Cousin Noah's New Beach House!

I've been slacking…catching up. A few weeks ago Hudson and I went on our first road trip. I was nervous. It was supposed to take us 3.5 hours and took us 4. Not too bad. We stopped at several gas stations to potty and get drinks and snacks of course (which resulted in another potty stop). 

4 hours later we finally got to cousin Noah's new house in Seadrift. They moved to the coast because James got an amazing new job. We are happy for them BUT MISS THEM LIKE CRAZY! We got some awesome play time in. Port Lavaca has an amazing beach :). A splash pad right off the water. Fluffy sand. Plenty of sand castle building material. Plenty of sweet cousin time. Hudson even crashed in Noah's bed as they were watching a movie the 2nd night. Those boys wore each other out. 

Can't wait to go back to see Nanny, James and Noah again.

A Few of my Favorites

In a posting mood. A few of my favorite pictures.

Wonderful Labor Day Weekend

This past weekend was definitely one for the books..or the blog. I've been slacking :(. Been one weird summer to say the least.

Thursday night Hudson and I built and painted a bird house. I loved watching Hudson's face as he focused so intensely. My little artist at work. Last week I pulled out the paints for the first time since last year and this year was different. Last year Hudson didn't want to touch the paint. This year he was so patient, doing 1 color at a time, creating his masterpiece. While working from home I'm having to get creative on keeping my bubba entertained. I'm so happy that he loves it. We also started watching Dino Dan and Dinosaur Train. Hudson LOVES dinosaurs. I'm sure that boys and girls are both fun to raise but this boy thing..it's pretty awesome.

Friday we got up and I decided that since we have this new love of Dinosaurs we should go dig some Dinosaur bones. Let's be like Dino Dan. I took Hudson to the Austin Nature & Science Center. We checked out all of the bones, fossils, bugs, animals and dug dinosaur bones. My bubba's curiosity was awesome. This has to be the best stage yet (I say that every month so maybe it just gets better and better :) ). Afterwards we hit up the Liz Carpenter Fountain to cool off. It was just us and one other family. Plenty of space to run around freely. It was perfect. Afterwards we split an ice cream from Sandy's. I love to share my ice cream with my honey…..love to share my life. I'm so lucky to be a part of his.

We spent the night with nana and pops so we could head down and see Hapa in San Antonio in the morning. Bubba showed hapa how he drives his toy car. Hudson pushed hapa's walker around and they shared strawberries. It's always fun to see hapa. He's pretty cool. We then stopped by to see Liam, Shelly & Patrick. Watched Liam crawl around like nobody's business. That boy is getting around. So reminds me of Hudson…when all the madness started haha. I knew it was on when Hudson started crawling. It's on for Mr. Liam too. He's walking around the coffee table as he holds on. He's ready to go! I love the way Liam looks at Hudson. It's like he's thinking…cousin..me and you…once I start running we are taking on this town! I love the way Hudson is so sweet to his baby cousin too. They have that adoring cousin look.

We ended the night with a  paint session with maw maw. Love my painter. My mom is an amazing artist too. She is amazing at everything she does. Hair, makeup, painting, designing, floral arrangements and so much more. My sister adopted more of those talents than I did (haha).

Sunday nana & pops took Hudson to a few stores and then to the Zilker Train while we were at a good friend's baby shower. They even did a little fishing.

Monday daddy went Hunting and mommy and Hudson took off for a fun filled day. We went to get some dinosaurs and play dough. Then spent a few hours at the Liz Carpenter fountain again. I love that place. Hudson let some water squirt him up his shirt and at his butt. The look on his face was priceless. That night we ended it with watching our new movie Walking with Dinosaurs, building with play dough and pretending to have our dinosaurs talk. I love my son's imagination. I love how he shares his toys with me and wants me to play with him. I love my time with my angel. He's truly my best friend. I owe all the happiness in my heart to him. I am forever his.

Love my sweet boy. Thanks for the blast as always!

