memorial day weekend in Claremont

 Sometimes i think about why i do this blog, and have to remind myself it has so many great purposes - one of which is for me to do a little journaling. I was never one to be devoted to writing in a journal (though i have seasons), but for some reason this blog has been a wonderful outlet for me. The other day i was talking to Andy about a family i learned about that lost their 4 year old son to a brain tumor. The tumor was found in January, and the boy died May 13th, 2014. It was a heartbreaking story, and I honestly cried about it more than once. Partly because i was so sad for their loss, but partly because it hit very close to home in reminding me of our scare with hudson two years ago. Talking to Andy about that made me realize how much this blog helped me process some of the things I was feeling. I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks. I almost stopped eating entirely, and barely moved throughout the day. If my baby couldn't eat food, then neither would I. If he couldn't leave the room and run around, then neither would I. The connection I felt to him during that time was astounding, but i do think, looking back on it now, that somehow I needed this blog. I needed the family and friends around me as well, and the amazing doctor we had. I needed God, and tried hard to trust him through the fear and uncertainty. But the blog helped me work through it and stay connected in a way. SO today as i write this post, i'm thinking about how grateful I am for this simple website of mine. Grateful I'll be able to look back two years from now and see how i was processing and reflecting on life. How I was living it. Appreciating it. Or how I wasn't. Right?

 One thing I have LOVED about being back out in California, and with a home that has a yard, is the garden we've started to grow!! Above is the newest addition (just the plants, the rest was there), and i have actually added a few more things since this picture. It's so cool to be planting foods we can eat, and actually seeing them GROW! Definitely reminds me of how amazing God is, and how on earth he thought all this up when he created the world. Awesome. 

 Stella has started to copy Hudson regularly - here she is showing me an ouchie she had on her finger, because Hudson had one. Oh my. 

 She has also figured out how to say cheese for the camera! Her 5 teether look so adorable when she shows them off!!

 Andy had the great idea of making a chalk road for Hudson - and what a hit!! This kid is "driving" all over the place!! With all that energy he has every day, this is a fun way for him to run some errands for me, build his imagination, and get some wiggles out!! Stella of course is on the road as well, either pushing the shopping cart or vacuum. She tries to get on the train, but Hudson quickly puts a stop to that. Yea, sharing can be hard when you're the first born and all the toys are yours, AND you're 3. But isn't he a cutie pie?? My baby boy.