phone photos

Now that phones are so fancy these days, i find myself taking pictures on my phone as much as if not more than with a regular camera. SO here are a few i thought were good from our trip to Carmel, and one from here in Denver.

Though I haven't been consistently writing monthly updates about the new things going on with Hudson, there is still much to be said about what's going on with this little guy. For example, today we went to the mall (we are in the middle of a snow storm, and have gotten about 16 inches so far, with the horrible white stuff still falling as i type), and for about 45 minutes, Hudson RAN around the mall. There weren't a lot of people there because of the storm, and he likes to run now, so he ran. It was fun - because the mall was pretty empty. Most days, I'll pass on that experience, thank you. We are currently in the phase of not eating out - because our beautiful son cannot sit still, eat his food without standing, jumping or throwing it first, and thinks that restaurants are good places to scream. So we have been enjoying almost every meal at home. It doesn't bother us much, but can be difficult to do other things - like grocery shop, or go anywhere that requires him to sit for more than 15 seconds. :)

REGARDLESS - Hudson has been A LOT of fun lately as well! He continues to expand his vocabulary, and regularly takes my hand to lead me to something he would like to do or see with me. I would say his favorite word right now is "bath" - he typically takes his bath about 30 minutes before bed, but several nights lately it's been an hour or more before bath time when he takes me by the hand and starts pulling me upstairs saying "bat! bat!"

He is definitely a little busy body - rarely sitting still, and typically talking about his ball, bear, choo choo or car. Each of these words is said with a Boston accent, which makes listening to him continually entertaining. Ba (ball), baya (bear), Ca (ca) - repeated multiple times - you can't help but laugh. He's a little entertainer, but likes to test us as well when we ask him not to do something. We are often chasing him around to retrieve whatever it is we asked him not to stick in his mouth, etc.

He is our fun-loving, energetic, laughter filled 1 1/2 year old, and we LOVE him to death. And yes, some nights bedtime is a much needed time for us as well, but the minute he wakes up in the morning I can't wait to see his little smile.

Reeves Christmas in Carmel, CA

This week we spent some time in Carmel, CA with my family - at a beach house right on the water. It was a rough week, as i'm sure you can tell by these pictures. :)

There was a living room off the kitchen, and second one (above) with some amazing couches - Abbie's bed for the week!

One day we went for a walk near the house to see if we could see any whales or seals - we saw about 5 seals, but it was fun to get out nonetheless. I can't remember a time when we've gone on a walk as a family like this…i think it's been a long time!

One of Hudson's favorite parts of the week…BRULEE. 

Lots of fun time with Auntie Abbie - by the end of the week i was the last person Hudson wanted holding him. 

Vivian and Cam came for dinner the first night we were there - they finally met Hudson, and I'm so glad i got to give her and her little one on a way a big hug!!

Josh was showing Abbie how to make a garlic goat cheese dip for our bread - it was delicious!

We also went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium one day - though there was some great things for kids there, it was a little hard to handle this 1 1/2 year old and see any of the fish! We didn't get to stay as long as I wanted, but Hudson did get to touch his first starfish!

Jonathan grabbed this awesome picture of a jellyfish!

Our last day was amazing weather, so we had a great time sitting out on the patio, walking on the beach, and pushing shopping carts around the yard. Hudson pushed the shopping cart most of the time. I took a turn here and there, though it was a little small for me.
We also got to see Allison and Nate and their two girls, and it was so awesome to see them again! Allison was a great friend of mine in college, and i'm so thankful for her continued friendship! Unfortunately we didn't take a picture together - next time!

HI DADDY

for the first time - this was the second weekend in December, 2011

Christmas with the Rosdils

This year we spent Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Rosdil! We were joined by Pete and Anna, and Mike and JoAnn for Christmas day. Hudson had a great time with his family, and he loved having Gracie there! They were quick pals, and as you can see in one of the pictures, when she wasn't inside, Hudson was often by the back door looking for her. 

 All dressed for Christmas, Hudson remembered he needed to brush his teeth before we left…too bad he didn't get the wrapping off first. He's on his way to practicing good hygiene!

 my little boy…so big!!

 He carried this bumble bee all around the backyard…and it was heavy!

 This trip we discovered the playground just a block away, the backyard (and the bumble bee watering pitcher), we had fun time reading with Grandma, playing with everyone, and we took our first trip to the dairy farm! Hudson did not have much patience for the tour, but he certainly loved all the life-size cows they had displayed! There was even a cow merry-go-round!

outside time!

 family time!! with our little 16 month old!

songs

Lately Hudson has begun singing, and dancing when I sing a song to him. The song he seems to like the most is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. He'll sing the "up above the world so high" part, and sway back and forth. It's pretty much the cutest thing i've ever seen. Now he also sings himself to sleep...heart melting, really. Though along with this adorable behavior has come a change that I believe to be the beginning of the terrible two's. Someone once told me that the "terrible two's" doesn't mean the challenge comes when they turn two, but that the two is representative of a two year period where your child may provide you with a new adventure - often of the not-so-fun kind. :) To put it nicely.

