8 months!

Hudson Bear,

You are growing up way too fast. Before I know it, you will be going on a mission (I already hate thinking about that). You are getting SO big! Your front teeth have come in so much and you look like a little grown up when you smile! It makes me kind of sad, but I love your cute little teethers so much! You have your 4 top middle ones and your 2 bottom middle ones. They are adorable and everyone is always commenting about them every where we go! Your bald stripe is pretty much all grown in now. You have the cutest blonde baby hair. You have a few really long strands right on top that we can kind of form into a mini faux hawk (kind of). I always rub all over your head. You sometimes think it tickles a lot and pull your shoulders up and chuckle. You have the best laugh I have ever heard. Lots of stuff makes you laugh. All of the normal tickle spots really get you- the tops of your thighs, your back and neck, your belly and sides, and under your arms. You also laugh at fake sneezes, knocking block towers over, some songs, when Daddy pulls a trash bag out and makes it "float," and when we throw you in the air or throw anything in the air. You have a wonderful deep belly laugh. You are so silly and are always blowing bubbles and chatting away. You started saying "mama" last week pretty clearly! You say it whenever you are tired or hungry and want me if I am not in the room or if I walk out of the room. It melts my heart. Even Daddy agrees that you can say it. You are a mama's boy and I wouldn't have it any other way! I love you so much! I hope you always know that you have a mommy who loves you more than anything! You are my world. I don't know what I did before I had you. You are still rolling all over the place and get frustrated trying to get things in front of you! You reallllyyyy want to crawl. You love wooden toys and chewing on everything you touch. You still don't like food very much. You will tolerate bananas, but that's about it. Anything non-food though HAS to go in your mouth. You still love cords and straps the most. We can't even have shoe laces around you or you will fling yourself to try to get them. You also use your feet as another set of hands and will always hold stuff in your toes if you are laying on your back! You are very talented. :) We love you so much!! 

7 (and a half) months!

I know I missed the exact 7 month mark, but I want to document this age, so better late than never, right?! Clay and I are constantly talking about how much Hudson is learning and growing! How did he go from my sweet newborn boy who did nothing but lay there to this active boy rolling, laughing, "talking," and squealing all over the place. I swear I just blinked. It is going by so, so fast. I know I start every post like this, but really! I wish I could just have a camera crew follow Hudson around all day every day because I want to remember it all and not forget anything. Since that is not practical, this is not the Trueman Show... Here are a few of the things I want to remember about Hudson right now:

-I wish I could capture the way he feels right now. So perfectly chunky and sweet. This boy loves to be held. He is getting very active and squirmy, but he still just loves to be held. He reaches for people ( and anything that is not a toy) and will wrap his little arms around your neck. It's the best. He is my little sidekick and loves to be in the action and watching me do everything- from cooking and cleaning, to curling my hair and putting on makeup. He wants to be right there on my hip or in my lap. I know it is something I will miss when he wants nothing to do with me one day (when he is about 15... I hope that never happens actually).

-His baby talking and laughs are still the best sounds ever. He usually babbles a lot when he rolls around on the floor playing by himself or when he is in his car seat or stroller. Sometimes we hear some "ma, ma, ma's" and "da, da, da's" in there. He is always looking for a laugh. He loves peek-a-boo, songs (Popcorn Popping and the Itsy Bitsy Spider are his favorites- he loves the actions), and being "scared." He is pretty ticklish, too. Daddy's kisses on his belly still make him laugh a lot, too. He is such a happy, smiley baby. I love it!

-He notices everything now. He loves going on walks around our complex. He loves to be outside. He always gets really calm when we go outside. We are loving the warmer weather. He is always just looking around and when he hears a noise he always tries to find where it is coming from (which makes nursing anywhere but at home in a quiet room really difficult!). He loves strings, cords, tags, necklaces, shoes, and pretty much anything "non-toy" the most. :)

-He has 6 teeth now! 6! He got his 2 bottom teeth first, then his 2 teeth next to his too middle ones, and then the middle ones! Not the typical order, I have heard, but they look so cute! When he does his big grin he looks so big. His top front middle ones just poked through yesterday and today. He has been really tough about it! 

-Whenever I go into his room to get him from naps or in the morning when he is awake, I always peer over the crib and smile at him really big and he smiles and gets excited. When he gets excited he like breathes really heavy and flails his arms around and kicks a lot and squeals. It's so cute! 

I really love being his mom. I feel so lucky to get to spend all of my time with this sweet baby. He has introduced me to a whole new level of happiness that I did not know existed. I love this baby boy more than anything! I love watching his personality emerge and seeing him learn so much, but I can't help but want to freeze time and keep him this little. Since I can't, I will just keep kissing his chubby cheeks non-stop and trying to remember it all. 

Hudson is 6 months old!

(sorry for the blurry pictures... he is becoming quite the active little thing!)

I am a little behind on blogging. Hudson was 6 months old on the 4th and I wrote this on the 5th but never posted it. He has already grown and changed so much since I wrote this! 

