Brothers: 3 Months Old

HudsonLucas

Happy 3 Months!

Here are some things about Lucas at 3 months old:

- He found his hands on July 24th and smiled at them! Even before that, he started chewing and sucking on them. Since Luke can almost stick his whole hand in his mouth when he's chewing on it, Hudson thinks this is so cool and tries to copy him. You should see Hudson try to shove his hand in his mouth like baby brother.

- Luke is sleeping 10+ hours a night now and is going to bed between 8-9 each evening. He is also take three naps a day. His morning nap is usually around 1-2 hours, and his afternoon one can last as long as 5 hours. He also takes a cat nap between 30 min. to an hour in the evening. However, this one isn't in his crib like the others. He just falls asleep out in the living room with us.

- He has been introduced to formula. We give him a couple ounces each evening along with the breastmilk to help him sleep longer.

- He is just about to roll over from his tummy to his back. He keeps trying, and he's almost there! Remember when he was one week old and almost did this?... He turned from his tummy to his side but didn't make it all the way over. Well, ever since then, he hasn't been interested in turning over until just recently when he started trying again.

- Luke is now comfortably in 3-6 month clothing.

- He is holding and shaking rattles now. He hasn't learned to grab for them yet, so Mommy will put them in his hand.

- Luke prefers to be where he can see me. Usually, as long as I place him where he can watch what I'm doing, he's happy. Sometimes, he will also enjoy watching his Praise and Worship DVDs... He will move his arms and legs excitedly while watching them.

- Luke still has a rockstar hairdo on top, and it's just getting longer and longer! I waited until after Hudson turned 1 before cutting his hair, which is what I also wanted to do with Lucas. I hope I can make it until then... it's getting pretty crazy! He still hasn't gotten any bald spots, but his hair on the sides and back is much thinner than on top.

Luke smiled when Hudson came in the room...Look at him smiling at his big brother!

I need a diaper change, Mommy!

Little Swimmer Update

We changed our minds and decided to go a different route with Hudson's lessons. After speaking with the instructor, we decided that instead of him having another week of lessons I am going to work with him at this point. Since he is so close, and he essentially knows all the skills, it will probably be easiest for me to just work with him a few times to help him grasp the whole concept of swim-float-swim. So when I have time over the next couple weeks I am going to work with him, and I will post pictures and hopefully a video of Hudson when he graduates! In the meantime, I gave him his grand prize for completing his lessons: a Monster Truck! With just the push of a button, it will drive forwards or backwards, make super cool truck sounds and light up. It can also drive up and over things with it's monster tires!

Driving away

Priceless

No colic...check! Rolling over to his side...check! Sleeping through the night...double check! Giving Mommy unlimited smiles and giggles... PRICELESS!!!

This is what being a Mommy is all about! The smiles, laughs, kisses, hugs, "I love yous", twinkling eyes, and bright, happy faces... I just love it!

Mommy has Two Names!

The other day, Hudson heard Matthew call for me from across the house. Now when Hudson is calling for me, he will sometimes yell "KARA!". It's hilarious! Most of the time it's still 'Mommy', but he will throw in a 'Kara' every once in a while.

Bumbo

Luke enjoying his Bumbo seat today...

Of course, big brother wants to do everything that little brother does!

Random

Here are a couple random pics that I just received from a friend and wanted to share...

Three Handsome Boys!Hudson Floating

Pics with My Boys

We went over to the Carlson's house this evening. We had lots of fun visiting and playing games with our friends, and Hudson always loves playing with Kelsey! It's been a rarity these past three months for Mommy to dress up and put makeup on, so I took this opportunity to get a couple pics with my boys...

I love my little Huddlebug!
I love my little Rockstar!

Play Time!

Yesterday, Hudson went over to play with Chase and Tyler after swim lessons. They were being goofy...

Ty, Chase and Huds wearing "capes" on their heads

Chase always likes to hug and play with Luke. He's very gentle with him!

Chase is tickling Luke's face
Sweet Boy
Hudson found a turtle at my parent's house earlier in the week...

Little Swimmer: Week 6

Hudson is FLOATING! This is a huge accomplishment! I was beginning to get worried he wasn't going to get there! He is also swimming to the side very well. Like the instructor said... He has come a long way in the past couple weeks. I'm very proud of him. I have been extremely busy this week because I've practiced with him in the afternoons also, which has helped tons! The other thing that he learned this week is to bring his head up for air when he's underwater. This is a big accomplishment as well! Now, all he needs to do is put it all together. When he jumps into the pool, he needs to be able to come up to the float on his own. He is trying to do this but hasn't quite got it yet. The instructor and I were thinking he needs to come back next week to complete this task. Then he's got it! We've come this far, so I definitely want to make sure he can swim-float-swim to get to the side if he ever fell in. Hudson had a clothes test today and did great! He can swim to the side. He will have another clothes test next week when he completes the lessons. Hudson's other two friends who are still in the lessons with his, Ty and Stella, both did wonderful during their clothes test today. Ty is still working on his float, and Stella can float now but is still learning to swim.

