Fun in the Fort

Things have been going well for us in Fort Collins! We're loving it. Jude is growing up so fast and is just excited as ever to experience new things now that he is up and walking. Yesterday on our way to the store, I heard the CSU marching band practicing a few blocks away. We drove over there and walked near the field where they practice and got to hear some great music and rhythm and also got to see the Color Guard practice. Jude had fun! He was dancing and clapping and enjoyed it! I think we'll try to go more often.

Lots of "new's"

These last few weeks since Jude's birthday have been non stop! We've had a lot going on but for the most part, everything has been worth the busyness.
First of all, we moved! We had some great, great help and were loaded in the truck with our old place cleaned in a record 3 hours! Since we've moved every year for the last five years, Ross and I have this whole moving thing down to a science...a very studied, meticulously executed, planned science. The only thing different about this move was the whole "now we have a baby" thing. But luckily for us (and Jude), he's got some pretty great grandparents who enjoy spending time with him. They helped out a ton by watching Jude for the weekend so we could get all unloaded and unpacked. And, just like the move started, we were unpacked and all settled by Sunday night (another record)!
We are absolutely loving our place! The first night Jude was here was a bit rough for him. I'm pretty sure he was a little freaked out by the fact that his stuff was around but this definitely wasn't the house he was used to. But once we got him distracted on the PLETHORA of toys that he has, he was fine. All of the gifts he had gotten for his birthday, we just boxed up before he played with them...another bonus! It was like opening presents for a second time.
The hardwood floors in the kitchen, living, and dining room have gotten Jude up off the floor. I am happy to say that he is a walker!! Full on walking, turning, squatting to pick things up and then back up and walking. Unfortunately, though we're not surprised, this also means capital T, Trouble! As is not surprising to me with having a boy, I think that in less than a week's time, Jude has managed to eat at least a quarter cup full of dirt, rocks, twigs, leaves and possibly some chipped pieces of cement. Good for the immune system right? This of course is happening because of the awesome backyard we have here! It's the perfect exploring ground for a little one. It also comes standard with a little skunk living in the backyard. I've only ever seen him at dusk and at night but he's back there for sure. Let's hope skunk-a-lunk and Jude-o don't cross paths.

The front of our cute little home

Excuse the orange tint...but this is my kitchen!!!!! I'm so excited about it for a variety of reasons:

a) I picked out the layout (with the help of a designer of course) 

b) I helped pick the cabinets and counter tops and the overall awesomeness that is this kitchen

c) it is open to the living/dining room and I don't feel like I'm completely isolated when I'm in the kitchen!! I've been here a little over a week and I've got my cooking game back ON! 

d) Do you see the amount of counter space I've got??? Now, this isn't like a Guiness Book of Records-type of amount but I promise you, it's worlds more than what I had before.

EEEeeeeeeee!!!!!! :-D

I can cook in the kitchen and see most of the rest of the house (aka - Jude's Trouble-Making Land)

Aaah, home sweet home

Our next "New"

Last Tuesday, I decided it was time for Jude to try peanut butter. I made him some toast with a very light smearing of peanut butter on each slice. I cut the crust off and then sliced each piece into strips and then smaller pieces from there. The bits he had were each about the size of a vitamin. Jude had one piece and kind of started coughing. I was on high alert but I figured it was just the thickness being a new sensation for him. He signed "more" and had another piece and kept coughing. Then, he started sneezing with copious amounts of nastiness to go along with it. Mama bear is in super high alert mode. However, I tried to remain calm and see what was going on. He asked for more so I gave him another piece or two. He continued to cough and sneeze and then at this point, Jude began to furiously shake his head "no". He began to rub his eyes (smearing snot all over his face) and his eyes became incredibly red and puffy. This was all within about 5 minutes of his first itsy-bitsy smearing of peanut butter. Luckily Ross was still home at this point and I asked his opinion. We decided to get him to some kind of professional. Doctors offices were still closed. I pulled out the trusty computer and started a google search for Urgent Care Offices in the area...it was at this point that I realized the err of my ways. I grabbed Jude and we went to the ER. Lucky for us, we're only 10 blocks away. By the time we got there, Jude's reaction was pretty severe. The triage nurse asked me what was going on and I said, "I think we've got an allergic reaction going on." To which she smirked and said, "Yep! Come on back." 

Jude was monitored to make sure that his oxygen level wasn't low and that his heart rate was ok. He didn't like the apparatus...

He was given benadryl and prednisone to stop the reaction. Once they gave it to him, we just had to wait to see what happened. Things got much, much worse before they got better. At it's worst (sorry no pics of that), Jude's eyes were swollen shut. He looked like he had hard-boiled eggs for eyes. His ears were as thick as oreo's. The welts on his back and tummy had grown together and he looked as though he had an incredibly bad sunburn which was also swollen. He was scratching his neck and chest and I just felt so bad and so helpless. But, Jude is a trooper. Throughout this whole ordeal, he was smiling and waving to the nurses and staff. He was trying to climb every piece of hospital equipment he could see. He was ready and willing to show everyone his "tricks" and was just the star of the place. He barely cried. He even guzzled down the medication. The nurse said she'd never had a baby who didn't completely fight back when it came to the medicine. 

