Hudson is Eight Weeks Old

Hudson is 8 weeks old today. Where has the time gone?! Last night instead of doing laundry, I just sat and held my little "Hudder Butter" as I've been calling him lately. He's just growing so quickly. Noticed today that it's time to adjust the carseat shoulder straps up a notch. My how he's grown!

Last week on the 4th of July he turned 7 weeks old. I noticed him watching his hands, holding them out in front of himself, clasping and unclasping them. I could imagine him realizing they were his hands. It was pretty cute.

Then, of course, it took no time at all for the thumb to make it's way to his mouth!

And he kept hitting himself in the face, silly boy. Yesterday he successfully batted at a rattle hanging over his bouncy  chair, and got very excited about it.

Last week while at MeMaw and Poppy's house, Huddy's sleep habits greatly improved. For three consecutive nights he slept 5-6 hours straight. Too bad one of those was from 8 pm - 1 am, so I didn't get as big a stretch. But it gave me lots lf hope that more sleep is on the horizon for me. Of course, since we've been home, he has yet to sleep that long. In fact, he must be growing again because all last night and most of today he ate every 2 hours, except for one 4-hour nap this afternoon.

While starting to sleep longer, he also continues to be super easy to get to sleep. One day at Nate's Dad's we had propped him on our bed on a pillow while we went about getting ready for the day. Hudson loves to snuggle with something soft when he falls asleep, so Nate had given him Cooper's teddy bear. He fell asleep completely on his own, resulting in this adorable picture.

Hudson's head control is getting really good, and his core strength is improving as well, which means it's almost bumbo time. It's still a bit much for too long, since he tires of holding his head up, but it won't be long before he'll be able to spend more time siting up in his bumbo chair.

Huddy has also suddenly become a smiley, giggly little baby.

He has also learned his name, and will look for me when I say it. He's also becoming quite the momma's boy. There are times someone else will be holding him, like Nate or MeMaw, and he'll follow my every move, watch me leave the room, and start crying the minute I leave. If I come back and hold him, he stops. Oh boy!

Hudson also hates to be left alone. Once he realizes he's in a room alone, he very loudly lets it be known that he wants some company. 

Huddy is also starting to mimic some sounds and faces, including sticking out his tongue. Just about caught it, and still a funny picture.

This is one lf my favorite pictures of Hudson because it captures so much of his personality.  While there still are some evening when he cries unconsoleably for hours on end, those times are rare, and overall Hudson is seeming to be a pretty easy-going, happy kid.  He still loves to snuggle, and I love that. Can't get enough of this little guy!

Cousins & Grandparents

It was wonderful to spend time with our Outer Banks family!! So glad we made the trip.  Nate and I enjoyed staying up late on the 4th of July and visiting with Abby and Michele. We don't get to see our North Carolina family as often as we'd like, either, a common theme about family for us.

Hudson (7 weeks) and Haleigh (13 yrs)

Cooper (3-1/2 yrs) and Stella (10-1/2 yrs)

The boys with their MeMaw and Poppy

Family Beach Day

Friday was a beautiful day to spend at the beach.  Even Hudson had on a bathing suit, but he never ventured to the water.  He was content to be held.

Haleigh and Stella had fun boogie boarding.

Cooper and Poppy played in the waves.

Cooper boogie boarded some too with the help of Daddy, but I didn't get any pictures.

Abby and I were happy to stay under the umbrella in the shade.

Michele was also having a good time! (That's not just OJ) :)

Cooper was excited to dig a big hole

Aunt Abby also enjoyed holding Hudson.

It was a good few hours at the beach.

Happy 4th of July

Our 4th of July started off slowly. Cooper, Nate and Poppy went fishing on the boat. Cooper was so excited. I didn't get any pictures of them before they left because Hudson and I had got up early to go to the grocery store early to beat some of the crowds.  Hudson was sure to wear red, white, and blue!

While the boys were gone, MeMaw had filled the kiddie pool on the deck, so when Cooper got back, he was ready for a swim. He said, "Mom, this pool is heated!"

He and MeMaw had a great time playing in the pool together. I waded a little with him too. Cooper kept saying "Hey" to get MeMaw's attention. I told him her name was MeMaw. He said, "She doesn't look like a MeMaw, she looks like a Hey."

In the evening we went to a pig roast/ potluck cookout with some of Nathan & Michele's friends. We had delicious food, and good company. From the minute we arrived until we left, Hudson was passd around and fawned over. It was a nice break for me!  Everyone loved our boys. Cooper was quite a hit, not being shy at all, the way he is aroind adults, and introducing himself to everyone as "Cooper James Smiff."

Cooper made a friend named Jacob, and they had a great time playing corn hole.

After dinner we headed to the beach in Emerald Isle to watch the fireworks show. I couldn't find my phone when we got there, so no pictures of us on the beach.  Hudson slept in the baby carrier the whole time, while Cooper primarily played in the sand. He did watch the fireworks for a few minutes, but then went back to playing in the sand.  He even buried his own feet and legs up to his thighs.  It was getting rather dark, and he said, "Mom, look at my flipper." He had somethin sticking out of his mouth, and I asked what it was. He said it was his flipper, "See how it flips up and down?" I asked Nate to see what it was...a cigarette butt. Yuuuuuck!!!!! Kids.