So when all of a sudden Hudson has decided that he doesn't want to sit in his high chair to eat, and that he'd rather stand on a chair at the table and throw most of his food, I'm inclined to think he's entering this phase. Screaming and crying in his high chair, if we can get him strapped in, for over 30 minutes provides us with clear communication that he no longer likes eating there. It also creates a new level of fatigue after a long day at work. Along with this, his fits and tantrums seem to be multiplying faster than rats in a sewer. 

And the adventure thickens. Lucky for him, Hudson is balance out with an adorable personality...most of the time.

 One of Hudson's favorite things to do is to take his dirty clothes hamper and put it over his head, then walk around with it on. It's hilarious! Tonight he grabbed it after his bath and before we had a chance to get him dressed - so i got a quick picture with my phone. So funny!

Time in the park with Teddy bear

15 month stats

Today's doctor appointment gave us an update on where Hudson ranks with his peers…and the results are:

Height: 33 1/2 inches (95%)
Weight: 26 lb 8 oz (75%)
Head circumference: 18 1/2 inches (45%)

So he's staying on track from where he started - TALL. And his development is great also - though he hasn't broken into an all out run yet, his trot is continuing to quicken! This weekend he started singing twinkle twinkle little star with me, and he has added several new words to his repertoire. He said GiGi for the first time yesterday (great grandma), and that was awesome! On and off are popular now, which makes turning lights on and off in rooms a much longer process. :) He has also started taking my hand more often to lead me where he wants us to go. Great new stuff!

At this point he has molars in on the top of both sides of his mouth, and the bottoms are swollen but no teeth have broken through yet! We're about to upgrade to a size 6 1/2 or 7 shoe, as his size 6 are getting a little snug. At this rate he's going to need a bigger bed by summer!

happy feet

It's so hard to get a good picture of this guy these days - he's always on the move! And he's teething big time this week, so his temper has been very up and down, depending on the moment. His fingers are his favorite thing to chew on this week!

15 months

WOW, has it really been 15 months since this amazing person was born?! it's hard to believe, and watching him grow and change like crazy lately makes me feel like he'll be starting first grade before we know it. These days Hudson is chatting up a storm, and we officially have his first few words to report!

1. BYE. He will say bye to everyone and everything. Stranger, animal, car. Anything.
2. CAR. When we get in the car, when he sees a car, when we're walking out of daycare to go to the car. CAR. CAR. CAR.
3. BALL. Hudson loves to identify any round object that resembles a ball. Lots of fun.
4. SHOE. He will get his shoes, my shoes, and andy's shoes, and bring them to me saying "shoe."
5. UH OH. This one is more recent, like in the last week. He will throw food off of the table and say uh oh. He's learning quickly that he can do something, and use 'uh oh' as the reaction. Smarty pants, indeed.
6. Belly Button - this one he's still working on, but he if you ask where his is, he'll pull up his shirt and show you. VERY cute.

There are few other things he says, but these are the most common, and he's been using bye for over a month now. So i think his first official word is bye!

In addition to the chatter, he is "helping" more around the house - he'll put things "away" when i ask him to, and will let me know when he's all done with something so i can clean it up. He still loves hanging out on the stairs (see picture), and though he likes his pacifier to chew on, he loves his straw-lid sippy cup also. In the last couple weeks he has had molars on both sides of his mouth break through! He's been a bit more restless at night, waking up a couple times a night regularly to cry out, roll around, then fall back asleep. He's also been drooling more, so we've been eating pieces of ice to try and cool down our mouth (yes, i do this with him - what? I like eating ice sometimes…and popsicles). Thankfully he hasn't gotten sick yet this season, and I'm starting my prayers now that he won't be sick when we're traveling!

We have still been spending time almost every weekend across the street in the park. This is a great time to point out cars, airplanes (another favorite of his), and kick leaves around while we walk toward any dog we can see. I love this time, because he is free to direct his own path, and it's fun to see what he wants to do. Most of the time he's not really interested in the actual playground. If someone pushes a tricycle or wagon to the park, he'd rather check that out and push it around the perimeter. Which is always fun, asking the parent if it's ok if my son takes your son or daughters bike for a 'push' around the area. Thankfully all the parents around here are very friendly!

A few other fun new developments have been popping up as well - Hudson can now open doors, and will not hesitate to see what you're doing in the bathroom if you close the door. He will also go in and shut the door by himself, even with the lights out. Just hanging out in the bathroom with the lights off. That's our son. He's also enjoying riding on things still - we got him a choo choo train to push around the house, and that has been fun. Even if he only gets to push it for a couple feet before he runs into something.

We love the hugs and kisses we get from him now, and the fact that he can tell us so much better what he wants and doesn't want. He still loves seeing other people, and will smile and laugh at just about anything. We can't stop talking about how great he is, and how thankful we are for him. He's a character - and fits right in with the rest of our family! :)

halloween

Hudson was a teddy bear for halloween - one of his favorite things! They had a trick or treat parade with his daycare on campus, so I got to volunteer and walk the parade with him. No candy for him just yet, but that didnt' stop him from enjoying the wrapper of this twizzlers! I also couldn't get him to stay still long enough to get a good picture, so these will have to do. I was just glad he let me put the hat on! He looked pretty darn cute in that teddy bear outfit!