Birthday Party

Three!

Dear Hudson,


Three years ago today my life changed forever. The second I held you I knew I would never be the same. Over the past three years you have grown to be such an amazing little boy. Not a day goes by when I don't feel overwhelmingly proud to be your mommy. You have such a kind and big heart. You are very sensitive (I know where you get that) and you love to talk and make people laugh. When I tell you goodnight you tap the pillow next to you and smile. You don't have to say a word, I know what this means. You want mommy to lay down and cuddle with you. No matter what I have to do that night, it can always wait. This time in our day is by far my favorite. I know a day will come when you won't want to do this anymore and I want to take these moments in and remember them forever. Another thing that makes me proud is how close we are, yet you are so independent. You LOVE to be with mommy, but you also are just fine going to preschool on Tuesdays all by yourself (you call it I self). When I pick you up your smile lights up the room as you run to me. It's the perfect balance. The day that I brought Bennett home form the hospital was one of my proudest moment yet. You were truly over the moon excited to see mommy and daddy and to meet your little brother. From that day on you have been such an amazing big brother. The first thing you say when we come downstairs each morning is "where is Bennett?", you always run to him when he cries and you love to give him hugs and kisses. The way Bennett watches you tells me that he thinks you're as wonderful as I do. I'm so excited to watch you grow into a "big boy" and I'm thrilled that Bennett has such an amazing role model to follow. Thank you for being you and thank you for being my baby. I love you more than you will ever know.


Love,


Mommy

Happy Birthday Sloan

Bennett enjoying the party!


If you don't know about Sloan...then you don't know Hudson. Sloan is one of Hudson's favorite friends. They have known each other for as long as they can remember (since about 2 weeks old). They hit it off from the beginning and have been close ever since. Lucky for me I feel the same way about Sloan's mom. Emily has been a true blessing in my adventure in motherhood. To make things even better Sloan has a baby brother, Mason is only 4 months older than Bennett. I see many play dates in our future.



Sloan turned 3 on the 20th (one day before Hudson). Her party was at Northshore Gymnastics. It was so fun to watch the kids run around the gym and celebrate Sloan. We love you Sloan!

Birthday at Preschool

The Birthday Boy

Sloan and Hudson...not so sure about the whole birthday thing.

Sweet Sloan

Hudson enjoying the yummy cake pops that Emily made.

On Friday Hudson celebrated his 3rd birthday at preschool (with Sloan too). They received their birthday crowns, the class sang happy birthday, teacher Betsy gave them a book and Emily made the best cake pops for the class. They both weren't so sure about the singing, but it was all okay when the cake pops came out!

Gymnastics

Bennett watching big brother.

Hudson with Sloan right behind him.

Coach Mike helping Hudson.

The Class

Thursdays have become a favorite for Hudson. He loves gymnastics because of Coach Mike and Sloan. Coach Mike is great with the Kids and is very funny! Sloan is one of his favorite little girlfriends. They are two peas in a pod and I love watching his face light up when he sees her.

Mum Mum

Today we decided to give Bennett a Mum Mum cracker. He has been eyeing our food for weeks and I felt bad. He has had rice cereal, but he isn't really into it...I don't blame him. So today during lunch I let Hudson give him a Mum Mum and he LOVED it! He ate it like he had been eating them for weeks. He finished every last bite. Now I just need to make sure Hudson understands not to feed Bennett other "crackers".

Brothers in the Bath!

Bath time at our house has become quite an event!

Five Months

Preschool

Hudson has been going to the Northshore Community Co-op Preschool for the past two years. We decided that he is ready to go all on his own next year and we are so excited that he will be going to Kids at the Creek. I was overwhelmed by the choices and difficulty people have getting into the preschools around here. There are so many things I love about this school, it is in our church so it won't be a new place for him, it's 5 minutes from our house, they have valet system so I won't have to get out of the car with Bennett in the morning, they rooms are all very bright, clean and orgainzed, the teachers are all wonderful, and everyone I know that goes there can't stop saying wonderful things about it. Oh, and did I mention the Espresso bar inside? My baby is growing up. The next big step will be Kindergarten *tears*.

Children's Hospital

Our first time in the emergency room.

Hanging out with Sophie




Bennett and I just got home from a five day stay at Children's Hospital. It's an amazing hospital, but I never want to to go back. Our adventure began on Friday morning when I decided to take Bennett to see his pediatrician. He had been coughing all night and was having a hard time catching his breath in the morning. When we got there she told me that I needed to get him to Children's right away. She also told me that he would need to be transported by ambulance because he needed to have oxygen. At this point I lost it. I tried to stay calm because Hudson was there, but I just couldn't. The ambulance came and Bennett and I rode to Children's while John and Hudson drove the car to meet us there. We spent the next EIGHT hours in the emergency room waiting for room. Our doctor said it was one of the busiest days he had seen. He said mostly because of the RSV virus. Well, sure enough they tested Bennett and he had RSV As we received the results a friend from Hudson's preschool walked by our room with her baby, he was also there for RSV. After one night/day they doctors decided that Bennett was able to go home. We came home on Saturday around 8pm. We put Bennett to bed at 9 and at 5am he woke up coughing and gasping for air. Soon he was having a hard time breathing and we called 911. When the ambulance arrived they told us they would need to take Bennett back to Children's. Again, he need oxygen on the way there. We were very lucky that Hudson didn't wake up during all of this. I went with Bennett and John stayed with Hudson. We were readmitted to the hospital and spent the 3 days trying to get Bennett to be able to breath on his own without oxygen and to not need the nurses to suction the secretions from his nose. Finally on Monday night he was breathing on his own. On Tuesday morning we were told if the morning went well we could go home. We are home now and Bennett is doing well, but has a ways to go until he is 100%. I'm extremely grateful to the amazing staff at Children's, but I never want to see them again.

