Hudson Turns One

Our little guy, about a year ago...
Just starting to smile...
Naptime with brother...Learning to drink coffee...(just kidding, I forgot a bottle on our train adventure)

Happy first Christmas baby...
Sitting up...

Fun at Golden Gardens in March...Future athlete?

Playing, playing, playing...Mother's Day at the beach...

At the Strawberry Festival last month...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUDSON!!! My sweet huddlebug turned ONE on June 29. What a precious, precious boy he is. There is so much to love about this guy. First of all, he is just the cutest thing there ever was. He has huge, big blue eyes, the chubbiest of cheeks, and a whole mess of thick, wavy hair. It started out jet black, and now it is light brown, almost blonde. His smile just melts your heart. He also is a sweet guy. He's happy and curious, content, and cuddly. His first 5 months or so were really, really challenging, but he has more than made up for it with his sweet disposition. He is fully walking now, with the funniest bow legs, like a little penguin. He is completely fascinated with his big brother and loves our animals. He's pointing at things a lot these days and talking the funniest nonsense. I love his babbles. I love our early mornings together, just him and I. What a beautiful blessing he is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLING.

A boy and his trains

Anyone who knows Ethan knows that he loves trains. He can tell you the difference between a diesel engine and a steam engine and between a flat car and tank car (and everything in between). A few days ago we went to "A Day Out with Thomas" at the Snoqualmie Railway Museum and had a great time. We got to ride on a Thomas train, get Thomas tattoos, play in a bouncy house, play with Thomas trains, eat ice cream, etc. Since I haven't posted in a long time, here are some other Ethan train pics over the past 9 months.

At Halloween, we made him a Thomas the Train costume. It was wearable and made out of cardboard. He just loved it, although it was a bit difficult to walk in. Now it is hanging up in his room, looking down over his train table.
Trick or treat! Ethan wearing his costume.Around Christmas time, we took the boys on a Santa Train ride up in Acme. They had an old steam engine (see below) that we toured and we went on a train ride to a beautiful waterfall. Santa was on the train and we all sang Christmas carols.Eric, Ethan, and Hudson on the Thomas train. Have you noticed the conductor cap that Ethan wears so often?The cutest picture ever of the boys in front of Thomas. It will be interesting to see whether Hudson follows in his brothers footsteps.Oh boy, what a day. Ethan fell asleep in the car readily.....with his new Thomas blanket on of course!

The Monkey and Alligator Song

Bedtime

This just happened a few minutes ago and I have to write it down before I forget. I was reading Ethan his bedtime stories.
Ethan: "We all live in a yellow subawee, yellow subawee, yellow subawee.......Mama? Are you happy?"
Me: "Of course I'm happy. I'm always happy when I'm with you. That's so nice of you to ask me - thank you. You are such a sweet boy."
Ethan: "You're a sweet girl. I love you so much, forever and ever, and always."

Later...
Me: "Okay, I'm going to go now. I love you."
Ethan: "Are you sure you can't sleep with me? Thomas and the boxcar will cuddle you. We can play best friends."


Oh baby, my cup runneth over.

Stoney Ridge Farm 2009

Last weekend we went out to StoneyRidge Farm. The original plan was to go for Ethan's birthday with the Butts' clan, but it was downpouring so we went last weekend instead. We always have such a fun time enjoying the best time of the year. Ethan and his apple.

Checking out the scarecrow.

Picking out the perfect apple.

Papa and Ethan on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch.

Precious baby Hudson.

Hudson in the leaves.

Hudson at three months

"Smiley Cyrus" as Eric calls him.

Love him!

So contemplative....

Ethan's first day of preschool. He loves his Elmo "pumpack."

"Finding What Matters Most To You"

This little reflection piece was in The Bellingham Herald last weekend.

"Finding what matters most to you"

What really matters most to you? Your relationships with family, friends, and children? Helping others? Passions? Faith? Security? Health? At the end of each year, don't you want to look back and see that you made a difference? That you matter? Today is the start of a new year for your life. Start it off by making a difference in you, in your life, and in the lives of those you love. This is your opportunity. Time spent on What Matters Most is never wasted time.

Take Action Today.
1. Stop and think...then make a list of What Matters Most to you.
2. Create a list of how you currently spend your time each week.
3. Organize your list of weekly activities and identify activities that are required and those that are optional or that waste time.
4. Take steps to rearrange your schedule or reduce the optional activities so that you can spend more time doing What Matters Most.
5. Don't waste time.