Merry and Bright

Christmas is so much better when you have kiddos! Hudson being 19 months made it even more fun! He understood a little more about Christmas than he did last year. He would say "Santa, Ho, Ho, Ho!" anytime he saw Santa Claus, however, he was not Santa's biggest fan. We attempted sitting in Santa's lap twice this year. He was happy to look at Santa and would even give him a high five, but no way was he sitting in that guy's lap.

December was jammed pack full of festive activities. The weekend after Thanksgiving we went to Gilbert's Tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree. Hudson loved the hay ride and running through the fields of trees. Once again, we picked a tree that was way too big for our living room. Can anyone say, Clark W. Griswald?!?! What can I say? They look much smaller in the field! We also co-hosted a graduation party for Tucker's cousin Katheryn. She graduated from Auburn in just 31/2 years, and she already has a real job! We are so proud of her and her many accomplishments. She is going to do great things! It was also just a good excuse to get the family together to celebrate, something we do really well! 

This year, we also made our yearly trek to Pine Mountain, Georgia to Fantasy in Lights. We bundled up and rode the Jolly Trolley. Hudson loved  it and was in awe of the lights. After each Christmas carol we would sing, he would clap and say "Yay!". Our fellow riders thought he was the cutest thing ever. I had to agree! At the end of the tour, they told us to say "Merry Christmas!", however, Hudson wasn't having any of that...he shouted a big "War Eagle!". His Daddy beamed with pride!

Each year my side of the family gets together at my Grandpa's house. Hudson had a wonderful time visiting with his many beautiful girl cousins. Taylor, Rachel, and Chloe just adore him, and the feeling is mutual. They taught him how to take selfies. I can't tell you how many they took, but they had a great time doing it! 

We also took Hudson to his first Auburn basketball game. Auburn played Xavier, and just my luck, the game went into double overtime! Hudson was such a good sport. He clapped and cheered for his team. He even fussed at them a few times when needed. We are so fortunate to live her in Auburn and have the many opportunities that we do. So far, Hudson has been to a football, baseball, and basketball game, and he's not even two yet!

This Christmas,we hosted Christmas Eve dinner. Shug, Mymama, and Big Al came over to celebrate and help us get ready for Santa. Santa brought Hudson a cozy coupe truck and an activity slide. He got a Pottery Barn anytime chair from his Shug and Big Al. He also got new clothes, New Balance tennis shoes, books, and a wooden train. I'd say he was a good boy this year!

Christmas day we traveled to Wetumpka to visit with Aunt Kathie, Will, and Kate. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and opened more presents! We also got to visit with Emily, Andy, and our favorite girl, Prudence. She and Hudson loved playing with the Christmas ornaments Aunt Kathie used to decorate the staircase. Needless to say, that was a hot area for a while for those two. They also enjoyed rocking in the chairs on the front porch. Whatever Hudson did, Prudence had to do and vice versa. Those two are the best of friends!

Merry Christmas,

Amanda

Thanksgiving

I don't know about you all, but Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year! I was definitely ready for a three day break from school and spending some much needed time with my family. Every other year, we host Thanksgiving at our house. When we host, I cook the turkey and dressing. Both were a hit again! This Thanksgiving was extra special, because Hudson and Prudence were able to spend it together. Those two are the best of friends! They had the best time chasing each other, giggling, and loving each other. Watching them grow up together makes my heart so happy!

 Chasing each other is so much fun!

Sharing sweet giggles.

A little rough housing with the best Shug ever!

 "Let's go for a ride, Kate!"

Kate needed some help!

This was the best family picture we could get!

The struggle is real!

I have so many things to be thankful for this year... my precious family, Hudson and Tucker, my health, my job, and so much more. My goal is to thank God for my many blessings everyday, not just this one day of the year. 

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. "

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Amanda

18 Months

In the blink of an eye, 18 months has flown by. It's hard to believe my baby boy is becoming a toddler. Everyday he learns something new. I love to watch him explore and discover new things. He makes life more meaningful, more fun, and more joyous.

Having a toddler is challenging to say the least. Hudson knows what the word "no" means, however, he doesn't always obey it. Timeout is a joke, and spanking his hand only taught him how to hit. Parenting fail. So if you see me out and my child is pitching a good one, say a prayer for me. We are  at our wits end with this discipline thing. Hudson is a good boy for the most part, but he is headstrong and stubborn. He knows exactly what he wants and he wants it right then. Poor child...he gets it honest. Someday these qualities will be his greatest assets...I hope.

