Category Archives: Jason

3 Years!

Posted in amanda, anniversary, Jason, Milestone, video, Wedding by

Three years ago, I said “I do” to Jason! What a man! I am so in love with him. He is an incredible husband and he shows me he loves me day in and day out. Max and Gwenyth are very blessed to have him as a father. He is a great provider, role model, and such an amazing example for them to follow! Three years ago, I would have known we would be happy and still so in love, but I could not have imagined how absolutely wonderful it would be to do life with this guy!!! I pray for many, many more years with my main man!

Our Wedding Day, February 2011
 
August 2012
 
October 2013

Also, in case you thought you had the best friends, you are wrong… We do! Ha! Here is the proof. There is nothing like a flash mob at your wedding reception! Thank you to all of you, you know who you are! 🙂

http://vimeo.com/20770631

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Max is 9 Months!!!

Posted in Jason, Max, Milestones, Pictures by

Max has his 9 month check up coming up on the 20th, but until then here is what Max has been up to this past month!

One of the highlights of this past month was that Max went on his first Rude Family Vacation!  Jason stayed behind to work and to work on finishing our basement, but Max and I joined the majority of the Rudes on vacation in Branson, MO.  There was a lot of swimming, getting kisses from aunts, and even a trip to the Dixie Stampede!

Max sat in the cart like a big guy for the first time in Branson!

Max with some other handsome Rude boys!
Max wanted everyone to know who he is rooting for in the Olympics!
We went to BBQ with TJ, Julia, and Jessica.  Max was pumped!

On the way back home!  So excited to see his dad!

We got a bit off schedule while on vacation.  While trying to keep him awake a little longer in order to take his nap on time, Max let me know that he just could not make it any longer and he fell asleep on the floor of the living room!

 We had such a great time on our trip and we’re looking forward to next year with Jason!!!

Max’s Likes and Dislikes at 9 Months:

Likes:

  • His dad and his mom!  He loves playing rough with dad and cuddling with mom.
  • Scooting around on his belly.  No crawling yet, but we are so close!
  • Food, he still likes anything I give him.  A new favorite are pancakes even though he doesn’t have any teeth!
  • His crib?  Well, I think he does, he sleeps very well in it every night!
  • Big boy jammies! 
  • His cousins!  He is still so entertained by all of them!  We got to spend time with them on vacation and then his cousins on the Stopek side came to visit on Thursday!  We went to the park and Max loved watching them play!
  • The bink.  He is happy as long as he has his bink, especially his new basketball ones!
  • The tub!

Dislikes:

  • Waiting for food.
  • When he is in the car and the car stops moving.

I am sure there are more things I will add later!  Just can’t think of all of them right now!

Off to put Max down to a nap!

What a little MAN!

Posted in Birthday, Jason, Max by

Max continues to grow up right before me!  I love this little guy and am so excited watching him become a little MAN!

Lately, Max has been sitting and playing with his toys.  I don’t know why this is so cute to me, but it just is!  He looks like a big kid and he can entertain himself for long periods of time!  Win, Win for mom and dad!!!

Max is so excited to be sitting and playing with his fish book!

He loves social situations and can’t get enough of watching people and every so often, he will even start babbling to interject his opinion on the topic to many conversations!  The other night we were at my parents house and Max was so busy watching his cousins Hailee and Brody that he tuckered himself out far into the next day!

This past Saturday was Jason’s birthday.  I tell you what, in my humble opinion, there is no better man than Jason!  I am so pleased that Max will get to grow up with such a great role model! (and that I get to be his wife!!!)
Our friend Rachael watched Max for us so that Jason and I could go out on a date!  We went to dinner and then to All-Play to play some games!  Our favorite was Wheel of Fortune.  We often play at home while watching it on TV, so it was fun to actually feel the pressure of being in the hot seat!  🙂

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband!!!!

Max is 6 months!

