Summer Fun!

Last year, there was a time when I was concerned that Hudson wasn't going to enjoy swimming or the water. He would pull his legs up when we would put him in the pool and start crying. By the end of the year, he was warming up to the idea.
This year, he is ALL about the water. He has absolutely no fear of the water! We bought Hudson a little pool to play in - he loves it! He could absolutely spend all afternoon outside in the water and in the backyard playing! Another idea that I got from my friend was to fill up a bucket with water and let him play with his water toys in the bucket. It's easy when you don't want to get the pool out and he loves just pouring water all over himself and having a good time!

They grow up so fast..

I have some exciting news!  Hudson is sleeping in a big boy bed!  YEA!!  I was so concerned about how he would handle this.  His first official night in his new bed, it took about 1 1/2 hrs. to get him tired enough and feel safe enough to fall asleep. But, he slept all night long! I wish I could say the same for me. I didn't get much sleep at all.  I kept waiting for the "boom" as he hit the floor or the cries out in terror as he woke up not knowing where he was.  

To my surprise, he has adjusted SO well!  We are only on day three, but so far, nap times and night times have been successful.  Praise the Lord!  We DO have a little one who loves his sleep, so I am sure that contributes to his success.  But, more importantly, the Lord answers prayers - even ones about big boy beds!

He seems to be a little bit more clingy to his "pa-ee's" now, though. We keep them in his bed and he has a lot more access to them!  Well, one step at a time, right?  I am just thrilled that we are getting through one of the million transitions  he will have growing up!  

The morning after his first night in the big bed


Night 2

Confession Time

Ok, I have a confession to make.  I am a stacker and a hider.  I like to have a clean house.  So, in order to have a clean house, sometimes I will stack papers and other items and put them(hide them) places.  If they don't have a place, I will quickly make one.  The consequence to this bad habit is that I don't always remember where the new places are, which, you can ask my family or friends even dating back to high school, is not uncommon... my memory is not very good. It's even worse when I am pregnant, because I think the baby gets the rest of the memory I have.  

*I am sure Colin would love to talk more with you about my problem if you are interested- he can't stand the fact that he has to look through drawers and baskets quite regularly for "hiding" items - but on a positive note, he rarely keeps important things laying out anymore!*

The reason I am telling you this is because I have SO many wonderful pictures to post.  I have been motivated to blog and start keeping up with it more for quite some time.  But, it's kind of hard to post pictures when you can't find your cord to hook the camera up to the computer!  

Thankfully, I found the cord today!!  So, I have new pictures and memories to share with you.  They will not be in chronological order, which usually drives me crazy, because I have some exciting news to share with you that just happened....  So keep checking my blog, I hope to have lots of new updates!!

If you are in confession mode, I would love to hear from you  - do any of you have organizational problems as well?

It's a....

Well, we went to the doctor yesterday and found out that we are having another baby boy!  :)  We are overjoyed!  Hudson is going to have a little playmate, and they will just love each other so much!  I had a feeling it was another boy :)  I was trying to figure out a creative picture or way to post this , but I am all creatived out I guess.  If we can get our scanner working next week, I will have to post the telling ultrasound picture!  :)  

Memorial Day Beach Trip with the Links 2008

I am going to bore you with a LOT of pictures from our awesome beach trip that we just returned from!  It was hard to pick and choose just a few!  We had a great time despite Hudson's apprehension of the beach at the beginning and the continuous "no's" that we heard throughout the week from our almost 2 son :)  (It will be very interesting when there is a sibling running around in Hudson's space every day!)