Hudson still loves to be read to. His favorite books are "I Love You, Stinky Face", I Love You, Through and Through", and "Who's Hiding on the Farm". He has discovered trains and can say "Choo-Choo". When you ask him where something is, he will throw his hands up and say "I don't know!". I'm impressed everyday with his vocabulary. He has always been very expressive. He can identify his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, head, feet and belly. When you ask him where his belly is, he pulls up his shirt and slaps his belly. I think he learned that from his Daddy.

Hudson can be shy at first when meeting new people, but warms up very quickly. You never know how he will react. Sometimes he's shy, and at other times, he doesn't meet a stranger. He can give high-fives, and his Mama taught him how to give bones. I'm so proud!

Hudson pretty much eats whatever we eat. His favorite foods are french fries, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, and fruit. He's not much of a meat eater just yet. We've tried chicken, but he usually spits it out. He's been drinking 2% milk, due to his high percentile in weight since he was 15 months old. However, that has done nothing to slow his weight gain. I told the doctor I was raising an Auburn tight end, and there was really nothing I could do about his weight. He's always been big. I mean, he was 9 pounds 1 ounce when he was born. He is also tall for his age, so that helps to balance out his weight. I have no idea where he gets this from. Neither Tucker or I are big people. No matter, I think my baby is perfect in every way!

Hudson's major accomplishments for 18 months include going to his first Auburn game and giving up the paci. I wasn't ready for him to wean from the paci, but his Daddy put his foot down. It was easier than I thought it was going to be, and I know if we had waited till later it only would have been harder. It was three rough nights, but after that, he went down without even a whimper. That boy makes everything seem so easy!

As I have said before, we love this sweet boy to the moon and back. Words can not describe my love for him. He makes my life better and gives it purpose. His laughter is infectious, and his sweet smile brightens everyday. I'm so blessed God chose me to be his Mama. Happy 18 month birthday, Hudson!

Stats:
Weight: 28 lbs 10 oz
Height: 32.5 inches

Amanda

Halloween 2014

Hudson had a blast this Halloween! We celebrated all week with fun and festive activities. Hudson carved a pumpkin, had a party and costume parade at daycare, and helped Mommy  and Daddy pass out candy on Halloween night.

Of course, in Hudson tradition, he was sick on Halloween. Our plan was to trick-or-treat with friends downtown, but earlier that day I got a call from daycare that he was running a temperature of 101.6. I took him to the doctor, in fear that it was another ear infection. Turns out, his ears were clear! Whew! Dr. Johnson couldn't find any reason for the fever other than the common cold. I think Hudson knew Mommy's kiddos at school were acting wild, and she needed to start her weekend a little early. That's my boy!

Plan B included dressing up and doing a little trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. By that point Hudson had some meds in his system, and he was feeling like himself again. He played and played while Tucker and I passed out candy. You never would have known he was feeling a little puny earlier that day!

Happy Halloween!

Fall Break

What a wonderful fall weekend we have had! Friday night was spent relaxing on the back porch. I had a toasty fire, a glass of wine, and my favorite boys. It was a perfect evening! Saturday morning we headed to the pumpkin patch. After a little research, we decided the best place for us was Jack-o-Lantern Lane in Lafayette. We were not disappointed!

The pumpkin patch included a mini petting zoo. Hudson got to pet rabbits, horses, and a donkey. He got to see chickens and turkeys. His favorites were the donkey and turkeys. There were two huge fields with pumpkins and sunflowers. There was also several set ups for pictures. After the hayride and petting the animals, Hudson went in search of the perfect pumpkin!
                                             

The evening ended, once again, on the pack porch next to the fireplace. Tucker set up the TV, so we could watch all the football games outside. I was skeptical when we got the fireplace this spring, but I'm so glad we made the investment. It has become another room for us,and it's a great entertaining space. We've already enjoyed it several times this year. 

Happy Fall!

Amanda

Tailgating Fun

We tailgated for the first time this year for the LSU vs. Auburn game. This was Hudson's second tailgate, and boy, did he love it! That boy did not meet a stranger! Thank goodness for his Shug! She was happy and content chasing him all over the place. Mama, on the other hand, was exhausted just watching him.