Half a year. My baby is half a year! It has flown by and just keeps getting better. I was just telling Clay how he has changed SO much from 5 to 6 months! It seems like he reaches a new milestone every day. It's so fun to watch him learn and grow so much and to see his personality emerge. Here are a few highlights from this month:

-He weighs 17 pounds, 6 ounces and is in the 49th percentile for weight. He is 27 inches long and in the 69th percentile for height.

-He is becoming so mobile! He can roll from belly to back and back to belly now! He figured out how to get over those arms and loves to roll all over the place! He looks up at us after he rolls for us to "cheer" for him and then gives us a huge proud grin. Melts my heart. 

-He is getting his two bottom teeth. Clay's parents were here a couple weekends ago and he was so grumpy! The day after they left I finally felt a little tooth emerging! Feels like a razor blade! I think I'd be mad, too. Poor boy. We felt the other one coming in about a week later. You can barely see them, but you can definitely feel them!

-Sleeps in his own room in his crib now as of about 3 nights ago! He started really outgrowing his monkey bed so we finally started the transition. It took us a few nights, but he is doing well in his own room. I miss him sleeping in our room though. 

-He smiles, laughs, and "talks" all the time! He laughs really hard when we tickle him. He is pretty much ticklish everywhere! I swear he has made some sounds that sound like "mama." :) it also sounds like he says "hi" a lot! He still loves to squeal. It's really cute, unless you are in Target and he won't stop (or Sunday School). :)

-He can kind of sit up for short periods and balance on his hands. He gets really excited when he does that and when he stands and has started taking steps when we hold his hands! He loves that! He loves jumping in his jumparoo! He can go for a long time! 

-Wants to grab and eat everything in sight. Tore up all the paper on the table at the pediatrician's office and tried to eat it all. Loves pulling and eating mommy' hair and has a tight grip! Gets mad when you take something away from him. We are mastering the art of distraction! :) oh and he can undo his diaper now, too! That's super fun.

-We still have not tried a lot of solids. We are nervous because he had a bad reaction to baby oatmeal. It was really scary. I tried to give him some sweet potatoes today and he was not having it. We will be working on that. 

-He is so easily distracted during nursing and his free arm always flails all around, so I have to hold his little hand down while he nurses. :) It's pretty sweet. I love those chunky baby hands.

-He can roll out of his swing now. :( It was a sad day when we had to pack that thing away. He used to love it so much! 

He is the sweetest baby ever! He is definitely becoming a momma's boy and I love it! :)  

How!?

Hudson, how are you already 5 months old?! You are getting so big! You are at such a fun age. You are such a happy, smiley baby! You are so social and will smile, coo, laugh and squeal at everyone! You love to be held and you give the best cuddles, especially when you are tired or just woke up. You have started putting your arms around our necks and giving us "hugs." We love your hugs the best. You are still the happiest in the mornings. You will coo and smile until we get you out of your monkey bed (yes, we still have not moved you to your crib!). My favorite thing is when you wake up a little bit early and we pull you in the bed with us and you sleep in between us for another couple of hours. It is the best. You don't really like to nap during the day, unless we are out and you are in the stroller. You don't want to miss anything and you notice everything now. You love grabbing everything in sight and putting it in your mouth, especially my hair! :) You love remotes, cell phones, and watching animal videos on the computer with Daddy. You laugh really hard when we zip up your jammies and make sound effects with it. You have the best laugh ever! You are getting so strong! You can almost sit up and you love to stand. I can hold you just on my hip now and you will lay your head against my chest and it's so sweet. You rolled over once this month! Just once, you haven't done it since, but you try really hard! You started eating solid foods. So far, you have had oatmeal, butternut squash, and avocados. You were not a fan of the butternut squash, at all, but we'll try it again soon. You love books and you love to turn the pages when we read to you! You are the sweetest baby in the world and I am so glad I get to be your mommy. You make life so much better! Stop growing up so fast!

Four Months!

Hudson was 4 months old on the fourth! Clay's family and our friend Leah were here visiting from Florida, so I am just getting around to documenting his 4 month updates!

-He weighs 15 pounds 7 ounces and is in the 50th percentile for weight. He is 26 inches long and in the 84th percentile for height! He is going to be a big boy like his daddy.

-He smiles and laughs all the time! He is such a happy baby! Things that make him laugh: mommy dancing, daddy singing, daddy's kisses on his tummy, taking his sleeves off his arms, pulling him up to sit up, tickling his belly, neck, or armpits, "eating" his legs or arms and making snorting sounds. (Yeah we will pretty much do anything to hear this sweet boy laugh!)

-He now eats every 3-4 hours and we are going to start him on solids soon. 

-He is still going through his 4 month sleep regression. Every night is different. Sometimes he goes to sleep at 9 and wakes up once. Other nights he won't go to sleep till 11 and wakes up 3-4 times a night to eat and goes right back to sleep. He still sleeps in his monkey bed. I am still scared to move him to his crib in his room, but he will probably outgrow his monkey bed soon. He really fights naps during the day if we are at home. He sleeps well in his carseat while we are out, but hates his carseat if he is awake.