Hudson standing proudly after his clothes test today

Daddy came to watch his little swimmer

Huddle Bug and MommyMemere with the boys earlier in the week

5 Happy Years!

Yesterday was our 5th anniversary, and we had a perfect time celebrating! Our motto this year was "No Kids, No Money". So, we planned a modest weekend where we didn't spend too much $$. On Thursday evening we dropped off the boys with our parents. Mine watched Luke and Matthew's parents watched Hudson. It's wonderful to have the help of our parents so we can get away like this! Friday morning we woke up very early to beat rush hour traffic. We grabbed coffee and bagels on our way out of town to Salado. In Salado, we visited a few stores and walked on the golf course. We didn't stay too long because it wasn't much of a place for guys. On our way back, we stopped for lunch at the El Chico in Waco. Then we headed to the Grapevine movie theater where we watched a couple movies; both were great! After grabbing some dinner at BJ's Brewhouse, we went back home (kid free). On Saturday morning, we were back at the local bagel/coffee house again for breakfast before going to pick up our little joys! I was so excited to see them! It's amazing how much we missed them during that short time, and of course, those little guys were the main topic of many of our conversations! We had a perfect 5th anniversary, and I look forward to many more to come!

Little Swimmer: Week 5

Hudson completed his fifth week of swim lessons today, and he is doing FANTASTIC! The instructor was nice enough to give us this week for free since we had several sporatic days off due to the 4th of July holiday. That was nice! Hudson is doing very well. He is swimming to the side with awesome kicks, and he has his float down. He just needs to learn to stay in the float when nobody is holding his head. When you let go of his head, he immediately turns over to start swimming, so once he learns to stay floating on his own, he'll have it! I'm hoping he'll test out next week.

For finishing this week, Hudson got a lion bottle buddy. It's adorbale! When looking around online for safari items for his birthday party, I ran across this. He can wear it around his neck to hold his sippy cup when we are out somewhere. Of course, I also gave him a hot wheels car along with it because I'm making sure to keep the car theme for each weekly prize... this is leading up to his big car prize when he tests out!

Chase, Jax and Huds having fun!

Showing off his muscles... Daddy taught him this!It looks like Jax is trying to feel Hudson's muscles in this pic.Opa and Mimi came to watch the little swimmers a couple times this week.

Joshua tested out this week. Here he is doing his clothes test today.Hudson practicing his float
Floating on his own (only for a few seconds before he turned over to swim)Swimming to the side. This doesn't look like much in the pics, but it's a HUGE accomplishment!
Enjoying his new lion bottle buddy

First Step Toward Independence

I know it's been a couple weeks since our first attempt at the crib, but we decided to wait a little longer. For one, we've been so busy that it's been easier to just put him in the room with us, and the main reason is because down deep I don't think I was ready yet. For some reason, it's sad for me to put my little ones in their own room for the first time. I cried with Hudson and again with Luke. I guess to me, it's kinda their first step toward independence and not needing Mommy as much. Now he doesn't need Mommy sleeping right next to him where I can hear him breathe and scoop him up in an instant if he wakes up. This time was a success!! I put him to bed about 10:30 (which is a little later than normal), and he immediately fell asleep without stirring. I was all prepared to come in and soothe him a few times, but he didn't make a peep. He normally sleeps until around 6:30-7:00 when I feed him, and he goes right back to sleep until about 9:30. However, he did wake up at 4:00 this time. I assume it's because he's in a new place combined with the fact that I fed him earlier than usual the night before (about an hour or so before he went to bed). I fed him at 4:00 when he woke up, and he immediately went back to sleep until 7:30. I fed him again at 7:30, and he's right back asleep. I'm pretty confident that he will go back to his usual sleeping pattern tomorrow. We'll see! Either way, I'm excited that he is now sleeping in his own room. What a big boy!

Visit from Aunt Sue and Uncle Norm

This afternoon, Matthew's Aunt and Uncle came by to visit. They came bearing lots of gifts for the boys. Hudson is already enjoying playing with all of them! Luke will be playing along with him one of these days! They gave Luke a rocking horse named Tucker that Hudson thought was very cool... and his! It was nice to visit with them, and Hudson enjoyed playing with his new friend, Uncle Norm! For a while after they left, Hudson kept going to the window saying "Sue, Sue" hoping they were coming back!

Aunt Sue, Mimi and Papa enjoying Lucas

I love this rocking horse! Luke can let me borrow it.

Camera Happy

This morning was one of those times when I had my camera out and some spare time (which can be scarce lately), so I took advantage of this by getting some pics of my boys...

Ace, our little rockstar, is having a good hair day!

Hudson wanted to get in the picture with Luke!

Big Brother wants to remove my hood to show off my rockin' hair Chillin' in my bouncy seat When Hudson saw me taking pictures of Luke, he wanted some taken of him. This actually made it possible to get a couple decent ones with him looking at the camera. About to blow Mommy a kiss!