Lots of jumping!!
Decorating cakes!
Thanks to Auntie Tracy for all her help!!
7 years ago
Monday, September 10, 2007
Lots of Cousins, Lots of Fun!
This weekend we babysat our two nephews and our niece (Zachary, Austin and Ana) and we all had a great time! With four kids we had to keep busy and by the end of the day everyone was tired and everyone was in bed by 8pm (yes, even us!).
Lots of jumping!!
Decorating cakes!
Thanks to Auntie Tracy for all her help!!
Lots of jumping!!
Decorating cakes!
Thanks to Auntie Tracy for all her help!!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
First Beach Day
Hudson's first beach day was last week on Balboa Island. There were lots of other kids there and Hudson seemed to like it. I know he wanted to be able to do more though, like run in the water and crawl on the sand.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Islands
I cannot believe I havent written about this dream of a restaurant yet... it is a place we never frequented pre-Hudson but now go to up to once a week. Islands. Yes the chain restaurant and I am not afraid to admit it. They are incredibly baby friendly, lots of stuff for kids to look at like plants, lights, birds and televisions, and no one seems to mind if your kid is screaming because practically everyone there has a kid.
Here is a photo of 'the nets' that they have. I have yet to see these at any other restaurant though they are fabulous and very useful for pre-highchair babies.
They really dont care if your kids are on the table at Islands....
Or sitting on their wall looking around...
And here is a cute photo of Gia and Hudson at dinner.
Here is a photo of 'the nets' that they have. I have yet to see these at any other restaurant though they are fabulous and very useful for pre-highchair babies.
They really dont care if your kids are on the table at Islands....
Or sitting on their wall looking around...
And here is a cute photo of Gia and Hudson at dinner.
5 Months Old
Hudson is 5 months old today... Where did the time go?? He is getting so big and can do so much more than he could just a few weeks ago. It is amazing how fast the time flies... He gets up on his knees and scoots around pretty well (not crawling yet though!) 
We also had to lower the mattress in Hudson's crib today because here is what I saw on the monitor the other day when he was supposed to take a nap... 
Here is my first attempt at uploading a video... I just figured out that my camera takes videos and then I finally figured how to get them on to the blog. So here is my first clip - nothing really special but you get a little taste of Hudson talking...
We also had to lower the mattress in Hudson's crib today because here is what I saw on the monitor the other day when he was supposed to take a nap... 
Here is my first attempt at uploading a video... I just figured out that my camera takes videos and then I finally figured how to get them on to the blog. So here is my first clip - nothing really special but you get a little taste of Hudson talking...
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Ferber Update
Night 1: Hudson slept 8 hours and 15 minutes straight. He cried for a total of 12 minutes before falling asleep, with me going in there to calm him down (and calm myself down) twice. He went back to sleep for two more hours after he woke up and ate and got a diaper change.
Night 2: Hudson cried for a total of 7 minutes before falling asleep and slept 5 1/2 hours. It sounded like he had a nightmare when he did wake up so I soothed for a couple minutes, then left the room and he fell back asleep on his own.
Night 3: Hudson did not cry at all when I put him in his crib. He slept 8 hours straight, woke up ate, got a diaper change and went back to sleep for 2 1/2 more hours.
Maybe this is working... we will see!
Night 2: Hudson cried for a total of 7 minutes before falling asleep and slept 5 1/2 hours. It sounded like he had a nightmare when he did wake up so I soothed for a couple minutes, then left the room and he fell back asleep on his own.
Night 3: Hudson did not cry at all when I put him in his crib. He slept 8 hours straight, woke up ate, got a diaper change and went back to sleep for 2 1/2 more hours.
Maybe this is working... we will see!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Ferber ... ??
Ok, so I have been doing some reading on babies and sleeping... Hudson was sleeping really well... emphasis on was. He was sleeping 7-8 hours straight, in his crib, and then when he turned about 4 months something changed. He started waking up about every two hours. Now after a few days, and then weeks, of waking up and getting up with him every two hours, you start to lose your mind a little. You start to go crazy. Now of course, I never took it out on Hudson.... I took it out on myself... for not being able to figure out what was wrong - for not doing a good enough job.
