After dinner last night, Hudson rallied the family in the kitchen because he had a few things on his mind. He fielded questions on a variety of topics, and his answers were very honest.
Attendees included his parents and his dogs.
Hudson’s views on personal hygiene
Hudson’s views on money, fashion and family
Hudson’s views on college football
(my apologies to Pac 10 fans and Clemson fans on behalf of TC)
A final word from Hudson
I can’t even believe I’m about to write a post about this. First of all, let me just say that I am over the moon excited about our sweet little baby on the way. I am really enjoying the pregnancy at this point and I am so excited to meet this precious little person that we have prayed for.
But I have a huge lump in my throat when I think about having to split my time between Hudson and the baby. And I know I’m not the first person to have more than one child and I won’t be the last. Mothers go through this every single day. So why when I think about sweet little Hudson, do I almost feel mournful for the days when he was an only child?
photo by Millie Holloman
I’ve always wanted a big family, so if we are able to have more children and decide we want to have more children, maybe I’ll experience this with every pregnancy. But, last week, I got weepy in the car because Hudson and I were riding along together, singing, talking, and laughing. In a few months, I know that on those drives I’ll be scattered and trying to tend to two of them while we drive. And I’ll probably be asking Hudson for my help with reaching a pacifier or a bottle.
Maybe my emotions are less about feeling sorry for Hudson, but I’m feeling sorry for myself. Because my baby will no longer be the baby. He’ll be the older brother and right now I don’t think he really knows that any of this is happening. We’ve told him and we talk to him about the baby, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t totally get it. And he probably won’t get it for a while when he realizes that the screaming baby in our house is always going to be there. We’ll remind him that the sweet baby will grow up to be his best buddy in the world.
I was talking to my friend, Kim, the other day and she reminded me that the very first moment I look into this baby’s eyes will be just like the first moment I looked into Hudson’s eyes. The worry will be nonexistent and won’t even be a memory. The love will consume me and things like favoritism and feeling torn between two children won’t be a reality.
And I know that she is absolutely right. I want both of them to feel every single ounce of love I have to offer. And of course I want them to love each other. I know there will be hard days and I’m sure that all of my emotion has a whole lot to do with raging hormones.
I didn’t cry on Hudson’s first birthday. I’m the one who thinks that growing up is fun and part of the parenting process. But I get completely choked up when I think about the day the Hudson becomes a sibling. Maybe that’s the big “my baby is growing up” moment that sends me over the edge.
I am so grateful for this time with this precious boy. I have had 19 months to be with him almost every single day and I wouldn’t trade those for anything in the world. I am completely excited to see how Hudson and his baby brother will be similar and how they will be completely different. I will do everything I can and pray that I don’t compare them to each other and always remember that they have different needs, interests, and personalities.
I hope to spend the next four months making the most of this very special time with just Hudson. And my prayer is that taking care of a newborn will be much more relaxed the second time around. The Lord knows my heart and knows my fears and I know that He will help me through it. He will provide family and friends to care for and play with Hudson when I can’t. Or to hold and feed the baby so I can cuddle and laugh with my first born.
Funny enough, I am not at all worried about the sleep, the routine, or the feedings. I’m not worried about the crying. My worry is 100% about figuring out how to comfort them both when they’re both crying. Being the best mommy I can be to both of them. And getting these very special moments with both of them.
During the night last night, I woke up to the sound of some pretty loud thunder. I knew that it was supposed to snow, but the sounds outside were kind of frightening. I woke up around 5:00 a.m. and went to the window to look outside. Everything was covered in a gorgeous blanket of snow and it was still coming down!
When we woke up this morning it was still snowing and even deeper. We don’t get snow that often in South Carolina, so it’s always really exciting. Typically, life shuts down due to the snow, so we don’t really have the pains of driving in it and all that comes with that. It’s just like a little vacation in a winter wonderland.
Hudson’s school was canceled and TC didn’t have to be in court because the county offices were all closed. So we’ve had an exciting day! I made breakfast and hot chocolate and I made chili for lunch.
We all got outside in our boots and the best snow gear we could find for South Carolina residents. Boudreaux had the time of his life!
Hudson was very proud to be wearing his boots and kept saying “boots, boots, boots!” And if the snow covered his boots he would bend down to dust them off.
He didn’t really want to play in it, but he was trying to dust the snow off his playset so he could use his slide. Then his mittens kept coming off, but he didn’t seem to mind. We wouldn’t let him stay out there without his mittens, so we’d put them back on him and they’d fall off again.
We eventually decided we needed to come in so Hudson’s clothes could dry off and then we could eat lunch. We promised him that we’d take him back outside this afternoon, but the tears came anyway. He was so sad to have to come back inside from the snow. It’s safe to say he loves it!
But I don’t think anyone loves it as much as this guy!
p.s. There aren’t any pictures of Fiona in the snow because Fiona kind of refused to let her paws hit the snow.
Happy Snow Day from our house to yours!
One of Hudson’s favorite Christmas presents was a Melissa and Doug alphabet puzzle. I owe all of my child’s knowledge to Melissa and Doug puzzles and Baby Einstein DVDs. He knows his colors, shapes, animals, animal sounds and now his letters thanks to those two companies! Those people are geniuses.
This video is kind of long, but it’s of Hudson putting together his ABC puzzle and saying the letters as he goes. There are four or five letters that he’s not so sure about, though.
*And we had a Baby Einstein DVD playing in the background, hence the classical music. We don’t just sit around listening to Vivaldi (or whoever) all day. Though that might be nice!
