Hudson = 9 months

Oh my goodness! Hudson turned 9 months old the other day. I can't believe that his FIRST birthday is coming up soon. I need to start planning, but I am a little overwhelmed by all the preparations I should be making. It doesn't help that I look at Pinterest all day. Uhh. I think we will keep it simple though, but I say that about everything and it usually turns out to be more stressful than it should be. Imagine that? We'll probably end up having two parties - one in Virginia and one here in North Carolina. Lucky for Hudson.

At the 9 month mark, Hudson is on the small side (see stats) but that doesn't stop him from acting like a big boy! I get comments from many that Hudson is really active, fast, and very "advance" for his age. I see that. It makes me happy to know that he is thriving and wanting to grow up, but a little sad to see that he just wants to go and do at such an early age! He has an adventurous, determined personality. It is endearing to watch, but at the same time I can already see how much "work" he will be as a toddler. Yikes.

9 month old stats:
Weight: 17 pounds and 4 ounces (13th percentile)
Height: 28 inches (34th percentile)

A few things about Hudson...

• He doesn't like for us to feed him anymore because he thinks he is a big boy and can do it himself. He usually eats when and whatever we eat, but in small pieces. His favorite food right now is waffles.

• His favorite toys are his soccer ball and cars, but currently what he loves most is to throw anything he can get his hands on. 

• He is pretty good about going to strangers, but just recently started to get separation anxiety when I leave the room. He'll start to look around, see that I'm not there, and then come find me. 

• He has a ticklish spot on his back that (if you can find it) sends him into fits of laughter.

• He is starting to pay attention to movies a little bit more.  His current favorite is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 

• He loves books and even fell asleep "reading" the other day in his crib, just like his dad always does.

• He gets the biggest, cheesiest grin when he sees his dad get home from work. I do too. 

• He loves to find creative ways to get from point A to point B - often going over people, under chairs, and through desks. On occasion it results in a good bonk on the head, but nothing big H can't handle.

• He is getting so close to walking. He prefers to stand than crawl. He has started to stand on his own for a few seconds, but will only do this occasionally. He walks like a pro with his walker and while holding our hands. Any day now and he'll be doing it on his own. AHHHH! 

• He got his first real hair cut. Grandma Lynn trimmed it a few months ago, but this time his daddy gave him a real cut with buzzers and everything. It was quite a feat keeping him still and it's a little uneven, but I think it looks pretty good for a first hair cut. 

We love our 9 month old boy!

 At the park on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Pre-hair cut. 

 After the hair cut. Doesn't he look so much older?

 Got into the tissues again and was clapping when I caught him. 

Stinker. 

 Practicing walking

 He LOVES the swings!

 He likes to be pushed pretty high too. Fearless kid. 

 Playing with his blocks. New favorite activity. 

 Being silly

 Love that smile of his. He has 6 teeth now. 

Sometimes I find him fast asleep and lightly snoring in the middle of the living room.

But when he's awake, he sure likes to play! 

What boy doesn't? 

best feeling

I got home from church today a little grouchy which is rare because church usually leaves me uplifted and happy. But I just got home and felt defeated (I know, a little dramatic, but I seriously felt like that). The house needed some serious de-cluttering. I was hungry (didn't get a chance to have breakfast). Hudson was tired AND cranky. Logan was bumming around, not being very much help.

I started walking around with a paper towel roll. I told Logan it was my "yelling" stick, so I looked around the room and started saying things into it. My frustrations. What I saw. What I wanted done. What I thought of my baby and husband (some of those things mentioned weren't exactly "nice"). And then, I did it to myself - I said I was grouchy, mean, hungry, crazy, and silly for talking through a paper towel roll. I was going to continue, but then Hudson started smiling and laughing at me, which made Logan do the same.

