Facebook, Instagram, Blogging...

Note to self:
Once upon a time Facebook was fun.

Then people got messy. People of every walk of life camoflauge ugly words with saying it's "freedom of speech".  Sadly though, Facebook became a platform for people to voice opinions which were often spelled wrong... which truly showed the intelligence behind the thought.

Friends and family,
This is my blog. I'm on Instagram as rbsasser.  I have an email address and cell number.  love you all, but Facebook is driving me flipping nuts. Taking an official break.
xo
rbs

8 months and pumpkins

Hudson at 8 months:

- He is over 18lbs

- crawls all over the house, just this week he started coming to find me in other rooms!

- has two top teeth working their way in

- throws his "Nuk" when he doesn't want it anymore

- goes from crawling position to sitting on his own

- entertains himself

- pulls up to his knees

- will move to "big boy" baby room on Monday at daycare!

Life around her has been pretty busy the past month.  After the last post, Hudson stayed pretty healthy for a while until this past week.  But, now he is fighting his first ear infection and two new teeth and now has quite the rash from his antibiotics. Yay fun as a parent... (please notice the sarcasm) He's decided sleeping is overrated and fights us nightly on it.

But, last night, as I sat crying while he cried for two hours straight, all I could think of was the song, "I'll praise you in this storm".  I tried to let him cry it out, but that didn't work. So, instead of crying, we rocked and sang (and rocked and sang).







I am blessed. I have an amazing husband who, even though he has random brain farts, is an amazing dad who is trying to figure this out with me daily. We, together have an awesome kid. Sure, the past ten days have been TOUGH, but he smiles at us and shows us God in every day. Right now as I type, he is making a disaster out of our office and loving every minute of it.  He is teaching me to see the beauty in small things... like a pile of paper.

If I know anything that I've learned in the last year and a half it is that everything works better in God's timing.  October always holds a special place in my heart and probably always will.
I'm grateful for taking my 8 month old to the pumpkin patch and there's even peace in doing it after only getting a few hours of sleep for the 10th night in a row.

  

Church

When I can't sleep, Church of Christ youth rally/campfire songs always come to mind. Here lately I'd give anything to be at Camp Ch-yo-ca or Youth In Action or Winterfest listening to "Hide Me Away O Lord", "We Shall Assemble on The Mountain", or "Prince of Peace" sung by just other voices.

What is it about songs that get to us? Our new church home has an amazing band and sounds like a band on KLove. It's great and uplifting! I adore our preacher and the messages he brings. But, Saturday night at a football game I was surrounded by 40,000 people singing the national anthem and all I could think about was heaven.

I hope we rock out in heaven... But I hope there's still time for some acapella.

Random? Yes.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

another month of pure studliness.

Too bright!!!  

there's those beautiful eyes... 

 I usually try and take Hudson's picture on his "month-day" but this month, he's 7 months old now, we spent the day at the doctor's office running 102 fever with no other symptoms. Joy oh joy.  Come to find out, we think the kid may have strep.

So, no cute outside pictures this month.  I was lucky to get a few in between pure pitiful moments.  I stayed home with him Tuesday and it was tiring to say the least. Fever finally broke but still had a pitiful cranky kid who was obviously miserable.  AND, to make it even more fun, pretty sure there's some teeth that will be making an appearance soon. (notice all the drool in the picture above on the left?)

give me that camera, woman! 

learning to clap while watching football

Hudson is now reaching for EVERYTHING.  I keep telling Kyle that any day he'll be realizing that if he crawls, he can get it. But, I'm not rushing mobility at all. I like that he sits and stays. Speaking of sitting, that's an all time thing now.  At six months, he still was quite the weeble wobble, but now, don't even try to lay that kid down. No ma'am. He sits on the tile kitchen floor, our bed, in the tub, everywhere. I love it. He's just so stinking big. 

