Big Brother Jude

The first month Benedict was with us, Jude did not quite know what to think of him. At first when we brought Benedict home, Jude called him "Baby Paul". To give him credit, I was taking care of 2 baby Pauls during the previous 4 months. But, soon, it became apparent when Jude realized that Benedict never left, he was intentionally calling Benedict 'Paul' out of a sort of denial. At one point, he called him Benedict by his proper name and then backtracked and said, "No, I want him to be Paul."

The next stage was when Jude stopped calling Benedict, 'Paul', but then he decided to just ignore him. We would ask Jude who the baby was, and Jude just acted like he was not there and would not even look at him. Often, he just turned his back on Benedict and looked at us with a blank stare.

This, however, only lasted a few weeks.

Jude started to warm up to his brother in February. First he started to call Benedict by his name and pointed to him. Next he became very concerned when Benedict would cry. He would exclaim, "Benedict! Help him Mom!" and point to his crying brother. Then when Mom and Dad were busy looking at a house, he crouched next to Benedict in his car seat and while putting his finger on his mouth whispered "ssshhhhh! It's okay Benedict!". This last week he has been getting new people's attention and pointing to his brother and introducing Benedict to people saying "This is Benedict!". Yesterday, he actually put Benedict's nuk in his mouth for him and was successful in quieting him (for a few moments!).

Also on the Jude front is that he cannot get enough of planes, trains, and automobiles. He talks about them all all all the time and he never tires of playing with any toys of that nature that we own. A friend gave him a blue metal airplane that he sleeps with and takes everywhere with us. He zooms it around for strangers saying, "Wook! Wook at my airplane!!" and he makes the 'vvvrrrroooooommmmm' sound with his lips. He is very excited about it.

Finally, the blanket that Grandma Lee made him was beginning to become shredded due to all the use it was getting. So, Jude's blanket also got a make-over. It literally gets taken everywhere and dragged on all sorts of floors. So, I made a new quilt top of cars, trucks, and airplanes (things which Jude is obsessed with) and I sewed it right on top of Jude's old blanket. So it still has the same soft familiar back and the older blanket from Grandma is still preserved inside. There was about half a day of transition, but Jude adjusted to the new look.

What a bumper sticker gets you

Is a note like this left on your windshield....!


On our old Camry, I had a Gustavus sticker from years ago. In order to cover that up, we put a bumper sticker that says, "Pray for an end to abortion."

Apparently, the person who left this note on our car really does not agree with us!

Note to self: topics to avoid in conversations during this heated election year and maybe all the time: politics in general, abortion, gay marriage, let's see, what else....

Pics of the day

This cute baby boy looks like he belongs to the other Adkins family - really! I think He looks just like his uncle. He certainly is a happy little guy.

Headed outside today. This is what we do in 40 degree February weather! (at least I think it is suppose to hit 40 today....)I love Jude's chub face and, of course, Faustina has the big sister "I'll take care of you" look.

Dodge Nature Center

This morning my awesome SIL called offering us an opportunity to go visit the Dodge Nature Center. I have heard great things about it for a long time but we just haven't made it there. It was a fun morning and the kids were able to learn a bit about Reptiles and Amphibians; they were even able to touch some! Wow, these animals really are spectacular - animals are so incredibly fascinating. No wonder kids love them so much. At one point the guide let a tarantula out on the floor to crawl around which was a bit terrifying. Jude is especially into animals and he liked the morning - although he does look a bit freaked out in the pictures.

Valentine Treats

Mike made the 14th a special Valenine's Day for the kids (and me!)by bringing home cards and a lady bug and bumble bee filled with treats. The kids were pretty excited, to say the least. Faustina is at the age where these little gifts are her special little treasures that she doesn't forget. And she talks about it for the next many many days! Why is she wearing a swimming suit? Well, there really is no good answer for that, except that she is still changing clothes many times a day. She is all girl.

My little opossum

I'm starting to call Benedict my little opossum because this is his favorite position.

He likes to be on his tummy on my arm. I feel like my arm is a tree branch and he is hanging on like a opossum. Usually I just hold him on one arm and carry him around like a football; often he wraps his arms tightly around my arm and it seems like if I let go of him he would hang there all by himself!

This little guy is more of a baby now than an infant - he is not so fragile anymore. His is getting bigger each day, getting longer, and he is now smiling!

Actually he started smiling noticeably a few days before his baptism. I thought babies didn't smile until they were at least a few months old - but this little guy's smiling response to our silly baby talk is undeniable.

Here is crazy man Jude with his brother Benedict on the day of Benedict's baptism. Jude is doing one of his 'funny' faces and this is one of Benedict's first times smiling.

Thumbs up to cars

Jude loves his cars. Loves his match box cars. Over the course of the last week, he has carefully lined them up in 25 different places or surfaces around the house including on the organ, the crib, every table, chair etc. Slowly they will all make their way to every single place in the house. He is a boy of great detail!

The Rule sheets

My dear husband is a designer at heart. This is one of the things I love about him and I didn't even know it until after we married!

So, he put together the new Rule Sheets for Faustina and Jude. We have been having some 'special' times (mainly) with our eldest - the black and white lines had to be drawn. Faustina loves looking at her 'responsibility' sheet and we read it every morning to remind us of what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

It has helped quite a bit. There still have been many tantrums, but we now have clear rules and clear consequences. I actually have taken out some parenting books that were given to me years ago but I have yet to crack them open. I am amazed at how children have such a sense of justice. Faustina is accepting of her punishments even though she may not like them. She even has thanked me for punishing her!

I am quite confident that this is only a phase our young daughter is going through. It may be a long phase, but I trust it will be conquered as she matures. Unfortunately, both Mike and I clearly recall being very (and me especially very ) difficult for our parents at times. She is only three years old, I must remind myself and she is growing at a rapid rate. After 2 different highly explosive tantrums this week, she took 4 hour naps.

Her strong will, determination, her perseverance are all good qualities, they simply need to be trained and channeled!

Oh, what an opportunity for us all to grow in virtue - especially parents!

As I start to think about Lent....

Lent is not for a few weeks, but it is time for me to start thinking about what I can do. I find the following article on Mother Teresa incredibly inspiring. This list of 15 ways to increase humility may be a good Lenten challenge. What a beautiful woman - she seems to just glow with goodness in such pictures as the following.
Good article on Blessed Mother Teresa here.

Mother Teresa’s Humility List

1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.
2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.
3. Avoid curiosity.
4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.
5. Accept small irritations with good humor.
6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.
7. Accept censures even if unmerited.
8. Give in to the will of others.
9. Accept insults and injuries.
10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.
11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.
12. Do not seek to be admired and loved.
13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.
14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.
15. Choose always the more difficult task.

More of Baby Benedict's Baptism

It was a good day.