31 Month Old Driver

Pawpaw comes over twice a week and always brings a toy car. It used to be candy but now bubba gets to keep his surprises from pawpaw. He will tell you, "Mommy, you want to play with me? Pawpaw gave me all of these cars." We went to Garden Ridge (soon to be At Home) and bought two car rugs. I'm so glad we did. Bubba could drive his cars for hours on his car rugs. He stops to fill up with gas, washes his car, rides up the mountains then goes home on his rug. I LOVE his imagination. It just gets more and more creative.

Funny quotes from Hudson this month:

We went to the Texas Military Forces Museum a few weeks ago. Hudson saw a dummy dressed in military attire and he grabbed his hand. He took a step back and looked puzzled at me. He said, "Um mommy…he's not alive." I tried to explain he was fake and even though I think he understands he totally got creeped out. I've never seen my baby get creeped out. A pretty funny first.

I love to call my baby "my baby." Any time I do he says, "I'm not a baby, I'm Hudson. I told you that mommy."

My all time favorite:  "Mommy, you are the best." Especially when he says it first. Melts my heart!

When he's finished eating and we tell him he has more left on his plate he tells us, "I'm done, I have energy."

We're driving and he tells me, "Mommy, you can't hop down from that big bridge, you will hurt the car." Or he tells me, "Mommy, I want to walk home." After I tell him no he says, "I can't walk on the road mommy. You see that car up there (he points ahead). That car is going to run over me."

My son's fearlessness amazes me. He will jump from any height (haven't taken him anywhere where that could be dangerous lol). It doesn't even phase him. He has no fear of heights. In fact…I'm not really sure what he's scared of other than maybe a huge dog or something (oh and getting creeped out about the dummy that's not alive). It seriously blows me away. I hope I can keep him like that. I don't have a lot of fear but I do have some I do not wish to pass to him. Looks like I've been successful so far :).

Not sure if I've written about this but my bubba will ask me at night to hold him like a baby. Of course I would NEVER turn that down. He falls asleep and my heart feels full.

My adorable son has become a backseat driver. He tells me when to stop and go based on the color of the stoplights. The other day he tells me "Mommy, it's green go go go!" I had to tell him (like talking to a sibling), "I can't there's a car in front of me!" LOL! May be one of those moments that you'd have to be there but it's funny to "argue" with him. It's like he's my little brother.

I was looking at old videos and 1. It made me sad to see how much my baby has grown = too fast. I know, that's what's supposed to happen, just makes me miss my little baby. 2. Bubba had just started talking kind of good 1 year ago. Now he doesn't stop. He's learning so much. Remembers so much. We joke and say he's an elephant. He never forgets what you say. He'll tell you the same thing you told him days ago when you are repeating an activity. He truly amazes me.

Oh I almost forgot! Hudson has entered the stage of "what's this?" He asks that question a billion times. It's actually funny. Makes me laugh. Then I remember I need to give him a good answer. He's learning so much and wanting to learn so much. He also asks "how are you doing that?" which sometimes I think he means why are we doing that but I answer it in both ways. He also loves to win. Uh oh. HAHA. Mommy will try to tell him "we win" and daddy will teach him he doesn't always win. We'll see how this turns out. Haha. He likes to be faster, taller and a winner. Well I'll give him this. He stole my hear the fastest, I want him to reach for the sky and he has won my heart for all of time.

I also forgot to post about our latest fishing trip. This time Hudson got to watch a girl from Froggie's feed a dolphin. She almost pet the dolphin. Hudson thought that was the coolest thing. Our last trip was short but sweet. We got some good fishing in. Hudson and I walked to the store across from the camper every morning to get breakfast. We were living up the coast life ha!

Happy 31 Months Baby. Can't believe in 5 months my baby will be 3!

2.5 Year Old Water Boy

My son loves the water. Lake water, pond water, day old baby pool water, ocean water (also a drink from Sonic he loves)…just about any place you can find water. He even loves the sink water…so mommy has taken advantage of a dish rinser. He LOVES to help mommy wash the dishes. He has even cried saying, "but I need to wash the dishes." Remember that honey….I know I will.

I've been thinking about getting him a water table for outside but I just feel like it would be a mosquito attraction. Let me know what y'all think. I'm open to suggestions. He doesn't really need one but man…if I could buy my son the world..I would.

