My talented friend!

My sweet friend from college, Sara, has a company called 2 Blonde Boys. She makes burp cloths, lovies, taggies, bows, nap mats, etc. She recently made me some baby shower gifts and I wanted to show everyone how cute they are. Check out her business blog: 2blondeboys.blogspot.com

4 months old

Landon is growing like a weed these days! He talks and smiles all day long. He loves to watch Hudson play and gives him hugs. Landon is trying to sit up, but still needs some practice. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown.

Sunday Clothes

Doesn't he look dapper!! This is an outfit that Aunt Beth got him for Christmas and he looks just like a little man. :)

Oh, to be able to sleep anywhere!

These sleepy moments were too cute to pass up!

For All the Moms Out There :)

All of you moms will appreciate the kind of night I had last night. I fed Landon at 10:00pm and got hooked on a movie during his feeding. Instead of turning it off after he was done I continued to watch it until it was over at 11:30pm - bad mistake. At 4:00am I was awoken to Landon coughing and crying. He was all stuffed up so I got out the bulb syringe and suctioned his nose which made him go ballistic and all the crying woke Hudson up. So now I have both boys hysterical and I am somewhat sleep deprived. I go to Hudson and tell him that baby brother is just mad at Mommy and for him to go back to sleep. I go back to Landon's room, shut the door and get back to work on his snot filled nose. Hudson wakes back up and this time he is wet. At this point I felt like it was time to call in the reserves - Daddy! I wake Ben up (who is still sick) and he takes Landon so I clean Hudson up. Hudson goes back to sleep, but Landon feels the need to stay up until 5:30am. He finally goes back to sleep and I head for the couch. Just as I get in a deep sleep Landon wakes back up for his breakfast. :) I feed him, he has some wake time, and then he goes back down. At this point, I head back to my warm, comfy bed and Ben gets up so that I can sleep - Thanks Babe!! All of this took place before 9:00am. :) I know that all of you mom's can relate to nights/days like this and one day we will look back and laugh!

A house full of sickies!

It all started last Sunday when Hudson started having a runny nose and coughing really bad. His cough was horrible and at times he would cough so hard that he would gag. Needless to say we stayed home all week. Then Landon started getting sick this past Wednesday. He was stuffed up and also had a congested cough, but he was still happy. Each day Landon seemed to get worse and so Saturday morning I finally called the doctor. They said for me to time his breathing and see if he took more than 40 breaths in a minute. He was taking about 52 breaths which is a sign of RSV so they sent us to Texas Children's Hospital. Thankfully our friends Adam and Carissa were able to keep Hudson. They were real troopers because Hudson had some unfortunate pooping accidents while there. He has been doing so good and hadn't had any accidents in almost 3 weeks. Thankfully they have a daughter, Lillian, that is Hudson's age and so they know the woes of potty training. :) Anyways, after hanging out in the ER we found out he didn't have RSV but they diagnosed him with bronchiolitis. He is doing better today, but still coughing a lot. Meanwhile, Ben started getting sick Friday morning and can hardly talk. Thankfully the Lord has allowed me to stay fairly well. I have only had a stuffy nose and sore throat. I think the Lord gives moms immunity to sickness so that they can stay well and take care of their families. :)

Almost 4 months old

Landon is growing so quickly! He loves to play on his new tummy time water mat that has a duck on it and fish. BB got this great toy for him for Christmas.
He has become quite the grabber and has a very tight grip.

Aunt RoRo got these cute socks that look like shoes at the boutique she works at called The Blue Kangaroo. Landon has a whole set of shoe-like socks - Thanks RoRo!

The best ever sugar cookies

Last Friday was pj's and slippers day at Hudson's school. They are studying winter and bears right now so we made bear sugar cookies for his class. I used my mother-in-law's recipe and they were terrific!! Here is the recipe:
1c. crisco
1 c. oil
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together, roll into balls, then flatten with a glass dipped in sugar and place on cookie sheet. You can also refrigerate and then roll the dough and cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.

A boy and his horse

"A man without a horse is like a man without legs" is a quote from The Man from Snowy River which depicts how much Hudson loves his horse. Aunt Meredith and Uncle Mike got it for him for Christmas and he rides on it all day. Hudson has named his horse Snowy River. :)

Ben and his boys

Everyday when Ben gets home from work, Hudson runs to him and then asks to fight which means wrestle! Hudson jumps on Ben and tries to tackle him as best he can. He is actually pretty good and very intense when he "fights". They also love to play football and soccer and they have now incorporated Landon into their ritual. Nothing tickles me more than to see Ben playing with the boys even though I know he would love to just rest a minute after getting home from a long days work. :)

A Date with Landon

While Hudson was at school, Landon and I hung out. We went to Cost Plus, Garden Ridge and Old Navy. It was a lot easier to run errands with only 1 kid to worry about. :) After shopping, I treated myself to lunch at La Madeleine. I have been going to La Madeleine since junior high days. We used to go there when we went to Dallas and I always felt so girly going there. It is a french cafe of sorts and very cozy feeling. I love their chicken cesaer salad and tomato basil soup.

Today is the 11th which means that it has been 7 months since Dad went to be with the Lord. So while I was at lunch I reminisced about a special dinner I had at La Madeleine almost 8 years ago. Ben had just asked me to marry him and I had come home for Spring Break to plan the wedding. Mom, Dad, Robyn and I went to Dallas to find a dress. Dad was such a trooper driving us girls all over Dallas so I could find the perfect dress. He would sit in the stores and look at every dress on me and give his opinion. He never complained and never asked me to hurry up. He was so relaxed and allowed me to stay as long as I needed to. We had so much fun! After dress shopping, he took us girls to La Madeleine. It was the pefect day for a daughter and her daddy!

