13 Random Thoughts
1. I really want to hear something on our house.
2. All the things I want to get for our new house
3. Hudson is going to need a hair cut and 1st birthday pictures next month
4. Happy Town is a really weird show
5. I want to go on vacation
6. I need to plan next weeks menu
7. What day should I go grocery shopping?
8. Wonder when they're going to have me go back to work
9. I can't wait for my knee/foot to be better so I can exercise, I really want to loose this weight
10. It's amazing how many doctor's appointments a family of 5 can have
11. I wouldn't mind more rain but I'm really liking this sunshine
12. I would love being a stay at home mom
13. I need a new book to read
Funny things Caleb has said about fishing.
About 7 years old at the ocean on the beach coming up to a stranger with his fishing line thrown out...
Caleb: Hey man, what are you catching?
Stranger: Ah I haven't been catching anything.
Caleb: Yes you are, you're catching a wave!
9 years old Sunday at my Mother-in-Law's house for Mother's Day Dinner talkng about how important Grandparents are and how my brother and I didn't know ours very long; they're both deceased.
My Dad: Your Uncle likes to fish so much because of his Grandma.
Caleb: Why? Is he trying to catch her?
This is from March...
Jarred and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary on the 14th. What a fast year full of many many things. I love that man.
Hudson is almost 9 months now. He started pulling up on Saturday. However he doesn’t really have the balance for it, so he still falls a lot.
We made an offer on a house!!! It’s beautiful and has a white picket fence in the front. It’s a short sale though so can take 2-6 months so wish us luck!.
Caleb is great, ready to sign up for soccer next month.
Makayla is doing wonderful, she’s ready for soccer as well.
More to come later, this is just a quick update.
Enjoy the pictures!
7.5 Months! Hudson is everywhere!
He is mobile now. Only he doesn’t crawl, he Army crawls and he can get booking! (I will post a video tomorrow when I get batteries) He’s messing with the bookshelf, he’s trying to get in the cupboards (I’m thinking it’s time for child locks), he’s into the shoes, behind the chair, everywhere! He loves his tunnel he got for Christmas and can make his way all the way through it. This is the same tunnel that freaked him out at first. He sits up too; he’s actually done this for about a month. He can’t go into a sitting position but he can sit for a long time and play. He’s figured out how to go from sitting to his stomach without just falling so we’re close.
He freaks out when he sees a glass (video to come). He WANTS it! It’s SO funny! He’ll actually drink out of it too!
Another thing he loves and has loved his us to pretend like we’re eating his feet. Oh he cracks up.
He’s getting bigger and bigger but he’s still little. He’s not chunky or super long. He’s average. He’s transitioning into 6-9 month clothes. His hair is growing longer each day and covering his ears and coming into his eyes. His eye lashes are continuing to get longer and darker too. He’s so cute!
We have him on Stage 2 food and he likes everything, including macaroni and veggies mixed. But I think his favorite is still apples. He’s also eating little puffs, banana & strawberry. He loves them. I’m also giving him melts and as long as I break them he can eat them. The kid likes food! He barely (and I really mean BARELY) is holding his own bottle. He’s stubborn on this one. He’ll only hold it if he wants it bad enough and we’re not holding him.
He still doesn’t like car rides much. He doesn’t last very long unless he’s asleep. He’s more of a homebody. We try to get out with him but he makes it difficult a lot. He doesn’t go to sleep well if there is noise or he wakes up quickly and doesn’t get a good nap. He’s much much better about freaking out around so many people.
He’s finally sleeping through the night. Well for the most part. It’s still hit or miss but mostly hit. However when he wakes up he demands a bottle and won’t go back to sleep until he gets it. He puts himself to sleep at night now. , bottle and then we lay him in his crib and to sleep he goes.
I am so blessed to have him as my child. He is wonderful.
P.S. Makayla made A’s and B’s for the quarter!
P.P.S. Caleb’s comes soon so stay tuned!
Seven Months
Oh man Hudson is doing so many things! He will be seven months old in a few days. Where in the world did seven months go??!!