The weather was perfect all day/ night, and there was a breeze steong enough to prevent mosquitoes from bothering us. The fireworks were perfect. It was a great day.  We got home, and Nate's sister, Abby, and her girls, Haleigh and Stella, were at the house to sleep over so we could go to the beach the next day. We all stayed up late chatting on the deck. It was wonderful to visit with some of our family we don't see often.

As for the purpose of the day, to commemerate independence of our great nation, I thought about those fateful days in 1776 and all leading up to it (based on what I've read in the book 1776), and how God certainly had a hand in shaping our great nation.  I am so thankful for those faithful and determined me and women who had a vision of freedom, sought it, and fought for it from those first pilgrims and everything from then leading up to 1777, and all the wars fought and strife endured in between and since then, all in the name of freedom.  I am proud to be an American, and I'm thankful for those whose sacrifices have made this country great.  It's important to remember them and God on this great day of celebration. Happy birthday, America!

Road Trip to Visit Poppy and MeMaw

For 4th of July weekend we have taken a road trip to visit Nate's Dad and Michele, and other Outer Banks family. Both boys did exceptionally well on the drive. Cooper only had to stop at the side of the road for pit stops a few times, and never cried or threw a fit. He was too excited to get to see Poppy, and asked about every 3 seconds if we were there yet. The only time during the 7 hours on the road that he got upset was about the middle of the day when he said, "It takes SO WONG to get to Poppy's house!"

Hudson was also a great little traveller; we only had to stop once for him, and that was just a brief stop to feed him.

He was even smiley and cooing when he was awake, or quiet and just looking around. While he doesn't initially like being put in his car seat, he sleeps really well in it. His only meltdown was the last 10 minutes of the drive. Can't say as I blame him after being in his car seat for 5+ hours in a day. Nate was amazed at how well both boys did, but especially Hudson.  We are learning how laid-back our second child is when he doesn't have tummy issues.  Today Nate said, "Maybe he will be the calm after the storm after all."  We'll see, but it's certainly looking that way this far.

When we got to Poppy's house, Coop rushed out of the car to give Poppy a hug, and then it was less than 5 minutes before he was asking to go on a ride on the golf cart. Ha!

Hudson met his grandparents for the first time.

What could have been a disasterous road trip was pretty easy, even considering the amount of baby puke and blow out diapers I had dealt with. ;) Glad we are able to be here to visit our NC family!

Happy Hour

"Happy hour" at our house is 9-10 am. BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby)

While Hudson may be fussy the rest of the day, he is usually happy sometime in the morning, usually about the time I get him dressed.

This morning was no exception. He was all smiles and coos; Lots of baby talk and gummy smiles.

Cooper, on the other hand, is happiest when he gets to play with friends. Tonight we went for an evening walk with our neighbors, Tammy and Braden. These walks have become an almost nightly occurrence. Cooper and Braden rode their bikes, while Tammy and I walked, me with Hudson in a baby carrier strapped to my chest.

Despite the threat of rain, we went ahead on our walk, since it's been too rainy for several days to be out at night. Tonight the rain had stopped, the temperature was in the low 70s, and there was enough of a breeze to ward off any mosquitoes, so we HAD to take advantage and get outside for a bit. The boys enjoyed riding through and splashing in puddles.

Seconds after this photo, it suddenly started to downpour without any prior warning!  We were about 1/8 mile down the street. Coop was able to ride his bike quickly, and I was running as fast as I could with baby Hudson, clutching him to me, trying to keep his head covered with his burp cloth. By the time we got home we were soaked fo the bone. I had water dripping off even my eyelashes.

That was the first time I had run in I don't know how long, and certainly the first since Hudson was born. I don't think I could have done that even just last week! It felt good to run a bit and realize how much all this walking has been paying off, and also that I'm ready to really start exercising again. Yay?!

Finding Our New Normal

Things have been a little crazy around here the past 6 weeks...

...but I think we're finding a new "normal" that looks something like this...

...with a few moments like this scattered somewhere in between.

Just when I thought things were normal again, Iron Man showed up for dinner one night.

 But we resumed our normal activity of going on an evening walk, especially since we now have a "two stroller," as Cooper calls it.  He can't decide if he wants to sit in the front, or stand in the back.  So far he's enjoyed sitting.

This past week we also went to the pool, and not a moment too soon.  Our A/C was out all last weekend, and I thought we were going to either melt or bake.  I was so relieved to get clearance from my doctor to go swimming.  Woohoo!!  Cooper was ecstatic to finally go to the outdoor pool/water park like we did last summer.  We went with our friends, and my friend took care of supervising Cooper and her two kids, while I primarily waded into the water just below my waist, with Hudson strapped to me in the baby carrier, covered with a light blanket so as not to get too much sun.  Nate went with us one day too.

With all these "normal" activities coming back into our lives, I am starting to feel like I'm finally breaking in to being a mother of two.  Hudson, on the other hand, looks a bit skeptical.