We invited our sweet friends from church, the Epperson's. Blake and Lybbi have a little boy named Walton, who is only about two weeks older than Hudson. Walton and Hudson had the best time together. There's no telling what those boys will get into when they are older. We are so blessed to call them friends and have our boys grow up together. 

Hudson loved sitting in his mini Auburn Tiger tailgate chair that his Shug and Big Al bought him. He had the most fun shaking his Auburn shaker and taking a ride around the tailgate spot in the wheelbarrow pushed by his daddy. He chatted up lots of pretty college girls and climbed up and down every set of stairs he saw. Poor Shug, she had to be exhausted, but she followed right along!

           

The day before we took Hudson downtown. He had his first Toomer's lemonade and played on Samford lawn.

         

         

         

We can't wait to do it all again for the South Carolina game! War Eagle!

Growing Up

Almost every weekend, we have another birthday party to attend. We love celebrating our sweet friends' babies birthday, but it's another reminder that our babies are growing up. As each friend turns one, Hudson gets closer and closer to age two. While I'm so happy that I have a healthy, growing boy, my mama heart aches because he's more and more "toddler" and less and less "baby" everyday. Sometimes I just look at Hudson in awe. It's amazing how fast and how quickly he's growing and changing. I'm truly blessed to be his mama.

                                                 

          

September

Wake me up when September ends... Remember that song from many years ago? Well, it pretty much sums up this month for this mama. It's been rough, friends. I'm talking questioning my calling, ugly crying, sleepless nights rough. I keep telling myself that if I can make it through September then everything will be alright. But the truth is, I don't know. 

I truly love to teach. When I'm in my classroom teaching, I really feel like I'm fulfilling part of God's calling for my life. Lately, I've been been hit with so many demands at school that it's stressing me out. I'm grading anywhere between 5-8 sets of papers each weekend. I spend additional time putting grades into the computer, because the system I work in requires grades to be input on a weekly basis. I don't have time to grade papers or plan at school due to the fact that I'm teaching additional lessons to students who need additional assistance 4 times a week during my planning time. 

Never have I worked so hard, only to be told by my principal that I'm not doing enough. It crushed my spirit, y'all! He actually said that to our whole grade level and we were all dumbfounded. One teacher laughed and walked out, and another started crying. The rest of us stood up for ourselves, and it wasn't pretty. 

I tell you all of this to get to this point: Yes, God called me to be a teacher, but he also called me to be a wife and a mother. Right now I'm not doing a bang up job handling the stress from work. I feel like it's affecting my mood. The work I bring home, takes time away from the people I love the most. A few Sundays ago, Tucker and Hudson were playing outside, having a ball. Where was I? Sitting at the kitchen island grading papers. 

I'm beyond frustrated and conflicted. My prayer this month has been for God to help me make a decision about my career and to help me handle my stress better. Things have gotten better, but I'm not sure it's enough. 

I know most people are snickering because here I am, a teacher, complaining about the demands of my job. Most people think I should be happy, because I only work 9 months out of the year and get holidays off. I wish my job were that easy. The truth is I work hard and prepare for the next year all summer long. I take papers home and grade and plan over the holidays. I attend professional developments to grow in my profession. Sometimes I just want a job I don't have to bring home with me. Cosmetologist, maybe?

It's not all bad news though. My school kiddos are wonderful. I'm blessed to be a part of their lives for a brief nine months. They are the reason I continue to teach and continue to do more to help reach their goals. I don't teach for praise. I don't teach for the money. And I certainly don't teach for the holidays off. I teach because I love it, and I know that God has placed me in this position for a reason. 

I ask that you please pray for me this year. Pray for God to lead me in the direction that He would have me go. Pray that He helps me to depend on Him during stressful times and not lean on my own understanding. 

On an unrelated note, Hudson is growing up so fast! He's 27 lbs. 2oz. last time we checked. Which is often, due to the fact we've been to the doctor's office every other week, if not evey week for the past two months. Hudson had his 5th ear infection last week, and this week he caught Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. We go again next week to check to be sure his ears have cleared up and to talk about being referred to an ENT. I believe tubes are inevitable!

                                                      

This sweet boy is my joy! Little boy smell, stickiness, and all!