He’s on the verge of crawling. He gets on his stomach, puts his head down and tries so hard to put his knees under him. Also while on his stomach he lifts his chest and head up and spins. It’s so funny. If we hold his hands he can walk across the room. He used to just tap dance when we did this, now he will put one foot in front of the other. He sits up too. He can’t get himself in a sitting position but he sits there on his own for a while. He’s figured out how to throw fits and he very much knows who mom and dad is. He loves his Bubby (Caleb) and Lala (Makayla). He likes to watch them play rather then actually play with them. He finally slept through the night last night. I finally started letting him cry at night (not a long time) and each day he sleeps more and more without waking up.
Again, where did seven months go??
Christmas 2009
I’ve been looking back over the years at my many Christmas’s (26 to be exact), some I remember, some I don’t. I’ve had turkey, ham and even 7-11 for Christmas dinner.
Each Christmas comes...the lights and tree go up after Thanksgiving...the kids go on Winter break...and although we say we won’t, we spend way too much on Christmas gifts.
But seriously at the end of Christmas day isn’t it awesome?
Our Christmas went on and on and the kids (myself included!) loved it! Jarred woke up at 6:15 am. I know it’s exciting but 6:15?
The baby wasn’t even up! Hud finally got up at about 6:50 (I think he just wanted a snack then back to sleep and someone—daddy—fully woke him up, but he swears not, ya.) We woke my mom and Caleb up and went to the living room full of presents. Caleb loved all his gifts and Hudson loved pulling the bows off of his presents!
We all hung out and played with new toys and did presents all over again when Jarred’s family got there. We had a very yummy dinner and opened presents one more time after we ate since my brother and Dad brought more. Makayla came over a few times to see everyone and open presents. It was great.
I could hardly believe it was already Christmas! Where does the time go? Well in the words of any 5 year old kid, "Only 364 more days to go!"
Hudson
Baby's First Christmas
A Christmas Poem by Alice E. Chase
You have to hold him up to see
The angel on the Christmas tree.
And even though he's still too small
To know the meaning of it all
You watch his eyes reflect the glow
Of colored lights that come and go
And feel him quiver with delight
At every new and wondrous sight.
There's Santa with his jolly face
Beaming from the fireplace.
And from the stocking hanging there
Peeks a cuddly teddy bear.
Bright ornaments and candy canes --
Musical toy and wooden trains --
There's just no end to the delights
Spread out for him this night of nights!
He points and grins from ear to ear
And then he yawns - his bedtime's near!
Dad gives him a kiss and you tuck him away To rest up for the fun of his first Christmas Day!
December Already
Well it’s official, Caleb is nine.
He said that this years birthday was the best birthday ever! I thought I was nuts letting four nine year old boys stay the night but all was well. Only one closet door off track and the Christmas tree is still standing so not bad I’d say.
Yesterday was a snow day which the kids loved! We got a foot of snow and more is expected this Thursday. I didn’t mind it but today, today was COLD! This morning at 6 am it was -23 at my house. Yes, you read that right NEGATIVE 23 degrees. In other words, WAY TOO FREAKING COLD!
Our house is decorated and our tree is very pretty. I need to finish my shopping and get the presents wrapped. I’m sure I say this every year but Christmas came so fast.
Makayla is doing great with us. She is such a blessing to have around.
She’s kind, helpful and loves to play with Caleb & Hudson. I’m very thankful for her.
Hudson is doing great! I love that kid! He has learned to roll from his back to his stomach and has made quite the sport of it. However, he cannot roll from his stomach to his back and hates being on his stomach so he’s in quite a pickle a lot. He babbles and smiles all the time and has taken a liking to blowing raspberries.
Caleb is almost off track again for school and is quite looking forward to the break. He gets rather spoiled when he’s on break...I let him sleep in, lounge around in his jammies and he gets to stay up later watching TV.
So, anything worth sharing going on with any of you?
November!
Can you believe it’s November already? Christmas is about to knock on the door and so is Caleb’s 9th birthday. That I can hardly believe as well.