Posted in Jason, Max, Milestones, Pictures by

May 11th marks 6 months of having Max a part of our family!  It is hard to believe that our little guy is 6 months!!!  That is half of a year!  He is such a special guy to be around.  His smiles are so genuine and his demeanor is so funny!  He is one little guy who is tough to impress!

Max really loves his dad.  He and Jason will “wrestle.”  Max gets so pumped!  He will start to slap his arms to his sides when he sees that Jason is in the mood to fight.  Jason will growl at Max and Max will scream with delight!  I would say this is Max’s favorite activity at this point in life!

Max has been eating solid food for a little over a month now.  He started with rice cereal and quickly progressed to bananas, pears, prunes, peas, sweet potato, avocado, and oatmeal!  So far he has liked everything!

On Monday, we will go to the doctor for his 6 month checkup.  I will share his stats with you then!

For your enjoyment here are some photos from the past 6 months:

“Birth” Day
Before Leaving the Hospital
Almost 1 Month
2 Months
Almost 3 Months
3 Months
4 Months

5 Months
Almost 6 Months
Happy 6 months to our precious little guy!!!

4 Months!

Posted in Jason, Max, Milestones, Sick by

Max is 4 months old today (as you can see from the picture above, it surprised him too)!  What a wonderful 4 months it has been!  We have our 4 month checkup coming up soon and will update you on his stats, but for now, here are some of his likes and dislikes:

Likes:

1. Putting blankets in his mouth.

2. When daddy growls at him and kisses/pretends to eat his belly.

3. Being naked, or at least just in a diaper.

4. Laying in mommy and daddy’s bed.

5. Lights.  The lamp.  The window.  Anything that is bright.

Dislikes:

1. Bottles.  Won’t drink them if his life depends on it.

2. Taking medicine.  He is feeling better, but still on the antibiotic for a couple more days.

3. His hat.

4. Being put down.  He just loves to cuddle!

5. Tummy time.

Daddy

Posted in Jason, Max by
Max really likes to help Jason with work.  Over the past couple of weeks, Max has gotten to spend a lot of time with daddy and we have even nicknamed him “The Closer.”  Who wouldn’t want to buy a home from these two handsome men?
Max helping daddy check his emails in the early morning.

“Mom, leave us be! We are working!”

“Dad, are you sure you are doing that right?”
All in a day’s work.

One Year Ago…

Posted in Jason, Milestones, Wedding by
One year ago, Jason and I got married!  The Lord has blessed me with such an incredible husband.  I loved Jason very much a year ago.  I remember the anticipation of becoming Mrs. Rude.  There were things that I thought would be amazing like waking up to Jason every morning, sharing meals together, becoming parents together.  All wonderful things but, nothing I thought or dreamed up was as great as being married to Jason really is!  As I have gotten to know Jason more and more over the past year, I am so pleased to say that I love him much more than I did a year ago!  So much more!
So much has happened in this last year.  One of the most amazing things is seeing Jason become a dad.  He is so great with Max.  They already have such a great relationship and I know that Max adores him just as much as I do.
Some of my favorite things about Jason include his laid back personality, his good looks, his ability to talk to just about anyone, his work ethic, his good looks, his relationship with the Lord, the way he leads our family, his good looks, and the way he knows how to love me.  Oh… did I mention his good looks?  🙂

Here are the vows we made to one another a year ago.  What a great reminder of the foundation of our marriage.  Thank you, Lord, for an incredible husband.
“Amanda, you are my best friend and I love you and I know that you love me.  Because of this, I desire to be your husband.  Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you.  I will love, serve, adore, and lay my life down for you like Jesus laid his life down for the church.  I promise I will never divorce you.  I will never hold anything over your head.  I promise to lead you and our future family in a way that honors Christ.  I will honor and love you while we’re together and while we are not in each other’s presence.  I will laugh and cry with you.  And I will cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”
“Jason, you are my best friend and I love you and I know that you love me.  Because of this, I desire to be your wife.  Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you.  I will love, serve, respect, and submit to you.  I will never divorce you.  I will never hold anything over your head.  I promise to follow you as you lead me and our future family in a way that honors Christ.  I will honor and love you while we’re together and while we are not in each other’s presence.  I will laugh and cry with you.  And I will cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”
Happy anniversary, BFF.

