Mama's Day, Her Way

I can't believe how much I love Mother's Day. It has become one of my favorite holidays. Thomas is super sweet, appreciative and helpful:) (not that you aren't always just so Tom...), Hudson just keeps getting cuter, and we couldn't be more excited about our little girl coming in just a few short months. Now that I'm entering my last trimester, I am feeling like it's game time whether or no we decide to put on our gear, pads and helmets---put us in coach!

Thomas is in the final week of his second year at Rosalind Franklin University Medical School and we are pumped to say ADIOS to another year! Not to mention, this has been an absolute beastly year...Thomas has been swamped with every minute consumed by school obligations and we have missed him at home more than we can say. Once he takes boards in July, we will feel a huge weight lifted and hopefully get to see more of his cute face. Way to go Tom! One step closer.

Speaking of cute faces...Hudson has become a camera "ham". He was enjoying a smoothie one minute and then he is cheesing it for the camera the next. I love that I don't get the deer-in-the-headlights look from him anymore when he sees the camera.

This is anything but attractive, but look how proud he is of himself. Exploring his little-boy body. We are quickly noticing that Hudson loves to tease. He does things to make us laugh and then adds it to his repertoire of jokes to cycle through. Did anyone say, "almost two"???

As I used to say, while sticking my head out the car window as a little girl, "HI TO ALL MY FRIENDS!" This is our presently active, happy, social little boy. He has made quite a few comrades at the playground and has initiated himself as one of the big kids. It is really quite comical to watch as a group of 11 year old boys flock around him. The change in weather has given him an extra boost of energy (I frankly didn't think I could imagine any more energy) and he lives to run, jump and play outside. We are sleeping a little more soundly these days.

April Showers

Another month gone by and a few new things to report. We began our month with some exciting news on April 1st...

Hudson wanted to be the one to announce it...
I going to be a big brother this year!!!

Our little Sleeping Beauty---this is the only way we could get Hudson within an arms reach of the ultrasound picture without him destroying it.
WE'RE HAVING A BABY GIRL IN AUGUST!!!

Our next big news is that we haven't been carried away in the floods of "April showers". Chicago has had some major flooding with the past 3 weeks of solid rain and thunderstorms...it has been kind of drab, but we are looking forward to those May flowers that supposedly come after the April showers:) Still wearing coats, but we have been determined to get out and play soccer in the yard (when we don't mind getting a little wet), hit the playground (while it's all ours before it warms up), or go hunting for worms and bugs around the neighborhood.

As you can see, this guy is the Spirit of Adventure. He relishes in being outdoors and bangs on the door to be let free when we are cooped up inside. Let's be honest--- if I could imagine Thomas as a little boy with all his energy and excitement, Hudson would be an exact replica. He loves running around, throwing stuff, kicking stuff, making sound effects, and being a little boy through and through. I absolutely love watching his excitement for everything, including the 5 million squirrels that live in the trees around our house.

One day, when it wasn't a complete downpour, we managed to get out while the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day and it felt so good to be down at the beach playground again. It got us all excited for summer as we looked around at the boats, the dock, the waves and sand with sunshine on our faces.

This is Hudson upon hearing an airplane in the sky. His face lights up every time! It has been fun to live where trains are everywhere. We get to hear/see and experience trains all the time and Hudson never tires of them. It is a HUGE deal EVERY time he hears/sees one:) The same goes for firetrucks, diesels, school buses and heavy machinery. It's all just too exciting for words.

Also during this month, we got to enjoy "trying out a sibling" for a week with another little boy in our ward. This is after shower time before putting the two of them to bed. Mason's family went out of town and we got to watch him and try and help Hudson adjust to the idea of another "baby" in the house. We need all the practice we can get at this point! Little baby girl will be here before you know it and Hudson will be in for a treat:)

Jokes On Us

Before leaving for DC, I made a cake for a friend's birthday. I love to make butter-cream cakes, but this one was my first time working with fondant so I wasn't sure what would happen. And whether or not it was a flop, I had to document the final product. I think it turned out looking not half shabby!

My friend Abby and I decided to be daring and head out to DC for Spring break to see our families since her husband is currently on medical rotations and Thomas is presently swamped with school. We woke up early, at 3:30 am Sunday morning, to put the 4 kids in the car and make the long drive in a minivan. What we didn't expect on our long journey was a surprise stop in Sturgis Michigan... Just 7 miles outside of this little podunk town we decided we needed a little more adventure and the tire blew. What? Yes. We had to flag down a patrol car, call a tow truck and spend 4 hours in a nasty Wal-mart while the tires were being replaced. Needless to say, it was a rough way to spend a day with 4 children and two very tired Mom's. 

We got to enjoy Subway for both breakfast and lunch and then we happened upon this delightful game room. My personal favorite was the boys that came in with green hair, camo jackets, and mullets:) We felt very white trash as our kids terrorized the store. The great part is we fit right in with all the riff raff. 