We were sent home after several hours of monitoring once his rash and swelling had significantly gone down. Throughout the rest of that day and night, he got Benadryl every 4 hours. As it would wear off, the welts and swelling would return. He had to take the steroids for 4 days and the Benadryl for several following the "great peanut disaster". All is well with Jude Monster now. He's happy and walking and has probably forgotten the whole thing. Luckily, Mom hasn't. We see the doctor this week for a follow up and we'll see what this means for him and the future. One thing I know for sure, NO PEANUTS!

Eeewwwww

What the heck is going on???

Happy Birthday Jude!

My baby is one! This has been the best year of my life. So much has changed, we've experienced so much and I'm proud to say that we're all still alive! (I wasn't sure we'd make it when the hospital let two inexperienced adults take him home). Jude is such a joy! He's happy, friendly, social and all around wonderful - not that I'm biased or anything.
Today we celebrated Jude's first birthday with a nice party at a park near our house! The wind we could have done without but we had a great time with our friends and family who were able to join us. My dear friend made the cakes, and our parents were more than gracious to help us out. It was a wonderful time. Here are the pictures of Jude's big day! I can't wait to experience more of them in the future.

The Cakes and Birthday Boy

 Grandpa O, Great Uncle Chris and Auntie Trese

Aunt Jeannie and Cousin Mia

Becca (the lovely cake maker), Nathan, Kayla, Zachary and Baby Boy

Crista, Jordan, and Mary

Trips and Parties

The Overacker house has been busy busy lately. We're gearing up for yet ANOTHER move. In just over a week we will be coming full circle by heading back to Ft. Collins. Ross and I met there, lived there when we were first married and are now going to be returning. Ross is from Ft. Collins and he is so excited to be back in his stomping ground. While it is not my home town, I fell in love with it when we lived there and am equally as excited to be going back. As I always say when we move, I will miss having my friends and family nearby. However, we'll still have family there, we know some people there and I'm sure we'll be able to plant our roots and get plugged in. Another bonus about this move is that we're moving into a HOUSE! Yes, that's right! No more sharing walls, finding parking and all of the mumbo jumbo that goes with "multiple-dwelling units". We'll have a big back yard for Jude to play in and we're so excited to call this house our home! Hopefully this will be our last move for a long while!

We recently got back from a trip to Minnesota. For those of you who don't know, I spent my first year of college in Minnesota. I made some great friends and I was so pleased to get to see them again! Unfortunately I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I should have but I'll share the ones I did take.

Chelsey and Jude hanging in the pool!

Me and Cory

Ross' grandparents and family live there as well. It was such a joy to be able to introduce them to Jude and get to see their interaction. No doubt they all would love to see him on a regular basis, but since that isn't possible, less than regular trips will have to be sufficient for now. We had a great time and overall it was a superb trip. Again, I was lacking in the picture department but we did get a few.

Jude and his Great Grandpa Harold

Jude, Grandma Overacker and Great Grandpa

Jude's buddy Finn turned 1 this week and he had a birthday party that we went to. It was cool to see Finn and all the family and festivities. Jude always likes to give other kids hugs. But as he is not very controlled yet, it often times is more of like a head butt and tackle. Jude tried to give Finn a birthday "hug" but I don't think Finn was on board with that. So we had to kind of keep them separated to ensure that Finn had an enjoyable birthday party...football parties are for a little later in life. ha!

Hanging with Dad at the birthday party

 Finn being protected from Jude's tackles

Hehehe, too cute!

Mommies and babies

 Happy Birthday Finn!!

Finn turning 1 means that Jude will be joining the club soon too! His birthday is this Sunday. As I near the date (tear) I'm thinking back at this year and what I was doing a year ago. I went back and read my previous pregnancy blog posts and here are a few things I'd like to point out:
-I was able to blog a lot more frequently.
-My vocabulary seemed to be rather keen in those days. Maybe something hormonal changes after babies are born which reduces your "stash" of creative vocabulary.
-I will never experience babies or pregnancy the same ever again. This is not necessarily a bad thing. There was so much anticipation of the realization of the unknown. Everything was a milestone. Everything was new. Everything was so exciting. Not that it won't be that way if another opportunity rolls around but it'll definitely be different. There's nothing like being pregnant for the first time and having your first baby. It'll be interesting to see how it's different in the future if we experience it again. I think it'll be just as fun and exciting but it'll also be nice to have more of an idea of what to expect.
-My belly really was HUGE at the end of my pregnancy! I can't believe that we have all survived this first year. It still is miraculous to me to know that Jude lived inside my belly for 9 months. One moment he was in, having everything done for him, and the next moment he is breathing, eating, pooping/peeing, all on his one. What a wonderful and miraculous event!

We are having a party for Jude this Sunday and I'm hoping to be better with my camera skills. No doubt we'll post pictures (and hopefully video) of the event and will also get to show our new digs.
Here's to almost one year...