Also new, he has started clapping!  He'll clap if you sing patty cake or just cause you're saying "Yay!". It's the cutest thing!  Apparently daycare sings and claps a LOT. 

how most of Monday and Tuesday went at our house. 

even though it was pitiful - loved cuddling with this burning up baby boy.
(excuse crummy phone quality picture)

So, 7 months old -
- he's clapping and trying to wave
- 17lbs 4 oz
- two teeth all the way through now
- and just as lovable as ever


As for Kyle and I?
We're good. Work is busy for both of us and some days we feel too drained, but daily God reminds me that that husband of mine is a perfect fit. I couldn't do it without him.  Today? He came home from work, loaded the kid and the dog up in the stroller and we all just walked. Happiness is a choice.

Thankful Thursday

Wouldn't this be a great habit to get in to? Making myself post every day what I'm thankful for. Gonna do a top ten list.

10.  I'm almost done with school.  The end is officially in sight.
9.  I'm thankful for a great church home - glad I'll be there this Sunday.
8.  vacation
7.  twenty-two or twenty-three (I can't keep up) kids to teach every day.
6.  walnut blondies from Applebees
5.  my sister is pregnant.... with a girl.
4.  my husband has been sooo patient the past few weeks. he's the best to me.
3.  hudson squeals. loudly. i must remind myself to be thankful for happiness.
2.  i'm forgiven.
1.  i'm thankful for the tempurpedic.... i wasn't sure for a while, but i love it.

Hakuna Matata

Man, am I tired.  Here it is Tuesday after 10pm and I have a house that looks like a tornado ran right through it.  I'm talking all of our clean laundry on the guest bed, both sides of the sink full of dishes, dustbunnies in every corner, and not a single bed is made.  But, I'm tired. Currently, I'm taking a break from working on my Thesis for my Master's classes and I'm refusing to go back up to school.  ugh.

Hudson had to come "help" one night at work,
He fell asleep in the bean bag chair. 

I LOVE my behavior chart.  It's typical colors,
but I made the hats... silly how excited I was.

I started a new position at work... no more Special Ed for this gal, I've got a full Kindergarten class.  Today was my first day with all of my babies and we all survived.  I like it, I do. It's just a change.  I like finally having a full class of my own.  I miss my aide terribly of course, but today she got to be with me all day because I actually have a few SpEd kids in my room.  As of right now, I have 22 total.  It'll work, I know it will. I've just got a lot on my plate. I'm trying to do a lot more trusting in God and of course when you try that, Satan himself tries to kick your butt even harder. But, I have a great new coworker  and my boss keeps pushing me.  Gotta get through September... or at least that's what I tell myself.

first Braves Game!!!

With Braves pitcher, Tim Hudson

I don't know who was more excited, Kyle or Hudson. :) 

We just got home from our annual Atlanta Trip.  We had big plans, but the weather didn't really cooperate. SO, we went to the braves game and then basically just hung out.  Which, hanging out was just what we needed. OH, and we shopped! Ooooh, I got my little man all set for fall/winter. Now if just the weather would change so he can wear his overalls, sweaters, and cute little jean jacket!

Doctor day - this was pre shots... but he looked the same way afterwards.  He sat up the entire appointment, ripped the paper lining off the table, and squealed for everyone to hear!!! 

Other than traveling and working and going to school... well, what time do we have left? We're trying to live it up!!! Today was Hudson's 6 month shots day and he was a CHAMP!!! He flirted and played with everyone before, then cried a tad bit, and resumed flirting. What am I going to do with him?! Oh he's amazing.

Stats of the day: 45inch head, 17 pounds 4 ounces, and 27.5 inches long

half a what? no way.

Well, our little man is half a year old.  He's been here 26 weeks. Been in our lives for 182 days.  Hudson is six months old. Oh-My-Lanta. 

It's true, I love this kid. And... I think he's the cutest baby EVER. Right? (Let's be honest, what kind of momma would I be if I didn't think that about my own child?) Moving on from cuteness... He's great. He has started daycare and I have started back to work (as a Kindergarten teacher - but more on that later).  The daycare crew loves him with the only complaint being that he has started fighting sleep. (he's just nosy) 

A lot has changed for him in the last month. 

