Dear Hudson {Four Months}

Dear Hudson,

Mister big guy, I think I see glimpses of a little boy in your sweet baby body, which means you are growing! I literally saw it with my eyes.  One night, I put pajamas on you one night and your toes didn't reach the bottom of the "footies" and the sleeves went to your fingers.  We had a complete week of eating every two hours during the night and day.  That following week, those very same pajamas fit perfectly. No wonder you were so hungry, you were busy growing!

Out to dinner with friends: Mrs. Lizzie, Mrs. Laura, and Karis!

Apparently you practice yoga in your sleep :)

One thing I love about seeing your personality is that it is a happy one! It doesn't take much or anything at all to make you smile or even giggle. When I'm talking on the phone, I'll often look over and find you staring right at me smiling as if it was you and I having the conversation :)

We have discovered you are very much a people person.  You love toys and all, but they don't hold your attention like a person! If someone is interacting with you at any level, you usually are staring intently at them or smiling at them.  I love finding these things out about you!

I can tell your core is getting stronger as you are not as wobbly when I hold you sitting up or when you are sitting in your bumbo seat.  You also have fully discovered that you can stand up if you lock your legs.  You always think it's the best discovery each time and show how proud of yourself you are by smiling or opening up your mouth wide! Looking in the mirror really holds your attention now. It's as if you have met a new friend each time!

You did it one time when you were five weeks old, but you officially & intentionally rolled over from stomach to back! You are always so surprised by yourself when it happens. Laying there with your eyes wide and a frozen expression, then after a few seconds, smiling at your achievements. Sometimes, though, you forget you are capable of rolling over and just lay there and yell out of frustration :)

Max wanted to be apart of tummy time, too. 

On August 30th, your friend Hudson was born! We now have 1 toddler, 3 babies, and one baby on the way in our community group.  Sweet little blessings! We love that we have so many babies to love on! We went to visit Hudson and his mommy & daddy at the hospital. You were enthralled with him and just kept staring at him, which was so cute! He is the sweetest, tiniest little guy!  I know you both will soon have lots of fun together.

 Of course, we had to take some Game Day pictures. Let's get real, you have to be the cutest razorback fan around! Saturday mornings in the fall are filled with yummy breakfast food, football news in the morning, and football games in the afternoon. I know Daddy will love when you can enjoy watching the game with him!

I thought for sure this could only happen with a little girl, but without knowing it, we went out of the house matching one day! Nana caught it and we both thought it was hilarious.  I thought it was so cute & I better try to get away with it now, because you will soon think that is NOT cool.

 We also took you to the nursery at church for the first time! The sweetest ladies took such good care of you and they said you did a great job.  Hooray! We are so thankful for wonderful people who take care you while Mommy and Daddy worship and spend time learning about Jesus! Soon, you'll be doing just the same in church! I pray that you not only have an unwavering love for the Lord, but a love for learning about him, too,

You are so sweet when you wake up, especially in the morning, and are very cuddly! Mommy & Daddy both love this time with you.  I've discovered you sleep really well if I nap with you, which is a sweet sleep for me too, buddy! Speaking of sleep, we also encountered a pretty intense growth spurt and reverted to our newborn sleeping pattern for about a week. This resulted in staying in our pj's and taking naps all day together.

Early mornings with Daddy. 

Nana and Poppy came in town and will be here for all the Razorback home games. I know they are so thankful they will get to see you frequently and watch you grow, as are we! CeCe and Pops also came into town and couldn't believed how much you grew since mid-July.  They miss you so much everyday! CeCe enjoyed rocking you to sleep for your naps while you were here. She told me it was like she was rocking your Daddy to sleep all over again :)

CeCe keepin' you entertained while we are out to eat!

We had a little playdate with Karis! Mommy got a little dose of what it would be like to have twins.  Y'all were so cute together, but y'all did decide to have a few synchronized crying events. I was silently applauding moms of twins :) We had a good time together and loved spending time with sweet Karis!

Your great-grandparents, Memaw & Papaw, & Auntie Jo came to visit you the weekend you turned four months old! They loved and loved on you. You were completely intrigued by Papaw's white beard, listened intensely to Auntie Jo's conversations with you, and loved all the cuddles from Memaw! Aunt Cait and Uncle Britton spent the weekend with us too.  It was shame you didn't get any attention that weekend ;-)

Loving all the attention from Memaw, Auntie Jo, & Aunt Caitlin

I have seen the biggest physical growth spurt in you this past month! You have officially gone from newborn to baby. I'm so thankful for a healthy, happy, growing boy! You fill our days with lots of smiles that are contagious and we couldn't ask for anything sweeter.

We love you, big boy!

'

Dear Hudson {Three Months}

Dear Hudson,

How has it been three months since we held you for the very first time? You have broadened our world to new perspectives and new joys.  I still stare at you; wondering how blessed we are that you are ours! I think we will be doing that the rest of our lives, though.  

