labor day

Not much going on around here before our Labor Day visitors arrived - you know, just another day in a 5 week olds life...sleep, poop, eat...and suck on your toes??

It was so nice to have some visitors over the long weekend. Jeffrey and Joy came - and Yoder made a return visit and wasn't put to work this time!

Uncle Aaron - probably telling Hudson allll about Notre Dame

Hudson was hanging out with Uncle JJ, Yoder and cousin Chloe 

Chloe is around 13 weeks here and is one BIG puppy!

We enjoyed our holiday by hanging out with friends and family, catching crab, and playing on the water

Look at Hudson trying to smile!

Pat fixed us all breakfast on Monday morning - here is the chef at work! It was a step up from the Broderick hotel continental breakfast ;)

Chetana made her way to see us from Atlanta on Tuesday. We have missed her so much since our move from STL. Thankfully she moved south too! Now we're just 4 hours away. Chetana, Hudson and I went out for a late lunch and decided to sit outside to enjoy the nice weather. We were right off of a busier street downtown and Chetana made H some ear muffs so he could sleep in peace.

And after lunch we sat in a park and gave Hudson his bottle. He then proceeded to spit up/launch his food EVERYWHEREEEE. We decided he looked like a guy with a hangover after a really rough night on the town. Chetana was smart - hold him facing away, with your legs spread - that's how you avoid ruining your outfit.

Can't wait for y'all to come back again soon!

1 month

It's hard to believe Hudson is 1 month old! 

I thought this picture was so funny because he is looking at the giraffe like "what in the world IS that thing??"...and you get to see his massive cheeks ;)

A close up on those adorable chubby cheeks - we just love them and they keep getting bigger!

Hudson went on his first stroller ride around the neighborhood the other night when it wasn't too hot - and Eloise got to walk with us - a highlight for her - she has been deprived of daily walks since our move

Aunt Alison and Mimi helped me make Hudson this cute whale onesie. 

The beginnings of a smile. Pat and I can kiss his cheeks and he will give us a big grin - we tried to catch it on camera.

Finally he has a big boy tub. He was getting slippery in the sink! He definitely doesn't hate bath time anymore!

We are resting up for a fun weekend with lots of visitors...and crossing our fingers that Patrick has a quiet weekend on call!

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!