I have some time to kill before we head off to church and thought I’d update you all on the craziness around here since I’ve been back
First, Caleb made honor roll on his report card; very proud of him. I’m hoping to get him signed up for basketball to start in January…we took a break from Fall sports so he’s ready now. He had a sleep over last night and it’s amazing all the things you learn about your kids by watching them interact with their friends. And it’s also rather embarrassing the things kids will share with other parents such as I learned Caleb’s friend’s dad wears tighty whities…who knows what he has said about us.
is 4 months old now. Time goes by so fast. He smiles all the time and laughs now. He is extremely ticklish and laughs like crazy when I pretend to bite his feet…cutest thing ever! His personality has definitely come out strong. He has learned to throw fits and how to whine. His hands get in the way ALL THE TIME. Try to feed him and his hands are pushing it every which way and he is constantly knocking his binky out which drives me nuts. He sleeps great at night only waking up once of twice.
For Halloween Caleb was Luigi and was as monkey. I’ll get pictures up soon enough.
I have some big news to share that I’m really happy about. Last weekend Makayla came to live with us. I’m so thankful for her. She started school on Wednesday and all is well so far. We have a meeting with her teachers and counselor on Thursday to make sure she is transitioning well. She has her own room here (which we had to scramble to clean out since it was our “extra” room). We’ll get some posters and stuff up soon for her so it feels like her room to her. Things are definitely busy with another body here. Between making lunches, doing homework and getting them to bed I’m exhausted at the end of the day.
I’ve been in my new job for 2 weeks now. I like it. It is a very busy position which I like because my day flies by. I’m excited to have Holidays off too so this Wednesday I get to be home and hang out with the kids who are out of school.
So that’s about it for now, I’m going to go get the kids dressed.
Almost Done!
Well unfortunately I just couldn’t shoot the handgun good enough so I will not be making honor grad. However, as long as I miss no more then 5 on my test tomorrow, the handgun will be the only thing stopping me from getting it so I’m proud of that. Today was our last day of class. I’m so happy! Tomorrow morning is our test and then graduation in the afternoon. We turn everything in tomorrow and I fly out at 12:40 on Saturday. It went by rather quickly and I had lots of fun but I must say this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Not the academy part….the leaving my kids, especially a three month old baby for three weeks. This last week was really hard for me and today when I talked to Caleb he broke down about missing me which in turn brought on my tears. Gosh I miss him. So much.
I can’t wait to be home. CAN’T WAIT!
Oh and today, the pretty girl in the world turned 11! Can you believe it? Makayla is 11. I remember the day she was born with her ivory skin and red hair. And as she grew that red hair had the prettiest ringlets and she was always happy. She has developed into a beautiful pre-teen girl. I’m so in love with her and miss her so much. I cannot wait to see her! Now that I have weekends off I’m hoping to get to see her lots.
Well my uniforms are pressed, my studying is done, and my bag is ready to be turned in tomorrow so I think I’m going to go to sleep. Night.
You know what I mean!
So since I’ve been here I think I’ve taken up the word “ya’all”. I notice a drawl come off the end of my words when someone just said a word with their southern drawl attached. I’ve also heard “you know what I mean” with a New Yalk (yes that’s right) accent quite a bit and it cracks me up. Nice guy though. Who knows how I’ll come back speaking??
And for being the south where people are nice…I held the door at a restaurant the other day and out of 7 people (ya I counted) only one said “Thank you”. My kid has better manners then these tourists!
I’ve also seen our best shot in the class shoot a perfect 13 shots with the rifle right in the middle of the target. I’ve never seen such good shooting. Except, well, it was on his neighbors target, not his. And he’s a cocky one too so that part of me that believes we all get what we give got a bit of a kick out of it.
I went to St. Simons island and Jekyl island this past weekend. Love the ocean. Went to a sea turtle hospital which was very cool. So be sure to check out the pictures.
Oh and check out this gorgeous boy. (Click on the attachment)
Attachments:
Day too many
My baby boy went from 12.11 lbs to a whopping 13.8 lbs in 2 weeks!! I’m so thankful that my kids are healthy.
Jarred got to hang out with Caleb for the past two days (jealous!). They had a good time and I got to talk to Caleb lots!
If I never have to fire a gun again, I will be perfectly happy. We shot the rifle today which I’ve never shot in my life and I got 29/30 which is good.
I’m still in the running for Honor Grad! I had my first academic test today and missed 2 out of 60. That means my next test of 90, I can miss 5. This is not for passing, I can miss a lot to pass; this is for honor grad.
