Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my 2 little pumpkins!

Trying to get a picture of a 16 month old and an 11 day old newborn isn't the easiest thing. 

I'm just happy that he didn't try to poke her eyes out or rip her hat off. 

And yes, these are their "costumes" this year. I thought I would be crazy pregnant on Halloween and the thought of going to our church's fall festival alone with Hudson (since John has to "work" at it) did not sound like fun to me. Then Emma decided she wanted to be here to celebrate Halloween with us so  I'm a Halloween Scrooge this year. That's okay though...they won't remember it and I'm already thinking of their adorable costumes for next year! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween!

my boys

again...before Emma pictures :)

I just LOVE watching my boys play. 

Hudson loves to roll around and wrestle with his daddy.

And John loves it too. :)

The faces on my boys is just priceless!

all aboard!

John's dad and stepmom gave Hudson a Thomas train set for the backyard. John decided to set it up for Hudson last Friday (the day I went into labor). 

Hudson was having fun "helping" John set it up. 

I loved watching Hudson really try to help. He obviously couldn't actually help but he tried to do what John did and it was the sweetest thing.

While the battery charged for the train, John pushed Hudson for his first ride. 

He wasn't sure what to think at first but he loved it!

I know this will be a toy that Hudson will enjoy as he gets older too. The best kind of toys!

Later that night after Hudson was in bed I started having contractions. More on that later. :)

playing in the dirt

A few days before Emma was born, Hudson and I were playing in the backyard. He found a flower pot  that used to be the home to beautiful impatiens and started playing in the dirt.

 Being the super pregnant mom that I am, I let him. I thought it would distract him from eating rocks or doing things that would require me to chase him around our huge backyard. 

It did, but I ended up having to give him a bath which was a lot of work too. 

Oh well, my boy loved playing in the dirt!

before Emma

There are a few random pictures I wanted to post simply for my memory of some things Hudson did the week before Emma got here. Chasing around a busy 16 month old while 9 months pregnant is not easy but I LOVED our time together before he became a big brother. 

Hudson figured out how to climb onto the chairs and then onto the table. He did this constantly before Emma was born. Thankfully (since I'm not allowed to pick him up) he hasn't done it much at all since she got here. 

We went to visit Erin and Rix about 9 days before Emma was born. Rix was only 1 week old and it was fun to see Hudson interact with him. 

Enjoying cuddles with my little man. I was soaking up as much of this time as I could. 

We've started giving Hudson a plate at his meals instead of just putting the food on the tray. He used to pick up the plate and dump the food out but he is getting much better about eating off of the plate.

I also tried "baking" with him for the first time. I tried the 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins (1 box Spice cake mix + 1 can pumpkin) so that it would be easy. He isn't quite ready to help me in the kitchen yet. He was much more interested in the owl cookie jar. :)

Emma James :: 1 week old

Emma James...you are 1 week old! 

This week has been an adjustment for us for sure. You are such an easy baby. You sleep all the time and really only cry when you are hungry. You are eating every 2-3 hours and nursing GREAT. You latched on immediately and haven't had any issues with nursing at all. It has been a much easier experience at the beginning than with your brother.

Speaking of your brother...he LOVES you. He loves to come and sit by you and he always pulls your socks off. He gives you kisses and loves to pat on you. We have to remind him to be gentle but he is doing really well. He giggles and gets excited when he sees you.

Your bilirubin levels were great while we were in the hospital but the day we were discharged you started looking a little yellow so we've kept you in the window a lot this week. We've taken you to have them checked twice and they are starting to come back down now.

We are crazy about you, Sweet Emma. You have been a perfect addition to our family and we are so thankful that you decided to come 2 1/2 weeks early!

Early Arrival!

Emma James Woods

October 20, 2012

9:13 am

7 pounds 3 ounces

19 inches

We are so happy to announce that Emma James Woods made an early arrival! We are all doing well and adjusting to life as a family of four. Many blog posts to come!

surprise diaper shower!