- over 17lbs

- moved up to size 3 diapers... wowza

- rolls forwards and backwards (more from back to front)

- sitting up pretty good! (can catch himself side to side but not backwards - still got some improving to do)

- he's eating all the time, real food twice a day!
- two teeth; both have broken through but just look like little stubs

- AND... just this week... he reached for me!!!

yes, there is a temper deep down in there

with one of his many "O-Ball" products - favorite toys!

this one is true to him: eyebrows raised, ears flapping out, and lip sucked in

He and Mister are becoming quite good friends. He thinks its funny when Mister licks on him (which is often... and unstoppable).

Last piece of business:  I entered Hudson in the Gerber Generation Photo Search 2012. Voting starts September 4. SO VOTE! :) His "photo id" number is 308576 to look him up on the Gerber site . 

Here's a link:

https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=308576&utm_source=contender&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ps3&utm_content=your_entry1

five months

I've got an awesome kid. Yes, I'm a little bit biased, I know. But, still, I think he's fabulous. He's five months old, ya know?  Wow, time does fly.

Now he can:
- hold his own bottle
- prop up real good on his belly
- give kisses
- survive a really long car trip
- eat baby food
- (and there's almost a tooth!)

my boy's sweet eyes

he giggles and squinches up that nose! 

so big

and already such a ham

Family

Family is a pretty amazing thing. It is more than the people that raise you or who you're trying to raise. It's the ones that surround you along the way. In the past week I feel like I've experienced every aspect of the word. Here's what this odd six letter word has done over the last five or six days.

Family is...
- a Sunday nap with a four month old who's fist is clinched around your favorite necklace
- spending three days doing nothing just so grandparents can hear a giggle and squeal
- driving two hours just to have dinner and deliver "baby girl things"
- visiting an old "stomping ground" just so an aunt can love on her nephew
- catching up with loved ones while on the same continent instead of oceans apart
- having pink tutus overtake my house so that joy can conquer past sadness
- hand-me-down boy clothes from his future best friend
- late night laughs about being fat, tattoos, and learning to spoon feed
- an unexpected 100ct box of diapers
- four generations

My Hudson,
Your "family" is amazing. If they're half as good to you as they are to me... You'll have it made baby boy! Always cherish the relationships you have. Your dad and I are surrounded by some pretty awesome folks and they already think you're something special.  Always be grateful for whatever is done for you.  When you're older, a teenager, and cranky, remember to be nice to your extended family and all of our crazy friends because... at one point or another they probably cleaned your butt.
love you,
Momma

"Chair sling" from the Koonce family - made in Rwanda

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday

when you're older

Hudson,


I love you. Do you know that? With that being said, here's some things I hope your daddy and I teach you:


- God is first. No question about it. If you're confused about something, just ask him. If I've learned anything in life it's that I should've seen his signs for me sooner and I would've if I was just open to seeing/hearing what He had to say. 
- Respect your daddy. I know you're gonna be a momma's boy... we're already getting our good snuggles in daily. But, your daddy loves you so much. He's going to be proud of you every day of your life. No matter if he's acting crazy (which he will) always respect him. Say "yes sir" and "no sir" even if you're fighting mad at him. 
- Work hard. Come on now... don't be lazy. You have two granddads and great-granddads who are hard workers and are amazing men. They have hands that show what they've done in life and they can fix anything.  There are five men who look forward to knowing you, my hope is that you get to truly know each of them. 
- Don't bring home trashy girls.  Alright, maybe that was harsh... BUT... The other day I saw this teen-age girl bouncing to a truck to see a boy. Her shorts were SO short and SO tight, I have no idea how she got them on or how they were comfortable. Seriously, do better than that.  Find a girl who loves God and respects herself enough to take pride in her body. Be sweet to the good ones and don't cross the line. 
- Smile and don't sweat the small stuff. Life's too short, son, to worry. I promise, you're dad and I will worry enough for you for the rest of forever, so it's your job to have fun. 


You're amazing. You're a gift from God and every day you have is an extension of that gift. Live it up!

love you my little turtle,
momma

this is how you look at your daddy... don't ever forget to be amazed by him.

I love you even when you cry :)

You and Granddad.   

Amazing

I finally got an app to blog from. Lifesaver.

