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.

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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