Hudson loves to get into the kitchen cabinets these days.

I arranged one cabinet to have only plastic things like mixing bowls, food storage containers, and other plastic cooking items. This way Hudson can open this cabinet and tear into it as much as he wants to.

And that’s exactly what he did!

Dear Hudson,

Yesterday you turned 10 months old. We are just two months shy of your first birthday and I cannot get over how quickly time passes. I say this all the time and it sounds cliche, but it’s true. I feel like it was a week ago that we brought you home from the hospital and were giving you your first bath. We were so scared that we were going to mess up and not do everything right. And now here you are, ten months later, and you are thriving, growing, smiling, and moving.

just practicing with the sunglasses

Every month gets better and better. As you learn new things, we learn something new about you. The ninth month was pretty great. You did lots of smiling, laughing, playing, teasing, crawling, and cruising. You are such a curious little boy. You want to have your hands in everything and as soon as we say “no” you fall apart and act like we’ve broken your heart. You know how to push the boundaries as far as you can without going too far. We have to try so hard not to laugh at you for fear that we’ll just encourage mischievous behavior. But you are a smart little boy!

You love new people and love playing peek-a-boo with them even if they don’t know they’re in on the game. You’ll tilt your head to the side and give someone a big grin. You’ve already become quite the flirt and know a cute girl when you see one. You love to wave and say “buh-buh” (bye bye) and you’ll do it as soon as you see anyone. You also love to clap, but still aren’t sure about clapping on command. But whenever someone claps or says “yay!” you’re ready with your two little hands. When you see your bottle, you still say “ba-ba.” And when you see Boudreaux you say “buh” or “da.” (Boudreaux or dog?)

You are so strong and your teacher at The Little Gym swears that you were doing a pull-up this morning without her help. Your Daddy has big plans for you to be an offensive lineman for the Gamecocks. Of course we want you to be anything you want to be.

You still love books. The other day I had you in your pack ‘n play so I could fold some laundry and you were just sitting there holding your little Baby Einstein books and jabbering away. We love to read to you. You don’t sit still very often, but if you’re interested in what we’re doing, then you have a great attention span.

You are still doing the fake cough to get our attention and when we fake cough back at you, you just roll with laughter. You laugh the most when you’re having your diaper changed and we make funny noises at you. You know that we’re funny– or you’re just sweet and courteous.

We love you so much and love seeing the big boy that you’re becoming. What were our lives like without you? It’s hard to even remember. We’re so happy that you’re here with us and that you bring so much love and happiness into our lives.

Love,  Mama

Clothes: 18-24 months

Weight: 27 pounds

Height: not sure this month

Diaper: size 4- daytime, size 5-night time

Food: 32 oz of formula per day – 4 bottles w/ 8 oz each (per doctor’s recommendation) and 3 meals at the high chair

Teeth: 6 teeth are in and 2 have broken the gum and are on their way down. 8 teeth!

Sleep: 7 pm- 7 am (sometimes 7:30 am) without waking, crying, or needing anything. This is why you’re such a happy boy!

10 months

9 months

Some out takes from the 10 month pictures…

On March 5, my sweet baby boy turned 9 months old. I cannot get over how time flies. He has been here, with us, for as long as I carried him in my tummy.

I’m amazed every day by his new little activities and milestones. He masters something and moves on to the next thing. He is constantly into everything and pushes the boundaries as only a little boy can when his mommy is wrapped around his finger. He is crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything, and successfully transferring from piece of furniture to another piece of furniture. Holding him back is no longer an option!

I am not wishing for him to walk at all. I know he’ll do it in his own time and we encourage him all the time. But I know that once he starts walking, it’s over. He’s off and I can’t stop him! He’s already so adventurous and constantly toppling over or bonking his head on something. He got his first shiner yesterday on the chair leg. We keep asking if there’s any way he can wear a helmet. But he rarely cries when he falls and when he does cry, we know that it must have hurt really bad.

He loves meeting new people and he especially loves seeing friends that he recognizes. He is so enthusiastic and gets his little legs moving when he sees something he’s excited about. He screams with excitement when I start a Baby Einstein video. He starts hollering if I fix him a bottle. Hudson is still a little sad when I drop him off at the nursery, but not because he doesn’t love the nursery. He just doesn’t want his mommy to leave.

He loves music. He absolutely loves to bounce and dance. He hears music and immediately bobs up and down. It’s all that jamming I did when I was pregnant with him.

