Hudson Almost ONE and a Grinch Party

On Thursday my sweet boy will turn one year old. I get so emotional just thinking about it. This boy has changed my life is so many ways. I had such a hard time coping with being a new mom after I had Hannah. Everything was just so hard for me. And she was a great baby. But I didn't feel like a great mom at times. I realize now that was just postpartum depression and Satan lying to me and making me feel unworthy. I'm not a failure. I'm a great mom to my kids and sometimes I mess up, but I'm learning and growing because that's what great moms do.   

After I had Hudson life got busier but I grew softer. I have embraced motherhood very differently this time around. I soaked up every ounce of my baby boy and cherished every bit of his first year. I tried not to sweat the small things and let life happen. And for the most part I have succeeded. Hudson turning one is a reminder that I've made it. I survived my first year as a mother of two kids. It's wonderful. They are wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful, this past Saturday we celebrated Hudson's first birthday, Grinch Style. It was a little bit of a challenge trying to think of an idea for a party theme that would involve my house already being decorated for Christmas. It was actually Brandon's idea to do a Grinch themed party and I just ran with it. I think it turned out so cute. Everyone had such a great time. Here are some pics from the big day.

Grandpa & Hudson

I made his cake the perfect shade of Grinch green

The Birthday Boy (sweater from Target)

Sister loved all of Brother's new toys

Cake Time

"Hmmm what is this stuff?"

"I like it!"

"Should I go for it?"

"Yum!"

My Favorite Son

I know he's mine and I'm biased, but I think he's so beautiful. His face lights up my life and I never get tired of looking at it. He's my favorite son.

 

Hudson Jacob 10 Months!

My sweet baby boy is 10 months old. This month has been so eventful. We are finally getting over an ear infection. He's on the move. And opening up and showing us more and more of his personality every day. We just love him.  We just experienced our first Halloween with him and it was a lot of fun. It's fun dressing him up in all those cute costumes. I loved the lion and the Indian the best.

10 Month Update
 
Weight: 20lbs 11oz
Height: 29 3/4 inches

Features: You have dark greenish gray eyes. You have dark blonde hair that curls up in the back. You don't have much hair though. You have the cutest dimples and rosy cheeks. You have 4 teeth. Two on top and two on bottom. Two more are coming in though up top. You aren't as round as sister was at this age. You two do favor each other, but you have your own look. I think your the cutest baby ever!

Clothes: You are officially out of 6 months clothes and most 9 month clothes. You wear 12 month onsies and pjs, but 18 month Carter's fit too. You are at a weird size transition. You are too long to wear some stuff but don't quite fill out the next size up. You wear a size 3 diaper still.

Sleep: Sleep lately has been pretty good. With your ears cleared up you go to sleep better. You still wake up most nights though some time between 2-4am and want to eat and then go back to sleep until 7:30am. We have a bedtime routine and we stick to it. It works for our family.

 

Eating: Not much has changed with your eating in the last month. You take 5 6oz bottles a day. Sometimes more and sometimes it's less. You also have baby food once a day and eat snacks too. You are really good at feeding yourself. You also are pretty good with a sippy cup. We try new foods all the time. You would prefer baby food, but have tried many finger foods as well. You just don't like the texture of table food quite yet. 

Milestones: You went from not being able to crawl to crawling all over the place this month. You are so fast. I put you down in the living room and then a minute later you are sitting by the front door. You are into everything and curious about everything so there have been a few bumps and bruises this month. We never "baby proofed" with Hannah but I think we need to this time around. You are pulling up on everything. You are also staring to cruise. You can stand without holding on to anything for about half a second. You can walk with a little push toy walker so I know it won't be long until you are walking on your own. You "talk" and "sing" a lot. You are always babbling and smiling. You say "mama", "dada, "Han-nah", "bye" and mimic a lot of other sounds. You know how to say "no" and shake your head. It's pretty funny. You squeal really loudly when you want to express yourself. We went back to the ENT doctor. Your ear infection had cleared and you didn't have any sitting fluid. So for now still no tubes. I massage your ears twice a day and I'm giving you immune boosting vitamins to protect your health. That seems to be working for now.

Likes: You love your bath. We moved you out of your little bathtub into the big bathtub and you do great. You love playing with toys and splashing around. It's so cute. You love to be read to. You are teething though so books are mostly good for chewing on. You love it when daddy tosses you into the air or makes you stand on his hands. You are really good at that and have no fear. You love love love your sister. She loves your too. You always calm down when she's around. You interact with each other and it's so cute. You are best buddies. You love apple sauce. It's your go-to food. You still loved to be looked at, rocked, held and loved on. 

