Blessings

We have really been enjoying our baby girl. I keep waiting to get sick of doing the baby stuff, day in and day out, but that day still hasn't come. Just when I'm about fed up for the day and tired out, Bri and Hudson will do something so adorable that I can't stay frustrated too long. I think Heavenly Father designed children with that sort of charm so we keep em' around instead of dropping them off at the Goodwill. 

Wow, how the months continue to fly by... Bri turned 3 months old on November 29th and seems to get cuter by the minute. We were driving home from D.C. after spending Thanksgiving with family and both Hudson and Brielle were amazing to sit for 12 hours in a confined carseat and survive the long journey. It was only the last hour that she even started to get upset and that made two of us by that point! Hudson was a champ to eat crackers, look through books, color, sleep and play with Mom's phone. It was nice to get home, get out of that squished car and have some space again.

Before church, Hudson was busy trying to be a big boy by getting his shoes on all by himself... He thought his Dad's nice Sunday shoes would be perfect for his baby sister's blessing day.

On December 1st, Brielle was blessed by her Daddy in our BG2 ward out here in Chicago. Although we weren't able to have our family in attendance, our amazing friends, the Tranter's, drove an hour to come support us and be our family. Shout out for our best friends the Tranters!!!!:) We love you guys!

Her pretty dress was a gift from Grandma Lisa. She was all pufffs and fabric and seemed to nearly be lost in her dress! My friends little girl saw Brielle come into the Sacrament room and her eyes seemed to fill with sparkles as she eyed Bri's dress and said, "Wow Mommy, I want a princess dress like that..." the same little girl is also into drawing high heels on stick figures=)

A picture from D.C. during Thanksgiving. Turns out we brought the chill from Chicago with us....BRRRRRRR it was cold! We stayed with Auntie Ash in her basement and got to enjoy some really fun times by her fireplace:) Bri was great to sleep in a storage bin (minus the newspaper)---I'm not proud to say it, but it worked out really great since she is used to sleeping in a bassinet at home. This also means we can possibly have an excuse (other than her crazy parents) if Bri ends up a little nutty as an adult.
Hudson's favorite part of the trip was getting a spaceship at the Air and Space Smithsonian. He brought that thing with him everywhere. While at Ash's, Hudson slept on the couch and I woke up many times to find him standing asleep with his feet on the ground and head propped up on the couch. I would have taken a picture if I wasn't rolling on the ground in laughter. That kid can sleep anywhere~ love my boy;)

We are happy to report that it is only a matter of days now before we head back to Utah and escape the cold Chicago winter that is quickly approaching. We have had some very sweet times with Tom's schedule being a little lighter the past few months since Bri's birth, but things will soon get busy as he begins to travel starting in January 2014. It's hard to believe we will be without Dad for the first several months of the year. Nevertheless, we are going to let the St. George sunshine do what it does best and cheer our sad hearts as we miss him every minute!

To Become the Favorite

So far, SOOO good! Brielle is nearly three months old and it feels as if she has been apart of our family for a lifetime. Funny how someone that doesn't talk, walk or eat anything but milk can make their way right into the very dearest parts of your heart. You see what I mean right? That smile is precious.

Brielle has awoken from newborn-dom! She is so alert and no longer enjoys lounging on her back staring at a mindless ceiling. She has made it clear that she prefers to see up and out just like the big kids. She totally gets it.

Uncle Spencer has officially made it into the hearts of these two chillens. Hudson doesn't let just anyone in. Not only did he pose for this picture nestled in Spencer's arm, but he also initiated a hand hold, sitting by him and ultimately giving him a hug goodbye. Wow. Spence has had to spend thousands of dollars to come out multiple times (I believe we counted 5 times in the last 2 years), in which the last two times he was getting his hip injected by a local physiatrist. Was it worth it Spence??? Heck YES!

Scariest Pirate of ALL

Here's a full body shot of our cute little Brielle:) Getting bigger by the minute, she is fitting into some 3 month clothes. I guess that means she's growing quickly even though she is still our petite baby girl. 

As of today, the 29th of October, Brielle is 2 months old. WOW! Time seems to go faster with each passing day. Brielle has brought so much joy to our family since day one. We have loved her happy nature and the love that she exudes in her smiles and looks. She is such a happy girl! Last night she gave Mom 7 hours of sleep. LOVE YOU for showing compassion on your exhausted Mother! Happy 2 month anniversary little missy!!!

Last Saturday, we had a ward Halloween party and Hudson took the "Overall Best Halloween Costume" award. Don't know how that happened...I mean... he is super cute and everything, but there was a lot of great costumes! We take pride in knowing our child is getting real quality awards in life. He managed to pull off the dangerous pirate act once we gave him a sword and showed him how it's done in the pirate movies to get him pumped. Bri looks terrified and Hudson looks like he's in the zone before game time.

