40 days

I've never been super consistent with giving things up for Lent. I am also not Catholic so that plays a large part of the why but I do like the idea of Lent.

This year I have decided to give up two things that I spend a lot of time doing during the day. I am giving up Twitter and Facebook. Facebook is an easy one for me. I usually only post pictures of the kids for friends and family to see. I rarely spend much time on there.

Twitter. That's a WHOLE other story. I spend way too much time on Twitter. I want to refocus my time. I don't want to be staring at my phone while I'm also trying to play with my kids. I want to use that time to focus on them and be more present.

I am also going to use this time to be more disciplined in my time with the Lord during the day. Every morning when Emma naps, Hudson plays in his room by himself. Usually I use this time to do things around the house or to get ready for the day (if I have somewhere to be). Let's be honest, I do not "get ready" every day. Especially if we aren't going anywhere. #aintnobodygottimeforthat

So instead of doing things around the house, my plan is to spend that time with the Lord. I want it to be more intentional and not a last minute thought. It's so easy to do that when your day is consumed with diapers, sippy cups, puzzles, nursing a baby, and playing in the dirt.

I will still be blogging. I use my blog more as a scrapbook for myself and my family than anything else. I will also still be posting pictures on Instagram.

My hope and prayer is that after 40 days this will be a new habit for me and I will continue it. That is my goal out of this.

Emma's Dedication

Yesterday was a very special day for our family as we dedicated Emma James. It is so powerful standing in front of our church family committing to raise Emma in a Christian home and show her God's love. We are so thankful that God has given us these 2 precious kids to love and parent.

Emma did perfect during the dedication. She just sat in my arms and chewed on her fists the whole time. Hudson on the other hand...he just wanted to get down and play on the steps. :)

Emma wore a dress that was mine as a baby. She looked so sweet in it and it was so special for her to wear a dress that had such sentimental value.

I was one proud momma standing up there with my two precious babies. I am SO thankful for them and overwhelmed with love. 

Even though we were dedicating Emma it felt like we were recommitting to raise Hudson in a loving Christian home. So much responsibility yet I am so grateful to have that opportunity.

Hudson loved the flower. :) He may have even pulled the flower from the stem. Life with a toddler!

My sweet girl. We love her so much!

February :: 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month! {Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

{1}

Lately Hudson has been waking up anytime between 5:00am & 6:30am. It's been rough. We think it's been related to teething (he cut all 4 of his eye teeth at the same time) but thankfully they are all in now. Today he slept until 7:30 and Emma slept until 8:30! I was able to get ready for church before they woke up. 

{2}

Today was Emma's dedication at church. Emma did great and didn't make a sound. Hudson was SO not okay with being held. He wanted to get down and play on the steps but thankfully wasn't noisy. We feel so honored that God has given us these precious children to parent.

{3}

A picture of my sweet Emma James after church. This dress was mine as a baby. Emma has worn it home from the hospital and she was dedicated in it. I am so glad she was able to wear such a special dress.

{4}

While Hudson napped this afternoon, John and I did some yard work. Well, John did a lot of yard work. I did a little until Emma didn't want to be outside anymore. We still have lots of work to do but it's getting better.

{5}

Hudson is 20 months old today! After his nap I took his monthly picture and I was actually able to get one of him sitting still. I was SHOCKED!

{6}

Sunday mornings are HECTIC for us! Since John is the music pastor at our church he leaves early on Sundays so I get myself and the kids ready and to church by myself. When we get home the house usually looks like a tornado hit it. That tornado is called Hudson.

{7}

Emma is loving the bumbo now! She didn't like it at first, but she's not always the biggest fan of laying down. She loves being able to see what is going on and in this picture she was watching Hudson run in and out of the back door.

{8}

It's common sense that when a toddler becomes quiet there is usually something bad going on. This afternoon I didn't hear Hudson and went down the hall to his room and he was taking all of the animals out of the ark and matching them together. It was a proud momma moment! 

{9}

John and Hudson have been gathering sticks in the backyard and using Hudson's wagon to put them in. Hudson worked on that a little before dinner tonight.

{10}

After Hudson's bath he wanted to watch "Ya Ya Ya Ya" in our bed. He loves "Yo Gabba Gabba" with a passion. 

Happy 10th everyone!

Hudson {20 months}

grapefruit balls puzzles 34 inches blocks spinning play doh coloring sleeping with pillow blanket and animals 30 pounds butchered haircut busted lip 1st black eye 

{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), booh (book), yeah (yes), Emmma (Emma), dis (this while pointing at what he wants), shuh (shoe), truh (truck or train), no, Ya Ya Ya Ya (Yo Gabba Gabba), Ma (Mickey Mouse), gow (cow), bra (zebra), shooose (shoes), ock (sock), this, bur (bird), nake (snake), kai (sky), moo (cow sound), baa (sheep sound), neigh (horse sound), duh (duck), bock (block), Bob (Bob the Builder)

*Hudson got a major butchered haircut this month. Had to remember it. Not going to get it fixed either...the experience was way too traumatic, but hair grows back. He also looks totally beat up right now. He got his first black eye (really just a bruise underneath...not too bad), and a bruise on his forehead. He also busted his lip in his crib when he tripped on his blanket. He also has a mosquito bite on his forehead. He's so tough but is looking rough this week. He's ALL BOY!

it's been awhile

I didn't really intend to take an almost 3 week break from blogging. These last few weeks have been wonderful. Spending lots of time together and loving on our 2 precious littles. Now that Emma is going to bed before Hudson (and sleeping all night!) John and I have our evenings back to ourselves. It's so nice to have 2-3 hours without kids before we go to bed every night. Instead of blogging, I've been enjoying time with him. 