I also had my first self-defense evaluation and scenario today which I passed.
For honor grad you have to maintain an academic score of 95%, pass all your self-defense moves on the first try (you get two tries), get an acceptable or highly acceptable on your scenarios, shoot 28/30 on your rifle, 143/150 points on the pistol, and 5/5 on the shotgun and you have to do them all on your first try in addition to knowing how to make them duty carry (ready for work) and clearing the weapon (unloading, ready to put away). Again you get two tries.
I didn’t feel well this afternoon. I think I’m a little dehydrated and very mentally and physically exhausted. The rifle gave me a headache and the headache gave me a stomach ache, etc. And gosh I want to come home. I know it’s only a week left but that seems so long. I miss my kids and husband a lot.
There’s some cool people in my class but there’s so many personalities that I’ve seen mild drama start so I stay back. Amazing what can happen in three weeks. I can’t imagine being one of the branches that are here for 4, 6, or 8 months.
Anyway I’m off to bed. Night.
GEORGIA!
Savannah was beautiful! You can see the history in each street, it’s amazing. The parks are covered with Live Oaks and hover over the streets and the park. Each park has some sort of monument to honor the civil war veterans or the slaves or something. Very serene.
We’re going back on Friday to do a ghost walk of Savannah…scary and fun! Can’t wait!
It was fun to hang out with myself most of the weekend. I slept in, caught up on my shows thanks to abc.com. I went to the mall, I seen a movie, it was really nice. I miss my baby so much though. I miss Caleb and Jarred too. A lot. But I can talk to them on the phone (which I have…lots) and they talk back. Plus they’re older. But , gosh I miss him. I hope he remembers me when I get back. I talk to him on the phone…he’ll stop talking or whining and listen to me so hopefully he’ll remember my voice.
Week one of the academy went by fast. Our first test is this Thursday so I’ve been studying a lot. Friday we shot the 9 mm handguns…INTIMIDATING! I hated it. Today was better though. I had a little more fun and I hit the target every time so that’s a plus. Ha! I like the self-defense. Very basic but fun none the less.
So I’m just trucking along. And in the South, everyone is nice. Seriously. I might even come back saying Y’al!
Dear Jon & Kate,
How old are you?? GROW UP! Seriously. You are ridiculous. I remember watching a show where you were coming up with a Mission Statement for your family, perhaps you should re-read that.
I used to love watching your show…Kate, you were an amazing mom and I was in awe of you. Jon, you were patient with Kate and the kids and were a good husband who was there.
Kate, somewhere I think you got too controlling of Jon and should have kissed him more and sat closer to him during interviews to actually show affection to your husband.
Jon I think you decided you didn’t get your youth and want to take advantage of it now. Well guess what buddy, you have eight kids now, you can’t.
Do you have any idea what it’s going to be like when your kids look back on how you’ve acted. Way to set a proper example.
I don’t care what the other person did, you show respect to your kid’s other parent and you always back them up. You suck your feelings up for them.
You think my child’s dad and I always got along? Ya right. But guess what, you wouldn’t know it when it comes to my son and ya I respect him just like I should.
I guess that’s the difference between you two and me….I am an adult and act like it.
Here I am!
So here I am…sitting in the airport in waiting on my shuttle to take me to the training center. It’s humid but not too hot so it should be really nice.
I can’t believe I’m leaving all my boys for three weeks. Really sucks. But my work gives me $300 and a free plane ticket here so I’m going to make the most of it. I’d rather be off having fun then in my room miserable. They’re well cared for so it’s all good.
I didn’t bring my camera because I would way rather have Jarred take pictures of the kids then me in front of some statue so the only pictures you guys may get will be cell phone pictures.
Caleb gets to fly to his Grandma and Papa’s next weekend which he is really looking forward too. They’re always so good to him and lots of fun. He’ll be staying with his dad for three weeks and has no problem going to his sitters since he has a crush on her J.
We took to his monthly appointment Wed. Get this; the kid with the cheeks went from 12 lbs, 4 oz and 21.5 inches to 12 lbs 11 oz and 24 inches. So he has to go back because she’s a little concerned since it was so little weight gain compared to last time. I did quit breastfeeding and my breast milk was really fatty so I think this has to do with it. He eats fine and IS still growing so I’m not too concerned.