Well so I started reading the books and realized I wasnt alone. Something does happen around his age, according to the books: babies around 4 months become aware of their environments. Before this week, we were putting Hudson in his crib when he was already asleep. Usually he had fallen asleep on one of our shoulders, or being rocked to sleep, or while eating, etc. Recently when he would wake in the middle of the night between sleep cycles and was no longer on a shoulder, no longer rocking, no longer eating, he would freak out... The Ferber method compares this situation to when an adult wakes up and his/her pillow is missing. You dont just go back to sleep; you wake up and find your pillow. Hudson was waking up and screaming until we got in there and recreated the situation to which he fell asleep. All this really just means that Hudson did NOT know how to fall asleep on his own. He required our help... which is not good for anyone, especially him.
On Monday I was not really ready to try any method that involed Hudson 'crying it out' so I tried my own method that still involved Hudson being awake when he got in the crib so that he could learn to fall asleep on his own... but I would pick him up each time he cried and calm him down and then place him back in the crib. Well... it went all right... but by night two Hudson had outsmarted my method. When he felt me getting near the crib, getting ready to put him down, he would cry, knowing that I would then soothe him again and not put him down. This went on for awhile until I realized every time I moved toward the crib he cried and he wanted me to hold him until he fell asleep.
Ok, back to square one. So today I bought Dr. Ferber's book to read exactly what this method entails. The Ferber method suggests putting your baby to bed while he/she is awake so that they can put themselves to sleep. The first night the method suggests going in to soothe the baby in intervals starting at 1-3 minutes. Tonight I put him to bed later than usual, as suggested, so that he would be extra tired and then walked out of the room. He was fine for a bit then started to cry. At which point I let him cry for 3 minutes. Now 3 minutes might sound like nothing, but when your baby is crying for 3 minutes and you are just sitting there doing nothing, believe me, it feels like 3 days. But the Ferber method claims to have immediate success -- within a couple days your baby can be putting himself to sleep easily -- and keep in mind I have a video monitor, so I am watching everything he does and I know he is fine. So I let him cry for 3 minutes then went in and soothed him (but did not pick him up). Then I left again. He started to cry a few minutes later and this time I wasnt supposed to go in and soothe for 5 minutes. Again, an eternity... I went in a second time to soothe and could tell he was sooooo tired. I left again (and poured myself a glass of wine to get through this because this could go on all night and I needed to be strong and at least give this an honest go). This time, I was supposed to wait 10 (TEN!!) minutes before going back in (10 minutes was the maximum tonight I would let him cry, though the book suggests gradually making that time longer in upcoming nights.) WELL... GOOD NEWS... I did not have to wait 10 minutes... Hudson fell asleep on his own in just 4 minutes. THANK GOODNESS. Let's keep our fingers crossed that he sleeps longer tonight! At least he wont wake up and be shocked that he is in his crib since that is where he put himself to sleep tonight!
On a side note, Hudson likes to sleep on his face now -- it is really scary for me to see, but I know he strong enough to roll over (though I still constantly check him)... Here is a photo of him sleeping:
Well so I started reading the books and realized I wasnt alone. Something does happen around his age, according to the books: babies around 4 months become aware of their environments. Before this week, we were putting Hudson in his crib when he was already asleep. Usually he had fallen asleep on one of our shoulders, or being rocked to sleep, or while eating, etc. Recently when he would wake in the middle of the night between sleep cycles and was no longer on a shoulder, no longer rocking, no longer eating, he would freak out... The Ferber method compares this situation to when an adult wakes up and his/her pillow is missing. You dont just go back to sleep; you wake up and find your pillow. Hudson was waking up and screaming until we got in there and recreated the situation to which he fell asleep. All this really just means that Hudson did NOT know how to fall asleep on his own. He required our help... which is not good for anyone, especially him.
