kauai 2012

Hudson was with his best friend the ENTIRE trip - soon after we arrived he began showing bear the sights! If we saw turtles, he would pick the bear up to look at them too. If we got a hug from Hudson, we got a hug from bear too. Bear has truly become part of the family - and he's been needing more baths as well. :)

Our son is a true water child - we would wake up saying "Wayer" (water), and typically we'd be at the beach by 8:30am every day. If we were at the beach, he would be IN the water the entire time. Literally. It was SO awesome to see him enjoy the water - he didn't mind the salt water at all!

By the second or third day we were there Hudson had learned how to use his new "floatie", and he was well on his way to becoming a swimmer (or so he thought). He was smiling ear to ear from the second we arrived to the moment he screamed bloody murder because we had to go.

Uncle Rick and Andy went golfing one day, and brought home a huge toad for Hudson. He wasn't quite sure what to do with it, but was fascinated nonetheless!

Cheek alert!

Hudson didn't miss a chance to look at the water!

Piano lessons with Auntie Susie!

friends and birthdays

Last weekend I got to spend some time with my beautiful friend Chair for her birthday! I love her and am so thankful for her friendship!

 I also got to see Melissa and Sandra, two more of my beautiful close friends.

Easter at church service outside - Hudson had a ball, but i don't think Andy got to hear much of the message since he was chasing Hudson all over the whole time!

Outside time

Outside time!

half way between one and a half and two

It's crazy how much Hudson is growing and changing these days. His play time has changed, he's talking more, showing more independence, and acting more like a BOY every day. He used to be very attached to me whenever we were together (even more after the hospital), but the last week or so he has been playing more independently - even in the other room! His love for choo choo's has remained since he was introduced to Thomas the train in the hosptial, and he'll now sit in the living room with his little track and choo choos, playing happily - sometimes singing - for a good 20-30 mintues sometimes. His vocabulary seems to be growing by the day sometimes, and he's grouping more words together all the time. He often takes your hand to lead you where he wants you to be, and will tell you to sit down or lay down to read a book or play choo choo with him. He also loves ICE, and if he bumps himself on anything, even a tiny bit, he comes in asking for "Ice." His favorites are the fish and star shaped ice cubes I bought him.
He loves his books as well, and his favorite right now is one that I bought him before he was born - it talks about how unique and special his is, and that the moon and wind are so enthralled with him that they whisper his name. When i read it to him I imitate the sound of the wind, and he quickly latched on to that sound - repeating it at the most random, fun times.
Jumping, throwing a ball, going down the slide by himself, tractors, cars, and SHOES are just a few of the things we talk a lot about or do on a regular basis. He's gotten much better at running too, and will run in laps around the house for a LONG time - hence his naps have gotten longer, which we are fine with!

potty time

Today was a hilarious, awesome, funny, and sort of breakthrough night for Hudson and his big boy potty. We've (more so I) started singing a little potty song to him, and asking him if he wants to sit on his potty and go to the bathroom. Tonight, after his bath, we began the routine, and Hudson sat down on his potty and peed a little bit (he had to scoot himself back so he could actually pee IN the potty, which was hilarious to watch). Upon doing this, Andy and I started clapping and applauding his success. This encouraged him to sit down and repeat his short potty time. Which resulted in Andy and I applauding him again with clapping, yelling, and high fives. Which resulted in him repeating the potty time again. And so the applaud repeated, and the mini potty time repeated, and so on. This routine happened probably 10-12 times. And every time, a mini pee time took place in Hudson's little potty. It was awesome.  I finally went to get my phone to video this activity, and unfortunately that was the end of this potty time party. The great news is Hudson seems to have had a little breakthrough with his potty. Or at least he's a step closer to understanding the point. Maybe. Either way, it was a fun moment for our family - our little naked boy is the best.

a wave goodbye

So today, when i dropped Hudson off at daycare and went to leave, he looked at me - waved goodbye - and went on playing. This may seem normal to some people, but in the 17 months this child has been at daycare he has NEVER been ok with me leaving. He's always put up a fight, a cry, or tried to follow me out the door. But not today. Today, he was ok with me being gone...my little independent man. Growing up too fast...

thank you, Easter Bunny

Every year the park across from our house has an Easter egg hunt. Last year, Hudson wasn't walking yet and had a bad double ear infection the day they had the hunt. This year, we got there about two minutes too late, and all the eggs had been snatched up by the hundreds of other little kids there. We did manage to get a picture of Hudson with the Easter bunny - and he played in the box of "recycled" egg containers to get his egg fix. :) It's a gorgeous day out though, and we are all healthy, so it was still a perfect day to go out for the annual egg hunt!

Here he was last year…same bunny, much 'fuller' Hudson face! :) 

Chatter box

Latest words:
Tractor
Heart
Help
Oh no
Helicopter (this one needs interpretation)
Apple
Ice
Juice

Sentences: Hudson is using more and more words together, though it's often hard to get every word clearly.
Regular sentences include things like; mama and car go take bath. Mama lay down. Bye dada car go bye bye.

daddy and me

my two favorites. 

the happiest kid on the block

Since we've been home from the hospital, Hudson has seemed to smile and laugh more than ever before. He's also throwing more fits when he doesn't get what he wants, but the smiles and laughs by far surpass the other challenges. Tonight we sat out on the patio for a bit, and Hudson found himself loving the lounge chair…

In other news, we bought Hudson a little potty last weekend, since he's been telling us when he has to pee and poop lately. So we have been "trying" out the potty in the evenings after bath, and this kid has successfully pottied in that toilet almost every time! He doesn't go much, but he knows what to do when he sits down, and tries his hardest to get something out. It's funny, and awesome at the same time. not sure we're ready to go full force with potty training yet, but it's a good start i would say!

more park time

Another trip to the park…another great experience. This time, Hudson approached and hugged a girl without her even seeing it coming. What can i say? The boy's a hugger. And i'm ok with that. 

 Poor thing, didn't see it coming. But didn't seem to mind, either. :)

Hudson has also figured out how to go down the bigger slide by himself! 

a beautiful evening for a walk and some grub on the patio!

Today was almost 80 here in Denver, and we took full advantage! A fun day with Julie, Braddock and Josiah Musilli in Colorado Springs, then a walk in the park and some burgers on the patio! Oh yea, and of course THOMAS was there, in multiple aspects. Thank you to the Helbigs for the shirt! And to the hospital for the book! And to the Grandma's for Toby the Choo Choo! :) We had a great day - choo choo's and all!

 This picture reminds me of a magazine.

 The book had to go outside with us…

 A moment to get the shoe back on…and catch a pick of the boys in their sunglasses

 Mid-jump/run! Hudson was HAPPY to be outside and running around!

Chatting with Oma

From our skype chat today…