It worked! He started running around the house in his pirate getup and got so carried away that he just had to brake his sword right in two pieces and further frighten little ladybug...

Arrrrgggh! Just so you know, Crayola Markers stain skin...even after some VERY vigorous scrubbing. Good thing Hudson pulled off the mustache and goatee look at church the next day. We are such good parents.

How Do You Sleep Like That?!

The other day, I was feeding Brielle in the other room and Hudson was eating a snack at the table. This activity is normally a very loud one, as you can imagine. After a little while, it went silent in the kitchen and that either means one of two things, 1) Hudson is up to trouble or 2) Hudson has fallen dead asleep in the most peculiar position. How this is possible to be sooo asleep and so bent to one side I DO NO KNOW. Love this little guy:)

Hudson has started to use the baby swing as his personal man chair for drinking milk, reading books or just to hang out. He will grab a book and push the button that plays music before he gets in and kicks up his legs in total relaxation. 

Hudson and Brielle enjoying some quality tummy time together. Hudson is obviously cheating. He has figured out how to beat the system.

Brielle is getting so big so fast. We have been loving every minute with her. We don't by any means claim to know what we're doing in the slightest, but our experience with baby #2 has been so much easier. Bri is smiling (melts our hearts), has outgrown most of her newborn clothes and will sometimes give Mom a pretty decent stretch at night between feedings. HOORAY! She is Mom's baby doll that is a true sport to put up with all of the bows and frilly dresses she has no say about wearing.

Don't worry we won't be offering anybody one of our apples! Hudson has enjoyed his growing independence (and let's be honest...Mom's distracted eye). We will find what seems to be little mouse nibbles all over our apples because he will take one out and nibble on it for a bit and then once he's finished he puts it back in the fridge. The problem is he never keeps with just one apple. He moves on to the next one the next time he's interested in an apple---hence, all our VERY appetizing apples in the fridge. NO THANKS, I'll pass on the apple.

The cute little misses. She is slowly accumulating rolls and creases and I love her all the more. Thomas still doesn't understand my obsession with chubby babies. Gosh, she is so much fun!

Family of Four

This is our adorable Brielle during her first week. It's hard to believe that she is now one month old and that September is gone. This month has been spent in complete bliss---even with all the adjusting and sleepless nights. My how time flies with a newborn! Brielle has brought us so much happiness!!! We have loved having her a part of our family. It's crazy how we are becoming more and more attached to this little 9 lb person with every passing day.

Aunt Ash came into town to help after Grandma Lisa left. She was so great to be Hudson's playmate, Sydney's emotional support and to take care of our family. She too had the glamorous stay here on our blowup mattress:) Love you Ash! 

Little stinkbug taking a nice snooze. Such precious moments with our sweet new baby girl and her Daddy. 

Mom about had a heart attack as Hudson learns to be a big brother and hold baby sister. We are working on the whole neck support thing... Hudson has been so sweet to Brielle. He is helpful to bring her a binkie or her blankie when she cries and he talks so cute to her. His independent nature has paid off as he has been such a champ instead of jealous about baby sister.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DADDY September 26th! Here we are enjoying a birthday breakfast in Thomas' honor. Hudson is proud to be Dad's best buddy and help make Dad's day a total par-tay.

Such a happy kid! Of late, Hudson's imagination has gone wild. It is fun to see him become so creative with his toys. He is so cute to watch as he crashes everything into everything---sound effects and all. 

Introducing... BRIELLE!

Brielle Wright joined our family on August 29, 2013 at 1:55 pm weighing 7 lbs 2 oz and 20.5 inches long. WELCOME TO OUR CRAZY FAMILY! We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this little peanut. So far, we have adored every minute with her and we are SOOO happy she is finally here safe and sound. 

To briefly debrief on the birth-day...Thomas and I went in for the induction Thursday morning at 7:30 am where Dr. Hartman broke my water at 9 am and the nurse, Nicole, put me on a small amount of pitocin to make sure my body would start the labor process. Apparently my body was ready to do its thing because it took only a minimal dose to get things rolling. Because of our lengthy experience with Hudson, we were planning to be in that hospital labor room for the whole day---even on through the night. GRATEFULLY that was not the case with this labor and delivery! After my water was broken and my body was having regular contractions every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes the intensity began to increase in strength. I was warned beforehand that the contractions would be much more intense/feel different (or stay peaked instead of a gradual rise and fall) with the pitocin and this helped me mentally prepare a little bit better for what was ahead of me. We decided we wanted a better after birth experience with this delivery so I really wanted to go without the epidural. Just when I was about ready to check out entirely, emotions were running high and I told Tom to ask the nurse for an epidural, the doctor came in and told me that we were ready to push and get her here. YEAH!!! What relief to know that we were so close to meeting our little girl.

