Happy Grace Day!

Dear Grace,
We wish you the most wonderful Happy Birthday! We love you very much...you are the sweetest little girl EVER!
Love,
Aunt Melissa, Uncle Brian, and Baby Hudson

WHOO, WHOO, bought me this hat?

Hudson can thank his NONI for this prize!

Baby & Daddy Raking Leaves!

Since it was a pretty fall day out, I decided that it would be a great idea if Brian would rake the leaves with Hudson so that I could go to the grocery store alone! Besides, Hudson gets a kick out of the carrier. I found this sight to be so very funny, although Brian was getting frustrated at my laughing hysterically while he was working away!

Brian telling me to leave already and stop taking pictures!

61 days til Christmas

Today our little family spent most of the day getting a jump start on Christmas shopping! This is late for me as I usually start shopping as soon as Christmas is over for the next year; however, for some reason I have been a little preoccupied this year! I begged Brian to join me and assured him that it was important for us to start now to avoid the crowds later...he obliged :) We also had lunch at "Five Guys" because we've heard so much about how great their burgers are...and we, too, were very pleased! The details of our bathroom project are still not finished; however, our trip to Home Depot was short lived due to a hungry, tired baby. That bathroom may never get finished!

Shortly after we got home from Home Depot

Keeping that binky so close...just in case!

7:15 pm is fussy time!

Everyone knows how much I brag about having such a good baby. Don't get me wrong, Hudson is an extremely happy boy; however, I've never denied that he has a fussy time every night between 7 and 7:30. He actually inspired me to create a special song just for him...

"Nobody likes a Crybaby, Crybaby, Crybaby,

Nobody likes a Crybaby,

So stop it now!"

Luckily for us, his crying only lasted about 45 seconds, and then we were able to move on to a little bit of play time before his bath, bottle, & bed.

Noni and I both had the same thought as were talking today that Hudson should be ready to grasp things soon! So tonight we gave it a whirl! He held his blinking rattle pretty well, although I'm not sure if he was doing it intentionally.

Spit Bubbles

Hudson loves to move it, move it! He always has those little arms and legs flailing. Today I let him lay in the middle of our bed so that he could kick and swing about and I think he was working so hard that he forgot to swallow. I constantly had to wipe his spit bubbles away. Once I cleaned his face off I was always thanked with a smile!

Thanks Mom!

Boo at the Zoo

Today Noni, Papa, Daddy, Hudson and I spent the evening at the Cleveland Zoo. All of the little kiddies were dressed in the most adorable costumes; however, nothing beats our little giraffe! There were several "special" activities throughout the zoo at various times...and we were thankful that Hudson is still too young for them because the lines were crazy! None the less we had a great time with lots of fresh air.

Mommy, Daddy, and Hudson

Papa, Noni, and Hudson

Looks like someone is having fun!

Hudson did take a quick "cat" nap, but was awake for most of the event

Still napping before we found the giraffes

I was on a mission to get a picture of our giraffe with the real ones; however, since they were working on a new exhibit they could only be seen from behind the glass

So cute with our antennas

Reassuring Mommy that he had a great day!

Happy Birthday, Noni!

Life with a Content Baby

We are so fortunate to have such a good natured baby. Hudson has made the past 3 months very easy for us new parents...he only fusses when hungry or sleepy, he only gets up once a night to eat then goes right back to sleep, he is satisfied just looking around at the world! It will be very interesting to see if Hudson remains so chill in the future. The next couple of months will be the true test as that is when most babies become hesitant around strange faces and they start to feel separation anxiety when parents leave them. Right now it is just amazing to see such a tiny little person so content to take in all of his surroundings!

IT happens

Funny, funny story...Last night I was feeling a little sorry for Sammie. Thinking that he has been neglected since Hudson's arrival. He's looking so "scruffy". We would have never let him look so bad before, so Brian says "Why don't you give Sammie a bath while I'll give Hudson his?". (Remember those smiling pics from the day before-Brian was still feeling pretty good about that bath experience). So, while I was lathering Sammie up, I hear "Ohhhhhh Nooooo!!!". Immediately, I go running into the kitchen where Brian is bathing Hudson to find out that he has POOPED in his bath tub! Yes, this is the first time that he has done this...but not the last. He pooped three more times in his various bath waters and even in his towel after his "third" bath. Luckily I have no pictures to share with you; however, I did try...they didn't turn out very well :)

Splasher Lasher

Most nights I give the bath while Brian dries Hudson off and puts his pj's on him. Tonight Brian did both and Hudson loved it! Hudson was kicking and moving causing the water to spill over the tub so Daddy started calling him "Splasher Lasher" and many, many smiles were to follow.

To Grandmother's House We Go

Grandma left the nursing home this past Saturday to come to her new "house in the country". This is sure to be more cozy and comforting as she will have Aunt Debbie and Kelly around all of the time. Today Hudson and I paid her a visit since I was off of work for Columbus Day. Kelly sure enjoyed playing Miss Decorator as the new room addition looks great!

Grandma enjoying her newest Great Grandchild

Hudson is sure getting used to being the center of attention

Happy Birthday Everyone

October is a month full of birthdays in our family. This particular day we celebrated Lexie's, Grandpa's, Aunt Colleen's, and Alyson's!
Most of the gang enjoying each others conversation Uncle Craig is such a "Babies Man"
My little handsome is learning to smile for the camera really well
Now here's the "Ladies Man"
The happy momma trying to soothe her tired, crying baby
Grandpa enjoying his presents
Miss Lexie opening her game "Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" (P.S. she'll give you a run for your money considering she is a fifth grader)
While everyone was opening their gifts we could not ignore the elephant in the room...so why not take a picture that Liam will be sure to share with his girlfriends one day.
The evening ended with a nice fire and a screaming baby...this is about the time that we left because this was Hudson's bath time (right before bed time). Don't mess with a baby and his routine!

Chatterbox

Hudson has really started babbling a lot during the last couple weeks. It is so adorable to hear him over the monitor while he is in his crib so early in the morning entertaining himself. Typically it goes like this: AAHHHH, aahhhhh, AAhhhh, aaaaHHH... The pictures below are of our little chatterbox @ 5:30 this morning. How could you possibly be upset about waking up when he is in such a happy mood? Talk about making your day! What a total joy!

When The Mommy's Away, The Noni Will Play

Hudson is having a ball with Noni...he can't fall asleep fast enough once I get home from work. Those two must be playing and playing all day long. Rather than napping during the day, he is fighting his sleep to be with her! What a lucky boy to have his own personal entertainment all day long!

Sure sign of a sleepy boy

You can definitely tell when Hudson is getting sleepy...he rubs his little eyes so hard and kinda grunts as he sucks his binky so very hard. If you just tolerate it for a few minutes he'll put himself to sleep in no time. Once he reaches this stage of tiredness, he's out for the night! Sweet Dreams!

Today...

we spent the entire day together! First we took the little guy for a walk to a church near our house that was having a craft show, then we went to lunch at Panera Bread. After lunch we went to Altiere's (a garden center) with intentions of taking some pictures. I desperately want photos of Hudson sitting with pumpkins; however, it is very difficult to obtain them since he is not yet sitting. Every time I put him down somewhere I have a short window of opportunity to snap the camera before he slowly starts drifting to either side :) Finally, after Altiere's we went to Noni & Papa's for a short visit.

The weather was cool and crisp, the sun was shining, and we were together- creating the perfect fall day.

The picture above reminds me of the scene from "A Christmas Story" when the little boy cannot put his arms down after the mom bundles him up before he leaves for school! Hudson's jacket was so soft and warm; however, with all of the padding his arms stuck out a little.