So, here's a massive photo dump of the last few weeks. 

Every morning we spend about 30 minutes in bed watching Yo Gabba Gabba (or another show that Hudson requests). It's such a special time when all 4 of us are piled in there. 

After Hudson's baths at night we let him run through the house naked and he LOVES it! Ha! We say, "naked baby!" over and over and he just runs faster and faster. This night in particular he went and got on his plasma car. He looked adorable riding around the house.

We've had a very mild start to 2013 and have gone on lots of walks. This was Emma's first time in the real stroller seat and not her carseat. I think Hudson loved being able to see her.

Emma in her adorable Pumpkin Butter Kids Valentine's day onesie. I ADORE this one! 

Emma has become quite the wiggle worm in her sleep. She is sleeping 10-12 straight hours at night so she is never in the same place as where I put her.

Hudson was having his favorite meal here...black beans and green beans for dinner and a grapefruit for dessert. 

Hudson is obsessed with puzzles lately. I love it when he brings one from his room to work on in the kitchen while I'm working on dinner.

We are really working on identifying animals and animal sounds right now. In this picture he was proudly calling a zebra a "bra!"

We tried Play Doh for the first time last week. Hudson was not sure what to think of it at first. I had to spend about 5 minutes telling him, "no, don't eat it" but then he finally got the hang of it.

We've been playing "ball ball" outside a lot. He is so cute when he hits the ball. It never goes very far but he always takes off running. Except he runs to get his own ball. We'll have to work on that part.

And Hudson in his adorable PBK shirt. 

Following in her brother's footsteps, Emma rolled from her back to tummy before tummy to back. Although she HATES being on her tummy!

I had an adorable audience during my breakfast this week. I just love these 2 so much!

And this is what I call Emma's cheerleader smile. Her smiles are so big and infectious!

We spent some time at Lowe's yesterday on John's day off. We are finally getting around to redoing our bathrooms. The rest of our house was completed almost 2 years ago but we put off the bathrooms. John finished the floors in the kids' bathroom today but just has to grout and put the baseboards in. Then it's our bathroom next.

And gosh, this girl's eyes are GORGEOUS! 

I think that's sufficient for now. ;) 

Emma :: 3 months old

My sweet Emma James,

You are 3 months old today! It is SO true that the 2nd baby seems to grow up so much faster. This has been a great month for you. Your daddy, brother, and I are absolutely crazy about you. You have the sweetest little personality. Hudson adores you and loves to give you kisses. You are beautiful!

I love having you and your brother so close in age. There are difficult days but I think that could be said about any age difference. You and Hudson will never know life without the other one. You will be such great friends and I love that. 

You sleep GREAT! With Hudson he had to have a lot of "help" in this department. You really don't need much help at all. This month you really started sleeping through the night. We started putting you to bed around 8:30 and slowly pushed it to 7:00 and most nights you will sleep until 6:00 or 7:00 the next morning. If you do wake up it is usually around 3:00 and you will nurse for about 10 minutes and go right back to sleep. You are now taking most of your naps in your crib and doing great. You nap around 8:30, 11:00, and 2:00. 

You started going into the church nursery this month and you are finally taking a bottle!! I am SO SO happy about this! You don't love the bottle but you will sort of play with it until you are hungry enough to take it. 

You are such a happy baby! I love going to get you out of your crib in the mornings. You are SO smiley! Speaking of that smile...you have what I call your cheerleader smile. It's so big and cheesy! I love it! You do wake up like your daddy. Slowly. You like to lay in your crib for a while and slowly wake up. You don't want to eat right away either. It's so funny how you are so much like him in that way. Your brother wakes up just like me...ready to go! 

You've started cooing so much. I love having little conversations with you. I can't wait until you are older and we get to have real conversations! You have also found the fan. That will hold your attention for about 10 minutes. 

Your head control is getting so much better. Tummy time still isn't your favorite activity. You will usually just find your fist and suck on that. You don't hate it but you're just sort of lazy with it. You RARELY take a paci. I try all the time and it's just not your favorite thing. When you do take one you will use a Wubbanub. But you won't take a regular Soothie paci. You're picky. :)

Emma James, we love you so very much. I can't wait to watch you continue to learn, grow, and develop. 

Love,

Mommy

::3 month stats::

weight: 13 pounds

height: 23 inches

eating: nursing every 3 hours

clothes: 0-3 months, 3 months and a few 3-6 months

diaper size: 1

Look how you've changed!

Hudson at 3 months and Emma at 3 months...

all caught up!

I just did some marathon blogging to get all caught up from Christmas! Phew!

Christmas Lights
Dinner with the Chavanas
Christmas Sunday
Christmas Eve
iPhone Pics from Christmas
Christmas Morning
Christmas with PJ
Hudson's First Snow
"Sledding"
Trains at NorthPark
New Year's Eve and Day
Topher's Birthday
Playdates with Rix
My Little Artist
Hudson {19 months}