This was our first day at the beach.  Everything, the sand, the brightness, the scary ocean... brought about a dislike of the beach at first, as you can tell with the picture below!
Here is our sweet friend Madi in her oh, so cute cover up and hat - the beach was a little cool sometimes during the week.  I honestly put this picture in here because I thought Hudson was crying in the background, which would give you a better understanding of how a lot of our time on the beach went, but he may have been tasting the sand...
Daddy and Hudson - at this point Hudson was happiest being held.  Especially on Daddy's "ba..".  
Hudson and Colin digging a city.  Hudson finally started helping :)  Of course, Colin was ONLY doing this for Hudson's benefit.  
(At the beginning of the week) Where Hudson would rather be playing - on the neat sheet away from sand and water!
Adult Night!!!  Whoo Hoo!  Matt's sweet parents stayed with the kids so we could go out together.  Nothing's better than good seafood at the beach with great friends.  
Taking a break...

A couple of days later.... Hudson's starting to get used to the beach - he's figuring  out the fun of never ending sand! 
Awww...  just for the record - Colin was so wonderful - letting me read on the beach while he went back up for Hudson's nap!  He's the best!
Entertainment for the kids when the guys were in charge.... Guitar Hero. (Notice Hudson on the floor)

A rainy morning - we were a little tired from all the previous days at the beach (and the 6:15 mornings!  Why couldn't the kids recognize that you sleep IN on vacation?)
Dueling guitars
Our other obsession during the week besides the beach - games, and more specifically, Cities and Knights of Catan - a rather LONG game.  The winners for the week (in order):  Matt, Colin, Pat  - what happened with the girls?
Friends playing together - we like the beach now!

My FAVORITE picture - they weren't saying no to one another :)  and I can't wait to show them this picture when we are going to the beach together in about 15 years! haha
Not scared of the water anymore...  yea!  The key:  just putting him in the water even though he didn't want to!
Our wonderful friends, the Links - we really enjoyed catching up with them!  
The dads and their kiddos - of course we couldn't get a picture of them both (the kids) looking at the camera!
A moment of laughter...  Colin must have been doing something pretty silly.

The city Hudson built all by himself.
It's not the best picture of me and Jenn, but I love the little hands reaching up from the bottom of the pic - classic.  

Clanton Photo Shoot:





Belly shot:

Last day at the beach - cool coral!

whoops - this one should be up with the other photo shoot pictures!

one more belly shot (17 weeks):
Hudson is IN the water - He LOVED it!  Too bad we waited until the end of the week to get him in the water!  He was splashing and kicking and putting his face in the water - I was so excited for him!  Here he is waving with Colin.

Cool water hole
Sweet Madi - she's so precious!
The beach bums minus Matt's parents
And last but not least:  the result of NOT reapplying sunscreen.   Learn from Colin's mistake.  



So, by the end of the week, we were all happy with the beach (except for Colin's sunburn) and it was such a wonderful time.  We felt so blessed to be able to go and enjoy the beach with our great friends.  

Random Clanton Photos :)

Here are some random pictures of our family from the recent weeks.  I am the luckiest girl - God has TRULY blessed me with my wonderful family!    

Mother's Day 2008

Dancing with Olivia while waiting for a table on Mother's Day - by the way, we are NOT going to a restaurant next year for Mothers Day unless we have reservations!! 

Our fire alarm battery was dying and beeping - we need a ladder instead of a trash can, don't we!?

                   A cold day in May - a picture of my favorite boys :)  Aren't they all the cutest??

     Trying to get a good b&w of Hudson

I made homemade pizza dough..... but I forgot I was cooking it.  It's pregnancy brain.  We should have saved that pizza dough to take to the beach as a frisbee, it was hard as a brick! :)

Doesn't he look like a little construction worker?

         

Hudson teaches me to remember to smell the flowers sometimes.  I need those lessons!

Laying on Mommy watching Barney before bedtime - see the belly starting to show?(on me, not him :) )

Giving me my Mother's Day card before church - There's nothing as precious as motherhood.  


My first piece of artwork done by Hudson - the nursery worker said they couldn't get both hands - he didn't really like it the first time :)  It's still irreplaceable to me!

We started a bad habit - while cleaning the yard, we would let Hudson play in the back seat of the car ( we would keep a close eye on him).  Looks like we started a bad habit....

                                                  Playing in the rain one sprinkly day :)