Two Months Old!

Sweet Huddy Bean,

Two months! Woah! Time flies when you're having fun. And we have been having more fun this month, I think. Little by little we are starting to figure each other out. We still have rough days, and rough parts of each day, but the good times are becoming bigger and better. I'm not sure which of the assorted things we're trying is helping most - no dairy for me, reflux medicine for you - or if you are just getting bigger and I am just getting better at reading your needs. Whatever it is, I feel more confident every day that we can make it and that you will keep growing happier.

The most wonderful thing that has developed in your second month? The thing that makes me just more crazy madly in love with you every time it happens? This:

Those smiles, which are slowly developing into giggles, are THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. (You'll allow me a little motherly hyperbole, won't you dear one?) God certainly knew that new mommas would need this sweet affirmation, and I'm so grateful!

Other news about you:

You are so strong! You love to stand and hold up your own head. We occasionally do "tummy time" and you are quite good at it, although you don't particularly enjoy it. When you are laying on your back, you've started pulling your legs up in the air. That plus your exploring hands, and I have a feeling it won't be long until you discover your feet!

You love water! This makes me so happy because I was a water baby too. You like bath time and you really like to be in the shower with me or Daddy. You do NOT like the part where you have to get out and dry off. I don't like that part either - who wouldn't want to stay in the warm water? We also took you swimming at your friend Matilda's birthday party and you liked it a lot. I dunked you under the water twice. You weren't too sure about that, but you were back to happy pretty quickly. I held you out in front of me with your tummy down in the water and you kicked your little legs... perhaps we have a swimmer on our hands?

Sometimes you really fight going to sleep. You like to be held and bounced on the exercise ball. Rocking or walking does not cut it - you MUST be bounced! You also like to sleep in the car seat still, which is great for when I need a little time out of the house. At night you sleep pretty good. You still wake up a few times to eat, but I'm okay with that. Nighttime feedings are when you are most snuggly, so I take advantage of that when I can! We usually put you to bed in your swing, but inevitably move you to sleep in the bed with us. I never thought I would do that, but it is easier for nursing and I just love having you curled up in my arms with your fuzzy little head in perfect kissing distance. Although I will say, after a few hours in one position, my arm is usually completely dead and whatever hip I'm laying on is burning. Still, worth it in the end!

You like:

-staring at Daddy

-being carried up at my shoulder so you can look out at the world

-when I make a "thbppptttt" sound and poke you in the nose (you smile like this is so funny!)

-having your diaper changed

-sitting in your buzzy seat

-taking your medicine

-your pacifier

-lights and ceiling fans

-when I sing to you and dance silly

You don't like:

-being cradled like a baby

-when we take too long to do what you want

-having gas

-eating for longer than 5-10 minutes at a time

-having your boogers suctioned out

-being hot

-sitting still for a story

Your stats:

-Weight: 11 pounds, 11 ounces (50th percentile)

-Height: 23 inches (50th percentile)

-Hair: Still dark blond-ish

-Eyes: Still blue

I am so thankful for you, my sweet boy. I can't believe God saw me fit to be your momma, but I am going to do the best I can by His grace!

Love,

Momma

To Make You Feel My Love

This song is on Hudson's sleepy playlist. It's a Bob Dylan song. I'm partial to Garth Brooks' version, but the one on the iPod is Adele. I have always loved this song, and I like thinking of it as words from God to us, although I'm not sure that's what Bob had in mind at the time.

But when I sing it to Hudson, I can't help but get choked up thinking about it as a love song from me to him. Of course, it doesn't all apply; I won't always make him happy and I can't make his dreams come true, though I can encourage him and offer guidance and prayers. But the rest of it is pretty much right on the money. I would hold him for a million years. Although I suppose when he's a teenager he might be over that... I'll just have to sneak in to his room at night and hold him while he sleeps. (Ten points to you if you know that's a reference to "Love You Forever," the children's book every mother of a son MUST own.)

So here you go, baby boy. I hope you feel my love for you every day of your precious life.

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven’t made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I’ve known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I’d go hungry, I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawling down the avenue
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rollin’ sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love

Huddy Bean Updates

Last Friday Hudson weighed in at almost 10 lbs 5 oz. Chubbs! He also seems a lot longer, but that is hard for us to accurately measure. He doesn't fit in any newborn clothes or diapers anymore, and although some of the 0-3 month stuff is still a little big, most of it is starting to fit pretty darn good! We have lots of cute clothes for him but it is so hot that we mostly just run him around in his diaper.

He is not particularly content to cuddle with me, unless he is really really sleepy. If he is awake and not fussy, he likes to stand (!) on my lap and really exercise his very strong legs. He also likes to lay in his bouncy vibrating chair and just look all around at the world. Sometimes when he is super fussy the only thing that gets him calm is laying him down to change his diaper. Then he just opens his big eyes and is quiet. He is also starting to make noises on his own, apart from crying and fussing. These are just different little coos and "ah" sounds.

And, best of all, he has started really smiling at us. Yesterday we were having a terrible afternoon, just crying and fussing for a couple hours. I finally strapped him into his bouncy seat so I could take three minutes and calm myself down. When I came back in, he had quieted down and just looked up at me with the biggest grin yet. It was followed by another two hours of crying, but I think I'll remember that smile forever.

He likes to sleep in his lamb swing or while being snuggled in our bed. At night he sleeps quite well, usually for a four or (on the rare occasion) five hour stretch, and then for a couple more two or three hour stretches. During the day he mostly catnaps for 30 or 45 minute stretches. Gone are those guaranteed long daytime naps from the first couple weeks, although the past two days we've had a good two hour nap together in the afternoon. He will sleep longer if he has fallen asleep in the car and then stays in his car seat, which is handy for taking him on errands or to lunch with Ben!

He's growing so fast and every day I feel like he looks bigger and less newborn-y. He is getting quite the little personality. I think he's going to be very independent and impatient! For instance, he doesn't usually "warm up" when it comes to fussing or crying. One minute we're happy as a clam, and in the blink of an eye we are mad and ready to tell the world about it! But we love him and we are learning more about him day by day.

God is so good and has surrounded us with the love and encouragement of friends and family, near and far. Hudson will always know how much he is loved!