Sunday, July 31, 2011

Summer 2011 Recap

We started the summer off at the end of May at the beach with our family. It was a blast. Hudson had a great time with Ella, and loved the water. He would just run straight into the ocean with no fear.

















We had lots of play dates with Claire. These buddies are attached at the hip and always enjoy being together.






Claire turned two and had a super fun zebra party.


We spent a LOT of time at the pool, and it's official...Hudson is a little fish and loves the water just like his parents. No fear!




We celebrated Ila's birthday by going to see Sesame Street Live. These most adorable toddlers loved it.


Ila turned two and had an amazing Wiggles party.


Chris and Jackie came to visit.We spent lots of time outdoors.



Hudson learned how to climb out of his crib among other things.
We went to Alabama for the 4th of July and enjoyed being with familly and having good times playing with Ella.


I loved spending so much time with this sweet boy!



Barrett and Carter turned 2. Their carnival party was really cool.


The temps soared to over 100 degrees and our time outside was limited to early morning or evening. We found ways to stay entertained while being inside.

Lots of fun was had with great friends.





Summer 2011 has been great! Hudson grew so much and even potty trained. He's doing so well with it, and I feel like we can say that we officially have potty training success. I'm super proud of him. He is such a little boy. No more baby.

I start back to school on Tuesday. As much as I hate to see summer end, I am ready for both of us to get back into a routine. Hudson loves being with his Nana and Claire everyday, and Nana has some some exciting "school" stuff planed for those two smarty pants.

It's Hudson's time to turn 2 (in three short weeks), and we can't begin to express how much we are looking forward to Fall. Cooler weather, pumpkins, blue jeans, and college football are just around the corner. Summer flew by, but it's time to move forward. This is going to be a great year!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

23 months

Dear Hudson,

This will be your last monthly post before you are 2 YEARS OLD! Wow! That's still so hard to digest. Last year this time we were preparing for your big surgery and obviously your first birthday. These 2 years have gone by wayyyyyyy too fast. I am so proud of you and the person that you are becoming. You are a great kid and we are blessed beyond measure to have you as our son.

I've enjoyed being home with you for the past 2 months. It's almost time for me to go back to work, and it's going to be VERY hard to be away from you all day after being with you all summer. I'm ready for us to get back into a routine, but that does not make it any easier. I've watched you grow, learn, and change daily. You are becoming so independant, and need me less and less with each day. You want to do everything all by yourself. Your vocabulary and communication skills/language development resemble those of a 3 year old more than a 23 month old.

You remember everything, and I love listening to you play with your cars and trucks or drive your bus around. "Beep-beep, watch out, vroomm, vroomm, and other sounds are so cute coming from you. When we are driving in the car and I apply the brakes, you always yell "watch out!". I guess you hear me telling your daddy that all the time when he's driving.

We have been working on potty training but I have not gone all out yet. You do wonderful and wear your underwear and potty all the time at home, but I am not brave enough to take you out of the house without a diaper yet. Even though you can climb out of your bed faster than a greyhound runs out of the gate at a dog race, I just can't bring myself to turn your crib into a toddler bed...YET. As long as you are in your sleep sack you don't climb out and we watch you on the video monitor when you are in there sleeping.

Your eating habits sure have changed this summer. You have become quite picky and don't eat as much as you used to at all. You still eat enough, and I know this is just a phase that is common for toddlers, so I am not worried. You have grown 2 and a half inches and lost 2 pounds since March, but you are by no means malnoursihed. You weigh 30 lbs, and are wearing size 2t clothing and size 8/9 shoes. You still LOVE to play ball...all kinds, and if you see a ball, you tell us what kind it is right away. Even though you are extremely strong willed, you know all about time out and it seems to work for you. You will walk over and sit down when we tell you that you have to go.

We are excited about your birthday party in a few weeks. You get excited about birthday parties that we go to, and love singing "Happy birthday to you". I can't wait to see your face when we sing to you and you get to blow out your candles. Hopefully you won't be shy and get embarassed by all the attention and push your cake on the floor like your mother did at her 2nd birthday party.

Thanks for being such a fun kid. I love you so much!

Bailey, Tripp, Lucy, and Keegan

We are so blessed and so thankful to have a healthy, beautiful, energetic, smart, precious son. There are several families that are very heavy on my heart right now, and although I am only one of many people that are praying for these babies and their families, I ask that you to add them to your prayer list. I cannot imagine what they are going through right now. It's just not fair, BUT we all know who is in control and his plan is much greater than we could ever imagine. I admire the parents of these precious babies and pray that they continue to have the faith they need and feel God's arms around them and their sweet children.

Bailey Gordy- This precious little one year old was diagnosed last week with neuroblastoma cancer. Bailey's mom, Rachel and I worked together in college along with her sister who was one of my close friends during my college years. Click here to follow her on her carepages site.

Tripp Roth- Tripp has a very rare skin disease called EB. The slightest little bit of friction causes horrible blisters and open wounds that are very difficult to heal. This disease is horrible! I have been following Tripp's story from his mom's blog for a while now. Courtney is the strongest person, and best mom that I know. Tripp has recently taken a turn for the worse and continues to battle infection after infection. He is in tremendous pain all the time. Please pray for Tripp and for Courtney as she struggles with wanting her baby healed and pain free in Heaven, and not having him here with her on Earth. Everyone should read Courtney and Tripp's story here. They are an inspiration, and it truly is amazing to see how many lives Tripp has already touched in his 2 short years here on Earth, and how Courtney has been 100% self-less. Be sure to read Courtney's poem that she wrote to Tripp called "I'll Need a Pinky Swear". It will tear you up, so make sure that you have plenty of kleenex.

Lucy- You see Lucy's cute face on the right side of my blog in her "Pray for Lucy" button. She's battling cancer and is one BRAVE girl. She has also been through so much in her short little life. She has a sister and little brother at home while she is at St. Jude with her mommy getting treatment. Pray for the whole family as they do everything in their power and sacrifice so much to ensure that their little girl is receiving the best treatment. From her reports, it looks like she is kicking cancer's butt!!! Go Lucy Go!!!! You can read about Lucy here, or click on her button.

Keegan- Oh sweet little Keegan, my heart sank this morning as I read your mommy's new blog update. Keegan has brain cancer and has been through various surgeries and endless treatments. He recently arrived in New York to start a trial treatment. This was going to be the miracle treatment to heal Keegan. Yesterday he had an MRI, and his mom Beth reported that the large tumor has come back, and doctors dismissed him from the trial and sent him home telling them that the tumor is inoperable. They also saw new leisions on the scan. How heartbreaking!!!!!! Read Keegan's story here, and tell me those bright blue eyes don't melt your heart. Keegan's mom Beth has worked tirelessly on fundraiser after fundraiser to raise money for their medical needs, and travel needs.


I often find myself complaining about silly trivial things. Every time I get frustrated with my (almost) 2 year old, I think about these families and how they would LOVE to have their child well enough to annoy them at times. We are so blessed! Thank you Lord for my child, and please be with these precious children mentioned above.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Happy 6 Years!

July 16, 2005 seems like it was just yesterday. 6 years have flown by! I must say that the last 2 years have been the best with our precious boy! Happy Anniversary Babe! before digital photography





Friday, July 8, 2011

Summer Photo Shoot

I LOVE the pictures that Laura at GandL photography took of my little man for our summer photo shoot. Laura and I went to high school together many moons ago, and she is fabulous! She captured my Huddy Buddy perfectly with all of his expressions. As I looked through all the pictures I kept saying.. "That is SO him." to all of them. Here are some of my favorites.