On Monday I was not really ready to try any method that involed Hudson 'crying it out' so I tried my own method that still involved Hudson being awake when he got in the crib so that he could learn to fall asleep on his own... but I would pick him up each time he cried and calm him down and then place him back in the crib. Well... it went all right... but by night two Hudson had outsmarted my method. When he felt me getting near the crib, getting ready to put him down, he would cry, knowing that I would then soothe him again and not put him down. This went on for awhile until I realized every time I moved toward the crib he cried and he wanted me to hold him until he fell asleep.
Ok, back to square one. So today I bought Dr. Ferber's book to read exactly what this method entails. The Ferber method suggests putting your baby to bed while he/she is awake so that they can put themselves to sleep. The first night the method suggests going in to soothe the baby in intervals starting at 1-3 minutes. Tonight I put him to bed later than usual, as suggested, so that he would be extra tired and then walked out of the room. He was fine for a bit then started to cry. At which point I let him cry for 3 minutes. Now 3 minutes might sound like nothing, but when your baby is crying for 3 minutes and you are just sitting there doing nothing, believe me, it feels like 3 days. But the Ferber method claims to have immediate success -- within a couple days your baby can be putting himself to sleep easily -- and keep in mind I have a video monitor, so I am watching everything he does and I know he is fine. So I let him cry for 3 minutes then went in and soothed him (but did not pick him up). Then I left again. He started to cry a few minutes later and this time I wasnt supposed to go in and soothe for 5 minutes. Again, an eternity... I went in a second time to soothe and could tell he was sooooo tired. I left again (and poured myself a glass of wine to get through this because this could go on all night and I needed to be strong and at least give this an honest go). This time, I was supposed to wait 10 (TEN!!) minutes before going back in (10 minutes was the maximum tonight I would let him cry, though the book suggests gradually making that time longer in upcoming nights.) WELL... GOOD NEWS... I did not have to wait 10 minutes... Hudson fell asleep on his own in just 4 minutes. THANK GOODNESS. Let's keep our fingers crossed that he sleeps longer tonight! At least he wont wake up and be shocked that he is in his crib since that is where he put himself to sleep tonight!
On a side note, Hudson likes to sleep on his face now -- it is really scary for me to see, but I know he strong enough to roll over (though I still constantly check him)... Here is a photo of him sleeping:
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Look-Alike Poll
COUPLE PICS OF HUDSON
PHOTO A
PHOTO B
And by the way, neither photo is of me - they are all males.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Hudson's First Sleepover
Mommy and Daddy's first night away from Hudson!
JR and I went to Pechanga last night. It was our first night away together post-Hudson. Hudson stayed with my mom. I felt bad leaving him since he has not been sleeping well lately. And what do you know, the little guy gets his second tooth while I am gone. On the bottom, right next to his first. Hopefully he wasnt teething too badly!!
JR and I got to Pechanga around 400pm and hung out by the pool, then went to dinner and saw the Gispy Kings in concert. We had a great time but I think I came back more tired then when I left. We had some drinks and stayed out late with friends and so unfortunately I did not come home feeling very rested. Next time Hudson has a sleepover, I think I will take some Tylenol PM and catch up on some much needed sleep...
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Big Bear Part Two
Here is Hudson in his baby life vest that Daddy bought for him. He looks semi-happy here in this photo with Uncle Adam but he really hated the thing...
Here are some more photos of him being a big kid... and his first beer!
Another cute one of him playing with Gianna. Love her hair!!
We did not forget the little doggies! We brought them to Big Bear too and they loved it! They hung in the big backyard, went down to the lake, saw some coyotes, and hung under this tree when it got too hot!
And last, here is my happy boy with his Mommy.
Here are some more photos of him being a big kid... and his first beer!
Another cute one of him playing with Gianna. Love her hair!!
We did not forget the little doggies! We brought them to Big Bear too and they loved it! They hung in the big backyard, went down to the lake, saw some coyotes, and hung under this tree when it got too hot!
And last, here is my happy boy with his Mommy.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Big Week in Big Bear
It has been awhile since I posted because we were on our family vacation. This year we went to my parents house in Big Bear. A lot of things happened this week - it was a Big week for Hudson...