The doctor wanted him to have 32 ounces of formula every day until he turned 9 months old. She told us to hold off on three meals per day until his 9 month birthday, too. So now that he’s 9 months, we’ll be starting the stage 3 foods and gradually introducing table food. We’ve been having breakfast and supper at the high chair and now we’ll add lunch to it. He is such a great eater and I’m so thankful for that.

He has completely mastered the challenging task of picking up little Gerber Puffs and Yogurt Melts and putting them in his mouth. It’s his new favorite thing to do. I know he’ll love adding table food to his diet.

I’m sure you’ve all seen that he has 4 teeth now, but his 5th has already popped through. He is working on one more bottom teeth, and the next two top teeth are right there. I’m so excited because this means he’ll be able to cut his meat with his teeth and I won’t be as worried about giving him chunky food.

He says “da-da-da-da” but we can’t tell that he’s saying “da-da” in response to seeing his Daddy. He does, however, say “ba-ba” when he sees his bottle. Pretty sure he knows exactly what he’s saying there. The boy clearly doesn’t miss a meal.

At 9 months old, Hudson weighs 25 lbs and measures 30 inches long. He’s no longer above the 98th percentile. Now he’s in the 95th and 96th percentiles. I guess that crawling is causing him to plateau a little bit. He’s just burning calories left and right!

He’s still such an amazing sleeper, and for that we are so blessed. He goes to bed at 7 p.m. and wakes up at 7 a.m. He takes two naps (sometimes three) every day for about an hour a piece.

He recognizes the word “no” and isn’t sure he likes it. Sometimes he’ll hear it and stop whatever he’s doing, but then goes back to it a couple of seconds later. I’ll say “no” again and he’ll stop. He’s just seeing how far he can go. Then we’ve had the tantrums. I’ll say no and he won’t touch anymore. And he never touches, but I keep saying no, and then he just falls apart. It’s so hard being a baby.

He’s such a happy, funny, little boy and we’re just so excited about each new day and each new milestone. I cannot believe how quickly time flies. I know I said that already, but during those early days when I just cried and cried because I was overwhelmed, tired, and just full of love? Those days will be over so quickly and the really fun days of playing with your crawling, jumping, wiggle worm are just around the corner.

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

Hudson actually turned 8 months old on February 5, but things got a little crazy. We went out of town for over a week, and while I always vow to blog while I’m away, it’s rare when I actually follow through with that vow. It’s much easier to just enjoy the vacation from everything– including blogging.

Dearest Hudson,

I have to say that as your mommy, this month has been the most fun. You started sitting up at 5 months and then right after you turned 7 months you started crawling. You never army crawled. You just got up on your hands and knees and took off.

Crawling means lots of bumps and scrapes

You’re a heavy little booger and you want to crawl around and toward things that are dangerous and not for little boys. So I’m always on the ground picking you up or redirecting you. It has been so much fun to chase you around and watch you explore the house on your own. You still haven’t quite figured out that you can follow me when I leave a room.

But now that you’re crawling, it’s not enough. You want to stand on your own. So the pulling up started immediately after the crawling.

You are the sweetest little person I know. You light up a room and anytime someone new comes into the room you start jabbering and kicking your legs.  You want everyone to know that they’re welcome! And you want everyone to come talk to you. You’re kind of a little attention hog. But that’s because we shower you with lots of attention all the time.

Your daddy and I think you’re very funny. You’ve always got something to say (though no official words yet. We’ve heard “dada” and “baba” but they’re not in reference to anything specific) and you make new little sounds every day.

Hudson, you are a still an amazing sleeper and a great eater. Look at you! You’re a growing boy and growing boys need their food and their sleep. You still sleep 12 full uninterrupted hours at night and still take 3 naps every day. Not all of your naps are long, but you need them. You let us know when it’s time for you nap. You start rubbing your eyes and you put your little thumb in your mouth. We’re not too worried about you being a thumb sucker. You only do it at bedtime or when you’re upset, but you’ve never taken a pacifier. I figure we can correct the thumb issue later when it’s actually an issue.

You had your first stomach bug before we went to visit KK and Poppie. Mommy caught it, too, but that’s okay. I was so worried about you. I think you were worried about yourself. We went to see the doctor when you were sick and they weighed you at that appointment. You were 24 lbs and 14 ounces. Quite the big guy! You’re wearing all 12 and 18 months clothes now. Most of the 12 months things are a little snug.

We’re so proud of you and we’re so excited about every new day with you. You’ll be walking and talking so soon, but I’ve learned my lesson with the crawling. I won’t be wishing for the walking and talking to start any time soon!

You’re nearly as big as your monkey now!

I love you so much!

Mommy

8 months

7 months