I've realized that having my Hudson is taking up lots of time and getting to the computer to write a blog post takes even more time... So, hooray! Hopefully this means more posts more often.

Hudson stats @ 3 months:
Holding head up
Still hates tummy time
Trying to sit up
Sleeps all night (10-6)
Smiles all the time
Coos and squeals



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What a month will teach you

Being a mom is fabulous. I've learned a few things.

• For the rest of my life, any baby shower I go to, I will take a pack of diapers. Always. Good gosh we've gone through so many so quickly and I'm so glad for the TWO diaper showers we had. Wowza.
• I never realized how much life can revolve around when a human being eats, poops, or pees. "When was the last time he ate?" "Was it just wet or did he poop?" Life changing, I tell ya. And yet, it no longer matters if I get to eat or bathe. ha.
• Sleep? What's that? Okay, okay, I can't talk too bad about this part. Hudson sleeps really well. But, just the new type of sleep I get does take a toll. It's weird, this new tired. He sleeps about four hours at a time and when he wakes up at night we're only up for about 30 minutes and that includes eating, changing, getting back to sleep, etc. I think I'm pretty lucky here, but I still feel beat some days. My favorite sleep? When he falls asleep on my chest in the mornings. It's pure perfection.
• Someone really needs me. Just these past few days I've gotten to experience the amazing feeling of being his number one preference.  We've been busy (Kyle and I have always been a busy couple) and when Hudson has just had enough and he's a little unsettled, all he wants is for me to snuggle him tight. In the beginning, he loved for anyone to hold him tight up close to their neck, but the past couple days (after being passed around a lot or being in that dumb ole car seat a lot) all that settles him is being close to me. ME! Man, that's just an amazing feeling.

Hudson's last appointment was on Wednesday, March 21st and he was doing great. He's a whopping 10lb 4 oz and healthy as can be. We're still hanging out just us two and it's the best. Not looking forward to going back to work in May - thankfully it's just four weeks and then I'll be back home for summer!!! Below: some of the favorite Hudson faces. :)

Nakedly waiting at the dr's office

common sleeping position - loves to have his hands by his face!

one of my favorites!

Wide eyes! They're so big and brown. And those eyebrows - always expressive.

a little fuzzy - but trying to get him in his Tech gear

everyone jokes that he is so serious when he sleeps - he's a thinker.

Until next time,
Rachel

a little story about my little man

A week and a half ago, my life changed.  It's true... becoming a mom is unlike anything else. It's indescribable, overwhelming, humbling, and unbelievably heart-warming.  It's unlike anything else in the world. It is, in fact, a miracle.

My Hudson was born on Friday, February 17th.  It was a day that was like every other day.  But, it was a day that ended unlike I could've ever imagined.

I went to work that morning with an odd feeling in my stomach.  I never had a "busy body" living within me during pregnancy, but even my "lazy baby boy" wasn't moving enough for me to be settled. By lunchtime, the words of my doctor on my appointment that Tuesday ("make sure that baby's moving") were ringing so loudly in my head that I couldn't ignore it anymore.  I called the office and told them that I wasn't real concerned, but not sure I was okay with the lack of movement I was feeling.  Kyle was going to be going out of town for the weekend and I told the nurse that I'd really like to just get some peace of mind before my husband went camping.  So, she set me up an appointment for 3 that afternoon to come in for an ultrasound.  I called Kyle and he instantly was concerned.  He came straight to the school and we had a good talk for a few minutes where I reassured him that I thought everything was okay, but that I just wanted to double check.  It's an amazing thing about marriages - one can always calm the other when needed.  At this point in the day, it was my job to do the calming.

Kyle came back to school and picked me up about 2:30 and we were so blessed to find out that the lady doing our ultrasound was a familiar face.  She walked us through it and kept us upbeat: telling us how this BPP ultrasound worked (it was 30 minutes to check 4 different things), reassured us that fluid levels and heart rate were great, and told us the truth when he wasn't doing everything she needed him to do.  When walking out of the u/s room, we were prepared to head to labor and delivery for some further observation.  Well, when walking into the exam room to meet with the doctor (who was another one in the office - mine was out for the day), she had different plans.  The words I'll never forget came out so loudly and clearly. "Hi, I'm Dr. Babin. I know we've never met before, but today, we're having ourselves a baby."