First, I must say, that teething SUCKS. It comes on hard and fast and nothing really helps. At least nothing has really helped Hudson and we have tried tylenol, orajel, teething tablets, teething rings, etc... BUT... the cutie did get his first tooth on August 11th! Here is the photo zoomed in on his tooth the first day it came in (it has already grown so much more and it is sharp!):
And here is the original photo:
These photos are of Hudson hanging out on the deck with Daddy and Grandpa:
And here is Hudson at the Big Bear zoo, which he loved:
Hudson is such a big boy now he drinks out of cups and he loves his new Superman sippy cup:
Here is a picture of Hudson getting ready for water activities. Daddy even made him try on a life vest (though he never made it out on to the boat, thanks to Mommy) Pictures of the life vest are coming shortly.
He also had a great week with cousin Gianna. They played with Gianna's big kid toys and he is getting good at grabbing at things and pressing the buttons on the leap frog music toy. Here he is playing with cousin Gianna:
And here is what family dinners looked like this week:
First, I must say, that teething SUCKS. It comes on hard and fast and nothing really helps. At least nothing has really helped Hudson and we have tried tylenol, orajel, teething tablets, teething rings, etc... BUT... the cutie did get his first tooth on August 11th! Here is the photo zoomed in on his tooth the first day it came in (it has already grown so much more and it is sharp!):
And here is the original photo:
These photos are of Hudson hanging out on the deck with Daddy and Grandpa:
And here is Hudson at the Big Bear zoo, which he loved:
Hudson is such a big boy now he drinks out of cups and he loves his new Superman sippy cup:
Here is a picture of Hudson getting ready for water activities. Daddy even made him try on a life vest (though he never made it out on to the boat, thanks to Mommy) Pictures of the life vest are coming shortly.
He also had a great week with cousin Gianna. They played with Gianna's big kid toys and he is getting good at grabbing at things and pressing the buttons on the leap frog music toy. Here he is playing with cousin Gianna:
And here is what family dinners looked like this week:
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Upside Down
I dont know how old a baby is supposed to be before they can go upside down but I tried it and here is the face I got....he is laughing hysterically...
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Everything Nursing
Ok, so this post is probably only interesting for those new moms like me or those that are pregnant. So many of my friends are pregnant and I keep getting questions, so I thought I would write a bit here...
The most used item I have is the fabulous "Hooter Hider". Here is the link.
The hooter hider allows you to breastfeed the baby and see the baby, without others seeing you and your boobs. This item has single-handedly allowed me to leave the house....
I found that the best nursing bras (and more reasonably priced ones) are Babystyle and Bella Materna. The first one has the flip down feature whereas the second is more 'normal' looking. I think I have at least 8 nursing bras. You will live in this item 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and milk will get all over it, so get plenty.
I thought that 'My Brest Friend' was better than the Boppy, though neither is necessary at all.
I have the double Medela Breast pump, though I think you only need the single. There have been very few times that I used BOTH pumps since you never really want to pump yourself dry in case the baby gets hungry. I would have got the cheaper single pump looking back on things...
And last, I like the Medela breast pads best.
All this is obviously just my opinion. Basically my sister in law told me what she liked and I went with it and liked them too... There are so many brands and options out there it is crazy and overwhelming.
Fascinating stuff....
The most used item I have is the fabulous "Hooter Hider". Here is the link.
The hooter hider allows you to breastfeed the baby and see the baby, without others seeing you and your boobs. This item has single-handedly allowed me to leave the house....
I found that the best nursing bras (and more reasonably priced ones) are Babystyle and Bella Materna. The first one has the flip down feature whereas the second is more 'normal' looking. I think I have at least 8 nursing bras. You will live in this item 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and milk will get all over it, so get plenty.
I thought that 'My Brest Friend' was better than the Boppy, though neither is necessary at all.
I have the double Medela Breast pump, though I think you only need the single. There have been very few times that I used BOTH pumps since you never really want to pump yourself dry in case the baby gets hungry. I would have got the cheaper single pump looking back on things...
And last, I like the Medela breast pads best.
All this is obviously just my opinion. Basically my sister in law told me what she liked and I went with it and liked them too... There are so many brands and options out there it is crazy and overwhelming.
Fascinating stuff....
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