This past month we have really seen even more of that little personality come forth & you have really become quite the chatty one! It is so fun to listen to you blabber & coo to us as if you are holding a real genuine conversation - well, to you it is very real! :) 

This past month, we celebrated Daddy's 27th birthday! I already have to remind him how old he is turning.  He had a bunch of his friends in town and we ended the weekend with a party with our community group. Your friend Karis came to play with you at the party as well! We love pretty little Karis!

One of mommy's best friends, Paige came to visit us for a few days during the week! She is your honorary Auntie and does a fabulous job in the role. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends that love our little guy so well! Auntie Paige outdid herself while she was here: she rocked you, cooked delicious blueberry crisps [yes, plural. because Mommy & paige are obsessed with it] + dinner, pushed you in your stroller while we shopped, and even gave Max (our dog) a bath! You are going to love her as you grow up....she is quite the hilarious and I know will be teaching you new and fun things every chance she gets. Her husband, Matt and her moved to Boston a few weeks later. We can't wait to go up to visit within the 2 years they will live there!  

While she was here, you laughed for the first time! All three of us couldn't stop smiling and laughing. We could tell it took so much effort from your little self to create that laugh, and boy did we LOVE it. 

We took advantage of the RARE and gorgeous August weather one Saturday and spent our day doing fun errands and stopped at "The Yacht Club", a park of airstream trailers, to get delicious treats at Lo's Sweet Treats & Other Eats.  

In the beginning of August we made a trip to Dallas not only to be with Nana & Poppy, but also to meet your great grandparents (Mommy's Nonnie & Papa) and great Aunt Steph! Of course, we were so happy to get some cousin time in with Isaac. It's so fun seeing you two together each time as y'all are a little bit older! Before long, it will be real playtime and Aunt Erin and I will be running around trying to keep up with you two! 

Auntie Erin, Isaac, Great Grandma (Nonnie), Hudson & Mommy. (Hudson always trying to wiggle).

Your smiles have gotten bigger and even more intentional and it makes our hearts explode each time. When your Daddy gets home from work everyday, you give him the biggest smile.  I think it may be his favorite part of his day.  You look so much like your Daddy and I love it! You've also officially "found your feet". You've been pulling those feet up and reaching towards them for the past few weeks, but finally got a hold of them.  When you wake up from naps, I often find you holding on to them rocking from side to side! 

We went for your two-month old check up about 1 1/2 weeks before you turned 3 months old. You are 25 inches long (75th percentile) and 13 lb 3 oz (50th percentile)! My big growing boy! Not too far away from doubling your birth weight.  

The doctor said you are one healthy growing boy, which we are so thankful for and praise the Lord for good health!  You got your shots at the end of the appointment.  Don't worry, mommy cried right along with you. However, you calmed down quickly and gave mama a big smile, which eased my heart. We took a good nap together when we got home!

Waiting for the doctor!

We can definitely see already that you are ALL boy and love it! You are one wiggly little guy.  If you are laying under you jungle mat, your little legs don't stop! I have a feeling we'll be playing lots of sports and always on the go.  I can't wait for the adventures ahead and I know you'll keep mommy on her toes! 

We love those big blue eyes! We will have to find out if they will stay that color.  You love bath time now and have reversed from crying during bath, to crying when you get out of the bath.  However, you immediately starting smiling and laughing when I put you on your changing table to dry you off.  It's your "happy place" and has been since you were born.  

Celebrating at the other Hudson's baby shower with Emilie & Karis!

For the most part, you have never enjoyed 'tummy time' and never would really lift your head up. But you've had great head control when I would hold you upright. I felt like I failed in doing tummy time, but Aunt E suggested I used the Boppy.  One day, it's almost like it "clicked" and a few days before you turned 3 months you popped that head up like a champ! You seem pretty darn proud of yourself, too!

I say it all the time, but each month is a joy watching you grow, develop, and learn! I love being your mommy and spending each day with you! Even as a little guy, you are teaching us so much, causing us to stop and see God in the tiniest of ways. You keep us smiling, bouncing, making funny noises, and staring at you in great awe!

We love you, our dear little guy!

Mommy & Daddy

Dear Hudson {Two Months]

My Dear Boy,

I'm realizing with each week that I'm going to love each and every stage of your growth.  Around 4 weeks old, you starting smiling intentionally at us every so often. But my oh my, this month the smiles abound! This makes your mom and dad's heart full. There is not much sweeter than knowing that you are smiling at us - what great, deep love! 

When you were 5 weeks old, we were doing some "tummy time" (which you aren't always a fan of) and I noticed you were pushing off the floor with one leg. You completely surprised me by rolling over! I reacted with "Oh my goodness! Did that just happen? Are you supposed to be doing that right now?" Getting to experience your growth and discovery is SO fun. I started putting you in your bumbo seat for fun [and holding your head up] just for fun and to help strengthen your back! You seemed to love it....it was as if you were discovering a whole new world being able to see from that position!