2011 Top Ten

Posted in Jason, Max by

2011 was such a great year!  I might just go ahead and say it was my best year yet!  Here are a list of the top ten moments and events I am most thankful for: (Warning- There are an overabundance of exclamation marks!)

10. Traveling to Faithwalkers and rooming with Jason and Max!  It was a different experience to have Max with us.  He did get kicked out of a couple of sessions… but I am truly thankful that Jason and I are committed to learning more about the Lord and how to be better spouses and parents!
9. Road tripping to Branson with Jason and my sister-in-law Julia for a week of Rude Family Vacation!  So fun to officially be a Rude this year!
8. Spending my favorite holiday (4th of July) with my husband!  He made it so special!  We weren’t even dating yet at that time in 2010!  So much can happen in a year!
7. Having so many friends who love the Lord and encourage me to do so.  Jason and I are so blessed to be a part of such an amazing church family!
6. Moving into our new house!  It is so wonderful to not have to sign yet another lease and think about moving in a year.  Also… I got to pick out paint colors!
5. Celebrating my niece Hailee’s 4th birthday and my nephew Brody’s 1st birthday!  It is such a blessing to live so close to them and to get to see them grow up!
4. Going on my honeymoon with my honey.  We had a great time and I finally got to go to Disney World!
3. Celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with both the Rudes and the Stopeks as a new family of three!
2. Meeting the greatest little blessing, Max Rude!  What a cutie he is! Oh, and not being pregnant anymore!
1. Getting married to my very best friend, Jason Rude! (He is a cutie too!)

4th of July -aka- My Favorite Holiday

Posted in Brody, Hailee, Holiday, Jason by
A year ago, I remember going to the fireworks at Raccoon River Park and getting butterflies in my stomach when Jason Rude walked by and sat just a couple feet in front of me.  I wanted to sit by him so bad!  This year… I got to spend the whole weekend with him and although I still get butterflies when I see him, this year the butterflies in my stomach have been joined by Baby Rude! A lot can happen in a year, ya know? 🙂

We started off the weekend by celebrating my brother-in-law Bobby’s birthday Friday night.  It was really fun to see the family and I always enjoy seeing my niece and nephew although my nephew was almost unrecognizable in his cool shades!

This is Brody, my nephew.  This wasn’t taken at the party, nor is he wearing his shades, but he is still so cute!

This is a throw back picture of Hailee, my niece, celebrating the 4th.  I think she is about the same age as Brody in the picture above!  So cute!

Saturday, Jason and I got some much needed cleaning done around the house.  We also went over to our dear friends’ John Michael and Rachael Hall’s house to celebrate Rachael’s birthday with some homemade ice cream cake!  To top off the night, we borrowed The Patriot from our friend Marc so that we could really get into the patriotic spirit!

Sunday, my wonderful husband took me to see the fireworks at Jordan Creek.  We got there early and listened to some live music and enjoyed each other’s company.  There were no signs of where the fireworks were going to be shot off, so we didn’t know if we had a good seat but… WE DID!  When the fireworks started, we realized we were in the PERFECT spot!  I had so much fun being right up in the action with my best friend!

Jason and me at Jordan Creek

Monday came and I got to spend some time with some of my closest girlfriends while Jason braved the heat in the Windsor Heights parade.  After the parade we went out to the church camp to help with the festivities our outreach group had planned for our church.  The night was a success!  After the talent show, Jason, our good friend Marc, and I went to get some 59 cent drinks at QT and what would the 4th be without sparklers?  We got back to the camp in time to celebrate with the sparklers and watch the WDM fireworks.

Jason and me at the camp!  With our tattoos!

It was a great weekend!  Thank you to my amazing husband for making my favorite holiday (and 5 month anniversary) very special!