16 Months

At 16 Months:

Loves climbing, exploring, swimming & stacking!

Has 5 teeth now

Favorite Words: 

Uh Oh! Bubbles, No, Mama, Daddy 

 

At around 15 months Hudson finally started to sleep through the night! This is huge! I was one tired Mama :-)  It has been such an awesome change to our routine!  Apart from that, life is pretty much the same.  Hudson continues to soak up this world like a little sponge, constantly shocking me at how much he understands.  He still hasn't shown much interest in talking but he has his own ways of communicating.  He knows his daily routine and helps us dress and undress him, climbs into his high chair when we tell him his food's ready, climbs into his car seat when we put him in the car (and tries to buckle himself in).  So many little things that show me he's growing up.

 He just got back from spending 3 days at Grandma and Grandpa's house while Jason and I went on a little getaway.  It was the longest we'd been apart and I think Hudson handled it better than I did.  By day three I missed him soo much! But it was nice for Jason and I to have some time to reconnect with each other without any worries or responsibility.  I think Hudson felt like he was on vacation too, spending his days in the pool and getting spoiled all day long by G&G. 

A few weeks ago Hudson (finally) made his first trip to the beach.  He LOVED it.  He would have shoveled sand all day if we would have let him.  And we were very excited that he did not try to eat the sand :)  It did take some major effort at bath time to rid him of all the beach he took home with him!  I had to wash his hair 6 times to get clean and I'm still finding sand in the tub weeks later!  It was so fun though we can't wait to take him back.

I can't say it enough... I love this kid! 

 

First Beach Day: 

 

Pool Time at Grandma & Grandpas:

 Latest home project! Hudson's Growth Chart:

 

Loves Stacking!!!

Daycare shenanigans!

Fun Driving!

 

14+ Months

At 14 Months:

Running, Climbing & Swimming!

Has 4 front teeth

Favorite Word: "Uh Oh!"

What a difference a few months makes!  My little baby is turning into a toddler right before my eyes.  He's on the run, and never stops moving.  It seems like everyday I discover he can do something new, or reach something new.  I look at him and remember when he could stand up under the table without hitting his head and realize he's grown inches without my realizing it.   He is constantly growing and learning.  It is truly amazing. Hudson has moved up a class in school.  He'll stay in this classroom until he turns 2.  I'm loving the new class.  It is very structured with a set schedule and much more independence for the kids.  With the new class also came the switch from one nap a day to two, which has been great for Hudson.  Everyday he learns to communicate with us a little more.  He points to things he wants and does some sign language too (mostly just says "all done" when he's done eating).  He remembers all of the hiding spots for the things we don't want him to have and is always the first one to point out when we've forgotten to close the baby gate or latch the cupboards or have left things out he's not suppose to have.  He's also incredibly loving and sweet.  He gives the best hugs in the world, nothing makes me feel better than to feel his little arms squeeze around my next and hold me tight.  He gives kisses too but they're still a little messy :)  He tries to use words, but the only one he has really mastered is "uh oh!" which has two meanings for him.... if he makes a loud noise or drops something he says "uh oh."  But also when he does something he knows he's not allowed to do he says "uh oh." For example, he loves to run over to the Roomba and turn it on, which he knows is a no no, and then he immediately turns to me and says "uh oh."  Its so cute it makes it so darn hard not to laugh and encourage him.

We do Mommy and me swimming lessons every Saturday morning.  After just 4 classes he's doing so great the teacher recommended we move him up to the next level after next week.  I thought a 20 minute class once a week couldn't possibly make a difference, but it is really incredible how much he remembers from the week before.  Its become one of my favorite parts of the week.

We are busy.  Very busy.  And very tired.  All. of. the. time.  No matter how long our week was, or how tired we are from work, or how late we stayed up the night before, Hudson wakes up bright and early at 5:30 or 6:00.  There is no down time with a one year old :)  The days are a blur of getting ready, preparing food, dropping off Hudson, working, picking up Hudson, playing, preparing food, bath time, bedtime, preparing food, feeding ourselves, dishes, and cleaning, trying to remember to breath, and finally sleep, which is still interrupted around 3am by a crying, awake Hudson, and then back to bed for a few short moments before we get to begin in all again.  Life is a blur, but its pretty great!

I am sure I will always be in awe of the miracle of having children.  Watching a human grow is truly amazing.  I was thinking today of how much I prepared and stressed for his arrival, having enough blankets, burp clothes, onesies, etc and how quick the time for those things actually went by.  It was just a moment in time. I know that this stage will be too.  I try to just take it all in and enjoy every second because life is just going way too fast these days.

He loves playing outside at school!

And at home!

First swimming lesson

 

Trouble!

Hudson & his girlfriend Katelynn are two peas in a pod!

#Kateson

12 Months

 18 lbs 6oz, 29 inches

At 12 Months:

Walking!

Gaining more independence each day

One top tooth broke through!

Loves to dance 

Loves all fruit

Hudson is finally 1 year old! The first year went by so fast, it feels like I was just holding this precious baby in my arms in the hospital.  Hudson is changing so much from week to week.  He's constantly learning new things and finding his own personality.  He faces new challenges all the time and gets frustrated when he can't do something on the first try.  I of course can relate ;-)

He started walking, or I should say gave up crawling, on his first birthday.  I picked him up from daycare and set him down on the concrete outside the school and he took off!  He loves his new found freedom and is reluctant to be carried now, which is sad for me.  Its so fun to see him grow and change, but also a little sad as he becomes less of a baby and more of a toddler.