-He wears 3-6 month clothes and is starting to wear 6-9 or 6-12 month clothes already and he HATES uncomfortable clothes, anything stiff or with collars. Dressing him for church is an issue! 

-He has just started lifting out of his Puj bath tub! He lifts up his bottom and splashes back down! I think it is time for a big boy tub! 

-He has started reaching for things and has the tightest grip! Especially on my hair! He also puts everything in his mouth! His favorite toys are his "peas and carrots" (a teething ring) from Aunt Leigh Anna and his playmat. He also LOVES books. He gets so excited when we read to him and he turns the pages!

-He calms down and goes to sleep when I sing to him and laughs when daddy sings to him! (So funny!)

-He loves going out and notices everything now! He loves to see other babies! He coos and gets all excited!

-He does not like being held like a baby anymore, only sitting up and out facing everyone unless he is eating. He likes to stand up too! He is so strong! He still doesn't love tummy time, but is getting better! 

-He just figured out he has feet and that he can grab them! It's his new favorite and so so cute!

-He has a bald stripe on his head! It's so funny and it is a perfect line! Like he has a bowl cut or something! I used to make fun of babies with bald spots, but I love his! I kiss it all day long! It's starting to grow in and I'm a little sad about it! 

I can't believe how fast he is changing! In some ways, it feels like he was just born yesterday, but in others it feels like he has been here forever! I can't imagine life without him now. He is the best! I love going to sleep next to him and waking up to him! Even if he is crying when he wakes up, he will always give me a big grin when I look down at him! He brings us so much joy! 

Dear Hudson,

You were 3 months old yesterday and mommy cannot believe it! It seems like yesterday I was holding you for the first time. I can't believe how much you have grown and changed already. You are "talking" and laughing and smiling all the time now. You are such a happy baby and I love to see you smile. You are especially happy in the mornings right when you wake up. You will give mommy a huge grin and we pull you into bed with us for a few minutes and you coo and laugh and flail your little arms around and kick like crazy. We love our mornings with you! You still love your swing and you love staring and cooing at the little lambs spinning above you. You love to lay on your playmat and kick the animals hanging down, but still aren't a fan of tummy time. You LOVE lights and shopping. We took you to City Creek with Grammy for the first time this month and you loved seeing the lights, you looked all around. You also like to look at the Christmas tree lights. We can't wait to take you to the Riverwoods to see all of the lights and Santa! They have the best lights and you will love it. We are trying to wait till it gets above freezing to take you. You love bath time and when we take your clothes off. You laugh a lot when we pull your arms out of your sleeves and when Daddy kisses your tummy. You still have lots of happy and funny dreams. And some scary or sad ones and that breaks my heart. You really only cry when you are hungry, tired, or by yourself in the backseat (I really hate that, it's so sad). But, oh my gosh, your sad face is the saddest. You pucker out your bottom lip as far as you can. It's so pitiful. Most of the time, I have to nurse you or rock you to sleep. You like it when I rock you in our big comfy glider, hold your paci in, face you towards me, and pat your little bum. It always puts you right to sleep. You sleep pretty well at night, for the most part. We usually swaddle you and nurse you around 10 or 11 and you then sleep till 5 or 6, then I feed you again and you usually are awake for the day around 7. You still don't like to sleep flat. You sleep in your "monkey bed" next to my side of the bed. I never want to move you to your own room. I'll miss you too much and worry about you. You also like it when we read books and when I sing to you (sometimes). You are the sweetest, cutest baby ever with just the right amount of chub and the best smiles and sounds. I don't think it's possible for a mother to love a baby more than I love you. I love you the most! Thanks for making me a mother and for letting us figure this whole parent thing out. We are really just winging it, but so far you don't seem to mind. :)

Love,

Mommy 

Right Now

I'm sitting in the rocking chair holding Hudson while he sleeps and eats off and on. Hudson keeps smiling and laughing in his sleep. I wish I knew what he is dreaming about. The Christmas tree is lit and Clay is at Crossfit and I'm thinking. Thinking about how great life is right now. I'm so happy. I don't feel like something is missing. I don't feel like my life has no purpose. I feel complete. I love waking up every morning knowing that I get to be Hudson's mommy. I know that even on days where I get nothing done, when I just held my baby all day, that I did something. I am so grateful to be a mother. There is really nothing better. 

Clay and I went and saw Catching Fire today and my parents watched Hudson. The movie was good but I kept checking the time on my phone and counting down to when I could go home to my baby. My favorite place to be is at home with my boys. Hudson is at such a fun age right now. He is 12 weeks today and he smiles and coos and laughs so much now! His little voice melts my heart. The other night we were google chatting with Grammy and Aunt Leigh Anna and I got Hudson to talk to me for a few minutes. It was the sweetest thing. He smiled and coo-ed and puckered out his lips the whole time he was talking. I started tearing up. It was so cute and sweet. I love this boy. Now, he is waking up so I am going to go cuddle him some more.