Valentine's Day

On Sunday night my parents watched the boys so John and I could go out to celebrate Valentine's Day. We went to the Cinnebar, it was a blast! We had never been there and I had been wanting to check it out. We saw Just go With It...VERY FUNNY. You can't go wrong with an Adam Sandler movie and a couple glasses of wine.
Today we had a Valentine's Day party at Hudson's preschool. They had a tea party with yummy treats and juice. Hudson was so excited to bring home a bag of Valentines from all of his friends. He has been carrying the bag around all night. The boys each got a Valentine balloon from mommy and daddy. I forgot how many hours of fun a balloon can be. Even Bennett loves his balloon. We clipped it to his pant leg and he lays on his back and kicks his legs to see the balloon move all around. I am blessed.

Our BIG boy!

Bennett had his four month appointment today. I was right, he is a little over 18 pounds!

Just for Fun...

Hudson Four Months

Four Months

Bennett,

You have been a part of our family for four short months, but I don't really remember what life was like without you. You are such a happy baby, that you make it VERY difficult to not want to make us a family of five. You wake up each morning by singing in your bed. When I come in your room you give me the biggest smile that reminds me so much of Hudson. After your swaddle is off you stretch and smile again. Many times you will lay there happy for awhile so I can finish getting myself or Hudson ready for our day. After I you get you out of bed you want to nurse and cuddle. You usually only stay awake for about 2 hours after that. You come along on whatever activity Hudson has that morning and smile the whole time. We are usually home for lunch by 11:30. This is when you get to jump in your jumper and enjoy some tummy time. You sit in your bumbo chair while Hudson and I have lunch. Then around 1:00 we all take a nap. We usually all climb into Hudson's bed. Most days we fall asleep after a few songs. When I wake up I take you to your bed to finish your nap. This is your biggest nap of the day (around 4 hours). By the time you get up Hudson is up, daddy is home and we are starting to make dinner. The nights that you get a bath are your favorite. You now take a "big boy bath" with Hudson. It starts out the two of you with a little water. After you are clean (with a little help from Hudson) we take you out, add more water and let Hudson play. You love the water and you adore your big brother so this is when we see some of your biggest smiles. You go to bed around 7, we rock in your chair while you nurse. We always end our night with You Are My Sunshine. After this I lay you down in your crib, stare at you and take it all in. You are amazing Bennett, you make me smile when skies are gray...



Bennett's 4 month appointment is next week. Stay tuned for the update. I'm guessing close to 18 pounds!

Jump, Jump, Jump!

Bennett is getting too big too fast! He is almost 4 months and and already jumping away in the Jumperoo! I feel like it was just yesterday that I was walking the mall trying to make him realize it was time to join our family. Now he is rolling over from tummy to back, holding toys and jumping! STOP growing little guy...you are most likely my last baby.

College

As many of you know Hudson is OBSESSED with Toy Story. He told me a few weeks ago that he wasn't ever going to college. When I asked why he told me that it will make me cry. If you have seen Toy Story 3 you know where he got this idea. I have to say the end of the movie does bring tears to my eyes, even more so now. I sat Hudson down a told him that Andy's mom cries happy tears in the movie because she is so proud of Andy. He is still a bit hesitant about going to college, but we have time to work on that.

To My Boys...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVvz3V8C9BU


Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that

(Chorus:)
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Wont let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mama's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out
Someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJs getting ready for school

(Chorus:)
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
No one's ever burned
Nothing's ever left you scarred
Even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what is sounded like what your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up
Oh I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up
It could still be simple

(Chorus:)
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heat
And even throuhg toyu want to, please try to never grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just never grow up

3 Months

In the past month we have learned that Bennett...

loves his fingers in his mouth

loves his blankie

is not a huge fan of the car

loves to sleep

smiles A LOT

and is very loved by Hudson (and everyone that meets him)

Christmas

Christmas Eve before Church

BUZZ!

Christmas Morning

We had the most amazing Christmas this year. Not because of a party or the gifts, but because we were able to see it through Hudson's eyes. This is the first year that he "got it" and boy did he love it! He requested Christmas music every time we got in the car, wanted to read all of his Christmas books books every night, pointed out the lights everywhere we went and asked a lot of questions about Santa. He loved it all and honestly I don't think he was all that concerned about receiving gifts. He loved opening them, but it didn't even matter if they were for him. He did receive the Buzz Lightyear that he asked Santa for...that made him happy. I can't wait for next year!