A couple weeks ago the choir surprised us with a diaper shower for Emma. When John got into the choir room they had this little set up with TONS of diapers and wipes. 

I'm disappointed I was at home with a sleeping toddler and that I missed these yummy cupcakes!

I'm even more disappointed that I wasn't there because I wish I could have shared this fun with John. But I'm also glad he got to do one of these on his own. 

This isn't even all of the diapers. So so so blessed!

Our kitchen table full of diapers that evening.

And then the next day they made it to her room and how they are organized in her closet. 

Thank you Northside choir for your love and support for our newest sweet baby! Emma is already so loved!

bible study shower

Last weekend my bible study gave a shower for all of us girls who are expecting. There were supposed to be 5 of us there, but Erin had her baby 2 days before so they didn't come. :) It was fun to share this with my sweet friends.

That punch was some of the best punch I've ever had! ha! I was never able to have any punch when I was pregnant with Hudson because of the gestational diabetes. 

Me and Deborah

Me and Nichole...she is expecting a surprise in January! I think she's having a boy!

All 4 of us. I'm due in 3 weeks, Nichole in January, Sarah any day now and Erynn in January. 

I love sharing this special time with these friends!

Hudson {16 months}

busy goldfish trucks balls 1 nap peas corn jumping dancing Mickey Mouse books brushing teeth saying prayers

{words} 

nigh nigh, Mama, Dada, ba (ball), ba ba (basketball), all dah (all done), doh (dog), diada (diaper), momey (monkey), namen (amen - after we say prayers...the sweetest thing ever!), bot (boat), ma (milk and more), cheese, buh buh (bye bye), dat (that), dow (down), buh (book)

our little Ray Charles

My mom got Hudson this adorable piano for his birthday but John and I just got around to putting it together a few weeks ago. We should have put it together much sooner because he loves it. 

He has also started loving to wear these sunglasses. He will take them off and bring them to you to put them back on him. It's a game to him.

Last weekend he started playing his piano while wearing the sunglasses and we thought it was the cutest and funniest thing. Our little Ray Charles. 

Hudson thought he was so cool in his sunglasses. :)

water hose fun!

my iPhoto is working again thanks to my awesome husband! I'm SO thankful because if I had lost those pictures I would have been devastated. And before anyone says anything, my entire iPhoto library was already stored on an external hard drive because it was too large for my computer. I just hadn't hadn't had a chance to back up the external hard drive yet. But it is now all backed up. So no worries. :)

So last weekend was very low key. On Saturday we had a gorgeous day outside and after we finished watering flowers Hudson got to play with the water hose. He LOVED it. Ha! There were too many cute pictures so I had to make some collages. I'll let his expressions speak for themselves. 

hi friday!

We are a week into October and exactly 4 weeks from today we will be meeting our sweet baby girl. What?!?! That is absolutely mind blowing. I can't believe we are 4 weeks from having 2 kids.

I would have shared a lot more on the blog this week, but my iPhoto library is not working. Super bummer. John is going to work on it this weekend so {fingers crossed} hopefully I'll be able to share some of the pictures of what we've been up to.

I can say that Emma's room will be ready by next weekend! My goal is to have her room finished, my bags packed, and baby stuff out of the attic by the time I'm 37 weeks which gives us another week and a half. Totally doable in my book!

I have already started freezing meals for after Emma is born. I've made PW's chicken spaghetti and lasagna and Blue Eyed Bride's bow tie fiesta. I never got to do this with Hudson because of that whole bed rest and swelling thing. I would like to get about 4 or 5 more meals in the freezer before Emma gets here. That's 1-2 a week which I think I can definitely get done.

Hudson has been so incredibly sweet lately. I'm trying to soak up as much of him being an only child as I can these last few weeks. He loves giving kisses right now. They are totally open mouth and with a little tongue but they are the sweetest. He also loves patting my belly when we ask where the baby is.

I've started swelling a little which I think is normal at this point. Plus it goes away. It did not go away with Hudson.

Have a great weekend y'all!