1 Year Old.....my Big Boy!

Hudson, you just turned 1 years old. Mommy and Daddy can't believe how fast this past year has flown by. We have loved every moment with you over the past year. Mommy is sad you are not her little baby anymore but happy that you are her healthy and happy toddler.

Some of your favorite things at this time are being outside, swimming, playing with the house, going on walks, taking baths (until it's time to lay down and wash your hair), balloons, your puppy, and eating. You have been walking since Father's Day and are getting so fast....sometimes I think you are trying to run.

You are still eating well. We are no longer going to buy you anymore baby food. You love cheese, cherrios, noodles, peaches, oranges, bananas, strawberries, crackers, bread, meat, mashed potatoes, and many more things. You are a really good eater which makes it easy. You drink lots of water but we are switching you from formula to whole milk right now. You are getting acquired to the new taste but we have had to water down your milk a little bit. You also tried eggs for the first time. Mommy put lots of cheese on them and you still weren't crazy about them. Nighttime still consists of an 8 oz bottle of formula (you definitely like your bottle to go to sleep with).

We just went to your 1 year checkup however you did not get shots because you were had a slight cold and haven't been feeling your best. You are now 25 lbs 8 oz which is 80th percentile and you are 30 inches tall which is 50th percentile when compared to kids your same age. You are babbling more with each day and try to repeat many things we say although they do not always sound like our words. You are very smart and understand almost everything that we say, ask, or tell you. You will be going this coming week to get your Chicken Pox, MMR, and Hepatitis A shots. Mommy hates this for you!!! One thing we are happy to see that you have finally outgrown is your reflux. We will not be getting any more refills of your medicine because you are not spitting up anymore. This we are so thankful for because it caused you so much discomfort the past year.

Your eyes will probably always be called hazel growing up but they really are still the same color they have been since you were very little. They are bluish/gray with brown in them. We get compliments on your big and beautiful eyes all the time when we are out in public. I may be biased because I am your Mommy but I do think I have the most precious baby in the world.

You still only have your front eight teeth but when we went to the doctor she said your molars are about to cut through. This is the answer to your large amounts of drool, 2-3 outfit changes a day, and fussiness which often requires tylenol. I hate that your teeth have to hurt you so bad when they come in.

You have just recently started sleeping even better (knock on wood...don't want to jinx myself). You have been only taking one nap lately so you are usually ready for bed around 830 or 900 at the latest and have been sleeping until 7 or 8. Two mornings this past week you slept until 9 and 10am....believe me I was in your room with my hand on you a few times because that is just not like our son. We are thankful for the most needed rest.

We had your 1 year birthday party on Saturday, July 30th just one day after your birthday. Many of our closest family and friends were there to spend the day with you. You got many wonderful toys and things for your birthday and enjoyed eating your cake after Mommy got your started. Two people that couldn't make it to your party that love your more than words were your Aunt Jessie and Uncle Penny....they were in the hospital giving birth to your younger cousin Gavin who was born that day. You also missed your Grandma Lana and Aunt Shea who were in Texas seeing the kids. It was a wonderful day and you were such a happy boy.

Some of my most favorite things you are doing right now include waving, trying to blow kisses, giving kisses to people and to Addie, pointing at things especially balloons or the fan, and your precious smile. You light up our worlds and we couldn't be more blessed to call you our son. God granted us the best gift of all 1 year ago on July 29th, 2010. We love you Hudson Ray.

Recent Pics

10 and 11 Months Old

I didn't get to update right when Hudson turned 10 months old so I am playing catch up. I am now off of work and enjoying the summer with Hudson. I would think I would have more time to get on the computer to update this blog, but since I have a busy boy I actually have less time.

Some of your favorite things the past 2 months include being outside, going on walks, playing with the hose, swimming in the pool, listening to music and dancing, and eating. Your favorite song is the theme song from Dinosaur Train. You are a good eater. You still like to eat your baby food but we have been doing more solids lately. Some of your favorite foods include cheerios, cheese, crackers, puffs, strawberries, bananas, peaches, pears, potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. You like to drink from Mommy and Daddy's drinks. You have been on strictly formula for about 2 months. Mommy finally ran out of breast milk.

Your eyes are still dark grayish/blue with some brown. They are beautiful and we hope they stay that way. We get many compliments on your eyes when we are out in public. You now have your 8 front teeth. You have been drooling alot so we are thinking you have more coming in.

You are still such a happy boy and rarely cry. You fuss when you are hungry or tired. You get upset when Mommy lets Addie outside and you don't get to go or when I am changing your diaper. You love your puppy so much. You give her kisses and pet her (or sometimes slap). She likes you to chase her and throw the ball for her.

You are now consistently sleeping through the night from around 9 until 530 or 6. We often can feed you and change your diaper when you wake and put you back down until 7or 730. This makes Mommy and Daddy feel so much better for the next day.

You are very bright. Your receptive language is outstanding and you seem to understand most things that we say to you. You like to shake your head no, wave hi, clap your hands, and point up to the ceiling. You still aren't talking a ton but make alot of babbling sounds. You say yum yum when someone is eating food that you want.

We took you to the zoo for the first time on July 19th (Father's Day). You seemed to really enjoy it. You got to see bears, tigers, elephants and many more animals. Your favorite animals to watch were the otters in the water. Mommy got Daddy a bike trailer so we can go on family bike rides. You aren't a huge fan of it yet but we are hoping that you will like it better next summer.