At this point, it was Kyle's job to do the calming.

She went on to tell us that my precious baby boy's chest didn't move like it needed to... ever. That there had to be a reason for no movement at all during the thirty minute u/s but she didn't know what that reason was other than he had to be in some kind of distress.  She explained to us that he was 38 weeks, a good size (over 7 1/2 lbs), and there was no reason to sit around and wait.  We asked if we could go home and get our stuff. No. We asked if we could wait about an hour and let my folks get here. Her answer? "They may  just  miss it."  She went on to say how the NICU team would be in the C-section room waiting in case he wasn't breathing well. What?!

Again, at this point, Kyle had to do the calming.

I'm not a panicker. Or at least, I like to think that I'm not.  But, I was walking in here just for "peace of mind" and here I was sitting in this room with a doctor I didn't know and she's telling me not only that I'm about to have an emergency C-section but that my baby boy may be in the NICU for a couple of days?!  All I could think was that I didn't have my carseat! haha. (our fantastic friends, Hunter and Angie brought it that night!)

The next two hours were a blur.  Kyle and I walked out like zombies, got on the elevator and headed down to the second floor, Labor and Delivery.  We paused and had ourselves a good hug before walking through those doors, got in touch with our families, and hugged again.

I took a deep breath, stopped crying, and got ready to do this. The staff was waiting on us as soon as we walked through the door.  Instantly, we were rushed to a room, I had to gown up, Kyle put on his pretty blue scrubs, and the paperwork began.  While they were hooking me up to monitors, starting IV's, taking blood work, etc, here I am having to sign who knows how many pieces of paper.  Before I knew it, I was getting an Epidural and being told all about the section process.

Sidenote - my nurse anesthetist, Jared, was amazing. A life saver. He became my best friend who walked me through every step.  I made him laugh a lot. (I ask questions and I don't get fussy. Apparently, that's not normal)

5:30 I was rolling in to the operating room and lost sight of Kyle.  Thankfully, Jared reassured me that he'd be right there and sure enough he was. Suited up in blue with a face mask and hair net - my husband was about to become a daddy.  I never thought about me becoming a mommy in that moment, I just kept looking at him thinking, "this is the day my Kyle is going to become a dad."  Maybe it's because I've felt this baby inside of me all along and I have already felt like his momma, but in that moment, Kyle's life was going to change.

Everything was fast, and honestly, not near as painful as I thought it'd be.  When Jared said, "alright Kyle, you want to watch your son be born?" I cried.  Tears of fear. Tears of excitement. And then, when I heard the most beautiful scream ever... Tears of relief.  My baby was born.  Our Hudson was born.  We didn't need the NICU team.  We didn't need any more worry.  Hudson was here, screaming and peeing all over the place.  5:59pm was the minute that Kyle and I went from the married couple we've been for almost 3 years to the family of three we will be from here on.

The hospital stay was great.  The staff was so nice and everything went so well. Everyone was able to make it "in time".  I didn't see my parents before, but they beat me back to my room which was perfect.   As I got wheeled in, they were the first people I saw, followed by Kyle's folks right behind them. We learned so much during those few days in the hospital and are still learning as we go along.  Kyle and I enjoyed all of our guests while in the hospital (and the ones we've had since being home). Hudson eats, sleeps, poops, and pees just like he's supposed to.  Nights go really well - some nights he'll sleep for five hours at a time!  Days are even better - eats more often but has some hours of real alertness!

I've been asked a lot how I feel now that he's home or how is it to be a "mom".  But I can't ever answer it. "It's great" is an understatement.  All I know is that I stare at him all the time and smile.  He's perfect.

Hudson and Mommy 

Hudson and Daddy

Hudson Kyle Sasser 7lb 13 oz; 22 inches long

headed home! 

getting ready to go

all ready in the car! 

Proud Daddy! 

First morning hanging out in the bed after a great night's sleep!