irene

Thankfully Hudson and I cannot say we've experienced a hurricane...yet ;)

But these sunsets are beautiful!!

Yesterday we were hanging out at the dock - Eloise and Pat were swimming, and Hudson and I were chillin' in the shade.

Then he pooped. 

And I was unprepared...

BUT auntie adele was prepared..maybe for a bigger sized child, but it's a diaper and it did the job.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Yesterday = fun day ...today = yard work :(

acceptance

Time to be honest. 

I have been struggling lately (well, really since the move to Savannah). After graduating from Nursing School I had a job. I loved it - I actually enjoyed going to work. We moved to St Louis. I had a job again. I maybe used to cry when I went to work - but only because it was a new place, I still loved what I did. Now we are in Savannah. I came here 36 weeks pregnant - of course I didn't go interview - as soon as orientation would've started I would've had our baby!  But for some reason it has been so hard for me to accept that I am "jobless".  My sweet mom and mother in law would say 'you're not jobless, you're growing a baby!'.   And for a minute, I felt okay with things. 

Here we are...with a 3 week old in our house - and for some reason I am still struggling!! Part of me misses the routine, other parts feel like it was some of my identity being a nurse (and I know I still am a nurse...but it's different). Since I am home all day I feel like I should accomplish a million tasks - and when the day ends and I have only completed a handful of them, I feel a little ashamed. Of course Pat is nothing but kind, never making me feel like I have been unproductive - it's ME that creates that feeling.

Today I saw this poem. I actually teared up (even though I should be ridiculously hormonal, I haven't cried in days now...until now, lol)

So here is my wake up call. 

Song for a Fifth Child
Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.

But where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard, there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her [his :)] eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

So there it is.

Maybe by saying it all out loud I can finally let it go.

Right now I am cuddling the cutest baby in the world - and enjoying every minute!

10-17 days old

Hudson had his 2 week visit on the 17th - and we have the green light for him to sleep through the night (if he actually will). He had to be back to birth weight - well he is an overachiever and now weighs 8lb 5oz!! 

Eloise is still making sure we are taking good care of him...see?

Bath time is still not our favorite. With some cuddling from his daddy he finally calmed down for some good pictures - even though I do like this one of him screaming....is that mean? He just looks so tiny and cute!

H loves his swing - thanks Greyson, Seth and Leigh :)

Before bath time the other night he just kept staring in the mirror. He actually didn't scream through the entire bath for once!! Mamo and I filled up the sink this time instead of sponge bathing him - he likes it much better that way!

(my sweet hubby gave me the pretty ring in the next picture...it has Hudson's birthstone in it...beau.ti.ful - just had to brag on him :))

and highlight of the week - GeeGee and PawPaw came over with Dad to see Hudson. Low point of the week...they took my Mom away with them today :(

To all of my ER friends. Yes. I took my 2 week old out in public...to a restaurant. BUT we were in a corner, it wasn't crowded and no one touched him ;)  ....don't judge. He had all of his grandparents and a set of great grandparents there and was so so good on his first big outing! 

babies and belly buttons

Hudson is getting chunkier every day -- here he is sucking his finger because apparently I was depriving him of food...

So --- I posted in the past about my dislike for umbilical cords. I survived delivery by ignoring the fact there was a cord attached to my newly born baby by staring at his face until it was taken care of. Since then it hasn't been too bad except for a bump in the road when it got kinda nasty. We put alcohol on it, and it was once again bearable for my eyes. Early this morning I was changing his diaper when I noticed something....

Hudson had a big boy belly button!!!  The umbilical cord nastiness was gone!!! BUT. Where was it??! I had just fed him...the first thought was - omg. it's in my bed. After searching around, no such luck. I shook out blankets, dug around under sheets...then began to panic just a bit. I looked over in his pack n play bed and phew. There is was! Glad we all survived that experience...

Here he is - just chillin'

and getting his toes warmed up while Eloise played ball!

1 week old

Time is already flying by!  Hudson is doing great - sleeping well at night, eating like a champ and pooing like no other!! 

4 days old

...getting burped and trying to stay warm from those crazy ceiling fans - he looked hilarious.

5 days old

This is my yard man. aka - baby daddy.

He did an amazing job on our yard - and came in looking like he had rolled in mud. A neighbor came over to say hi while he was outside - he said "sorry I am kinda dirty" then came in, saw what he really looked like - we couldn't stop laughing. He was a mess..

6 days old - so awake!

So - my Mom is here - helping so so much. Highlight of every day = mama's food. de-licious. I get so excited for dinner e.v.e.r.y. day!! Yum. Roast, mashed potatoes and gravy and fried okra :)

Patrick, Mimi and Gigi went shopping at the outlets - these are the clothes Pat got Hudson - he did such a good job shopping for his little guy.

And here he is!! 1 week old! 

 Ca-razy how much of a blur the first week is...

Snuggling with his Mamo

Eloise is still getting attention - don't you worry.

And to go out with a bang on his big 1 week birthday, he got to indulge in a bottle before bedtime. Pat got to feed him - so much fun to watch :)

He passed out afterwards! Such a sweet baby

william hudson broderick

baby b is finally here!!

We had a semi-false alarm on friday night - 7/29 - at about 10:30. I started contracting, every 5ish minutes, lasting around a minute +, consistently for over an hour -- they told us to come on to the hospital. We took our time and showed up close to 2am, only to head back home around 3:30 and wait out the 'early labor' at home. My Mom, Dad and Sister were already loaded up in the car and made the 6 hour drive through the night - just in case!!

Here we are headed into the hospital - wondering if we were having a baby that night or not!

After 2 more days of consistent contractions, a weekend of waiting, wondering, hanging out with family, walking, swimming....we called the OB Monday morning to see what we should do. They said, once again, to come on in to the hospital. 

This time I had progressed and we were admitted that morning around 10:30 on August 1st

Here were are...getting closer!  We hung around for quite some time, until close to midnight when it was 'time' for B's arrival!

and....

It's a BOY

(we were right!!)

William Hudson Broderick

7lb 13 oz

21.5 inches long

born at 12:28 am on August 2nd!

Hudson was nameless for a while - but by the end of his birthday (we had almost 24 hours to think) we were determined to have a name!

proud momma

and a proud daddy

first family photo at around 2 am - after a loooong day!

Hudson's birthday was celebrated by our family and friends who had to drive and fly from near and far to wait for his arrival. He is so loved :)  and we are so grateful to have family and friends that will sit in uncomfortable waiting room chairs for hooouuuurrrs on end for us and him!

ahhahahaha...squishy face. i couldn't help it. 

We got to head home on the 3rd with our little man

 Eloise met her brother as soon as he arrived. She was definitely not too sure about him at first - he was screaming and she just couldn't figure out what he was. Now when he cries, she comes running, licking his toes and cries with him - such a good little mama

Hudson at 2 days old 

 his daddy had to go to work at an out of town clinic and we missed him so much

 -

and he got his first bath - that he was NOT a fan of

Hudson at 3 days old

We had his first pediatrician visit Friday morning and everything checked out perfectly!

We've taken over 500 pictures. I spared you. Don't worry, I am sure this is only the beginning of my photo dumping :)