I’m sure I’ll have lots to write about on this trip…I am in the South after all.
GUESS WHAT!
I got an office job! Thank God! Really, thank him.
I will be the Education Tech.
7-3, weekends and holidays off. I'll be home for Thanksgiving and home for Christmas and home on the weekends for Caleb and the evenings for Hudson.
Oh my gosh I am so happy!
Things I don't understand about my oldest son
He only sleeps under his comforter because he doesn’t want to make the rest of his bed in the morning.
Why he thinks he’s fat. Seriously, have you seen the kid? SKINNY!
His language which I can’t stand:
That’s tight = That’s cool
Sick = Cool
Clean = Cool
What happened to, “Hey that’s cool!”?
Tears
My sweet baby boy brought some stranger to tears last night. We ran into her in an elevator and she took a peep at our sleeping boy and thought he was so perfect she got tears.
He is perfect!
Both my boys are perfect!
Homesick
Gosh I get homesick sometimes. Not for my home but for my hometown. I like Reno…I like it better now that I live a bit out of it. Love our house, neighborhood, conveniences. But man when I go home, to visit our parents, I feel how much I miss it. All my friends are there, my family, all the familiarity. I wish so bad I could live there still.
Caleb has been struggling a bit lately. I sometimes think he’s trying to find his place between the two homes. I know it’s got to be a little hard going back and forth every other week. I try to keep things as normal as possible but I know our houses run differently. We have similar but different rules, we tolerate different things, and we have different schedules. So I’m sure adjusting is a little difficult when you’ve been doing something all week. He’s been craving tons of attention lately and going about it in a very annoying manner. I’ve struggled a bit juggling the two kids and I know his dad has two bigger kids at his house so that’s a lot of attention to share when you’ve been the only kid between two parents for a long time. I have set aside a day every week that Caleb can look forward to no matter what that is just me and him. We are going away from our home/neighborhood and doing something just the two of us. I’m really looking forward to it.
Hudson is thriving! He is growing like he should and then some. He is cute as a button! And those cheeks!!!! Unfortunately I have to quit breastfeeding him. Sucks but I have to go to my academy that I didn’t go to when I started my job because I was pregnant. Its three week in Georgia . I wish I didn’t have to go. That’s a long time to be away from my boys, I’m going to miss them like crazy. So I’ve been slowly introducing him to formula to make sure his tummy can handle it and so my boobs don’t pop. He does fine on it thankfully.
Anyway that’s about it for now. Still trying to get out of custody and get an office job. Seems like it will never happen but keeping my fingers crossed.
Oh what a night!!!
Here’s a normal night.
8 pm: Hud and I lay down to go to sleep
10 pm: Approximately at this time I lay him in his crib and he wakes up two minutes later to eat.
3 am: Wake up again to eat, goes back to bed.
6 am or so: Wakes up to eat.
7 or 8: Wakes up completely.
Here’s last night.
8 pm: Hud and I lay down to sleep
9 pm: Still awake
10 pm: Wants to eat, makes a mess.
11 pm: Finally lay him in his crib
11:30 pm: Wakes to eat, lay him back down
12:15 am: Wakes up, give him binky
12:25 am: Cries because binky fell out
12:30 am: Cries because binky fell out again.
1:00 am: Wants to eat, makes a bigger mess from fidgeting, lay back down
2:00 am: Wakes up, give him binky, it falls out, I let him cry.
And cry
And cry
2:30 am: Wide awake and not happy
3:00 am: I call into work from getting virtually no sleep
3:30 am: Eats again
4:00 am: Wakes up again, give him binky
Binky keeps falling out.
5:00 am: Wants to eat again
6:00 am: Finally falls asleep
7:00 am: Wakes to eat, lays in bed with me for the next two hours sleeping yet fidgeting and moving and fidgeting and moving
9:00 am: I finally give up and get out of bed.
Oh motherhood!
Sometimes knowledge isn’t power.
Or good for that matter.
