Family Day Thursdays

Thursdays are our family day since Logan works on Saturdays now. His only other day off is Sunday, but we refrain from going out and doing things on Sundays besides attending church or visiting with family/friends in their homes. Want to know why? See here.

It's been nice having Logan off in the middle of the week. It splits things up and we get to enjoy some places without all the Saturday crowds.

We usually pack a lot into our Thursdays with various home improvement projects (more on that later), pool time, or visiting different places. Our summer has had quite a few fun Thursdays! 

Logan's mom and youngest siblings came to visit last month from Thursday - Saturday. 

We headed into Downtown Raleigh to see the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. 

They recently opened a new wing, so it was fun getting to see the addition.

 Here is Hudson destroying the Lego table in Barnes and Noble at Southpoint - a fancy, outdoor mall in Durham.  

We spent a few Thursday nights going to North Hills for their concert series. 

We would get dinner, listen to the concert, and browse our favorite toy store. 

Morning pool time. As you can see, no one is at the pool on Thursday mornings. No kids splashing my kid. No smokers. No teenagers hitting my kid with their non-water footballs. No obnoxious swim wear.
JUST US. Best thing ever.  

So happy when dad is around to play with us on Thursdays. 

 We went to a Durham Bulls baseball game with our friends last week. It was our first time in Downtown Durham, and we really enjoyed it. The baseball stadium was also really neat - complete with a playground and $1 concessions. 

Oh, and Hudson had popcorn for the first time. Can you tell that he loved it? 

These two are pals. They get so excited when they see each other and they even do chest bumps. C-U-T-E!!

We sure love our Thursdays. Apparently Hudson loves them too, so much so that he'll give his dad plenty of slobbery kisses at the end of a fun day!


Other things on our Thursday Bucket List (within the Raleigh area):

-visit Museum of Life and Science (Durham)
-play and bounce around at Monkey Joes (H and I have already been, but dad wants to go with us now)
-paint dining table and reupholster chairs
-visit Greystone, Raleigh's indoor playground
-paddle boats at Pullen Park
-go to Carolina Bakery for dessert
-picnic at the Duke Gardens

A year of Motherhood

The moment H was born was so magical. Nothing quite prepares you for bringing a baby into the world, and I don't think there are any tangible words to describe it. Each circumstance is different, but I'd like to think every mother felt the same way I did when seeing their baby for the first time - so giddy, so powerful, so loved, so overwhelmed, so raw.

Of course, the first few days weeks after giving birth were tough. I had so many questions and so much learning to do. There was that whole adjusting to the newborn stage - feeding a baby from my womanly parts, changing diaper after diaper, sleeping less than 4 hours at night, learning the swaddle technique (which got denied by Hudson), doctor's visits, etc. Logan and I were so unsure of ourselves. I remember distinctly leaving the hospital and getting into the car; I wanted to cry my eyes out. I looked at Logan and said, "Now, what? We don't know how to take care of a baby!" Logan, being the patient, calm person that he is said something like, "Let's go home. We'll figure it out." And boy, we are still figuring it out!

I think that's what it is though. Figuring it out. One day at a time. Sure, we have a pretty good routine but that routine can get thrown out the window at any time. I have learned to adapt, to be patient, and to figure it out. And, I think I am doing it. I am no expert when it comes to mothering, but I'd like to think I am an expert in mothering my kid. I know what makes him smile, I know what foods he prefers over others, I know how he likes to be put down for bed, I know which TV shows he loves, I know his favorite toys, I know which areas of the house are his favorite to mess up, and I know his ticklish spots. I know all of those things about him and so much more.

It is amazing just how much growth and development happens in the very first year. Hudson has learned so much in a year, and then to look at how much Logan and I have learned too. Our marriage has grown a ton. It's grown into more love, appreciation, and adoration for one another. Being a mother and father changes a marriage, but for the better. I knew Logan was patient before I married him, but I quickly learned that his capacity for patience far exceeds mine and anyone else I know. It is endearing to see and I hope that same patience will rub of on me sometime (hopefully soon).

I love the mothering life. I'm so glad I get to have it and that I get to have Logan by my side in all of it. I know that this is the life Heavenly Father wants for me and I intend to do the best I can at figuring it out, but also embracing all that comes with it. I know that mothering isn't perfect, but that's the beauty of it sometimes. I've learned to just embrace the spaghetti ridden carpet after feeding Hudson dinner. I've learned to embrace singing "I am a child of God" a million times before he falls asleep. I've learned to embrace him wanting to sleep in our bed some nights. I've learned to embrace everything that comes with the mothering life because all too quickly this little one year old will be 16 years old and won't need me to clean up after him, won't need me to sing to him, and won't need to sleep in our bed. It makes my heart ache to see my baby become a toddler, but it is also exciting too. Growth is part of the process and around here we are all growing - more in love, more in awe, and more in anticipation of things to come.