My sweet friend Natalie posted the cutest sayings Hudson's friend Noah has been saying (aka Natalie's precious son #1) so I copied her and started jotting down the funny things Hudson says.

One day while eating a cookie Hudson saw a bird and said "come here birdie..I'm trying to give you a cookie."

Hudson loves to say too a lot. He says, "daddy, I love you so much too too too." Or if someone says "too" he says "me three." Smart cookie.

If you say you love something Hudson will turn around and say "I love it too!"

I will say, "Aye Aya Captain" when Hudson asks me to do something. He says, "Aye Aya Captain Mommy" or when I say, "Thank you sir" he says, "Thank you sir Mommy." I LOVE it :).

Back in April we found out that Hudson loves to be at the coast :) yay! We've been a few more times since daddy's birthday. This past weekend he dug in the water & sand looking for a crab. I tried to explain to him that they have pinchers but he did it anyway. If you hand a fish to him right he will take it from you. His fearlessness amazes me. I tried to teach him how to cast out his line and we're getting there. Give me half a year and he'll be casting his line like a pro (or like his mommy hehe). He's got the reeling thing down. He's especially excited to do it when there's a fish on.

Yes, that's my baby peeing outside at the coast in the middle right picture :)

My favorite thing this month:  Pausing on each page of the books we read. Before I start to read he starts talking about what that page says (we read them a lot) then after I read I pause again and his little imagination takes off. The words out of his mouth are the ones the author left off. I love to hear what he comes up with.

Hudson's best little friend? Cousin Noah. Definitely should call them 2 peas in a pod. The future Marky & Riley (inside family note). These two are inseparable when they get to see each other. Hudson even cries for him when he's not here. They are the sweetest babies.

Hurdles this month? Hudson is smart. He truly amazes me by the second. This month he repeats what I say with intention. I have to remember through all things this is a huge learning experience for both of us. While I may not be perfect I will tell you it takes effort to try to be the best you can be so that your child learns how to be. Being a parent reminds you that we should always strive to be the best of who we are. It's not easy all of the time and that's ok. It's not supposed to be. So, when I say, "I'm asking you to be quiet please" and Hudson turns around and says, "you be quiet" (thanks to nana's advice) I say, "how about we be quiet together." I will have to turn things into us doing them together. He's been my shadow for 2.5 years. It only makes sense for us to do it all together.

Potty training. How's that going? It's going however Hudson wants it to go. Haha. We tried the naked for 3 days thing. Got 2 hours into it with tears and stopped it right away. Fun method but not for us. Daddy showed him how to pee like a country boy (outside) and now it's fun. He goes in his potty and outside as much as we remind him too. This is the pace I like. Hudson pace. Less tears, stress, and pressure.

A few more sweet notes for this month:  2 times this past month my bubba let me hold him like a baby as he fell asleep for nap or bed time. Made my heart happy. Every time bubba grabs my hand it makes me feel like my heart is going to explode. I love my bubba to the moon and back. Can't believe he's seen July 3 times now. Can't believe you are growing so fast and learning so much. You amaze me.

2 Father's Day weekends 2014

After our awesome fishing trip for Karl's birthday we decided we were going to take our dad's fishing again for a Father's Day present.

We tried to surprise our dads on father's day but pawpaw found out early due to the fact that his daughter (that's me) not being able to lie - pawpaw asked me if we were fishing for fathers day as a joke and I said "noooo…."  I have a horrible poker face. I said, "dad! don't ask me those questions! I can't lie!"

The day started off with Shipley's and bacon for daddy and then we got the dads together to eat BBQ and surprised pops. As soon as we surprised him I could see the planning wheels turning. He was ready to go! We all were :). 

We had the family over and it was so much fun :). Hudson had a blast with cousin Noah splashing in the baby pool and then of course went to the pool and enjoyed the sun :). 

