I Hate Santa

I think that caption pretty well covers how Hudson feels in this picture.  We took Hudson to see Santa today and he decided he was not a fan of Jolly Old Saint Nick.

He did great while we were waiting in line and was even laughing and talking (jabbering) to people, but within seconds of being seated on his lap, he was unhappy.

Side Note:  My heart is broken for the families that lost loved ones yesterday.  One of the pastors at my church posted on facebook:  "Every pain that hurts us, hurts God. It also draws Him nearer to the day when He says, 'Gabriel, blow your trumpet. Son, mount your horse. It's time.'"   I'm praying for love and healing for everyone involved. 

12/12/12

Hudson wanted to say, "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!  Hope you have a great day!"

 

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  Romans 12:12

 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas!  I started decorating the day after Thanksgiving.  I tried getting a few pictures with Hudson and the Christmas tree.  I didn't realize it until after I was done that there aren't any ornaments on the lower level.  I did that on purpose when I decorated the tree because I didn't want Hudson grabbing them and breaking them, but I should have decorated it better for pictures.  

I didn't realize that I cut the top of the tree off in this picture until now.

Last Saturday we also decided to get a smaller tree for our office and let Brian and Hudson decorate it anyway they wanted.  

At the Christmas tree lot

I think the flash must have made Hudson close his eyes, because he was not asleep.

We got a little tree -only about 5', but it's so cute and shaped perfectly and smells amazing

The two guys decorating their tree.  Hudson loved helping me pull the ornaments out and then giving them to Brian to hang on the tree.

The final product

From One Liebster to Another

Wow!   I'm shocked and so appreciative!  My newest blogger friend Jenny nominated me for the Liebster Award!  Check out her post here and show her some love!

Jenny - Thank you!  

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers...the award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.

If you receive the award, there are a few rules to follow...

1) Each blogger nominated must post 11 things about themselves

2) Then answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked

3)Blogger must then create 11 questions of their own to ask the bloggers they decide to nominate

4) They must choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate and link them on their blog post

5)Bloggers must be notified of their award!

6) No tag backs!

Random Facts About Me:

1.  I'm a germ-a-phobe!!  Most people assume that since I'm a nurse that I'm okay with germs, but I'm really not, plus I worked in a healthier area of nursing.  I Clorox and Lysol my house all the time.
2.  I would love to be on The Amazing Race.  I love travelling and think it would be a really cool way to see the world.  I have tried to get my husband to do an audition tape, but he's not really interested.  He enjoys the show, but says that if we were to get on the show, he'd probably have to quit his job or take a leave of absence and he's not really interested in that.
3.  I wish I could sing or dance really well.   I really enjoy listening to the singers at our church, they have beautiful voices.  I also wish I could go on Dancing With The Stars as a viewer and dance like Melissa Rycroft.
4.  I love the color pink!   It has always been my favorite color and always will be.
5.  I love cooking!  I have several go to meals that I have perfected (at least, I think I have perfected).  I also like trying new meals and I really enjoy serving people meals that I have made.  
6.  I get great enjoyment out of creating lists and then being able to mark things off the list.  My husband has shown me some type of app on my phone to use, but I still prefer pen and paper - delete does not make me as happy.
7.  I love the holidays -especially Christmas and the 4th of July!  I love decorating for Christmas.
8.  I love all things monogrammed or embroidered!  I want an embroidery machine, but they're expensive and I don't know how to sew.
9.  I really enjoy watching the show 19 Kids and Counting.  Michelle gives me some hope that I could have a few more kids and still be mentally sane.
10.  I love the beach!  I could layout all day or walk on the beach all day.  I love listening to the ocean.
11.  I love anyone who has a Southern or Australian accent!  I could sit and listen to them talk for hours.

Questions from Jennifer:

1) Would you rather be hot or cold?  I would much rather be too hot than too cold.  I feel miserable when I'm cold.      I really love the heat.

2) What's your favorite beverage?  Sounds lame, but water.  I drink a ton of water everyday and it's the only thing that quenches my thirst.  Plus, I have a serious addiction to ice.  I usually carry ice water around with me all day and I munch on ice all day.  It's killing my enamel, but I just can't stop.  

3) Would you rather have a manicure or a massage?  MASSAGE!   I LOVE massages!  Before I was married, I used to treat myself to a massage almost weekly.

4) Favorite tv show?  I really like Burn Notice and Castle.  

5) What's a book that you consider a must read?  Oh, there are so...many!  But if I had to choose one it would be Crazy Love by Francis Chan - it really stuck with me and challenged me.

6) Favorite NFL Football team and player?  My husband and I, my family, and my husband's family all love the COLTS!   I have a few favorite players - Peyton Manning (we named our dog after him), Drew Brees (my husband and him were at Purdue at the same time), and Tim Tebow (my fantasy football team name is Somewhere Over the Tebow).  

7) If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?   I have always wanted to work for the travel channel and be the person that gets to rate hotels and cruises or host a show about travelling.  

8) Favorite holiday and why?  Christmas!  I love celebrating Christ's birth - what a miracle.  I also love the traditions, lights, songs, decorations, food, and spending time with family.

