Easter and springtime!!

Happy Spring!
There aren't too many lovely stories to report on out here. As is typical, Jude is growing like a weed and learning more and more every day! Just last night he scrounged up enough courage to use his push-behind walker to walk through the living room to each piece of furniture, let go of the walker and grab on to the furniture. He's a crusing maniac! Unfortunately this morning he took his first big spill. He'd walked into the downstairs bathroom and was checking out the cabinets. He lost his balance while leaning forward and did a pretty serious face-plant into the cabinets and then onto the floor. While not totally redeeming, at least that bathroom is carpeted. He's got a pretty nasty goose egg above his eye. Probably the first of many I imagine.

We've enjoyed the nice weather Colorado has been giving us and have visited the park a time or two. Jude of course loves to walk around holding onto my hands. He's learned to love swinging and also enjoys the slide ... on mommy's lap of course.

Jude has begun to say "mama" and it seriously just melts my heart every time. He's also about to have a few teeth pop through. The poor fella has been working on those teeth for quite a while now. The other night, he was trying to fall asleep. He was laying on his side, gnawing on his hand and whining. I felt so bad for him and wish I could take that pain away from him.

We had a nice Easter. Jude did great at church - he sat through pretty much the whole service in the sanctuary and was on his best behavior! We got to see a lot of family and it was just great!

Jude and I continue to go to play group every Friday. It's a great time with a bunch of lovely ladies and their children. While Jude can't really participate in most of the stuff the other kids do, he seems to have a good time watching them. I of course, love the conversation and camaraderie.  One of the gals gave Jude a nice little hair cut last week. He sorta cried through the whole thing, but it looks amazing! It's such a boy hair cut and I hope now people will stop asking me if he's a girl! Ha!

Now for the pictures...

Jude and his cousin Mia

Swimming!

Today, Jude and I, along with some friends, went swimming at a Rec Center. This was Jude's first time swimming and he had a blast! I wasn't surprised that he had a good time. He was so cute though! He would sit in the shallow water and splash. He would splash water into his face and seem surprised water got on his face and pause, and then realize that it was kind of fun and keep splashing! I walked him around a lot. I hold his hands for balance but he is the one propelling himself and determining which direction he'll go. He kept walking up to this little 5 month old baby, smiling at him, walking away, and doing it all over again! He also loved the ledge at the side of the pool. He would stand there for a very long time just looking at the drain that went around it. Then, he discovered, while walking, that if he lifted up his foot, he could step up onto the ledge and therefore stand on the drain. I nearly started crying when he discovered how to step up. Man, my little baby is just getting so big! He had such a good time...we were there for 3 hours and he was asleep in the car before we drove out of the parking lot!

Rebecca and Zachary

Rebecca's daughter Kayla

Kayla and Anthony

Little Halee

I had to change my clothes and had no other option than to put Jude in the locker to keep him off the floor and prevent a terrible fall from the bench! 

Kayla wanted to join in on the fun

A niece!

My step-brother Tim and his lovely wife Jeannie welcomed their daughter, Mia Rose Sikula, on Monday, March 28th at 3:04 am. I was honored to be with Jeannie and Tim during the short labor and in the room soon after Mia was delivered by c-section. Both mom and baby are doing beautifully. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 13 oz and was 20.5 inches long. She is a tall and skinny one!
Tim is in the Army and is stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs. Jeannie is from Tennessee and doesn't have any family in Colorado. Tim is currently on his 2nd tour of duty in the Middle East but luckily was able to come home for a few weeks to be with Jeannie for the delivery and spend some time with his new baby! Here are some photos of the sweet Mia Rose.