To get our fishing trip started pawpaw, Hudson and I packed up the truck and headed down a day early. We stayed at the camper. With an interesting arrival at midnight Hudson wanted his bed but was ready to go the next day. He was in the camper and having a blast. A new place to explore. AKA pawpaw's trick to show mommy & daddy that Hudson can stay in the camper just fine and that means more fishing trips! YAY! :) 

 We took Hudson to the beach and he loved it. I thought he wouldn't want to get in the water. Sure enough it only took seeing mommy step in and he quickly and fearlessly followed. Sinking his feet in the sand screaming "where did my feet go" to picking up shells with hermit crabs. He loved it. We then fished a little before we headed to the house we rented. 

We picked up the keys and headed to the house. Unloaded our stuff and headed back to the dock to fish and watch the boats load. Daddy, nana and pops showed up and we met everyone back at the house for some yummy burgers and good conversation :). 

Saturday Hudson slept until 9:30! His naps were all different and he was exhausted from all the fun. He slept good. So did mommy. We fished with nana, shee and Thomas for awhile, took a boat ride, and then hit up the beach. Hudson built sandcastles. It was wonderful. I've never brought him to the beach before. So happy to know now I can :). He was a trooper. Love peaking his curiosity and watching him enjoy himself. That Saturday night we surprised everyone with gumbo for dinner. Karl made it on Wednesday and froze it for the trip. It was soooooo good. :)

Sunday we got up and hit the beach one more time before saying good bye. Hudson was ready to go home but I know he had a wonderful time. I just love making my bubba happy. It makes me the happiest mommy ever. All in all it was a wonderful weekend had by all. Can't wait to do it again :). 

29 month old independence

Not sure if Hudson did research on July 4th but boy has he been exercising his independence. You won't go a whole day without Hudson saying "all by myself" at least once. Mr. Independent wants to do things all by himself. He even wants to go outside by himself which mommy absolutely will not let him do. Luckily enough I can reason with him.

How's talking this month? How's not talking? He never stops and it's absolutely amazing. I love hearing his little voice and all of the fun things he says. He so literal. I wake him up and ask him how he slept last night and he tells me "in my bed." Call him my sweet baby boy he says "I'm not a baby, I'm Hudson." (Whew glad he doesn't say "big boy" yet. Still want my baby). 

Favorite things to do right now? Fish, swim, play in the back yard, water mommy's plants, eat candy, and so much more. Last month we couldn't get him in the water. This month he tells me "mommy, I have to go to the pool." Last time we were in the water he swam "all by himself." 

Hudson's BFF? Cousin Noah. He cries for him. Misses him. Can never wait to see him. They play so sweetly together while being boys. They are the best of friends. 

I love our little family and our home we've created. He never wants to leave. He loves being in his backyard playing on his swing set, splashing in his baby pool or cooking in his little house that our sweet neighbors gave us. Looooooove hand-me-downs. Our neighbors have 2 boys that are 6 and 4. They are so sweet to give us still their boys have grown out of. We have been unbelievably lucky. 

We've been taking Saturday morning trips to Shipleys. Hudson and daddy have their usual. Hudson loooooves his sprinkles. His eyes get wide and he takes his bite. Daddy has the best Saturday morning ideas. 

He loves to count (below he's counting his shells with napa), ride on his rocking rider pony that we'll have to mount to the ground soon (they should call it bunking rider pony), and I LOVE when he lets me hold him like a baby every once in a while.

His pretend play has increased so much. He loves flying anything that looks like a plane. Grabbing Dino's to have them have a fight and then says "let's be friends" and makes them kiss. He cooks us pancakes and sausage. He's never seen superman or Spider-Man but he wants to be both. 

This is the month of the best kisses ever. He grabs your head and kisses you so hard his little head is shaking. Seriously. Best. Kiss. Ever. My angel is wild but still so sweet. Touching his forhead to mine as he falls asleep at night. Always grabbing our hands as we go on walks. We are forever the luckiest parents in the world. What a privilege it is to be HGF's parents. 

One last thing in closing. Our wise hapa always looks at our son and says "he's full of piss and vinegar...and isn't it wonderful?" I couldn't agree more. From going one million miles a minute, to crazy jumping that makes you cringe for his safety, to screaming, digging, mud slinging, smart conversation carrier to my big time sweet snuggler and kisser. This is why I'm the luckiest mom in the world.