Once back in the van and on the road, the kids all crashed. It was a peaceful and much needed sight after nearly pulling our hair out in Wal-mart. Peace out Sturgis and adios Wal-mart. We carried on our merry way determined to make it into DC---even though we arrived close to midnight. IT WAS AN ULTRA LONG DAY!

While in DC, we just had to stop at the zoo. Hudson was loving life as he ran around feeling completely apart of the wild. He would follow the animals back and forth right up against the glass divide and try to mimic their movements. I got a kick out of him:) 

We got to spend time with Ashley and Spencer, Hudson's devoted aunt and uncle and my dear sister and bro. We ate at some awesome restaurants and got to push Hudson to his limit.

Hudson is showing Spence how he has mastered the operations of my phone. He can get around it like it aint no thang. It is pretty remarkable how children are growing up knowing how to "swipe", "tap" and run apps and electronics with such ease. 

We got to check out where Spence works and see some of his Homeland Security hood. 

At Tios Mexican restaurant, Hudson owned the chips and salsa. He was easy breezy while he was so preoccupied.

At Nationals Park DC watching a Yankees/Nats game.

I always love being able to capture these kind of moments. I'm just not always quick to remember to grab the camera and snap a pic. But isn't this precious?

Our last night out with Ash and Spence before we took off bright and early for another long ride home the following day. Fortunately, we were able to not have any mishaps along the way! 30 DVDs later, and with the children going totally crazy 500 miles beforehand, we arrived at Abby's, threw our stuff in our car to make the last little stretch to our home... But our car wouldn't start. What? Again? Seriously? Another road block. It made us feel better that we could have a dramatic beginning and dramatic closing to our Spring break story. Thanks for the good memories and great laughs Abby, chillens, Ash and Spence. It is nice to be home and back with Thomas.

What Makes Life Meaningful

Of late, we have been watching the thermometer as it continues to prove that winter is not over and done with. We couldn't be wishing for Spring with more intensity!  Nevertheless, we have been able to find meaningful moments during the days when we are cooped up and trapped in our little cave.
These such moments primarily premiere Hudson:) Hudson has learned how to be a great chef in the kitchen, Mommy's ever-faithful assistant, train conductor, Lego-gamer, ant and Box Elder bug-smasher, and anything Mater. We love all the joy that his little spirit brings to our family!

Our Vanna White, showcasing his newly remodeled toddler bed. We have been wondering if it was such a good idea...Hudson thinks it has been a fantastic idea. There just hasn't been a nap since he can come and go from his toy cubbies to his bed, back and forth, back and forth---until I look at the clock and Hudson has been busy workin' away in his little man cave for the duration of his supposed "nap-time". This stops eventually right? He may not need his nap-time, but Mommy sure needs it!

When we don't see much of Hudson, we will find him jumping on his bed or playing with cars or trains IN his bed. He has loved having the space be claimed as HIS. To put it simply, he is a teenager before his time. He loves to jabber and has started to take off with his vocabulary. I love how we can ask him a question and he immediately will respond in his own adorable way. He is filled with happiness, adventure and energy. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree---DAD!

The last night before taking off the front railing to his crib. He is officially a little boy now and I'm in denial that my baby is not such a baby anymore. Where time goes is only a thought now of sweet memories of what seem to have been so long ago... Can you tell I'm still kind of in denial?

I just love this cute face! The last couple months he has loved taking over Mommy's phone. I will get ready to take a picture and he will run over in excitement thinking I am ready to let him play his games. And he gets frustrated when I am using it because he feels it is his own. He runs it like a pro and sometimes I don't know how he has managed to so quickly change all my settings and run the battery down to nothing. I guess that is the next generation of tablets and little swiping fingers.

This is one of those sweetest moments---when you REALLY love your child. He isn't getting into the fridge or climbing the counter tops carrying all the sharp knives. He hasn't just found the scissors or hidden chocolate which is now smeared across his face and the white couches. He is fast asleep with one of the sweetest looks that never ceases to melt my heart. 

Reading to Hudson has been another one of these moments. It can be 10 degrees and snowing outside, and we're missing Daddy who is faithfully at school studying, tutoring, or taking another test, but with Hudson in my lap, his blankie and a book in his lap we are two happy campers. I love reading those favorite books over and over again and watching his face light up when we get to snuggle on the couch as we flip those worn out pages.  

