Happy 2 months

One of my favorite outfits - love the sweater vest

 

Love this cute sweater that my manager Chris made for Hudson

My parents were here this past weekend and Hudson sure got lots of hugs and kisses.  It was so great seeing my family.  I miss them so much.  We have such a great time together just hanging out and shopping (my mom is a great shopping partner). 

 ~Hudson~
(This is a little over a week late)

You weigh 10 lbs 13oz =31%
Your length is 22 3/4" =43%
You got shots last week and it nearly broke my heart, but thankfully you handled it very well and only cried for a minute.

You  fit into 0-3 month clothes now.   I think you just went through a growth spurt, so we'll see how long you stay in this size.  You have cute chubby cheeks that I can't kiss enough.
You eat a lot!  You are eating 7 times/day but sometimes you need an extra feeding or two.  You are still being solely breastfed, which I feel really good about, I want to give you the best start possible. 

You wear size 1 diapers. 

You are continuing to stay awake longer after feedings.  We can't believe how alert you have become.  You are the happiest and most alert in the mornings.  You really like your bouncer and the koala bear, you bat at it a lot and smile and laugh - it's really sweet.
Your smile melts our hearts.

You are loving bath time, but the first minute shocks you and you cry, but then you realize it feels good and start kicking and smiling.  

You're so sweet and cuddly, you really like being held. 
We think your eyes are starting to turn a deep blue color, we'll see if they stay this color - so pretty.  
You are also loving standing up.  I'm amazed at your strength and head control.

You started sleeping 7-8 hours through the night (praise the Lord!) a couple of weeks ago.   Most of the time you go to sleep pretty easily. 

Everyday I think you look more and more like your Daddy.

You have discovered your hands and love chewing on them and occasionally we see you suck your thumb -It's really cute. 

You are our sweet, precious gift from God!   We are so...thankful for you.  We love you so much!
Happy 2 months

Motherhood: My New Ministry

I've been at home with Hudson now for almost 10 weeks and I absolutely love it!  I haven't figured out how to do too much, yet, but I will get there.  In the meantime, I am loving having the opportunity to stay home and care for and love our son.  I was going to go back to work 2 days/week, but at the beginning of January something just didn't feel right about it.  Brian and I prayed about it and we came to the decision for me to stay home.  It was a little scary thinking about giving up my income, but at the same time, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and I felt really good about the decision.  We're now going to have to really stick to our budget, but that's okay, it's worth it.  I know my time at home will be spent well and will be my most important job.  I see this as my ministry to raise a Jesus loving, people loving, respectful, mature, and responsible child and adult.  I know what I am doing will have lasting value.  God has blessed me with the privilege of raising Hudson and I am humbled by this responsibility.  I'm so thankful for this calling!

 I love seeing this little, sweet, smiley face all day!

Christmas Part 3

I know this is several weeks late, but life has been really busy lately.

Brian was off work for 2 weeks at Christmas time.  It was so great having him at home.  The last part of our vacation was spent at my parent's house.  We had such a great time!  

We made a quick stop on Christmas day at our dear friend's Brad and Sheri's house.  Here is Precious Addie holding Hudson.

 

Pretty Sheri Mommy Girl and Hudson

 

My parent's house

 

Anne holding Jasmine

 

Tylene holding up a cute new shirt

 

My parent's bought Tylene this cute little nursery and she loved it!

 

Chaos!  But, oh, so fun!

 

My mom and Jasmine

 

Jasmine and me

 

My sweet Grandpa meeting and holding Hudson for the first time

 

4 generations

 

Cute Baby's First Christmas sleeper from Aunt Anne and Uncle Clint

 

Snow arrived a day late.  This is a picture of my parent's road - it looks so pretty

 

Grandpa and Hudson napping

 

Future Hoosier -Sorry Daddy

 

We also got to visit my dear friend Julie (Josh was working, unfortunately) and her daughter Kaitlyn. 

Kaitlyn is so precious and cute!

 

Julie and Kaitlyn - we're so thankful to have babies 1 month apart - hope they are great friends, maybe even get married someday

 

Here we are holding each others dream come true.  God does answer prayers!! 

Such an amazing Christmas! 

Christmas Part 2

We spent a week in Indiana for Christmas.  The first 3 1/2 days were at Brian's parent's house and the remainder of the time was spent at my parent's house.  Chris and Brittney drove up from Houston and Michael and Melissa came up for the day.  We had lots of great food and made lots of great memories!