1st Day of School

I can hardly believe that today Hudson started school. Since we moved in October and things were a little crazy, I decided to wait until January to get Hudson into a Mother's Day Out program. Most of the churches I called were filled up, but I found a church that had 1 opening left. It is First Presbyterian of Sugar Land and the school is called Apple Tree School. He goes on Fridays from 9-2pm. I packed him a lunch which included a special napkin note just like my parents always put in my lunch!
He started off the morning with special Granddad Mickey Mouse pancakes on the red plate. The red plate has been a tradition in my family since I was young. We used it on the first day of school, birthdays, testing days, etc.
Hudson is ready to go with his lunch box that MoMo and Papas gave him. He also has a cute alligator backpack, but he didn't want to wear it. :)
Hudson was so excited about getting to paint. When I picked him up he said that he got to paint a bear. They are doing a unit on bears and are reading the famous "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" book
He looks so big sitting at a table!!

Hudson the Bread Maker

Hudson helped me make bread and he especially wanted to knead it! We gave one loaf to his new Mother's Day Out teacher, Mrs. Lee.

Landon is my "Mini Me"

Hudson and Landon are becoming best buds! It is so cute to watch Landon's eyes light up when Hudson is around. He smiles at him and loves to hug on big brother. Hudson thought that Landon needed some shoes on so he put his Crocs (well Target wanna be) on him while sitting in his new Bumbo seat, thanks MoMo and Papas!

Everything John Deere

Not only do we have JD tractors, a shirt, plate and cup, but now we have an apron! Thanks for my apron, BB!!

Cuddle time

A few days ago, Ben and I were cuddling on the couch and Hudson was playing. When he saw us cuddling he said, "you need a blanket" and so he got a blanket and covered us up. :) Whenever we cuddle with him we always have a blanket on us, so he associates cuddling with having a blanket. It was the sweetest thing!

An Adventure with Ava

We met Jenny and Ava at the outlet malls in Allen (North Dallas). It was so nice to get to see them and spend some time visiting. Hudson asked me, "Can I hug Ava?" and you can tell that he definitely did just that. :)

3 girls, 2 boys and 1 fire = A Night about Granddad!

A few months before Dad's passing, he had asked Hudson if he wanted to have a campout. Dad had big plans to put the tent up in the backyard and roast hot dogs with Hudson, but he just wasn't physically able. So we had an inside campout in his honor!Robyn and I started a great roaring fire and we were very proud of ourselves! Daddy taught us how to build a fire and we remembered all of his fire lessons. :)
We used the traditional hot dog roaster - a coat hanger!
Hudson got his fitst taste of a S'more and he loved it!
To make it feel extra cozy, Robyn made a pallette of blankets in front of the fire.

Three Incredible Legacies

My Dad's dad, whom I called Granddaddy, passed away the week my Dad was in the hospital. He was a dashing man, with great hair and a beautiful smile. He loved hugging his grandkids and being a major part in our lives. I remember when I was in college he told me that he prayed each day for my mate - WOW! When I introduced him to Ben he had a 101 questions for him making sure that he was good enough for his eldest granddaughter. :) He studied the Word and led his family in a godly manner.
My Mom's dad, whom I called Papa, passed away when I was 3. There are many parallels between my Papa's passing and my Dad's. They were both in their mid 50's, both died in June, both left grandkids that were about the same age ( I was 3 and Hudson was a little over 2) and both left wives that were in their mid 50's. I was the only grandkid that knew Papa just like Hudson is the only grandkid that knew Dad. I am blessed to have vivid memories of Papa. He was a good-lookin' guy with huge biceps and he adored me! My mom says that Papa was a firm father, but when a granddaughter came into his life he became mush. :) One Christmas Eve, he called a local store owner that night because he wanted to get me a Raggedy Anne doll. On Christmas morning, he put her in the tree for me to find. Papa and I would sit in a red leather chair and eat cornbread and milk together. He was a man that took his position as a father/grandfather seriously and led his family in a Christ like manner.


All 3 of these men are buried in the same cemetery. Dad's headstone came in the week after Christmas, so we went to Quitman ( an hour away from Tyler) to see it. It was so surreal to see the marker that held my Dad's name on it. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a dream and when I wake up he is going to be there to hug me. He was the most incredible father anyone could ask for. He loved his God, his wife and his children! He was a very hands-on dad and that meant so much to me. He took time to know each one of his kids and what interested them. He would watch me dance, help me make good luck drill team gifts, drill me on spelling tests and watch extra credit Biology II videos with me. I pray that Hudson will be blessed with a vivid memory of him. He taught his family to turn to Christ first in everything. I think I miss his hugs the most. He would tell me he loved me daily and hug me more than once each day. He always made me feel so special. I'll never forget Valentine's Day my junior year of college. I wasn't dating anyone and my Dad sent me a dozen red roses. Every daughter needs a Dad like that!

Great Grands

Not only are stockings a big deal within my immediate family, but also at my Nanny's house ( my mom's mom). The boys had lots of goodies in their stockings and Nanny and Granddad Charles were very generous to Ben and I, as well. :)

Grandmommy ( my Dad's mom) and Landon. She lives in Duncanville, but came to Quitman for the day.
Granddad Charles and the boys watching their new Wiggles DVD that they gave them.
Hudson found a slinky in his stocking!
Nanny enjoying every minute that she got to hold Landon!
Granddad Charles and Landon