Were in Trouble

First off, look at that cute face! Ah

So I always knew we were in trouble. From the moment he got up on his knees and bunked his head on the plastic crib thingee minutes after being born. Then came the crawling at 4 1/2 months...the first steps at 6 1/2 months...oh boy I thought, what have we got ourselves into.

We used to be able to block and contain little man. In the front room we put the ottoman between the two couches, and he had a huge play yard. That is until a couple days ago he figured out how to climb the ottoman.

Then came today...Little man thought it would be funny to climb out of his walker! The one place I had left. The last place I could put him to grab a quick bite to eat.

So, of course like any mother of the year when your child is dangling off the side of his walker, you grab the camera!

In chronological order, as I just stood by ready to grab in case he were to fall. But I wanted to see what he would do before I "rescued" him from his escape.

 (So right after ^ this picture, I did grab his arm so he didn't completely face plant)

As he crawls away I can't help but laugh.

Because honestly what else do you do when your 8 month old decides to climb into, out of, and on to absolutely everything in your house?

Oh Hudson, your such a boy. I must admit im nervous what the next 18 years are going to bring me!

Love you to the moon and back!!

DIY Halloween Owl Cupcakes

So I originally made these a few months back (hence only one semi decent picture).

I got the idea from a magazine, for the life of my I can't remember. I wanna say it was an old copy of Family Fun my mom had laying around. Although, there are numerous variations all over the web.

This is what me and my little sister came up with.

Cute huh?

I thought it was super appropriate seeing as Halloween will be here soon.

Supplies:
Cupcakes (we used a Betty Crocker boxed cake mix)
Oreos (we used uh-oh Oreos because we didn't think black went well with pink)
M&M's (I think when I make Halloween ones I will use reeces pieces)
Icing

For our cupcakes, after they cooled I put a messy thin layer of frosting so the Oreos had something to stick to. Then I put on the Oreos and I used a decorating icing pen I got at Walmart to make the "fur". We even made some evil eyebrows on one, and some glases on the other. Then you use the M&M's for the eyes, and turn an M&M on his side for the nose. Then, Ta-Da you have created a masterpiece!

This picture isn't the original one I got my idea from, but its very close! And its a bit more Halloween themed. This is what my next batch will look like.

Please & Thank You

 

Is it really that hard?

I hate that we live in a time where manners are becoming obsolete. I feel so bad for our children, and they world they will grow up in if things don't change.

At subway they have a sign that reads "I'm sorry, but if your on your phone we are unable to assist you". I Freaking love it. I wish my work would let me post this. At {one of} my job, im a teller at a bank. People can be so inconsiderate. I hate it. A good majority of people come to the drive thru on their phones, and completely ignore you. So I try talking to them and it's like im talking to the air. Or better yet, they windows are rolled up so I can't even say hi to the air. Oh, and the best yet is when they get mad at you for trying to interact with them because god forbid I do my job and say hi. ugh.

Then, at my other job...oh my other job {waitress}. I could seriously write a book on my stories. The thing that erks me the most at this job are parents. Now, before I say this I completely understand that sometimes children throw fits and there is nothing you can do, they are just in a mood. I get it. I'm talking about those parents who let their kids run wild in a restaurant where I'm walking around with heavy trays of food, and hot skillets. Those parents who get so upset and rude towards their children for their lack in discipline. If your sitting at your table and trying to order and your child is jumping up and down on the seats and won't sit still, well it's because you let them at home so that's what they know to be ok & when you get upset at your child for not saying please/thank you, well guess what. You didn't say it either. Children learn by example. Obviously you only make them say this when someone else is around. And believe me, I've seen enough families to know if you are polite, quiet, well mannered mommy and daddy, 9 out of 10 times so are your children.

One thing that terrifies me are the way children behave. My sister is in 5th grade and when I go pick her up after school im appalled. The things kids say and talk about are worse then things I did or said in High School! I hate more then anything in the world when people let their children swear at a young age. Sure its funny when your 2 1/2 year old blurts out the sh** word, but laugh behind their backs! If you let them see it, they will keep doing it thinking you like it because it makes you laugh. Then they grow up thinking its ok. It is not ok. Little kids should not ever use this language. Kids are to innocent, and they should think the world is magical and that they can do/be anything they want. Let life be fun and happy. I've seen to many kids whose parents never stopped them from swearing and it became a problem later in life. I don't think those kids ever stopped swearing. & along with swearing, flipping people off. I personally think it is ugly. I have honestly only ever flipped one person off, and believed me he deserved it.

Chivalry, Where oh where did it go?? I was leaving the store the other day, with Hudson in one arm, and a diaper bag and store bag in the other. Some guy just rushes right by me and pushes the door open and it shuts right on my face. I politely called after him "thank you". but I don't think he heard me.

Older gentleman are usually the sweetest and most polite people I meet. I love it. And its all in how they are raised. Last year, I was extremely pregnant and driving to work after a snow storm. I was driving a back road by bangeter. I was going about 15, my tire hit an ice patch and did a 360 across the street to the other side. I ended up in a ditch and couldn't get a out. I think about 20-25 cars passed me. {thanks for the help guys} Then finally this sweet older gentleman and what I assume to be his grandson pulled over and came and pushed my car out. They just tipped their cowboy hats and were on their way. I will be forever greatfull. This gives me some hope for our future. I just wanted to go thank their mommas for raising wonderful men!

Thank you mom, for teaching me manners. Making me say my please's and thank you's. Showing common courtesy to people. & loving your family. You better believe I will teach Hudson how to be a great young man!

DIY baby food

If you don't make at least some of your baby food, you should! It is way easy, saves a lot of money, and is healthier for your little one.

I wasn't going to make my own, I had never even thought about it. Then I cam across this book.

 This book is awesome! Not only does it show you exactly how to make tons of baby food purees, it also gives you all the nutritional facts for each one. It also has recipes up until your child is a toddler. Honestly some of these I am dying to try and would make great family meals, or lunches for older kids.

Today I made some Apples for Hudson. But pretty much any food is the same, cook till its soft, puree, freeze, defrost feed. But this book gives you in depth instructions for tons and tons of food.

Step 1
Wash and rinse your apples

 Step 2
Cut apples into quarters and cut out seeds

 Step 3
Place apples cut side down on a microwave safe plate and microwave till soft. Usually takes me 5-6 min for 5 apples.
*careful they will be hot, you will want to let cool

 Step 4
Peel off the skin (sometimes it will peel right off, others I use a knife) and place in blender/food processor/baby food maker whatever it may be. I personally love the blender.

 Step 5
Blend to desired consistency

 Step 6
Poor into ice cube tray and freeze over night. After frozen I place in a freezer ziploc bag and label it with the name of food and the date they were made.

Step 7
When your ready to feed, pop a few ice cubes in a microwave safe dish (it makes it really easy to creat your own combos. Hudson's fave is carrots and peaches) and melt. It may be hot, so let cool or you can add some baby cereal with either juice/formula/breast milk to cool and thicken. If you don't like to microwave you could also put in the fridge the day before for it to un freeze, or steam using a baby bottle warmer.

Step 8
enjoy!

  

I'm so glad I decided to make my own baby food! I still do use jarred food, especially if were going to be out and it's just more convenient. But knowing exactly whats in your babies food makes you feel so much better about what your feeding them!

Happy baby food making! :D What were/are some of your babies favorite foods?
  

Meet My Baby

This is Hudson

Our bundle of joy was born January 24th 2011 @ 1:53 pm Weighing in at 8 lbs 15 oz and 20 inches long.
He arrived 8 days late at 41 weeks. I was scheduled for induction on the 24th, and 4 hours before I had to go into the hospital Hudson decided to put me into labor. Good news, I was considered "spontaneous labor". Mind you, I got sent home 3 different times the week before..the first time was on my actual due date. But I wasn't progressing enough so I was sent home. Then 2 more times that week. Until finally Hudson decided to make his grand entrance. Labor was very fast, we got to the hospital right around 7am, epidural by 8:30, started pushing at 1 pm. So an hour of pushing ain't to bad, I'm not complaining. When Hudson was born he had what they call  Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. Basically it means during birth he went potty and swallowed some of it along with some amniotic fluid. It can be very dangerous, but thankfully we had some great nurses. Hudson spent 6 of the longest days of my life in the NICU (newborn intensive care unit). I am also pretty sure I may have gone 3 or more days without showering, I lived at the hospital, I couldn't stand being away from him. But the staff was great and they got him all better,and ready to go home with mommy and daddy. It was the scariest thing we have ever gone through. It was completely unexpected. I only held Hudson for a second before they whisked him and Tanner off to the NICU and I had no idea what was going on. (if you want to learn more about MAS click here it's actually extremely common). Here is a pic of Hudson a few hours after he was born.

 

As of now Hudson will be 8 months old tomorrow! It's hard to believe that little baby is him. He is a crazy little man, and is gonna leave me with my hands full for the rest of forever. Hudson thinks he can do anything and is a total boy. He started sitting up at 3 months old, crawling at 4 1/2 months, pulling up to standing and wobbling along furniture at 6 months, took his first steps at 6 1/2 months. Now he can take about 10 steps all by himself before falling over, and can walk forever if he holds your hand. I wish he would slow down, I love that he is learning and exploring, but I feel like I never got to experience a baby stage. But, it's ok. Hudson has to be in control and he likes to surprise us. Like a few weeks ago, I was cleaning while he was playing in his crib and the little stinker started climbing out!! He was about half an inch from falling out, scared the daylights out of me! We are currently in the market for a crib tent to lock him in at night. Babies R Us used to sell them, but kids were ripping the netting and their fingers were getting stuck, so they stopped carrying them. Personally I would choose a stuck finger over a broken neck any day. Hudson Is just the best little guy ever. He loves to smile and laugh. He is the most ticklish thing on the planet. He can say dada, baba, and sometimes if he wants to mama, usually he just calls me mmmmm. I love it.

Well, that's our little man in a nutshell. I though you would love to get to know him. Now enjoy some pics of MR. Hudson over the last few months. 

  Here he is in my belly.

These were a few of my fave newborn shots.

This was Hudson's very first Easter

3 Months old

 our first professional family pic, 5 months old

 

Hudson and Daddy

These are 6 months

This is at our cousins Jenna's wedding. Gives me great ideas :)

7 months, at my family's family pictures

& Just some random favorites

Facebook

So stupid Facebook. Someone created a fake account for The Hubs (turns out friends who thought they were funny). So someone told me I had a fake one floating around too. So I got all freaked and reported it. Welllll...im so smart. Cuz this other Facebook was the page I created for this blog. Wow, go me! Anyways, its going to be deleted in a few days so I did a new one and made sure it was correctly connected to my current Facebook page. So, if you have already liked my Facebook, im going to have to ask you to like it again! That way you can get all my updates from Facebook. Sorry for the trouble....but don't worry. Right on the right hand side of this blog you can see a "like me on facebook" so i've made it super easy for you. You can also follow me right here on the blog by clicking "join this site". Sorry for my blonde moment of the week!

Wordless Wednesday

I Swore I Wouldn't Let It Happen

But I did.

And I can't help myself. Its been my addiction for the last, almost 2 hours.

Pinterest.

If you have not got a chance to check this site out yet, stop reading and go do it now! Be warned though, you will loose hours of your life. That being said, this site is genius. I can't tell you how many folders and bookmarks I have on my computer of things I find online. I'll bet a good 97% of those I never look at again. But to have a place to organize all my ideas, inspirations, and DIY tips is amazing. This has got to be my new favorite site....well at least a close second.  

Here is just a tid bit of some stuff I pinned today!

So, go ahead take a look around. I promise you will find something you love and something to inspire you.