Hudson at 8 Months

First of all, we are alive! We are well and everything is OK. =) Our absence in the blog, facebook, technology world is something new and we have been enjoying the break! My resolution for the New Year was to deactivate Facebook. Justin followed suit and we have been "free" for 19 days! Don't miss it a bit. Reading a lot more, playing games after the kids go to bed, watching movies & just enjoying the down time. Another New Year's goal was to ditch the satellite TV. Being more purposeful in our TV watching has been a welcome change too. Not flipping the channel to another random re-run on HGTV or Food Network has been nice. We've borrowed some DVD's from the church library and are watching a DVD series with Mom and Dad about once a week. The blog on the other hand is still alive! We just haven't really done anything note-worthy these last two weeks, ha! We are back in the swing of things....work, school - working on the letter J, MOPS, a few play dates, wrapping up end of the year taxes for work, and trying out some new recipes. =) I pulled out the camera after not using it since the New Year and snapped a few candids of the kids playing yesterday. They are getting so big. Lillianne and Hudson are both changing so quickly. Seeing them - watching them - it just makes my heart smile.

This brings me this blogs topic - HUDSON IS 8 MONTHS OLD! Say, what?? Yes, it's true. Our little baby doll is growing up!! This month....

* Hudson is sitting like a pro! He is so strong and stable and will contently play with this little basket of toys for quite some time. He especially likes the noise makers =) and anything that can fit in the mouth!

* Not crawling, but rolling everywhere!!

* Cut two more bottom teeth (totaling 4 out) with ALL four top teeth ready to pop through! They look SO painful and puffy. Poor little man. I just know they have to hurt so badly!

* Wearing size 6 month and 9 month clothes. Size 3 diapers.

* Eating solids 3 times a day. 1 fruit for breakfast, 1 veggie for lunch with fruit & veggie for dinner. Nursing a ton (one long stretch in the morning - 4 to 4.5 hours), then every 3 hours from lunch on...Still no bottle. Still no formula. Just me. All.The.Time.

* Sleeping through the night - Ugh!! Where did my good little sleeper go?? There are occasional days of hope but most nights he wakes up for a wayyyyy to early snack, then sleep in until after 8:00! Unfair! We've tried it all. Crying it out does not work for him. It worked for Lillianne. She was "trained" in a matter of days. This little mister is a different story! He would cry all night long if we let him. Doesn't get the hint. Just wants momma. I realized it was a losing battle. He will eventually sleep through the night - one day. Right now, I crawl out of bed - feed the baby for 5 minutes and we're all sleeping peacefully for the rest of the night. Its OK for now, for now.

* Loves being sung to, rocked, cuddled, played with and tended to. He is very interested in people and gives the best stare-downs I've seen. He is "talking" all the time - he's mastered both "ma ma" and "da da" sounds. He loves his naps and happily goes down for a long (2 hour) morning and long (2 hour) afternoon nap.  He is easy, easy, easy to please and happy to go with the flow. He really is a very content baby and I'm so thankful for him!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Hudson! We love you so very much!!