Breakfast Giggles

Not really much to say here...we were eating breakfast together and Hudson as usual was my entertainment. Man I love this kid!!

Fun at the Park

We went to this great park by our house the other day to take advantage of the weather being decent. We stayed nearly 2 hours and Hudson still wasn't ready to leave! My friend Sara and her son Jack met up with us the first hour and then a Stroller Strides friend Natalie and her daughter Jordan were there for the second hour. Hudson had a blast to say the least and I think he has a little crush on Jordan. It's pretty cute actually!!

Beep Beep!

Future B-Baller?

Sneakin' a Peek

Ryan and I always peek into Hudson's room before we head off to bed to get in one last loving stare for the day. I still rock Hudson before bed for 10 minutes, sometimes he falls asleep and sometimes he doesn't. This particular night he didn't, but he still only gets the 10 minutes of snuggle time with me. I put him in his crib awake and he got himself down, not as nicely as I would have put him down however. Ryan went in first to get his peek and I hear him whispering "Get the camera, get the camera". Here's what we found, priceless!

Besides the obvious leg through the crib slots, his head should be facing the other direction!

Swollen

Please note Hudson's bottom gum. He's working on 4 bottom teeth right now and is being a trooper about it. He's still been sleeping through the night like a champ and hasn't needed Children's Advil before bed. Hudson has been in no hurry to get teeth, the last ones cut almost 3 months ago. My heart breaks for him though when he gives me that huge grin and I can see just how swollen his gums are.

And On That Farm He Had a Horse...

First, sorry for the blog hiatus...it's been crazy at the Storey house which you will see as I get caught up on my postings. Let the blogging commence!

A few Saturdays ago we were at Ryan's Aunt & Uncle's house who have 3 horses. Hudson got to see the horses up close, pet them, and watch Mommy & Daddy feed them carrots. He was pretty speechless the whole time we were outside, but I think he enjoyed seeing horses outside of his books for the first time!

Helping Daddy feed the horses carrots

Petting a horse for the first time

Thinking about eating the carrots himself

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

This is what we woke up to this morning...this morning being April 19, not December 19. I don't think this is what they had in mind when coining the phrase "April showers bring May flowers".

Bump Progress

I'm 20 weeks along today! I'm finding it VERY hard to believe that I am half way there, this pregnancy is flying by!! I was so excited to post that we were having a girl, I didn't write much else about our ultrasound. Everything looks great so far. Baby Girl is measuring in at 9oz which puts her a couple of days past her due date of September 4, which I am completely fine with as my parent's get back from their Alaska Cruise on August 30. She was yawning and putting her fingers in her mouth for us as we watched her. Already a camera ham like her big brother (fine, and maybe her Mom). I've started to feel her move around more and more which I LOVE! It's nice that I don't have to feel crazy anymore when she moves and I call her Baby Girl because she actually is one ;)

Bite Your Tongue

For the past week or so Hudson has been saying 2 to 3 new words a day! I finally started making a list to see how many words he was up to and it's close to 30. Hudson's doctor warned me at his 9 month appointment that he would be an early talker. I'm just glad the all day long babble is finally starting to make some sense. It's especially cute when he actually identifies things correctly and loves to say doggy to Bruiser as he chases him around the house. I guess it's officially time to start watching what we say around him!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Ryan and Hudson on their way to take a bath, my favorite naked bottom

Ryan reading Hudson his nightly bedtime story, my favorite part of bedtime routine (the video is dark, but you get the idea!)

Seeds of Compassion

I had the privilege of hearing The Dalai Lama speak in Seattle yesterday. It happened to be a beautiful day here yesterday (nearly 85 degrees!) which was incredible as the event was outside at Qwest Field. The topic of discussion was Seeds of Compassion and he spoke about the hope for the next generation of children which hit very close to home as a mom raising children is this crazy world. His hopes are for a more compassionate world in which we can live in without violence. You can visit this link to see footage from yesterday: http://www.king5.com/news/seedsofcompassion/stories/NW_041308SOC_dalai_lama_sunday_SW.5dd7342c.html
Towards the end, several Seeds of Compassion Youth Ambassadors (I would say ages ranging from 13-18) spoke briefly about what compassion meant to them and their commitment towards being compassionate. It was very moving to hear these children be so insightful and optimistic. If you ever get the chance to hear The Dalai Lama speak, I would strongly recommend it.

