Upper Peninsula

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
(Photos by Tyler)

Captain Underpants

I turned from folding t-shirts to find him rummaging through my sock and underwear drawer, chattering to himself. Smirking, I went about my business, putting clean laundry back in its place.

A few minutes later I glanced at him again. He had a pair of my strawberry-speckled underpants on his head, a bit of his light-brown hair poking out from a leg hole. He was looking at me, eyes wide and twinkling, hands at his sides, the corners of his mouth waiting for me to notice.

"Hat," he said proudly, a hint of glee in his voice.

I couldn't resist. I went to the drawer, chose a peach-colored pair and put it on my head.

"Hat," I said, echoing him.

Our faces were inches from each other, gazes locked, a pair of underpants on each of our heads. We were giving each other the same intense look and marveling at how hilarious we were.

I was thinking in that moment (and in many moments before and since)...

i love this boy.

(Jude and me, a Spring or two ago)

Stylin'

I've heard it said that it isn't as fun to dress boys as it is to dress girls. Frankly, I love boy stuff. Better than girl stuff. Not that I've ever had any opportunity to buy girl things, but whatever. Don't tell me the items below aren't more irresistible than any tu-tu you've ever seen. Don't tell me.

My friend Ernie has a hat similar to this one, picked by his wife of good taste, Kristen.
I think Jude could pull it off spectacularly.

From Woodland Rogue on Etsy

If we lived in Liverpool I might dress him in this:

But these will do. Based on British flashcards.
(They'd do a whole lot better if they weren't so bloody expensive.)

From Charlie and Sarah on Etsy

OR, Jude and mama could be twinners. A shirt for him, a bag for me:

Charlie and Sarah again, on Etsy

OR we could be twinners again wearing matching shirts.
This may be taking it too far. But I'll admit, I'm going there in my head.




From Happy Family on (where else) Etsy

Hmmm. There is a 2nd birthday coming up. And I suppose I could make a couple of exceptions to his second-hand wardrobe, for the occasion.