Vacation!




I use the term "vacation" loosely because I am not sure it is ever a vacation when you have an active 17 month-old like Hudson running around.  I did however have a whole week off to spend with my boys and Zach even got a break from work which is very unusual.  We fit a lot of traveling and fun into one week.

Hudson got his first official hair cut.  As you can expect, he wasn't thrilled about it but it did go a lot better than I thought it would.  There wasn't much planning and it was kind of "just snip off whatever you can, but leave the curls"  I am not ready for the curls to be gone just yet.

 Here is the before crazy, hippy hair and his very apprehensive look.

 Not loving it but not screaming

 We did have to resort to the paci for comfort.






 Showing him pictures always distracts him for at least a minute.


Ta Da...After!  More of a preppy/surfer boy look. 

Since Bizi Kidz is right next door he got to play after his haircut.



We also went to Chick-Fil-et as a treat to Hudson and mommy. :)

Then he passed out for a long nap at Aunt Becca's house.

Here is a little video of Hudson's silly games when he is really tired.  He still tries to refuse naps and will do anything to stay awake.  He has been doing a pretty good job learning his ABCs and counting to 10.  Here aunt Bec Bec is trying to get him to show off his skills.  He is just interested in the red dot on the camera.

Saturday night Hudson went to his first baseball game to see the Greensboro Grasshoppers play.  The weather was perfect and he had a good time cheering the team on.  He was really excited about the dog that ran out on the field to get the balls and bats.  He also really liked the music played during the game.  He was not a fan of the fire works that went off after the home runs.  The best part was when the chant/song that says "Heidi, Heidi, Hedi, Ho came on and everyone started singing it Hudson got a little embarrassed because it sounded like everyone was saying his nick name "Huddy".  He put his little head down because he thought everyone was chanting his name.  It was pretty funny.  We made it to the 7th inning before we called it a night.



 Aunt Bec Bec taught him a new trick.  He likes to watch himself in the camera. :)
 Some Mama snuggles are needed after the 3 home runs in a row and fireworks.




 He took every opportunity to clap for the team and was not pleased when a man next to him started yelling at the refs.


Hudson also attended his second wedding on Sunday.  Zach's cousin Tyler got married on Lake Norman on Sunday so we drove down for the wedding before heading to the beach.  Good thing the wedding was outdoors so Hudson and I could run out for a break when he needed to be quiet.  He has a habit of yelling "Yay!" after any song is over and he seemed to want to do that after every song during the ceremony was played.  So Hudson and I just got to see the beginning and end of the ceremony.


 McCall boys.  I think Hudson has the McCall grin for sure.


 Fist bumping with uncle Seth.


After the wedding we headed to the beach.  We spent the week in Cherry Grove, SC at a beach house with 12 other family members.  It went by way to fast but we had an awesome time.  Hudson was big enough to actually enjoy the beach this time and boy did he love it.  I was afraid that he might not like the sand or the salt water in his eyes but he had no fear and would have probably ran into the ocean until he fell if we would have let him.  He rolled around in the sand, jumped in the surf, and watched the birds and airplanes go by and had a great time.  Again, there was not much relaxing or sunning for Zach or me.  I would not even recommend purchasing beach chairs if you have toddlers at the beach because I think I sat in my new beach chair once for approximately 4 minutes.  Can't wait to go back!!



 At least one family picture is necessary although 25 weeks pregnant, swollen and on the beach did not really mix.  I have said it before and will say it again.  This second pregnancy is not as easy as the first.  Not really complaining because I would do anything for my babies but my body is tired!

 Papa, Zach, and Hudson fishing

 Hudson's very own snack chair.  He thought that anytime he sat in this chair he needed a snack.  Snacks are a hobby to this chunk-a-monk.


 Not too impressed with Uncle Jason's crab

 Hudson and Aunt KiKi playing in the pool

 Hudson and his baby cousin Emmylou.  She is such a good, calm, sweet baby.  Just can't believe how different she and Hudson are already.  He was very concerned as to why she didn't want her paci in her mouth.   I think he was offering to take it off of her hands if she wasn't going to use it.  :)

 Hudson learned a few new words on the trip.  One that we heard often was "Golf Cart."  He loved to go on rides and would count,  "1, 2, 3 Go!" if we didn't get the hint by him saying  "golf cart" over and over.  



 Early morning breakfast out on the porch.  He partied like it was vacation.  He went to bed late and woke up early everyday.  Making it very difficult for anyone else to sleep in on vacation.

 Hudson's baby brother got a surprise family baby shower while we were down at the beach.  Hudson was happy about this because he got to enjoy a cupcake and cookies before nap.  The sugar rush before nap made for an interesting combination. 






 25 weeks belly!





 Hudson's first trip to Beck's in Calabash for fried seafood goodness.  He discovered that he like fried shrimp.












