Sunday, August 3, 2014

The magic of technology

While I don't usually like technology (I think it's taking over our lives in a not so positive way - but that's another soap box for another day), I will say there are times when I am very grateful for my phone. It has a camera and a video camera, and I use both probably daily capturing special moments with Hudson.

I think about my Dad when I was a little girl, having to pull out our huge video camera with the light on top, and sitting it up on his shoulder just to video us for a few minutes. Thanks Dad, for capturing those moments for us, but I'm so glad we've come a long way since then!

What's even better? I can take a picture or video and send it to Hudson's family all over the country in a matter of seconds! And then they can send it to other family members to enjoy as well!

Or even better?! We can FaceTime any time we want, with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that we only see a couple of times a year, and Hudson can talk to them and see their faces, and not forget who they are! Plus he likes seeing himself on the phone! :)

So here are just some fun photos from this summer that I took with my phone!

First plane ride to Cleveland. 
First day of weaning and holding the bottle by himself
Climbing the stairs! Beware of silence!! 
All boy - anything he climb on or through...
Frozen smoothie bites. AKA - yummy hidden veggies and fruits
Watching Daddy cut the grass
Walking in Daddy's new shoes
Its not about what comes in the box, its about THE BOX! 
Found him like this - he crawled up into the basket and snuggled with his stuffed animals
Playing with bubbles in the sink 
Homemade smoothies in a reusable food pouch
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" (or just playing with his monitor) 
Never a dull moment at the table!
He's very photogenic, and loves having his picture taken! He also just likes playing with my phone! Some day, probably sooner than I think, I'm sure he will be taking picture of me with it!

God Bless

Monday, July 14, 2014

11 Months

My sweet little boy is one month away from being a one year old!
How did this get here so fast?!


Hudson is...

-all boy! he loves anything with wheels that he can push, rough housing, crawling over things, going anywhere and every where, and getting in to everything!
-walking around holding on to everything! he finally figured out how to cruise and loves being able to walk, reach new things, and see the world from a new perspective
-taking one or two steps on his own- when I can entice him enough - he's still shaky, and will quickly sit down, but he'll get it soon and then he'll be off!
-being a picky eater! he loves fruit (especially watermelon!), any bread-like things (pancakes, muffins, bread, pasta), and frozen applesauce or Greek yogurt bites. he does not like vegetables! every once in a while I can get him to eat green beans, but I usually have to hide them on a spoon behind a piece of pasta! or in carrot, zucchini, banana, applesauce, whole wheat muffins! :)
-still not sleeping through the night. he wakes up once a night usually around 2:00 or 3:00, and then is up by 6:00. we are heading to Cleveland this week, so next week is going to be sleeping-through-the- night-boot-camp. please pray for us both - it will be difficult for both us (most likely it will crying it out, and you know how that tears up my heart)

-taking better naps. he sleeps for about 30-45 minutes in the morning, 60-90 minutes in the afternoon, and sometimes another 30 minutes in the late afternoon if he needs it.

-saying "mama" and "dada", and I think with distinction
-all about bath time!

-enjoying daily stroller rides in the morning with mommy and wagon rides in the evening with daddy
-very sure about what he likes, doesn't like, wants and doesn't want. and he will let you know which it is by laughing, crying, crawling away, shutting a door on you, or even throwing something (in jest or boredom)
-opening and shutting doors, cabinet doors, and drawers! and he loves pulling everything out of cabinets -he just doesn't know how to put things back, yet
-very intrigued by his sound machine. he reaches up and pulls it down, and hits it to change the music and make the blue light go on
-able to focus on an activity for 10-20 minutes when he finds something interesting. sometimes it's pulling metal drying racks and muffin tins out of a drawer, and banging them around on the floor, or it may be playing with his little wooden blocks, or opening and closing doors

-discovering his rhythm! he likes banging everything - and the louder the noise it makes, the better!
-getting more hair! it's still really thin and sparse, but it's coming in. and the hair he has had is getting long and looks blond. it'll be interesting to see what it looks like when it's all in

-getting attached. we have had a wonderful summer together! we have both loved spending our days together. however, he's getting to the attachment phase, and now when he goes to school on Wednesdays, or nursery on Sunday mornings, he cries when I leave (which he had never done before). In all honesty, I'll probably cry, too, when I have to go back to school, and I have to leave him all day, every day. I'm getting attached more and more, as well.

