"We Build Boy Things Momma!"

This past Saturday morning Cody and Rylan loaded up and headed to Lowe's to attend their Build and Grow workshop. This is a GREAT things for dads and their little boys. The workshops are free and the little boys leave with their completed project, a work apron/smock and a pair of goggles. During this workshop Rylan and Cody built a tic-tac-toe box together. Although Rylan has no idea how to play tic-tac-toe, he is SO proud of his box! Rylan has been wearing that smock and goggles ever since Saturday. He proudly wore them out to a restaurant Saturday and it was a huge struggle to make him take them off for nap time that day.

My little Bob Vila

On another note, Mr. Hudson is L-O-V-I-N-G baby food! He has now had cereal, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas, apple sauce and peaches. He's like a little vacuum when he eats and he smiles the entire time he's being fed!

Seriously, have you ever seen anyone enjoy carrots this much?!!!

Matching PJ's

So, most of you already know that I am OBSESSED with finding matching outfits for the boys. Well, the other night while I was shopping around in Old Navy I saw these precious pajamas and they came in sizes that fit both the boys. I couldn't resist! Now I am on the hunt for matching Easter outfits. Who knew it could be so much fun to dress little boys?! I'm loving it!

* Hudson started coughing and running fever a few days ago. While Cody was in Waco at coaching school, Hudson's temp. got up to 103.4 and I was up ALL NIGHT with him. So, I took him in to his pediatrician yesterday and he tested positive for RSV. Luckily, his lungs are still pretty clear so we have him at home just watching him closely for any respiratory problems. The pediatrician wants to see him back Monday to see if any treatments need to be started at that time.

Of course after I called Cody to tell him what was going on here at home, he wanted to come home. So, he made it back home last night and took over "baby duty" so I could get some sleep. I couldn't ask for a better husband and daddy!

Hudson had another rough night last night. He is still VERY congested and running fever, although it's not as high as it had been. Hopefully within the next few days he will be feeling better and this will all be behind us. Having a sick baby is absolutely the most helpless feeling ever. Anyway, say a little prayer for Hudson that his RSV clears up quickly without getting any worse.

4 Months Old

4 Month Stats:

Weight: 14.3 pounds (25th-50th percentile)

Length: 24 3/8" (25th-50th percentile)

I took Hudson in today for his 4 month check-up and immunizations. Even being a nurse I still HATE to see my baby get shots. I know they only cry for a minute and then it's over, but it's just one of those times as a mom when you feel so guilty because you know they don't understand why you are doing this to them. Luckily, we LOVE our pediatrician and her nurse is one of my good friends so I always feel like my kids are in very good hands when we have to make a visit to their office.

Hudson has gained about 2.5 pounds since his 2 month visit. He has also grown a little over 2 inches since then. He is still my "little" baby compared to Rylan. I can't find the paper with Rylan's 4 month stats, but I do know that Rylan was 14.9 pounds at just 2 months. I think he was about a good 16.5 pounds by 4 months.

At Four Months Hudson is:

* laughing out loud when he is tickled.

* rolling over from belly to back. We also think he rolled over from back to belly just a few days ago. I had him laying on the floor in the living room on his back and I got up to go in the kitchen. When I looked back he was on his belly.

* pulling his feet up to suck on his toes/socks whenever he can.

* eating solid foods. We started him on cereal last week and he loves it. He has also had sweet peas now. The first time he had sweet peas I don't think he knew what was going on. The second time...I couldn't shove them in his mouth fast enough for him. I think we will move on to bananas next.

* sleeping from about 8:30pm-5:00am each night. Some nights he goes a little longer, but not usually.

* still sleeping in his swing. Due to his reflux he still can't lay flat on his back for long periods of time. I'm hoping once he really gets good at turning over on his belly that he will like to sleep that way and we can finally put him in the crib. Until then, we are keeping Duracell batteries in business with the swing.

* a people watcher. For the most part he is very content to sit in his little chair and just watch Rylan play.

