{Hudson Swager} 9 & 10 Months

My sweet Hudson.  I know I start every month like this - but there is literally no other word that describes you better.  Than SWEET SWEET SWEET!

You are growing so fast my little angel! Every morning you sleep until 8:30 or 9 (seriously child!? ah-mazing!) You have a bottle while I change your diaper.  This is worth mentioning, because I in fact can NOT change your diaper unless there is something you are very excited about that you can put in your mouth.  You wiggle around like a crazy person during changes of any kind! You are on the move my little one.

You are "army crawling" as we like to call it.  You will rev up your little engine and rock back on those knees, but you are still just sliding around on your tummy.  And rolling everywhere.  I keep waiting for the real crawl - but you are moving pretty quick just like this so I think you are pretty comfortable!

These last couple months you had your first plane ride to Colorado - you were an awesome little traveler.  Slept and laughed on the plane and slept both ways while we drove into the mountains.  You played with sweet Abe, and were just as cute as can be. You also had your first Halloween! You were Captain Hook's sidekick - the scary Tick Tock Croc! Mommy took you to a few houses to trick or treat, and then we came home and handed out candy while daddy and brother hit up the rest of the neighborhood.  Everyone thought you were so cute of course!

You love, love, love your brother.  You want to do everything he does.  And he love, love, loves you too.  We are just working really hard on the ways that he shows you he loves you! You take his wrestling, hitting, pushing, dragging and not sharing so well! One of these days I know you are going to retaliate, and Mr. Grayson isn't even going to see it coming!

We have tried lots of new foods this past month.  All sorts of purred veggies, you love your bananas and puffs, I try to get you to eat cheese, you love yogurt but mostly just want to fling the spoon everywhere, you've tried mac n cheese, pizza, french fries (just covering the major food groups!) and sometimes I think most of it just winds up on the floor but we'll keep trying!

You are clapping your hands, and saying ma-ma, dada and I swear I've heard a "hi" and a "gigi".  WE are working on saying, "bubba" & waving hello, but usually you just wind up laughing and clapping your hands.  Which is so stinking cute, so then I just start laughing and clapping my hands.

Now that you are on the move so much, you aren't super snuggly.  But every now and then you will cry about 10 or 11 o'clock at night, and the only thing that will ge thou back to sleep is me rocking you and you snuggling in on my shoulder.  And as exhausted as I might be - my eyes just well up with tears every time because I am so beyond grateful for you my sweet Huddy Buddy.  I am so glad you are mine! Love you sugars!

{Hudson Swager} 7 & 8 Months

Yes I missed the 7 month mark.  Yes, I'm almost 2 weeks past 8 months.  But I'm here people.

Hudson Swager! You are doing so many cute and amazing things.

Let's talk about sleeping.  FOR 12-14 HOURS A NIGHT. I love that.  Thank-you.  Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.  And please keep it up.  Also show your brother how to sleep past 6 am because he is not so great at that. You don't take a paci which is totally fine, but you chew on your sleep sack like nobodies business. I wash those things every day and they still look terrible.  But you love them.  And they help you sleep.  So go for it kiddo!

You have cut your 1st tooth, and are working on another.  Your sweet little one tooth grin is about too much for me to handle. You are taking 24 oz of formula a day (yay for moving to a less expensive one!!) and eat oatmeal for breakfast, a fruit for lunch and veggie for dinner.  We are mostly still doing pureed stuff, but I've given you puffs and bananas and you seem to love those.  We have a family Colorado trip planned in October and I'm hoping to get more adventurous with solids after that.

Speaking of Colorado... I'm also hoping that crawling holds off until after that trip! I know our world is going to be crazy once you are on the move.  You roll everywhere these days, are sitting up so great, say da da da lots, and say ma ma ma too but I feel like it is only when you are sad about something that you yell ma ma ma as loud as you possibly can.  How about saying it with a smile son?!

I love you to pieces kiddo! You make our world such a happy place.  Love you Huddy Buddy!

Easy

Today someone asked me if I was working. My response... "No I'm staying home at least for this year."

The reply, "Well that makes things easy."

Easy. Well, okay. In my mind it's all hard.

The last couple years when I was working, I would look at moms that stayed home and think, "That is so amazing.  You are way more devoted to your kids than me."

When I stayed home my first year with Grayson I would look at moms that worked and think, "That is so amazing.  You can work all day and then come home and be an incredible mommy.  You are helping your family so much."