To cut to the chase... Brielle was born 5 hours and three pushes later after Thomas helped me survive the intense back labor by applying heat pad and counter-pressure during each contraction. It was a team effort for sure. Complete bliss when we were able to experience the arrival of our sweet baby girl---FINALLY holding her in our arms after waiting nearly two weeks past her due date. Thomas even got to cut the cord this time around! His shirt, pants and face were proof of it:)

Here's our little gal day 1 1/2. The cutest dimples in those ever so kissable cheeks. 

Leaving the hospital Saturday morning in her plush pink suit.

Our little sunning mammal. Brielle loves basking in the sunshine that pours through our bedroom window. She's her Mama's girl.

In celebration of MY labor day, we went to the beach and enjoyed a little picnic with my Mom on the legit Labor Day. Yes, it was all apart of my recovery. My Mom was so great to come out and help for a week and a half cooking meals, cleaning, manning Hudson and being amazing emotional support. She and Hudson did some major bonding as Grandma took my place as Hudson's best bud and partner in crime. She definitely earned her room and board in our front room on a luxurious blowup mattress. YOU'RE THE BEST OF TROOPERS MOM!!!

Our peach fuzz covered baby girl. She is sooo much fun with all the cute sounds, looks and miniature features. I feel like I'm playing with my favorite doll all day...except for the nursing side effects, black circles around my eyes and weight gain. I can't remember that being apart of my 4 year old experience.

Brielle's first doctor's appointment and back to her birth weight. Good job girly. I vowed I wouldn't put a satellite dish on my child, but here we are. I guess I forgot how small babies are when they are first born. She'll eventually grow into all the cute bows and headbands we've got for her:)

To Wait Is To Waste

Sydney's due date came and went as of last Friday...we are still awaiting this baby girl! SO! We decided to go camping in Wisconsin with our friends, Jess and Brian Francom. No sense in wasting a great summer weekend around the house:)

Hudson refused to go to sleep until after midnight... That night we also successfully cooked some delicious tinfoil dinners and managed to slam two bags of candy. Party animals? The worst kind.

Nothing like being a kid that absolutely loves trucks and is completely surrounded by rocks, dirt and bugs to load up into his dump truck and run over with his bulldozer. Now we're campin'!

Proof that we went camping on my due date! It was fantastic to breathe some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors. The only problem was that wailing baby in the middle of the night that went on for nearly an hour like a forlorn coyote, all the while, sending me into contractions. Talk about a nightmare as I frantically tried to set a game plan for if things continued down the path they were going. YET---we survived the night! 

Morning came and we went to the lake where we went around the lake on a kayak with Jess and Brian. Hudson was LOVING the whole experience and nearly launched himself out of the boat multiple times. It was also really fun to watch a ski team that was doing their little acrobatics and formations on the lake while we were there. It made me feel like we were in an old movie:) Proof that I need to get out more...

Hudson is crazy about boats and every time we go down to the beach by our house he is the first to spot the motorboats and sailboats that pass by. Actually going around in a little boat of his own made his wildest dreams come true. 

We forgot to bring a swim diaper with us so by the end of our swim around, we had a 10 pound increase in Hudson's body weight. That thing was nasty and soaked as all get out! If not already proven before, we are officially a white trash family.

Oh, What Do You Do In the Summertime?

"Life is good." That company logo tells the truth. Although summer has been rainy, and somewhat chilly here in Chicago, we have managed to enjoy every minute of sun we are allotted. To recount a few important milestones: Hudson continues to prove to be the energetic, enthusiastic, independent two-year-old that we love so much, Tom finished boards part #1!!! YEAH! And we are eager to meet our new little girl in the next few days!!! To stray somewhat from the adored primary song...another few things we have been doing this summer include:

We still go to church...even though we live in Illinois:)

We have delightful naps---some of us more than others.

Mommy makes crib bed skirts (and brakes her sewing machine working on a baby quilt...awesome.) while we wait for the arrival of baby sister---any day now!

We go to Six Flags with our dear Indiana friends, the Navarros...whom we really miss!

We swim in the pool, to keep ourselves cool...*Note: Hudson ate the pavement the day before so he looks like he got sucked by a vampire on his forehead. Love gravity.

We sport our super HOT pink and purple jeep, just like real men do:)

And even spend countless hours at the playground with his best buddies, Carter and Owen.