You also took your first steps on Father's Day at Mimi and Papa's house. It started out with just 2-4 steps and by the end of the day you had taken 6. Mommy and Daddy were so proud. You are now being very brave and walking from

You went to the lake for the 4th of July. You got to swim and ride on the boat for the first time. You weren't sure about your lifejacket at the house but when we got on the boat you didn't seem to mind. During your first boat ride, you fell asleep within 2 minutes of us leaving the dock because you were so tired from not having a nap. You swam in the lake with Mimi, Papa, Auntie, Uncle Penny, Mommy, and Daddy. You also got to watch the fireworks on the boat. You discovered that you like to drive the boat and honk the horn. We knew you would love the lake as much as we all do.

You are getting so tall and starting to thin out some. Our next doctor's appointment is on August 1st. We will get to see your percentiles and you will get your shots (which you hate). Mommy is excited for you to turn 1 year old so that she can turn around your car seat to forward facing, let you try eggs, and switch you to whole milk. We have only had to buy a few containers of formula for you since Mommy was given alot of cans from a friend but it ran out. We were very blessed because it is very expensive.

We are having a 1 year birthday party for you at Mommy and Daddy's house on Saturday, July 30th. We have invited many of your family members and friends. We can't believe our baby is going to be a big one year old.

You have brought so much joy into our lives the past 11 months. We feel blessed to have a healthy, happy, and beautiful baby boy. Hudson you are my pride and joy. I love you to the moon and back.

Tooth #8

Hudson's 4th bottom tooth has finally made it through the gums. This means he has 8 teeth total now (4 on top, and 4 on bottom). He is becoming such a big boy. He is very close to standing unassisted and trying to take a step before he falls to the ground. We know it won't be long and he will be walking.

9 Months Old

I cannot believe it. My baby is 3 months away from being a 1 year old. It makes me sad to think about how fast time is going but also so excited to watch you grow into a smart, handsome, and happy boy.

At your 9 month checkup, you were 23.13 lbs (90%), 27.75 inches (60%), and your head was 98%. We have one big and healthy boy on our hands. AND you have a big head with lots of knowledge in there......at least that is what we like to think!!

Hudson, you are now crawling mostly on all fours. You figured out that it is a much quicker way to get around than army crawling. You only crawl if there is something that you want and you can't get to it by walking along a wall, table, or couch. You scale the walls with no problem and love to walk with your dinosaur that Mimi got you. We officially lowered your bed all the way down so we won't catch you climbing out any day soon. You sit unsupported and play with your toys on the floor all of the time. You have almost figured out how to get the baby gate in the basement open by stepping on the foot release. You are one smart fellow! You still love your baths, being outside, going on walks, and eating. One thing you have come to hate recently is getting your diaper changed or your clothes put on. You scream and cry and arch your back.

You still have 7 teeth but continue to drool all the time so Mommy thinks you are going to get another one soon. Since you have all of these teeth to help you chew, you are now getting more solid finger foods. You still love all kinds of baby food and your milk but some new items you love consist of goldfish or small cheez-it bites, pieces of cheese, cut up fruits (peaches, pears), cut up cooked vegetables (green beans, carrots), mashed potatoes, and cherrios. You are drinking out of a big boy sippy cup all by yourself. You are now eating about 3-4 cans of baby food a day and only around 4 bottles of milk a day. Mommy's milk supply in the freezer is about gone. You will have to switch solely to formula soon. This makes Mommy sad, but I sure am glad I could provide you with milk for almost 10 months.

Everyone still comments on your beautiful, big eyes. I believe your eyes are going to be hazel but at this point they still appear blue with some brown in them.

You continue to sleep better with each passing month. You are only waking up once to eat which is normally between 4:30-6:00. This has made Mommy and Daddy feel so much more rested. We look forward to the day when you sleep until 8-9 am on your own without a bottle at all. Your sleeping patters are just part of parenthood, and we wouldn't trade it for anything.

Your vocabulary continues to grow. You are now saying many words. A few include: dada, ad, hi, yeah, quack and you sign more. I am excited to be able to hear momma for the first time.

We recently purchased you a new carseat. It is alot bigger and can support you much better since you are a growing boy. It allows you to see out the window better which I think you enjoy. We also purchased a 3-wheel running stroller. It is so light and easy to push. We have been going on alot more walks recently with the nicer weather.

We can't wait for this summer, spending time at the lake even if we have to kayak out to the dock, and going to Mimi and Grandpa's pool. Mommy is sure we will have lots of play dates with friends, going to the zoo, Rutledge Farm, and lots of cuddling on the couch. Mommy only has 13 days of school left and she cannot wait!

You are such a happy boy. Everyone always comments about how sweet, and outgoing you are. I would definitely have to agree. We can't go anywhere without someone commenting on you or talking to you. I love you and am so proud to be your mom. Daddy and I love you with everything.

Words and a Sign

Hudson is now 9 months old and he is changing all the time. The latest thing is his emerging language. It has kind of been an explosion from babbling to new sounds to words. The following are words that he says either imitated or spontaneously throughout the day: dada, ad (for addie our dog), hi, yea, quack. He is also signing "more". I am so proud of our little guy.

7 teeth

Hudson cut his 7th tooth at 8 1/2 months. We are expecting #8 to come through soon. He is such a tough boy even when he doesn't feel the best!! Just wanted to keep this blog up-to-date on his progress. Love that boy so darn much!