Stay at home moms, full time working moms, part time working moms, single moms, military moms (the 2 latter are saint like in my opinion ya'll). I just think it's all hard. And also ALL. SO. WORTH. IT.

But just next time you ask a mom what she does. Don't tell her it's easy. Just maybe tell her she's doing a good job.  Maybe just buy her a bottle of wine. Maybe just unload the dishwasher for her. Maybe just watch her kids for an extra hour after work so she can run to the grocery store by herself. Maybe let her go ahead of you in line at said grocery store if she has her kids with her. Maybe just bring over dinner, ring the doorbell, give her a hug and walk away. Because you know it's not easy.  And don't punch the tiny ounce of confidence she has in the gut by saying so.

Maybe next year I'll go back to work.  But for now, I guess I'm taking the easy road.

And because I think a blog post without pictures is just plain boring...

Hudson Swager {6 Months}

Half a year?! So crazy. Huddy bear, you are the happiest, sweetest baby.  For the most part you are so easy and content I feel spoiled. You make my days so bright kid!

6 Month Stats:

Length: 26 inches {32 percentile}

Weight: 17 pounds 15 ounces {57 percentile}

Head Circumference: 17.4 inches {61 percentile} 

You are doing pretty well sleeping at night.  I feel like about every other night we have to let you "cry it out" for a bit which is torturous (I spend most of the time crying too!) but it's the only thing that actually gets you to sleep! Even me going in and trying to rock you or give you your paci won't work...you are so tired that you are just beside yourself!

Your eating...you've had rice cereal once.  I kept putting that off - along with potty training your brother off until we get moved and settled! So the once was so that I could tell our sweet Dr. Keller... yeah he's had rice cereal! But you are taking a 6 oz bottle every 3 hours. You usually get your first one around 8 am and your last one around 8pm.

Speaking of getting moved and settled... WE ARE MOVED AND GETTING SETTLED! Yeah! This is probably another good reason why you are struggling at night a bit.  You aren't sleeping right next to your mama and you are in your own room, in your own bed.  Hallelujah! I have to admit this was a VERY hard move for this mama to make, but I know you will be used to it in no time and that it really is the best choice for you and for me and your daddy too!

You are starting to really put everything in your mouth.  Sophie, Ellie, your hands...you'd even put your feet in if you could reach! You are rolling from your tummy to your back every now and then, but not the other way quite yet.  Also no sitting up yet either.  You'll get there eventually... I'm not in a hurry :).  And good news - Dr.Keller said your head looks much better! I'm not sure if I mentioned last month, but she said that your head was a little flat (sorry kiddo...) but we amped up the tummy time, got you out of that cozy bassinet that you loved and it's looking great!

You're first 4th of July this month was so fun.  We went out to Kiefer for fireworks on the 3rd and you were so sweet and loved looking at all the lights.  On the 4th we hung out with some fun friends by the pool.  You are just happy and content as long as you are fed and get to sleep no matter where we are! PS I'm sorry I made you wear that hat.  But I mean I DIE. Your future wife will think it's really cute... I promise!!!

We are so thankful for you Huddy Buddy.  Love you lots... Happy Half Birthday Baby Boy!

Grayson Lawrence Gundy {3 Years Old}

My Grayson-

I literally did not just type that.  3 years old?! How can it be.  I promise it was just yesterday that we threw everything into the car and rushed to the hospital and they put you in my arms.  It was just yesterday that you made me a mama.  The best job in the whole world.

You are giving me a run for my money lately kid. But, man what you are teaching me as I run. You are teaching me so much about the grace and mercy that Jesus has for his children.  You are teaching me how to be patient and be true to my word.  You are teaching me the importance of using my words carefully and thoughtfully.  The importance of a peaceful household.  You are showing me that I can let go of things that don't really matter to make you and your brothers world a happy and safe place.

You've done so much this year.  You moved out of the house you first lived in, and into your Gigi's house. You are about to move into your new house.  You love visiting it and showing everyone your room! We visited legoland and the dinosaurs at the zoo.  You cried about Santa Claus and Mr. Kem. You dressed up as Nemo for Halloween. You are learning to be brave when you are scared of the t rex and the car wash and the monsters under your bed. You are making sweet friendships that I am praying will last you a lifetime. You love to swing and slide and play at the splash pad. You love gymnastics and soccer and getting a chocolate milk at Starbucks and a red slushy at Sonic.