We finally got back home on Sunday after a long drive which involved watching the Wiggles DVD over and over until Hudson finally fell asleep.  It was a good week!

 I just thought that these photos were cute of Hudson in his daddy's old rocking chair from when he was little. :)




Patience

I am hoping that I can exercise my patience and that Hudson can learn some patience because these last few days he has been testing the waters.

 I feel like he knows a lot of words and seems to be saying a new one every day.  Usually, I can figure out what he is trying to say when he is saying one word over and over but lately he has been trying to put more than one word together and my mommy thesaurus is not working so well.  He is very serious about whatever he is saying or asking for but when I can't figure it out the melt down occurs.  So then I start trying to ask just "yes" and "no" questions to see if I can try to get him something that he wants/needs.  If I don't get the magic answer then he gets really upset and just asks for his paci over and over because it does really calm him down immediately.   However, he also knows that we really only let him have it in the car (if he is freaking out) and at bedtime.  So when we say no "you can only have it when you go to sleep" the tantrum just gets worse. He has even resorted to actually laying down on the floor and pretending to go to sleep to see if we will give it to him!  Sorry Hudson, we know you better than to think you would ever take a nap at 10:30 am!  He has also started having major tantrums when eating if there is something on his plate that he doesn't want (all veggies) and just wants to throw them off of the high chair.  My brain is telling me to take him out of the chair and start time-out for this but my large pregnant belly and achy legs tell me to try to ignore it and see if he will stop so I won't have to lug all 30 lbs of him out of the chair.

  Other things he has started to test this week:

  Hitting/biting- He does this when he gets really excited because he loves to get a reaction from us and apparently thinks "ouch" is funny.  So far I don't think he is trying to be mean by doing it but of course teaching him that something hurts is not as easy as saying "no" to him.  Right now he thinks it is a game.  So far, if I tell him no and stop playing with him when he does it he will move along to something else.

Standing on chairs or other items that he could fall from.  He gets the sneakiest look on his face when he does it.  Or he just stares at me like,  "What are you going to do about this?"

Of course, I ask his teacher if he is doing any of these things at school and she says, "oh no! No tantrums here." Sweet Hudson, really sweet.

Hearing his sweet little voice say "mama!" and giving me kisses randomly mixed into this new toddler phase makes it all worth it.  For now, I will just try to work on my patience and hope that he takes after me a little in that department because all who know Zach know that his temper is also quite short.  Especially when he hasn't eaten for awhile. (If you are reading this Zach...I love you. ;) )

 Trying to figure out where to put the step stool ("Big Step") so he can try to climb onto something.



 Daddy taught him how to play tug like a dog.  Nice.




Marbles!

We had a family day with Hudson at Marbles on Saturday.  Marbles is an awesome kids museum in Raleigh with lots of hands on activities for kids Hudson's age.  Grandma, Aunt Bec Bec, Cee Cee and her nephew Jensen came with us and Hudson was worn out at the end of the day.  But he was still so excited when we got home that he just ran around screaming and laughing for a good 30-45 minutes.  His new favorite game is to run around after Angel and Wyatt trying to get them to chase him.  Then when they do start running after him he says, "No No Angel".  Unfortunately, the dogs are not quite as excited about this game.

 Playing at the train table.  He had a little stand off with another little boy that came near his side of the table and tried to touch a train that he was playing with.  It is very interesting to watch him start learning about sharing.



 Marbles has a really cool water play area inside and outside.


 Hudson and Jensen playing in the water.


Doing a little grocery shopping with his lab coat on.


 Playing pirate in the pirate ship.

 Telling (more like yelling to) this little girl that it is a DOG!

 He really thought that the big stuffed dog was so cool and wanted to hold it.  He kept asking her "Please, Please"

 But she quickly grabbed the dog and ran away.  Poor Huddy.

 Luckily he found a lawn mower to play with.



 Hugs

 Yawn.  Luckily it was closing time so we were forced to leave.

 Kissing his reflection. :)



Rare family picture at the museum.  Hudson is 17 months and mommy is 22 weeks pregnant.


Hudson's teacher sent us this picture today and said that Hudson decided to go hang out with Anna on her nap mat after he woke up from his nap today.  Looks like he also took her shoes off.  Anna and Hudson are only 2 weeks apart and she is so sweet to him.  Zach says that she usually gives him a little pat on the back or a hug when he gets to school in the morning.  It makes me happy to know that he has little friends at school.  Side note:  I think his hair is longer than Anna's. ;)  Anyone know anywhere in Chapel Hill to take toddlers to get a trim?  


Now Playing....Hudson Walker McCall!

Not long after he wakes up he is in search of the guitar in the mornings.    He also now asks for the pick along with the guitar.  Here he is in action: