Some Random Shots

Cruisin'

Hudson is cruising along, getting better and better at walking. He is hardly crawling anymore - even when he falls, he now just stands up and keeps walking rather than crawling to wherever he was headed. It is really hard to get him to sit or to keep him in one place - he is constantly on the move - which means, so am I.

~LOL~

Not much to see in this video but hopefully your sound is up!

Dog Beach

We went to the local dog beach yesterday and it was so much fun. Hudson didnt even try to eat the sand though he did want to dive into the water. The dogs loved it and went crazy.

The Gate

I spend most of my time around, near or on the gate that divides Hudson's play room from the rest of the house (as I type, Hudson is at the gate now). He is obsessed with the gate - partly because he is not supposed to go in that room alone and partly because he figured out how to open the gate by himself. This gate is better than any toy we currently have in the house.



And here is a photo that JR probably doesnt want me to post but that I love...

My Gym

I think I mentioned that Hudson started going to My Gym classes a couple weeks ago and he L-O-V-E-S them. I love them because he is exhausted when he gets home! It has helped tremendously with his social skills too - instead of being glued to me, he is off playing with other kids and the teachers. It has been great. I also think he is walking now because he watched some of the other kids and tried to copy them...

10 Months ~ Walking

Hudson is 10 months old already. He is such a big boy now and I cannot believe his first birthday is coming up! He is also walking a lot more now. Still falling but doing great and I am so proud of him! Here he is taking lots of steps - and holding something in his hands while doing it!

First Snow

Hudson played in real snow for the first time this past weekend. I think he liked it. He kept wanting to lay in it and I didnt have his snow outfit on yet and I didnt want him to get wet. But he stood in it, touched it and even sled in it all by himself.

Counting Steps

Hudson took NINE steps in a row today! He did a couple sets of SEVEN, but NINE was the most! He is getting brave and starting to do it more and more. He is so proud of himself and gets so excited that after he falls he claps for himself. And of course, I have no pictures or video of this because I cannot find the charger for my camera. We busted out the big recorder tonight, so hopefully we will get some footage.

Vegas

This past weekend I went to Vegas for my cousin's 7th annual 21st Birthday Celebration (yes, we have been going for quite a few years - even before he was 21). I had a ton of fun but I am definitely done with Vegas for at least awhile. We acted like high rollers driving around to the clubs in stretch Hummer limos, drinking lots of alcohol, eating good food, and paying for it all the next morning. The worst part was that our flight home on Sunday was cancelled because of weather. Terrible. We were scheduled to fly home at noon and they rescheduled our flight for 9pm. We ended up renting a car and driving home. (America West: Just because you changed your name to US AIrways does not mean you are not still the Worst).
The weekend did end on a very good note with the best welcome ever -- Hudson jumped into my arms and gave me tons of slobbery kisses. My face was soaking wet but it was the absolute best.
And, of course, Hudson got a new hat:

Saturday Soccer Fun

Hudson got some pointers at his cousin's soccer game this weekend. He is also taking steps -- though I wouldnt call it walking quite yet. He is definitely brave; he lets go, and gets a couple steps in before falling over. He is also opening the childproof gate. He is literally lifting the handle (that many adults cannot figure out when they come over) and opening the gate and getting through. I will get it on video soon.

Gaggers

This post is not for those with weak stomachs or those that dont want to hear about poop. Just a warning...
When I was pregnant, I remember reading a friend's blog about poop. In fact, she was soliciting stories from others about poop - let me be clearer - funny stories about children's poop. Well, at the time, I was pregnant, and didnt have any stories. Then, just the other day, a friend with a new baby told me she got pooped on in the middle of the night. Hudson did the same thing when he was younger - pooped on my chest. To this day I am not sure how the poop shot so high but it did. And it did to my friend the other night.
This got me thinking about the other night a couple weeks back... when Hudson had a blow out (when poop cannot be contained by the diaper and therefore gets up the back or out the sides). When I began to change him, I put a clean diaper underneath - but because of the blow out, I got poop all over my hand. I called for JR to come help because it was getting hard to hold Hudson in place and because I couldnt do much with one clean hand. I thought it would be easier with help and since JR was there, I called for him. Well, JR has a weak stomach and started gagging over the trash can once he got close, smelled the situation and saw what was going on. I started laughing so hard that I let Hudson go... He immediately rolled over, crawled away - naked and with poop all over his back. He crawled over to his leap frog toy and stood up - then plopped down - stamping the alphabet mat with his pooped covered butt. I was crying I was laughing so hard. And yes, I still had poop on my hand. And yes, JR was still gagging over the trash can (in his defense - Hudson's poop STINKS now that he is eating solids).
Fast forward to tonight - we were changing Hudson before he got in the bath and, yep - another blowout. JR came over to help because there was poop everywhere and of course - he started gagging again. And of course, I started laughing again. Now this type of thing has happened a few times when I am home alone but as Hudson gets older it is hard to keep him down long enough to change such a dirty diaper (and of course he gets a bath right after something like this - but you still have to get the poop off before the bath, otherwise he is bathing in his own poop). But I am not sure (and yet also cannot wait to see) what would happen if JR were home alone with Hudson when another blow out occurs.... I am laughing already at the thought of him gagging while Hudson crawls away with poop all over his back/butt.

30th Anniversary

Last Friday night (of my Big Weekend) my parents had a 30th Anniversary party. It was at the place JR and I got married (because they are so great) and everyone had a ball. My dad surprised my mom during his speech and asked her to re-marry him again. Don Johnson (who married JR and I and also my brother Ryan and his wife Catt) appeared to perform the service. The night was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what the next 30 years brings my parents. (Also, we did buy all the photos, I just couldn't wait to post them and copied them off her site for now).

Making Daddy Proud

Like father like son -- Hudson is already chasing soccer balls around.

Mental Pictures

We are currently in the process of weaning Hudson. The last three weeks he has only been nursing at night and JR and I realized that he is waking up with the hopes of nursing more and so we thought it was about time to try to stop. I thought I was ok with the idea of stopping since nursing is very demanding and Hudson is getting older but I recently realized that I enjoy this personal time I spend with Hudson and this is definitely going to be sad for me and harder than I thought.
This morning when he woke up, I nursed him with the idea that it was possibily one of the last times I would do so.... I got a little sad and took a mental picture hoping I would always remember. We sat in the rocking chair and I rubbed his head and put his hair in place and he held on to my shirt like he always does. And when he fell asleep, I let him because he was so peaceful. When he started laughing in his sleep, I took another mental picture.

When I put him back in his crib asleep, I walked out the room realizing that I would have to start accepting the fact that he is growing up. I am so not ready to do that!

Smarty Pants

Last week I started asking Hudson questions about his flashcards. I was shocked when he got them all right... I had no idea! This video isnt that great because, of course, I am shooting the clip and asking the questions... but you get the idea. He can pick out the dog, the cat, the bird, the baby, the turtle and the balloon - even when there are more than two options. Actually, those are the only animals/things that I have tried, so maybe he can recognize more. These babies are smarter and take more in than I realized!

Ducks at the Park

We found a park nearby with a small little 'lake' and lots of ducks. Hudson and I have gone a couple times this week to feed them in the morning.

Brunch

We had a very big weekend (30th Anniversary party for my parents on Friday and 30th Birthday party for a friend on Saturday) but I dont have time to post all of that now -- that is to come. In the meantime - we went to brunch today and we sat by a fountain - Hudson's favorite. He had a great time:




Gianna is giving her cousin Hudson a kiss here - he doesnt quite know what is going on but he went with it.

9 Month Check Up

Hudson had his 9 month check up this morning. He is weighing in at 19 pounds 5 ounces (in the 25% percentile) and is 29 1/2 inches long (75%). It is now time to start introducing meats - though for some reason that seems weird to me.
Hudson also got another tooth yesterday. He got the top four teeth in the last 3 weeks. I hate teething and would love to check the box for "No teeth, thank you though" if that were an option. Teething has been so hard on Hudson (and mommy and daddy) and it is so sad for him to be in so much pain (and yes, we have tried everything).
I must say though, he is pretty darn cute with a mouth full of teeth - it definitely makes him look older!
Also - here is the voting for Hudson growing bigger than Gianna. It hasnt happened yet!

How soon before Hudson is bigger than cousin Gianna?
	June
	July
	August
	September
	October
	November
pollcode.com free polls

Introducing....

~~ Kaylee Kathryn Ritter ~~
Born 1/6/08 and weighing 6pounds 13 ounces.
Congratulations to mommy and daddy!
Another girlfriend for Hudson!!

Happy Anniversary!

Today JR and I celebrate our second anniversary... how time flies! It feels like just last week that I got married but so much has happened in that time! I graduated from law school, took and passed the bar exam, got two dogs, got pregnant, had Hudson, went to lots of weddings, watched tons of my friends turn into mommies, and started this blog (haha). Wonder what the next two years has in store!







My parents anniversary is also today! Happy 30th Anniversary to them!

Hats and Shoes

Anyone that knows me, knows that I have a thing for shoes (and lipgloss) and that thing for shoes extends to Hudson. Every day I try to put shoes and a hat on my little man because I think they are so darn cute. This is one of the ways to combat ALL the cute clothes for girls out there and the limited stuff for baby boys (seriously, boy stuff takes up only about 10-25% of a store and it is usually in the back corner. What's with that?). He has started to not like shoes. He is kicking them off, including the socks. I dont know how he does it but that just means I put them on his feet even more now. Plus, it is cold outside, so he needs something on his feet -- and head.



As for hats, I have been putting hats on Hudson since the day he was born -- back when he couldnt get them off. And for the most part, he still leaves them on even though he can get them off now. He does take them off when he is in his carseat... or when he is mad. Here is a look back at some of his best hats:

And here are his newest hats. Yes, a Harley Davidson do-rag.



This one is a bit too big - but will be cute soon!


And a baseball cap:

2008

We said goodbye to 2007, New York time. We relaxed in the jacuzzi and drank some champagne before we went to bed at 930pm. I am not at all sad about not staying up until midnight. In fact, I know more people who celebrated 'New York Style' than West Coast time.

This year seemed to fly by... 2007 will always be important to me because it was the year Hudson was born. In fact, looking back, 2007 was all about Hudson and not much else...

I dont do New Year's resolutions, but I am looking forward to a few things in 2008... My second anniversary (next week), my parents 30th wedding anniversary party (next week), a trip to Vegas in a few weeks, Hudson's 1st Birthday (in 3 months), mine and JR's 30th birthdays (June and May respectively), a few good friends' weddings, and possibly some discussions about baby Reynolds #2.

Lots to look forward to.... In the meantime, little Hudson is 9 months old today. He is turning out to be such a Mommy's little boy:

(wearing Auntie Rose's glasses).