I started to think - I am grouchy! Why aren't you both grouchy too? Then it dawned on me, I can't make other people feel down just because I am. So, I started to smile too. Because sometimes all you need is to smile and laugh at how crazy and ridiculous you are being. (Note: Logan can attest to how crazy I looked.) It made me feel better to laugh at myself and also to know that my two boys love me even if I act like a crazy, tired, ridiculous wife and mom.

Everything quickly got better from there. Logan got me something to eat and put a movie on for us to watch. About an hour later, it was time for Hudson to take a nap. I went into his room and was about to put him in his crib, but something inside me whispered to hold him for a little while longer. So I did. And then, it happened. He rested his head on my shoulder and fell asleep. That rarely happens. In that special moment, I knew Heavenly Father was so aware of me - He knew I needed that. Instead of laying Hudson down, I went straight to the couch and just snuggled with him. Logan got up, put a blanket over us, and said, "I bet you just love this right now." And, truly, I did. It was the BEST feeling I had had all day.

I know that sometimes our worst days can become our best days, but only if we let it. If we just forget ourselves and learn to laugh more, to listen more, and ultimately to love more. It helped me in this particular situation and I am so grateful for that.

this just happened

Via text message...

Mom: We are on the way to see you guys
Me: Okay! Drive safe.
Mom: We are going out to eat tonight ok?
Me: You don't want me to cook you something? :)
Mom: NO, thank you!

I guess I just haven't proven myself in the kitchen yet. But then again, how am I suppose to compete with my mom's cooking? Hmm. Oh well. We are all for a free dinner around here, especially when it's to a restaurant of our choice. I'll take that.

handsome little man

Hudson modeled his new church tie for us and, boy, did he look handsome. It was too much of a hassle to put a shirt on him, so we just left him without one. Because putting on clothes or changing into a new diaper is like a 20 minute ordeal. No joke. It takes forever because he will not lay down long enough. So yes, we usually have a naked or diaper-only wannabe toddler crawling and standing around our place for a good majority of the day. No major accidents yet, thank goodness! 

Don't you just want to squish those cheeks? 

This one here is probably my favorite picture of all time. 

It captures his personality perfectly. 

I just love this kid. MY kid.

I live for moments where I can see that precious, cheesy grin. 

So glad I get to see it every day. It sure makes everything worth it. 

Easter and building traditions

Easter 2012

 I wish H was looking at the camera, but at least I got him to hold still long enough to get a somewhat decent shot. 

Passed out on a church pew. 

 "Going on an egg hunt..." 

More interested in the outside of the egg than what was inside. 

Unposed. Can you say baby model? 

We had a great Easter with Logan's family. We had an egg hunt in their gorgeous backyard, went to church and felt the spirit through the wonderful talks and music, and then had a tasty dinner of steak and cheesy potatoes.

Growing up, Easter was all about the activities for me - egg hunt, egg race, finding baskets, devouring candy, and pictures with the Easter bunny. My family wasn't and still isn't very religious (I'm the only LDS member in my family, besides my mother - who is no longer active in the religion). I looked forward to Easter so much growing up because of those fun activities. But after I was baptized a member of the church (almost 7 years ago), I began looking forward to Easter even more - not only for the fun activities, but because of its true meaning. I know what it is all about now. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ! I know that he lives! I am so grateful for that knowledge and the ability I have to share it with others.

I have had a little time to reflect on holidays in general. I really do enjoy all the holidays, but my favorite is and will probably always be Thanksgiving. Just because it is less about the gifts and more about feelings of gratitude for what has already been given. No presents, but truly tender moments of peace, thankfulness, and love as everyone goes around the dinner table naming things they are grateful for (Sangbouasy tradition). I love that feeling and I seriously crave it sometimes.

I wish more holidays focused on that instead of giving and receiving gifts. Don't get me wrong, I love gifts and treats but it seriously bugs me when I see every holiday (especially religious ones) get so caught up in the commercialized aspect that the true meaning of the holiday is completely lost. How do you find the balance in celebrating a holiday? I know gifts and activities should not be completely absent, but I do think there should be some simplicity to it.