9) Favorite season?  Summer!  I love the heat,  I love the long days, I love laying out, I love the 4th and fireworks, I love cookouts, swimming, flowers,...

10) If you could relocate to any state, where would you move to?  I love North Carolina!  It has the beach, mountains, and warmer weather.  

11) Favorite blog you follow?  I have so many favorites, but Jenny from Beyond Our Wildest Dreams was my first blogging friend.  Plus, I emailed her when we were trying to decide on a baby name and asked her if she minded if we stole her son Hudson's name.  She was really sweet and supportive and encouraged me to take it.  

Questions for my nominees: 

1.  Do you prefer hand written notes, emails, or texts?

2.  One beauty product you couldn't live without?

3.  Favorite date night idea?

4.  What is your favorite restaurant?

5.  What are you most looking forward to in 2013?

6.  Are you a spender or a saver?

7.  What is your favorite vacation spot?

8.  Where is a place you'd like to travel?

9.  Do you want more children?  If so, how many?

10.  What is a book you consider a must read?

11.  What is your favorite NFL team?  Favorite college team?  Favorite player?

And Now For My Fellow Nominees:

 Grace at Our Life Throughout the Seasons

Ashley at Expecting Miracles

Tiffany at Momma Bear

Casey at 3 Frogs and a Princess

Enjoy!

30 Something SAHM

Hi, I'm Ashley!  Thanks for stopping by.  I decided to link up with Women Connect '12.  I love meeting other bloggers and reading blogs.  I used to blog surf almost daily, but since we had our baby last year, I'm lucky to jump on here a couple of times per week.  I've actually met a few amazing women through their blogs and I'm hoping to meet a few more.  The three things I'm most thankful for are:  My Salvation, My Family, and My Friends.

My husband (Brian) and I will be married 6 years in just a couple of weeks.   Time has really flown by.  We met on a blind date and then 8 1/2 months later engaged, and then 3 months later married.  I have to say that I married a really good man and thank God daily for him.  He is such a blessing and has the best attitude and always points me toward Jesus.  We love travelling, but haven't had any exciting vacations recently.  We both love football, especially the Colts.  We packed up and moved to Kentucky right after we were married.   I love the South and never want to leave.  I'd love to end up in North or South Carolina, or Georgia at some point.

After lots of prayer, we were blessed with a precious baby last year.  I love the little guy so much, he has completely changed me.  Hudson turned 1 on November 16th.  He is such a joy and so much fun.  He is more active than any other baby I've ever met, I'm not kidding, he never stops moving, he's even wild when he's sleeping.  I am a Stay At Home Mom now, but for 7+ years I was a Registered Nurse (I am keeping up my license just in case I have to go back at some point).   I worked Obstetrics for a few years in Indiana and then we got married and moved to Kentucky and I had several jobs, until I finally got an awesome job at a High Risk Obstetric Office.

Thankful

Thanksgiving was fun this year (as usual).  I stayed in Indiana with Hudson at my parent's house while Brian had to go back to work for a couple of days.  It was great hanging out with my parents and seeing a few friends.  Brian drove back on Wednesday afternoon.  We had a delicious breakfast at my parent's house Thursday morning.  My brother and his family and my Grandpa were able to come.  Then, we headed to Brian's family for lunch and the rest of the day.

I know this picture looks bad, but Hudson actually loved holding the baby (our nephew Gabe). 

Then, Hudson didn't want to let go, he really liked holding him

Hudson loves climbing on furniture - he got on Jasmine's nerves a little bit.  She wanted to read and he wanted to climb

Finally, he sat down --for about 20 seconds

And then it was back to playing

So many blessings and so much to be thankful for!
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;  his love endures forever."  1 Chronicles 16:34

Hudson's Birthday Party

We celebrated Hudson's birthday last Saturday.  We had it in Indiana to try and help our families out with driving.  My goal for Hudson's Party was to try and keep it relatively simple since I had to make and plan everything here and then travel to Indiana for the actual party.

Happy boy with his cake

 

Brian made Hudson's smash cake.  I think he did a great job. 

 

I was really impressed with his skill- who knew?.

 

Brian's mom made a chocolate and a vanilla cake for everyone to eat.  They were really yummy. 

 

I kept the food really simple - finger sandwiches, either ham or chicken salad, cheese, and cake.

 

I put Hudson in his highchair for presents because I knew he probably wouldn't sit still -  Poor Hudson - his pants are a little too short and look even worse when he was sitting down.  He has a really skinny waist and needs 6-9 month pants, but the length is just too short.

 

He is obsessed with phones right now.

 

Singing Happy Birthday to Hudson

 

At first Hudson was very delicate with the cake and only eating the icing.  He ended up with a major sugar buzz and didn't fall asleep until about 10:30 that night. 

 

My Grandpa holding Hudson

 

Dave, Noel, and Elise were able to make it to the party - it was so good seeing them. We missed seeing Beth, though.  Noel and Elise drew Hudson special pictures

 

Julie and I holding our little ones

So happy to have Josh, Julie and Kaitlyn at the party

 

So thankful that Melissa and Michael were able to come

 

Part of Brian's family

 

My parents

So..thankful for great family and friends!  Also, so thankful for Hudson!  He has been such a sweet blessing this past year.