You also have been baby talkin' up a storm and smiling. You talk to those who are talking to you, but I especially love hearing you just blabbering away when you're just laying there by yourself taking in the new world around you.  I never will get tired of seeing your sweet smile. It is heart-melting.  As I hear you talk and see you smile, I can't help but wonder what kind of personality you will have.  I do think about the fun days ahead and what kind of boy and man you will be....but, oh...how I am so delighting and loving in these days! You have truly taught me [and I know will continue to] the very lesson I have been trying to teach myself: to delight.  To delight in whatever it may be, whatever moment it may be, conversation, experience, or any "mundane" day.  You are making mommy a better woman by the day....you make me look to Jesus. 

Now that we have your acid reflux under control, we got to go to church for the first time! You did SO well for your first time [probably helped that you had a full tummy going into church]....as CeCe said "this baby was made to worship!" I pray that you will have a heart for worshipping our God.  What a soul-soothing moment it was to be rocking you while singing songs to our King. 

This month has been full of family time, which is our favorite kind of time. Since all of your family [except Uncle Micah, Uncle Britt, and Aunt Cait] don't live in Arkansas, you have become quite the little traveler. We made our way to Texas! Even though you are a pretty good 'road-tripper', we found it works best for me to sit in the back seat with you and Daddy to be our fearless driver. When it's time for naptime in the car and I can't hold you, you seem to love for mommy to hold your paci in and "hold your hand". Don't mind if I do, sweet boy! 

You went "swimming" for the first time. I needed a swim hat for you, but they didn't have your size. I got 0-6 month and well....that did not fit you! Haha, but you sure looked cute even being overtaken by the large monkey hat. I'm sure you will be logging many hours in Nana and Gpoppy's pool. I love introducing you to new things and I know it will become even more fun as your reactions and expressions to new things develop. 

You  got some good time in with your Uncles, Aunt, Grandparents, and Isaac! We LOVED seeing you and Isaac together. Since Isaac is a little older than you, he started recognizing that there was another baby and he would just stare at you. ["There is another one of me here?"].  It was so cute and funny! 

Quality time with Uncle Micah. I think y'all are going to have some big fun
while he is here for college! 

Important conversations with Gpoppy :) 

Hanging out with Auntie E & Isaac

Uncle Matt & Daddy @ 4th of July cookout

Went to your first wedding! Daddy had to take you out of the ceremony,
but you did great at the reception. I think you did great for a 6 week old!

I was so happy you got to meet one of mommy's best friend, Paige and Matt! She will be more of an [honorary] Aunt to you. She loves you and has already spoiled you with some cute outfits. Mommy and Paige were both in each others' weddings and met in college and now here we are....holding YOU!  [That's one of those - wow, I can't believe we are already at this life moment - moment].

The following weekend we made our way to Missouri for you to meet the whole Wilson and Walker family and of course, get some quality time with CeCe and Pops.  Everyone was so anxious to meet their great grandson/great nephew/cousin - and all the other important parts you play in their lives. We had a big cookout on Saturday, eating, holding babies, loving the coos, and smiling at the sweet simplicity of baby-watching.  It was a sweet weekend!

CeCe and Great-Grammy (Mother & Daughter)

Playing with Great-Granny :)

You and sweet little Stephanie (Lee's cousin's daughter). Exactly one week apart! 

Four Generations: Papaw, Pops, your Daddy, and you. Love this picture!

All of your Great Aunts on Daddy's side (missing Aunt Laura, though!)! 

Your Great-Grandma's :)

Your Great-Grandpa's 

Great Uncle Sonny with his great niece and nephew - so sweet!

(Great) Granny and Paw with their two great grandchildren

Taking a snooze at CeCe and Pops house before we go to church 

This month you took your first bottle! Of course, Daddy got the honor of doing that. It was so sweet! I know he loves that he can have this time with you every now and then.  Now that you are taking a bottle well, mommy and daddy can go on a date soon! 

Things I love right now:

When you grab onto the neckline of my shirt while I'm rocking you to sleep

The way you either pout your lips out like you're giving a big ol' smooch or suck that bottom lip in as you're falling asleep

The loud baby "yaahhh" sound that seems to take so much effort when you're talking

The fact that you immediately get happy when you realize the only thing on you is your diaper [or naked]

When you smile [so sweetly] as I come to get you when I hear you waking up from a nap

Thing I don't love right now:

The fact that I need to go through your drawer and take out all your Newborn clothes because they don't fit you anymore.

Even though it is bittersweet for mommy, we love seeing you grow! We are so grateful for our strong, healthy little guy. I'm cherishing each month because I know you will never be two months old again. 

We love you through and through!