on sentences that seem to abound. You may rest assured that I indeed do not. I'm a big fan of both run on sentences and incomplete sentences in my blog writing, as that's how I talk. In run ons. And incomplete sentences.

And now for one more aside. I've wanted to blog about postpartum depression for a few weeks now, and have even started a time or two - but I'm at a loss for how to address the topic. As Jennifer Knapp sings, "I've never been much for the baring of soul in the presence of any man. I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure, in the arms of a sinner I am." I hesitate at laying my struggles out there for all to see, but I feel compelled to share. Towards the end of my pregnancy a couple of friends of mine shared with me (and their husbands with Shawn) about their personal postpartum depression struggles. When I realized I was in the middle of it myself, I took so much comfort in knowing their story, knowing they came through it, and knowing the signs for which to look. I also think their husbands helped Shawn know how to help and cope with seeing before him a very different woman than the one whom he married. So bare with me while I work at being authentic with you. This blog is as much a journal for me as it is a way to keep friends and family updated. I want to be able to look back at this time in my life -the good, the bad, and the ugly. I will blog about this topic, I feel compelled to do so, and hope to do so soon.

I think Jude is starting to stir from his nap, so I'll add a few more pictures from Jenn. Enjoy them and then get out there and enjoy the beautiful sunny Saturday!








I would say this is the look he has on his face most of the time - inquisitive and adorable.
















I'm pretty sure I'll never get tired of seeing him in that hat. My little elf. :)

Shawn was super excited about Jude's first Pittsburgh hat. Looks like Jude is, too!