Amanda

Summer

Summer is over. And I'm pretty bummed about it. I already miss the slow paced summer days with my baby. He's changed and developed so much over the summer. He went from crawling, to walking, and now he's running. He can bark like his big brother, Bandit, and blow kisses. He loves to read! We read several books every night, over and over again. He never gets tired of hearing the same ones. His favorite books are "I Love You, Stinky Face", "Dear Zoo", and "My Love For You". He will bring them to you and snuggle down in your lap. It makes my heart swell knowing he loves to be read to. I hope his love for books continues as he gets older.

Hudson has had many adventures this summer too! He went to the beach and had a blast playing in the ocean with his cousin, Prudence. He went to the lake and shared many a secret swinging on the back porch with his Mymama. He enjoyed fireworks and wasn't scared a bit. He enjoyed a day at the Birmingham Zoo with his best friends, Cale, Cooper, and Harrison. And to wrap up his summer, he went to explore the Georgia Aquarium. He loved seeing all of the different fish. He would watch them wide eyed and point to them as if to ask "What's that, Mom?". 

               

         

We also had many lunch dates with Daddy, Hudson's very best friend. He thinks his Dad hung the moon. The feeling is mutual. Hudson is the apple of his Dad's eye. 

        

And we had many a Sunday lunch with Grandaddy and Gigi. Hudson loves them, and we are so lucky to have them so close by. 

         

Hudson amazes me everyday. I'm so thankful God chose me to be his mom. I'm also extremely fortunate to have a job where I get to spend so much time with him. Now it's time to head back to school. Tomorrow I'll meet 18 new friends. I have been praying for each and every one of them. It's a new beginning, for me, my baby, and my school babies. 

The Fourth of July

What better place to celebrate the fourth than a weekend at the lake? I can't think of a more perfect place for our little family. It's our home away from home, a place of refuge to get away from the problems and pressures of life. We absolutely love it there, and we hope to instill that same love of the "lake life" to Hudson.

The lake is also a place where our busy family can slow down and spend some quality time with each other. We enjoyed spending every minute with Mymama, Shug, Big Al, Emily, Andy, and of course, our favorite girl, Prudence. We went up Thursday night after Tucker got off of work. It definitely saved us some time Friday morning. It's always a hassle getting everything together, and it gets Hudson off of his schedule, but it is nice to wake up at the lake. Who needs a schedule when you're at the lake anyway?

 This big girl was very brave! She jumped off the floating pier for the first time! 

 She jumped safely into Mama's arms. She loved it and proved it by jumping over and over again!

 This picture is priceless! A daddy, his best girl, and a fabulous pair of shades! 

  The fountain is always pure entertainment for the babies. 

And Mymama is always happy to guide little curious hands.

 This crew loves some back porch sittin'.

 "Ready for a boat ride, Daddy!"

 Diva in training!

 Hudson loved the boat ride. The shades, not so much!

 These lake babies have no idea how much fun they will have at the lake in future years. 

If only weekends like this could last forever! 

Amanda

Summer Vacation

This year we took a real vacation! We went to Gulf Shores, but not just for a long weekend. We went for 5 whole nights! I can't remember the last time we took a vacation! It was so nice to get away and relax a little. Of course, now since we have Hudson our beach trips have changed. No more laying out in the sun all day long. We went to the beach early in the morning, went up for lunch and a nap, and went back down to the beach in the afternoon. In fact, I didn't get tan at all, and that's just fine by me!

Of course, no trip is complete without a little bump in the road. Hudson started running a fever the afternoon we arrived. I thought it may have been teething since he was beginning to cut his back teeth. But when his temp reached 102.3, I knew it wasn't just teething. Sure enough, after a trip to the Urgent Care, Hudson had a bilateral ear infection, which means he had infection in both ears. He got a shot of antibiotics and a prescription for more antibiotics to start the next day. After a long afternoon nap, he was already feeling much better.

On an exciting note, Hudson took his first steps at the beach! He walked from me to Tucker, only a few feet, but we are so very proud. We have been practicing ever since. He still can't stand and walk from a sitting position, but he can walk about ten feet from me to Tucker. I know in a few weeks, he will take off and we won't be able to keep up!

 You never would have known that he was at the doctor just a few hours earlier!

 Playing on the beach with Mommy.

 Hudson loved playing in his Mickey Mouse pool. It was perfect for a baby at the beach!

 I'm usually the one behind the camera. Because of this, all pictures with my boy are extra special.

Best friends!

I can't believe its over! It's funny how the vacation days breeze by and the work days seem to drag. I guess that's just the way life is. These special moments help us to really slow down and enjoy these precious moments even more. 

Amanda