   

Hudson we just love you to pieces. Couldn't imagine life without you. Can't believe you will be one in about a month and a half. Crazy! Got to start party planning.  

Hannah & Hudson at 10 Months Old

 

HK at 3 & 1/2

FYI: This is a really long post

Hannah Kate turned three and a half last month. She's changed so much since her 3rd birthday it's crazy. She's not a baby anymore for sure. She's a "big gurl." And she lets us know it. Three is a very challenging age at times. While she's showing her independence she's also talking back more and testing all the boundaries.

She is very smart but sometimes too smart for her own good. She's also very dramatic and cannot be forced into any situation she's uncomfortable with. She's just figuring life out right now.

Hannah is so funny and makes us laugh all the time. She also has a serious and shy side to her too.

Hannah has been so great with Hudson. She loves him so much and is really helpful when it comes to him. Sometimes she doesn't want to share her toys with him, but other times she's quick to get him a toy if she thinks it'll make him happy. She always tells him to "Stop crying Hudson" "Its okay." They are really starting to interact with each other and I know that bond will only grow stronger in the next coming months and year.

Hannah also loves her cousin Harlan. We talk about Harlan at least twice a day. I hope they'll always be close. 

Hannah finally is potty trained!!! I think I deserve a gold medal for this one. I've been trying to potty train her for a year now without any success. I tried everything to get her to use the toilet. We used little potties, the toilet with a special seat, dvds, books, games, songs, bribes and I paid for two different online e-books on how to potty train. In July I put her in panties and didn't look back. No more diapers during the day. She went to school and held it all day til nap time and she would then go in her pullup. That's how we rolled for over two months. She wasn't having many accidents, but she wasn't going in the toilet either. She was moved into a new class that has kids that were mostly all potty trained and I felt so embarrassed that she wasn't yet. Then one week she started having accidents every day. It was terrible. She was peeing all over my house. The world was her toilet and she could care less. One Sunday she was on our couch watching a movie when she announced "I went pee pee." Sure enough she had peed all over my couch. I was livid. I couldn't believe the mess. It was awful and I didn't handle the situation very well. I went out into the garage and cried. I could tell she felt sorry for me. She said, "Mom, you okay?" "No baby I'm not okay. Next time please go to the potty to pee."

That Thursday night I was at a baby shower when I got a text message that Hannah had peed in the potty. Apparently she was playing outside and came in the house and without prompting peed in her potty. She came into the kitchen an announced to my mom, "I went pee pee." My mom's first response was "Where?" "In the potty!" And sure enough she had. From then on every day she's been going poop and pee in the potty. She still has the occasional accident, but for the most part she's potty trained. I could not be happier.

Here are some other things about Hannah at 3 1/2: 

• She wears mostly 3T but moving into 4T clothes
• She wears a size 8.5 - 9 shoe size
• She hates having her curly blonde hair brushed
• She hates brushing her teeth
• She loves playing outside 
  
• She loves to talk and make up stories
• Her favorite Disney Princesses is Rapunzel & Bell and she doesn't like Ariel or Sleeping Beauty
• She loves to be read to. Some of her favorite books are The Little Engine That Could, Pout Pout Fish and The Big Big Dark, The Cat In The Hat, All Sandra Boynton Books, Clifford, The Jolly Barnyard, Duncan and Dolores, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Amelia Bedelia.
  
• Her favorite TV shows right now are Doc McStuffins, Caillou, Dora, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood,  Sid the Science Kid, Clifford, Curious George, and Jake and The Never Land Pirates
• She can identify most letters but has little interest in writing or coloring. She's too much of a busy body. Maybe at age 4 she'll like to do that more.
  
• She loves to play with dolls and her kitchen. 
• She still sings and is learning new songs at school
• She's in Early Preschool now so she has more of a structured learning environment. She likes school.
• Going from one place to the next is a challenge. She never wants to get into the bathtub and never wants to get out. 
• She's still a pretty picky eater. She loves pancakes and waffles the most. She doesn't care for many veggies.
  
• She doesn't drink milk. She prefers water.
• She loves going on adventures with her daddy. She loves going to the grocery store and to Costco. 

I can't believe Hannah will be 4 in March. That seems so old. I'm trying to soak her up at this stage of her life. The holidays will be so fun this year. Can't wait to spend them with her.