* still loving his pacifier. Rylan liked his pacifier, but gave it up very easily at 6 months. I don't think we will be that lucky with Hudson.

Hudson sleeps like crazy after he gets shots. I gave him Tylenol and he has been asleep since we got home.

On Januray 2, 2009 (one year ago today)...

...we got the shock of our lives! January 2, 2009 started off as a pretty normal day. Cody decided to go to Greenville to do some work on his baseball field. I decided to just stay home and get some things done around the house. I remember going to Wal-Mart a day or two before and picking up a pregnancy test at the pharmacy. The ONLY reason I did this was because I had this "gut" feeling that maybe I was pregnant. And, to make it clear, we were not trying to get pregnant at all...we had been told by doctors that we would most likely never get pregnant on our own. Our plan was for Rylan to be 3 or 4 years old before we tried in vitro again. So, that's why when I got home I just stashed the test away under the bathroom sink and never even mentioned it to Cody. So, on the 2nd when Cody was gone and Rylan was down for a nap that afternoon, I decided to just go ahead and use the pregnancy test. This is where you all have to realize that before we got Rylan through in vitro, for 2+ years I spent a small fortune on pregnancy tests just to see a negative sign or only one line EVERY SINGLE TIME. Well, I went into the bathroom, did my business...and then stood there in COMPLETE shock when I looked down and saw a definite plus sign!!! That instant flood of emotions was, and still is indescribable. Mostly, I think I was in denial, but I kept looking down at the test, and yep, that plus sign was still there. I didn't want to call Cody right away because I wanted to make sure it was true.

So, what was my next logical step? I called one of my best friends Natalie and freaked out on the phone. She immediately cancelled her hair appointment, went to the store to grab 2 more pregnancy tests and came over. So, back in the bathroom I went with 2 more tests as she waited in the kitchen for me. The tests she picked up were a different brand, and I didn't stop and take the time to really look at them. So, when I did my business on those tests I came out telling her that I wasn't pregnant because the tests only had 2 negative lines...no plus signs. That's when Natalie told me that 2 lines IS a positive on those tests!! So it was official...3 tests told me I was pregnant!!

At this point Natalie helped me come up with a plan to tell Cody later that day when he got home. I went to a local maternity store that sold t-shirts for kids that said "Big Bro" and got one for Rylan. I raced home to get Rylan dressed in the shirt and when Cody got home, the look on his face was priceless. He just kept saying, "Are you sure?" After showing him the 3 tests (which I had saved to prove it to him) I think it finally started to sink in for him.

So there you have it...January 2nd will always be a day that I remember very well. That day was a solid reminder for me that God can make anything happen even when doctors say there isn't a chance. I consider myself so blessed to have my two miracle children...Rylan is mine because of the advances in medicine (and God of course) and Hudson is mine just simply because God reminded me that HE is in charge.

THREE tests finally confirmed the news for me.

one year later (to the exact day) we have a precious, perfect 4 month old!

Christmas

Christmas day was so much fun this year. I think I enjoyed it so much because Rylan is at an age where he really got excited about everything. This year Santa (with Nonni and Papa's help) picked out the perfect Thomas the Train table for our little boy! Then Santa (with RoRo's help) picked out the track and several trains that would make playing on the table so much fun! Let's just say that we have a believer in our house! Santa can do no wrong!

Hudson of course could have cared less about anything going on Christmas morning. Instead, he spent most of his time in PaPa's lap just watching all the action. Rylan opened Hudson's gifts later in the day for him.

I really couldn't have asked for a better Christmas...snow, 2 healthy, perfect little boys, an amazing husband, good food and lots of family around. We did however miss some of our family that couldn't be with us.

Seeing all the goodies that Santa left under the tree.

Hudson just relaxing with PaPa.

Checking out his Thomas the Train stuff.

I decided that my two oldest boys would have a good time with matching Nerf guns.

Sweet Hudson was exhausted from all the fun.

Rylan and Hudson hanging out together on the couch watching Rylan's new Mickey Mouse movie.

What a cutie!

Rylan loved his new fire truck and hat that we gave him.