Sweet picture of Grandpa and Hudson

 

Grandma made Hudson the cutest stocking

 

Chris, Brittney and baby - due in June - we're so excited to have a new niece or nephew  

 

Melissa and Michael

 

Uncle Chris and Hudson

Love these people!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  We're praying that 2012 brings everyone the peace, love, and joy of Jesus!

I'm always hesitant to set New Year's Resolutions, but I found this that sums up my life goals (copied text and picture from SCC blog,  I also posted this last year): 

With God’s help I want to love others in the name of Jesus. I want to love my family and friends with a selfless love that focuses more on meeting their needs than my own.

With God’s help I want to serve the poor the way Jesus did. I want to be attentive to the needs of others, filled with more compassion and courage. I want to sacrifice my time, talent, and treasures with joyful generosity.

With God’s help I want to enjoy life at a manageable pace. I want to talk less and listen more. I want to be an encouragement to those I come in contact with and carve out more time for meaningful conversation.

With God’s help I want to grow in my understanding of the Bible. I want to know Jesus personally, deeply, and reflect more on his crucifixion and resurrection and the implications of those two realities in my daily life.

With God’s help I want to learn how to pray. I want to talk to God with honesty and humility. I want to be more focused on gratitude than personal gain.

With God’s help I want to heal from past pain and learn to live a life free of guilt and shame. I want to have victory over the sin that has robbed me of the freedom that Jesus died to give me.

With God’s help I want to believe that I am who he says I am, replacing my insecurities for the security of his love and grace and acceptance.

With God’s help I want to take a risk in 2012 and live by faith and not by sight.     

Romans 15:13  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

2011

2011 has been an amazing year for Brian and me.  

 In January, I was able to re-connect with some high school friends.  Somehow they stumbled upon my blog and it's been great catching up with them.  Also, I posted that life was really good.  Brian and I both felt that 2011 was going to be a big year for us and we were both excited to see what God was going to do.

In February, I started documenting 1000 gifts/blessings.  Somehow, at some point I stopped doing that.   I am going to re-start that again this year.  It's always so good to stop and think about all the blessings in your life.  I need it now more than ever when I'm exhausted and life seems so hard.

In March, we found out we were pregnant and ecstatic!  It took me a long time to realize it was true.  Also, we had a visit from some of our Indiana friends - Brad and Sheri and Josh and Julie Julie.  We love them so much!

In April, we announced we were pregnant.  I can't even begin to thank everyone for all the prayers they have prayed for us.  

In May, I turned the big 3-0 and Brian and my parents threw me a surprise birthday party.  We also went camping with some of our Indiana friends.

In June, we spent a week in Houston to celebrate my brother-in-law Chris' wedding. We had the best time!  

In July, we spent the 4th of July in Indiana and re-connected with some California friends.  I love summer!

In August, we welcomed our first niece - Jasmine.  She is so precious!  Such a happy baby.  We also decided on the name Hudson.  Also, I started getting a little more involved on face book and have enjoyed rekindling some friendships. 

In September, we celebrated Brian turning the big 3-5 by meeting our some of our friends and spending the weekend camping.  I also had multiple baby showers.  I felt so loved at all of the showers.

In October, our dear friends Josh and Julie adopted a precious baby girl - Kaitlyn.  What an awesome answer to prayer.  Our sweet Compassi0n girl turned 10.  I had two more showers.

In November God blessed us tremendously with the birth of our son Hudson.  We have prayed and longed for a child for so long.  We can never thank God enough for our precious little boy.  Our parents were able to come down here for about a week.  It was so...good seeing them and having them here.  We had the best Thanksgiving.

In December, we celebrated 5 years of marriage.  I love my husband so much -every year just keeps getting better.  We were also able to travel to Indiana for a week and spend time at both our parent's houses.  I will try and blog about that later.  Christmas was extra special this year - even if we were/are exhausted. 

I had to post a picture of this little sweetie

  

I love having a blog/journal so that I can look back and remember everything.  

God is good and He does answer prayers!  We're so excited to see what God has in store for us for 2012.

Christmas at Home

Last Wednesday Brian and I gave each other our Christmas presents because we were heading to Indiana for a week.  We kept things simple.  We got each other 3 gifts and then stocking stuffers.  

I love that he spent time wrapping my presents and adding bows and fancy details. 

 

Brian's main gift

 

Little blue box

 

Hudson got this cute Baby's 1st Christmas jammie from Uncle Clint and Aunt Anne - I loved it, so...cute!  It has sweet reindeer feet.

 

My mom bought Hudson this cute bib - adorable!