But... my favorite thing that you have done this year is become a big brother.  I never new that I could love you more.  But seeing you kiss and laugh and play with your brother makes my cup overflow so much that I can't help but fall on my knees and praise the God who gave me both of you.

You have grown up so much this year bubba.  It's so hard for me yet so great too.  Your favorite phrase right now is, "No I need to do it!" And I know.  I know you need to do it.  You need to put on your shoes even if they are on the wrong foot and two different colors.  You need to put on your hat even if you pull it down so much that it's going to cover up your whole face.  You need to jump off the stairs even if you are going to cry afterwards. You need to hit your brother even if you will go to a time out afterwards.  You need to grow up even if it makes your mama cry.  Because my good Lord - what a blessing it is to watch you do it - to watch you learn and grow and figure it out.

I pray that you my sweet Grayson.  Will be rooted and established in His love.  That you will have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.  So that you will be filled with the fullness of God.

Mommy loves you big baby boy.  But Jesus loves you biggest.

Hudson Swager {5 Months}

I swore I would keep these posts up with my 2nd child! But geez is it harder.  So we are really at 5 1/2 months but it is better late than never I suppose! 5 months my little happy boy! My how sweet your are.  Cuddly, smiley my happy happy boy.

Our biggest milestone this month... ROLLING OVER! Yeah Huddy! Tummy time still isn't your favorite, and now that you can roll over you don't do it for long.  But we will keep working! Your neck is getting stronger and you are holding your head up really well.  You still aren't sitting up all by yourself but you'll get there. And you love sitting in your bumbo so that's great!

You are taking about 30 ounces of formula a day.  We will start feeding you cereal soon, but I just keep trying to put it off (along with potty training your brother!) until we move! You take your last bottle anywhere from 8-9ish at night and will usually go until 6 or 7 the next morning.  You are still sleeping right next to us, and needing your paci quite a bit.  I have a feeling when we move and you get your own room things could get pretty interesting!

You are starting to play with toys and bring them to your mouth to chew on! You also love to chew on your fingers and are trying to be a thumb sucker.  I think I might see one little tooth about to poke through on the bottom but I'm not sure yet.  You are quite the little drooler! 

You love to talk. Such happy sweet sounds coming out of your cute little mouth.  Daddy swears that you have said "da da" a couple times, but I haven't heard it and therefore you haven't said it and "ma ma" will be your first word.  I can dream!

I love you you sweet little snuggly guy.  

You make my days so bright Huddy bear!

Hudson Swager {4 Months}

Length: 24 1/4 inches {23rd Percentile}

Weight: 14.12 lbs {46th Percentile}

Head Circumference: 16.65 inches {50th Percentile}

Well our sleeping was going FABULOUS.  You were going down around 8:30 or 9, we do a "dream feed" around 11:30 and then you were sleeping until 7 am.  Holy amazing! But then we went to the doctor.  And she said..."You need to stop swaddling him."  Yikes.  You are not liking that! Hopefully you'll get used to the sleep sack and all your freedom soon so we can get back to those incredible 6-7 hour stretches!

You caught your first little tummy bug this month.  It was not fun at all! So we back tracked on feedings a little bit to get your tummy settled, but I think we are just about good.  You are taking 5 oz. every 3 hours and then you give us a long stretch at night.  YES! I think when your tummy is fully ready we may up it to 6 oz and see if we can go a bit longer in between each feeding.

You are giggling, talking, laughing, playing and loving life! You are just such a happy boy.  Mommy is finally on summer break now - but you had a great time with Miss Elaine, Gigi and PawPaw.  I always got lots of pictures and videos at work of you just being a cutie.  You are just so lovable!

We need to be better about doing tummy time...it is just not your favorite.  But you are getting stronger at holding your head up.  You will also sit in your bumbo for a little while so that helps too! You love your bouncer seat and to lay on the floor and kick.  You are very moody when it comes to the swing.  Sometimes you love it...sometimes you don't!

You are starting to turn your head when you hear voices or noises and notice things more.  You especially like to watch your big brother.  He is pretty entertaining to you! He is just loving you.  We still have to remind him to be gentle.  Today he asked to hold you and loved it.  He says - "I need to hold my baby." I guess you are his!

We love you happy boy! You make our world so much fun!