As Logan and I form our own family traditions (and we already have a few), I am curious to see what has worked in other families. If you have a moment, please share your Easter traditions and/or other holiday traditions with us. I think it's nice to hear about various traditions and then build on traditions through the years. I didn't grow up with a bunch of traditions, while Logan's family did. I want to incorporate some traditions from my family and Logan's family (even though all the traditions are great), but I also want to be able to create and call some of our traditions ours - does that make any sense? Let me know what you think!

D.C. visit

Hudson and I spent a whole day in D.C. last week.

Our first stop: The National D.C. Zoo

We saw panda bears, monkeys, lions, tigers, and much more. My mom didn't care for the reptile exhibit and I felt the same way. Had Logan been there it would have been a mandatory stop on our list. (While we were gone, Logan actually got a pet - a frog - pictures to come soon). My mom had not been to the zoo since my siblings and I were little kids, so it brought back sweet memories. I wish Logan, my dad, and the rest of my siblings could have been there too. It was so much fun. We even got cotton candy (my favorite) and funnel cake (my mom's favorite).

Our second stop: The National Mall

We walked and walked everywhere. No museum visiting, but we did see the Thomas Jefferson Memorial (my favorite), the Washington monument, and the U.S. Capitol building. Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms were all gone; they bloomed a little early this year because of the warm weather. But we did find a bed of gorgeous tulips that were in full bloom where we stopped to rest and snap a few pictures. 

On our way home, we almost stopped at Georgetown Cupcake, but by then we were just exhausted and wanted dinner more than sweets (shocker, I know). That place is growing with popularity, and I wanted to check it out - just to see if it was worth all the hype. It will be first on my list next time we make a D.C. visit. 

What a fun day to spend in this beautiful, historic place! 

I'm a little biased, but I definitely think the east coast rocks. 

Spring time activities

Spring (sometimes Summer) weather is here, and it came early too! It gave Logan bad allergies and Hudson a runny nose for days (he still has one), but all those signs mean spring is here to stay! We've been enjoying it with plenty of new projects, fun outings, and outdoor activities. 

 We got a babysitter for the night and went to watch The Hunger Games with the Heltons. 

 We went to the animal shelter and fell in love with these puppies. We are pre-approved for pet adoption, but who knows when we will be ready for that kind of commitment. 

 We've been going to the park a lot. Our favorite is Pullen Park. Hudson loves playing with Macie (they are second cousins and only 6 weeks apart).

Hudson and his daddy played a game of tic-tac-toe at a local playground.

They tied, of course. 

 This active little boy walks around with no pants on because his parents don't want to turn the A/C on just yet. He is also pretty fearless, diving head first into his toy box. 

 We went to Farm Animal Days with some playgroup friends. We held baby chicks, ate free homemade ice cream, and saw lots of fun animals. 

 We went to the Wake County Booksale and Reading Festival. There were hundreds of books. We were there for over an hour, but only got through the children's books, cookbooks, and fiction books. 

 We planted a few seeds to grow a mini-garden. 

 We went to get pizza (Corbett tradition) and view temple grounds in between Saturday General Conference sessions.

 I crafted this beautiful spring yarn wreath with some of my girl friends one night. 

 I also found time to sew this entire outfit. 

We spend a lot of time going on walks around the lake and being with friends. Hudson especially loves trying to wake Baby Liam up to play. 

We helped Hudson dye Easter eggs. 

We had our family Easter egg hunt a little early since we are going to be in VA for the actual day. Hudson loved it! Watch the video below. 

As you can see, we are enjoying our Spring time! We are heading up to VA this week to see the D.C. cherry blossoms, celebrate Easter, and bask in all the family love. 

After we get back, we have a few other things to plan and/or look forward to....our 3 year anniversary, going to the pool, a camping trip and/or beach day with friends, a Duke Gardens picnic, and perhaps a Wicked showing (if we ever decide to splurge on the tickets). 

What activities are you doing this Spring? Any fun ideas for us?