Hustle Bustle

     February has sure flown by for us. We began our month watching a family of four from our ward out here in Chicago. That week we celebrated my 40th-ish birthday and I got to flash forward to what life would be like with 5 and 1/2 children. Tom was a doll and got me roses and a pizza and took the evening off from his hectic school life to be my sweet hubby. We sat around a table with our 5 and 1/2 children and they sang out their lungs each time we broke into the birthday song. I think Tom still had them beat on the loudness factor. He is sure great and making the room feel like it's packed with 50 vivacious people who are all happily singing to you:) To make the day even more special, my dear Mother sent a cute birthday package that I got to admire the week beforehand and work very hard not to open prematurely. Another cute birthday surprise was from the parents of the family we were watching... they sent me a bouquet of sugar cookies that were absolutely adorable (shown above). Almost too cute to eat. But heck yes we ate them!

     The following week Hudson and I made some trips out of the house to prepare for LOVE day and to just get out. We ran errands, went to the library, the play area at the mall, played out in the snow and hung out in the house eating popcorn and watching Disney movies as we simutaneously watched the thermometer drop... UGh. Hudson was a big help as we made heart sugar cookies and ate WAY too much candy:) This is Hudson's fabulous French look/pose while in action. A bourree would complete the bedazzlement.

     For Valentines Grandma and Grandpa Montague sent us some cute Valentine cards and we took that money and went to get Hudson some beefy trucks. He is currently all about trucks, trains and anything with an engine and the baby toys just weren't doing it for him anymore. SO Sydney being the thrift shopper she is, found some SAWWWEEET trucks for under $5. We haven't seen much of Hudson since.

     After a quick breather week, we then packed our suitcase AGAIN and headed back to the Walker home where we would again watch that cute family of 4. Those poor children had us crazies for two weeks out of this month!!! I loved having 3 cute girls to paint nails, play dolls, and do fun things with their hair and Hudson loved having a big brother to play Lego's with.
     All in all, I am happy I don't currently have 5 and 1/2 children. I keep being told it's different when they're you're own...I'm sure it is! And gratefully we are going to take it one at a time:)

Happy Holidays, Good Memories

This Christmas season has been such a joy and very eventful! We began our journey by plane from Chicago (with lots of prayers that Hudson would act on his best behavior instead of terrorizing the plane and everybody on it!!!), with a layover in Denver and then reaching our final destination in Salt Lake City. Fortunately, Hudson was a gem on the plane and watched Bambi in my lap and then passed out??? What? After all the games, activities, books, snacks and coloring books I packed to keep him entertained... I couldn't have been more relieved. Such a blessing to have a sleeping baby instead of a screaming hooligan! Turns out the Sunday previous to our flight, Hudson picked up a bug on his first day of Nursery...Gotta love that petri-dish off fun:) His sedated nature was the onset of a nasty croup. Sad.

Lisa and Taylor were so kind to pick us up from the airport and house us for the week we were up north where we enjoyed spending our time with them, family Christmas parties, friends, playing in a fresh snow storm with Taylor, Lisa and Rockwell, seeing the lights at Temple Square and City Creek with James, Jami, Lincoln and Winston, and having get-togethers as often as people were able. Hudson getting croup wasn't the best part of our stay---I guess when you pray for months beforehand that the airplane experience will not be a total disaster, you might be praying for a sick child that is sedated...but just doesn't feel so hot:( No fun.

After staying in Draper for a little over a week, we ventured south to St. George to spend time with the Montague side of the family. Hudson got this sweet ride from Grandma and Grandpa Montague and hasn't quit running it around the house since:)

We had a gingerbread house contest, which turned into a pretty intense competition involving Ash and Sydney's Christmas Zoo (including animals constructed from gum drops), Thomas' community home...Dad and Spencer's Nation's Capitol, Aaron's cathedral and Geoff and Em's Recreation Hut:)

After Christmas morning we got to talk with Uncle/Elder Stephen, who is currently in Brazil on a mission. It was so fantastic to Skype with him and see how great he is doing! Afterward, to brighten our spirits and soften our missing of Steve, we ate our tradish Greek breakfast and Hudson was crazy about the hashbrowns. Potatoes help almost anything!

It was a fight to keep Hudson away from the Christmas ornaments!

The Lights at Temple Square! It was beautiful (as always)!

Grandpa and Hudson in the CROCS Club. Hudson got some micrscopic black Crocs for Christmas so Grandpa and Hudson posed for a little picture, on the new favorite Buzz Lightyear car of course:)

The day after we arrived in Draper, and Thomas flew in after finishing his last test, we got to enjoy several inches of fresh snow!!! It was so much fun! We threw Rockwell and Hudson behind the fourwheeler and these two just bounced in the back like two little black beans. Taylor and Thomas built a massive snow fort in the backyard and felt like kids again.

Here we are taking a stick to the tree branches and watching all the snow come crashing down.

Squished... While down in St. George, we were able to get out and enjoy a bike ride in the pleasant weather with Ezra (one of Hudson's newest cousins). Isn't he a cutie?!:)

Playing with his new trucks.

Uncle Spencer and the two Montague cousins. Thanks Geoff and Emily for having Ezra:)---now Hudson has a cousin to play with when we go down to St. George!