Needlesstosay, each new month is full of exciting new developments and adventures! He is an amazing little kid, and so full of life! I know God has big plans for him, and I can't wait to walk with him through whatever it will be! :)

God Bless

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful 4th of July.
We went to the lake on Friday, and spend some time with Paul's family. It was a relaxing, low-key day. Hudson enjoyed playing around the house and in the baby pool, and exploring "new" surroundings, so he didn't get to stay up and watch fireworks. However, us big kids, were able to go to the dock next door (a great 2 story dock) and watch fireworks being set off all over the lake - some of which were from the dock right next door!






God Bless

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Twins?

No, I'm not expecting twins!!

However, Hudson and Paul... you be the judge.




They have the same big smile, and beautiful, dark brown eyes that light up when they smile.

I'm sure Hudson will grow up to be just as handsome as his Daddy!

God Bless



Monday, June 23, 2014

Fathers Day

A little late again, sorry sweetheart!

Happy Father's Day to one of the best Daddy's a little boy could ever hope for!
Having never really been around kids, much less babies, Paul has stepped right up to fatherhood, and has become an amazing Daddy! His love and dedication to our little boy is evident in all that he does. Hudson lights up when his Daddy comes home from work, and will follow after him if he leaves the room. They love to laugh and play together, and share many special moments. Paul leads our family with a Godly heart, and I can't wait to watch him and Hudson continue to grow in their relationship.







Happy Fathers Day, Paul! We love you!

God Bless

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Beach Bums

This past week my family enjoyed a week at the beach! It was so much fun!! We haven't all been together since Christmas, so all the little kids have changed so much, and it was great to have them all together!

We had a house walking distance from the beach and a community pool right outside the front door, which was great with two babies and 3 year old!

We would get up early (as babies don't really understand sleeping in while on vacation yet), play while enjoying coffee (aka go-go juice for mommy and daddy) and breakfast, babies take morning naps (mama's enjoy some reading time), go to the beach for a while, come back to the house for lunch and afternoon siestas for everyone, go to the pool for a while, hang out before dinner, enjoy wonderfully cooked dinners around a big table, play time before babies go to bed, bedtime for kiddos, then play fun games before we all turn in!

It was so cute to watch Hudson interact with Henry and Eliza. Henry's 3 and Eliza is 8 months (2 months younger than Hudson), so between the three of them, there wasn't ever a dull (or quiet) moment in the house. Sweet Eliza certainly held her own with these two "all-boy" boys!

I enjoyed getting to know my precious niece and nephew better, as well as spend time quality time with my sisters and parents. We don't really get to spend a lot of time together as a family, and with these kids growing up so fast, it seems like each time we see them, they're completely different little people. We value and hold these times close to our hearts.

Ready for an 8 hour drive!
 We made it! Selfie on the beach!
The first day, Hudson wanted nothing to do with the beach or the pool. Gigi and Papa were glad to sit with him!
 By the second day, he was sitting in the inflatable pool on the beach and playing in the water.
 Cousin Henry shared some fruit loops - only at the beach special treat!

 Playing in the pool with Papa!
 By the third day, he was sitting in his float and enjoying the water! It just took some time getting used to it!

 Playing with Miss Eliza!
 Gigi and crazy Henry - he kept us laughing!
 All smiles!
 Double trouble right here, folks!
 Playing on the porch after a long day at the beach.

I love family time! And beach time!

God Bless