I was working overnights for what, five months. And on overnights there is A LOT of downtime with nothing to do. I got hooked on the website babycenter.com. They had a group board for women due in July. It was neat reading their posts and some of the questions they asked are questions I had.
Now that the baby is here, I have joined the June 2009 birth group.
Again it’s neat to read what other people have to say but I have decided to stay away from the board from here on out. Why? Because there’s too much information. Meaning, the other parents put too much crap in your head. Things like....one lady has a monitor that beeps if your baby stops breathing while sleeping and it HAS went off. Then like 20 other mom’s get on there and talk about how their babies have stopped breathing while sleeping and it’s when they’re in too deep of a sleep they don’t start breathing again and that’s how they die of SIDS. Not cool.
Or how when Caleb was little I breast fed him for a year. I never pumped at work, I just fed him when I got home and on weekends. Never had a second thought about my milk supply and all was fine. Well now with reading these stupid boards and all the moms freaked out about their milk supply, I start thinking about it. If I don’t pump, will I still be able to feed him? What do I do if he likes the bottle better? Do I have enough milk? And these questions are totally stupid because I do pump at work, I do have enough milk so he can have breast milk during the day, he does take a bottle and still nurses and there is no problems.
Do you see what I’m getting at here?
I think I make a much better mother if I don’t read what other mothers have to say. If I have a question I think I’ll stick to asking the pediatrician or a trusted family member. Otherwise, if I continue to read these boards I will develop obsessive compulsive disorder and never sleep again.
Frames
Now that I have a new baby I have a need for lots and lots of picture frames. My house is much bigger and has lots of wall space for me to fill. So my question is, where can I get some good cheap frames? Any thoughts?
On another topic...Hudson accidentally rolled over and is smiling!!!!! I love it!!!!!
This and That
Welp Wednesday is my day back to work. I’ve been working really hard on getting into a routine and he’s cooperating pretty good so far. He loves his Mommy and just wants to help out. Or so I like to think.
I’m nervous to go back. I try really hard not to stress and know that everything will just work out but sometimes it gets the best of me. I’m continuing to breast feed and don’t want him to have formula. This means I’m going to be pumping a lot at work so I have to find times to pump. It’s going to be challenging but it’s important to me.
Caleb was sad I was going back to work. I feel the same way. I’m happy that I will be home from work before he gets out of school so the only time he won’t see me is in the mornings and until 2:30 on the weekends. I have Monday, Tuesday off which isn’t bad. What’s nice is he is out of school the whole month of September so it doesn’t matter what my days off are.
I applied for a job at the Depot. They work 4-10’s so I would have every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. I’m also applying for an Education Technician position at the prison and there should be a Secretary position opening up soon so I’m applying like crazy. Wish me luck!
Can you believe it’s almost Fall??? I can’t! Where does time go? Soon our long summer days will be shorter and the leaves will start to turn. Although it’s pretty, I’m just not ready. I wish I had a button to slow down time! I have to say my favorite thing about fall is the pumpkin patch though. And think of all the pictures I will be getting this year!!!
What’s your favorite thing?
Reason # 4,561 I don't want to go back to work.
I’m totally digging ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ Seriously, they are hilarious to me! And Kim, Kim is gorgeous.
They’ve been playing a marathon of episodes everyday and I’m hooked.
What am I going to do when I go back to work?
Sucks.
My Big Boy
My little big boy slept in his crib for the first time last night. It was the best night of sleep I’ve had since he was born. Why? Because the kid grunts ALL night long. Really…most kids coooo and make sweet sounds…but not Hud. Oh no, he grunts, a lot. It’s so hard to sleep through. So with him being in his room I only heard the crying when it was time to eat.
Can you believe he’s already 6 ½ weeks old? I can’t!
And the crappy part of him being 6 ½ weeks old?? I have to go back to work next Wednesday. I was supposed to have 12 weeks off but not happening anymore so I’m going back. Sucks big time!
Caleb is doing good. He’s been slacking on school though. He has a hard time understanding that homework is more important then playing. I’m thinking all 4th graders have this problem though huh? He also is a ditz…and I say this with love but he is. He forgets his backpack, his homework, whatever you told him three seconds ago. But yet he can remember, in detail, what happened 5 years ago. Crazy kid.