He's been much healthier lately, which has been a huge blessing!  We figured out he has a milk allergy so once we took out all the dairy in his diet he really started doing better.  Sadly, his favorite food is yogurt but he can't have it anymore.  I stopped nursing just after he turned a year.  Another big change.  Hudson was ready and I was pretty tired of having to pump.  He's drinking soy milk now and loves it.  
We're still not sleeping through the night.  He's just not a good sleeper.  He still wakes up once or twice a night and he's terrible at napping :-(
I'm hoping that will improve!  I really look forward to a time when we can all get a full night's sleep!

A few family updates:
Jason is starting a new job IN CARLSBAD the first week of June! This is very exciting news for us since he's been having to drive downtown everyday for the past 4 years.  Having him close to home will allow us to share the responsibility of daycare drop off and pick up and give me a little more flexibility with my time.  Plus we'll be able to have child free lunch dates :-)
Also, Hudson's Mommy is (finally) officially an architect!  After years of schooling, intern hours, and 8 tests I am a California licensed architect!  It feels so good to have that behind me and just be able to focus on our home and family now.

11 months

 

 

At 11 Months:

So close to walking, but still wont let go

Loves "reading" books

Can open our "child proof" cabinet locks :-(

Still NO teeth!

Just weeks away from turning 1 year old! I can't believe my baby boy is almost a toddler. He went from being so little to so grown up so quickly. He continues to get around by walking while holding on to something. He can pretty much get around our whole downstairs by going from one wall, cabinet, table, or couch to another. But in an open room he still chooses to crawl. He loves to walk while holding onto one of Mommy or Daddy's fingers but isn't quite ready to let go. He races up our stairs but hasn't attempted to come go down them yet. He's also developed a strong need to have things his way or else. I wonder where he gets that!? Hudson enjoyed Easter. We did a neighborhood breakfast & egg hunt Saturday & Hudson loves when we all get together and he can watch all the kids. He was a bit young to participate this year. Sunday he enjoyed his Easter basket & gifts.

We continue to battle one sickness after another. He just got over a bad week long stomach flu and case of pink eye. What I would give to just keep this child well! Every time he gets sick we go back to waking up every hour so of course at 11 months we are still not sleeping through the night! Each time I make progress he gets sick again and we have to start over. A year ago I had no idea just how tough being a Mommy was going to be. It's wonderful, but it is also so hard.

This little guy just gets more fun everyday!

10 Months

 

At 10 Months:

Still cruising furniture and walking around with walkers, toys, boxes or a hand

 

Standing without holding on to anything

Says Mama, Dada and Bubu (?)

 

Started going to a Montessori Preschool

 

First plane ride

I'm very late on Hudson's 10 month post... I can't believe he'll be 11 months in just a week!  The pictures are at 10 months though.  Not a huge change between 9 months and 10 months.  He's getting a little easier, more independent and continues to be a happy and fun baby.  He started at a new school this month, which was a little hard to adjust at first but he seems to love it now.  He gets to go outside everyday at his new school, which he LOVES!  His teachers say he is the most adventurous kid.  If you can tell, he's got a scratch and bruise on the right side of his face in the pictures because he fell into the fence while he was playing outside at school.  I guess the other kids don't venture out that much...

We took our first family trip to New Orleans for Kyle's wedding last week.  Hudson did great on his first plane ride!  He was a trooper for the whole trip.  He got to ride on a shuttle, a plane, and a bus... lots of new adventures!  Plus, got to go to his first wedding.  He danced and stuck it out till the near end!  Mom and Dad even got to go out for a night while Grandma & Grandpa watched Hudson.  :-)

He is still just so sweet and loveable.  He's still my little baby, but everyday he is getting more like a kid and less like a baby and it has me sort of wanting another one.  Still, I think we'll cherish this time with just Hudson a little longer and wait on that!

Another update to follow shortly!  

Lots of love!

Dancing with Daddy

Dancing with Mommy

Favorite pastime

The other kids push Hudson in his car :)

 

9 months

 

 Weight: 17 lbs 9 oz

Height: 28"

At 9 Months:

Still cruising furniture

Walking around with walkers, laundry baskets, boxes or anything he can push around :)

Standing without holding on to anything (for a little while)

Self feeding small finger foods (peas, rice crackers, puffs, yogurt drops)

Loves yogurt, carrots, apples, pears & blueberries. Likes sweet potato, kale, peaches, oatmeal. Hates bananas & cauliflower.

I'm little behind this month, but better late than never...
Everyday with this little guy brings something new.  It's so fun to see him take in the world and continue to learn new things. Now he can open and close doors and get into the cabinets. He remembers a lot more now, like where we hid the TV remote the night before! It's so funny, he will go straight for the couch and start searching behind the cushions where he knows we hid the remote the night before.  He's pointing and trying to communicate a little but he's mostly interested in getting around and exploring.  Everyday gets a little harder because he just gets that much more adventurous,  and a little easier because he gets a little more independent.  Some mornings he is perfectly content to play on his own while I get things ready. Other days he's getting into everything and making it impossible for me to get anything done.
We're still battling cold after cold. We seems to have a window of 3 or 4 days where he's well before he catches something new.  His Dr has a new theory and we have to do some tests with him but more on that next month when we know more.  I just pray every day that we can figure out how to keep him well! But no matter how sick he is he continues to be the happiest sick baby ever.  He is just the sweetest happiest little guy!

Loves books

The majority of his 9 mo pictures look like this... he's discovered the camera! :(

Discovered the sticker... I have a feeling next month's pictures will be hard to get :)

It's amazing what can happen in 9 months!