I can't wait to see how motherhood unfolds this next year and in the future years! It is the best adventure I could have ever asked for. I know that it is the greatest responsibility and calling in the world. I feel so blessed to have it, but more importantly - to really live it.

Videos

I don't post a lot of videos on here, but I am going to start to. I love taking pictures of Hudson, but then I also love taking videos of him. It's amazing what you can see in videos that you can't see in pictures. What fun moments! 

Playing with his new drum set 

from his Aunt Amanda

Hudson dancing at North Hills

Causing havoc at Barnes and Noble

Hudson = 12 months

It's hard to believe that our little boy is a year old as of July 24th! This past year has been nothing short of incredible. We absolutely adore our little boy and love that he is part of our family. What a blessing to have this special boy in our lives forever!

12 month old stats:
Weight: 18 pounds and 12 ounces (13th percentile)
Height: 29 1/2 inches (36th percentile)

A few things about H....

• He is busy. Very busy. He moves constantly. The only time he sits still is if I put a movie/show on to watch, but he only sits for about 5 minutes and then he is done. Maybe I am not picking the good ones. Any suggestions?

• He loves to play. What kid doesn't? Favorite toys include: corn popper (birthday present), cars, and balls. 

• He gives the sweetest, slobber-filled kisses. We will ask for kisses and he opens his whole mouth as he comes in for the kiss. A little gross, but cute too. 

• He is learning so quickly. He knows how to fold his arms for prayer, covers his ears when it is too loud, can play peek a boo with his blanket, and lifts his hands up over his head when we say, "how big is Hudson? Sooo big!!" 

• He doesn't walk. He runs. And yes, he runs away from us and thinks it is so funny. When will he learn to come back? 

• He is drinking whole milk. We switched him over about a week before his actual birthday (so glad we don't have to buy any more formula). He is doing great with it! He has about 6 ounces of milk about 3-4 times a day. He is still drinking from a bottle, and we will slowly transition him into taking milk from a sippy. I don't think that will be hard as he drinks water in his sippy cup already. 

• He takes one long nap during the day. He'll go down any time between 12:30-1PM and get up around 3PM. I love love love one nap a day! It is easier to plan around, and he sleeps so well for that time. 

• He is eating so well. His favorites are eggs, rice, pasta, grapes, goldfish, raisins, broccoli, and graham crackers. He hates juice which I am happy about since I don't want to give him any more sugar; he's already a pretty hyper kid. 

• He is super cuddly right before bed time. I love getting that cuddling time, but sometimes it can last for awhile and then he doesn't want to sleep. 

• He is fearless. He will bump his head, trip and fall, get a bloody lip, and get right back up. Of course, crying does occur but never for that long. Seriously. This kid is so brave.  

Happy 1st Birthday, Hudson bear! We love you!

Don't you just love those squint eyes when he laughs? We sure do!

 SO big in his big boy car seat

 Being silly with mom

Baby who sleeps past 9AM with his bum in the air = best mornings ever

 Blurry picture, but you can get an idea of how much he likes to drag this thing around

Reading a book with dad

Covering his ears because it was too loud with all the family in town during his birthday week

I keep a journal for H that is separate from this blog where I write him letters. I started writing in it way before he was born and have continued with it ever since. I will give him the journal one day when the timing is right. Here is what I wrote to him on his first birthday:

Our dearest Hudson,

I can't believe it is exactly a year since you entered this world! You surprised  us with how fast you came and how big you were (7 pounds and 11 ounces). You continue to surprise us every day. You are growing at an astonishing rate, and never cease to amaze us in reaching milestones - many of those were a lot earlier than we thought. We love watching you play with your little friends, feed yourself, put yourself to sleep, laugh, and run your little heart out.  

Thank you for the sweet kisses you give us, for the squint eye smiles, for resting your head on our shoulders every night, for the overwhelming hugs, and for the love you so freely give. We hope you know how much we completely adore you and how proud we are of you. You are everything to us. We just wanted you to know that on your birthday. You fill our hearts with joy, excitement, warmth, and a whole lot of love. 

Happy Birthday, sweet boy. 

Love,

Mom and Dad