Waving goodbye to the 50,000 in attendance at Qwest Field

I wanted to take him home in my pocket, he was adorable!

Birthday wishes do come true...

I'm still in complete shock that we are having a GIRL!!! I have had very strong "girl" feelings and so has Ryan, but I really thought I was having a boy. I'm beside myself with excitement, there's really no other way to describe it. I immediately started crying when the ultrasound technician said it was a girl. I already have a bin full of girl clothes at my sister's that I went through a couple of months ago. I can't wait to go through it again and see what I choose to keep now that using those clothes has become a reality!! My brother-in-law is now 8 for 8 in predicting the sexes of his girls and all of his nieces and nephews. He should start charging apparently for his wise insight! And yes, if you look back at my birthday posting to the picture where I am blowing out the candles...I was wishing for a girl ;)

This just in...

I JUST got an email from my friend Megan (see posting below) that Diego will be joining them in Guatemala this Friday and they get to bring Mattea HOME next Friday, April 11!!!! I am overjoyed and wish their beautiful family safe travels home on Mattea's 8 month birthday. Thanks Megs, you MADE my day...

An Overdue Posting

Very long story, very short version...one of my college girlfriends, Megan, made the decision with her hubby, Diego, to adopt from Guatemala after going through an unsuccessful in vetro process. And so began the process of bringing home their oldest daughter, Mila. Mila was born in June of '05 and is adorable to say the least! The adoption process for Mila was quick and she was able to come home forever in October of '05. It came time to start thinking about adding another to their family and once again the decision to adopt from Guatemala was made. Megan and Diego decided that they wanted Mila to have a sister and began the adoption process. They found out in July of '07 that their second baby girl, Mattea, had been born. Mattea is super cute with chunky baby thighs and gorgeous curls! Things are very different in Guatemala now then they were the first time around with Mila's adoption. Megan went through MONTHS of back and forth, 54 days of not knowing ANYTHING at all or if Mattea would even be coming home, and several phone calls where she and I just cried. All this mind you after already meeting Mattea, naming her, and monthly visits. I received a call from Megan a little over a month ago with exciting news letting me know that Mattea was officially theirs in Guatemala and she would be moving there until the process was complete. Megan, her Mom, and Mila packed up and have been living with Mattea for almost 4 weeks now. At this point there is no word when they will have the a-ok to bring Mattea home, but Megan finally has her girls together! I am so glad her Mom went with her to help adjust to juggling two kiddos as I would have been worried sick with her down there alone, thanks Debbie! Diego will head down about a week before Mattea can come home, he must be itching to get his girls home safe and sound. Please keep Megan and her family in your thoughts and prayers as hopefully their journey to bring Mattea home forever comes to an end soon. Here is Megan and her girls from about a week ago and one of just the girls (Megan sends nightly pictures which I really enjoy going through). Love you Megs!!!

He's Gone Country

Huddy Buddy has a pair of cowboy boots that were given to him for his birthday that he just loves. His party was a cowboy theme (see posting back in Dec) so the boots were perfect. I got him out of his jammies this morning and headed to the closet to pick out a shirt when he decided he wanted to wear his boots. He has done this before, so it wasn't much of a surprise, always hilarious though because he is usually in a diaper or onesie only. The first time he wanted to wear his boots Ryan and I almost wet our pants laughing because he has a hard time walking in them and it seriously looked like he had just "gotten off his horse" as he trotted around the house. This morning however, Hudson discovered that the boots make noise while walking on the hardwood and I kid you not, he started dancing. I immediately grabbed the camera to take video and yelled for Ryan to come watch. I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to rotate the video after the fact and had the camera upright, so I apologize that it is sideways. Either way, enjoy the video, it's short. Pictures are from a previous day (in his diaper) and some from today (in his onesie).