My Crazy 18-month-old

Hudson is 18-months-old and I have no idea how he got so big! I feel like he was just a baby. He is definitely full of personality these days. His little voice is so cute and he makes the funniest faces. He also openly defies things I tell him to do and then runs away and hides because he knows he is going to be in trouble. He makes this "I'm innocent" face and I can't help but laugh at him. No wonder he doesn't take me seriously! He started going to nursery which he doesn't really like and cries but he hasn't bit or attacked any other kids so I consider that a success. He is pretty average for his height and weight (31.5inches and 22#11oz.) but his head is pretty large at 48.1cm. I guess it has to be to have room for his giant brain. haha I'm pretty sure he is a genius.

With daddy watching fireworks on the 4th of July
Don't know why he likes to do this, it looks uncomfortable to me!

He put my lip gloss on. And ignore his giant bruise, he walked into a wall. I told you he was a genius!

A Week Away

Warning: Picture overload on the way! Hudson and I got to go to Utah with my mom this past week. It's always so nice to go because it's where I grew up and I love seeing everything again! It always makes me feel very nostalgic. I was worried how Hudson would do on the drive. He did surprisingly well for a 1 1/2 year old! We ran into trouble on the way there near Flagstaff because of the fires. The road was closed and there really is no other way to get to SLC unless you go way out of your way. Well, we definitely went out of our way. It took us 15 hours to get there. Normally it's 10-11! We did see the pretty side of Arizona though! Best place by far was called Chinle. Funny name but beautiful scenery. This picture is only a small fraction of what we saw. We had a really great week! We went to the splash park, had a play date with the little kids in the fam, went to teapot stores (aka home decor stores), and had a Cowan family reunion. I didn't know most of the people but it was fun! It was great seeing old pictures and learning a bit of our history. It was really great hearing stories from my grandma too. She has got some amazing antiques in her house! And there is a story for almost every one. I was tempted to stuff some things in my bag but I didn't. We really had a great week. It was great being around so much family. Hudson seemed to really like it there too. He also learned some new words, most courtesy of grandma: Jeesh, Oh no!, Dee Dee (my aunt, he kept asking for her on the drive home!), Oh man, teepee, kite. We are glad to be home but miss all our family! We're hoping they will move down to Arizona but it isn't looking good.

The photographer in me couldn't resist taking this picture out my window.

Hudson with his lamb from Grandma Great. He loves it and that's why he is poking it in the eye.

Love this picture! Especially where the tint on the windshield made the cloud blue.

Warming up with grandma after playing at the splash park.

He is so carefree, he just plows right through the water, and it's freezing, believe me!

Keeping himself entertained with a good book. Is it sad that I wish sometimes he'd watch TV?

I'm counting down till next years trip already!

Watch Your Step

Someone once said to me that they have no idea how kids make it to adulthood. The amount of times Hudson hurts himself on a daily basis definitely show the truth of this statement. Besides countless bruises, here is his latest mishap. He was trying to step down from the patio into the rocks and faceplanted. I feel partially responsible because he seems to have inherited my coordination (or lack thereof!) I'm thinking of getting him a helmet to wear all the time.

Parenthood isn't for those with weak stomachs

Somedays it sucks so bad to be a parent. Especially when your kid makes a nasty mess and there is no one else there to clean it up. And you gag easily. And you have just gotten out of the shower and are all clean and happy and then have to clean said mess. At least I always learn a lesson. This time I learned Hudson likes to take of his diaper and will do so whenever it is not covered by pants. All I have to say is: Never again.

Trying New Food

A couple weeks back, I went to a primary activity and got to learn about all kinds of different countries from people who had gone on their missions there. Most of them had different foods to try. I will be honest, most of it was gross. There was a guy who had gone to Ukraine and he had this soup for us to try. Some of the kids were really brave and tried it. They said it was good, and kids are usually pretty picky, so I figured I should try it to. It was so creepy looking but so good! Any guesses as to what it was? It looks like this. You can't tell from the picture but it is like a bright purple red.
For those of you who guessed borscht, you are right! It was borscht, which is basically beet (and other vegetables) soup. I liked it so much that I decided to make it for dinner tonight. Keep in mind that a couple weeks ago was the first time in my life that I had eaten a beet. I had no idea how to cook one. I didn't even know where to look for them at the store. They kind of scare me a little. Look at that thing! It dyed my fingers purple.

It turned out so good though! I loved it. It was pretty easy too, besides chopping a million vegetables. No surprise that Jacob loved it too. I couldn't get Hudson to eat it, but he had fun playing with a left over one in a bag.

I know you are all dying for the recipe. Just email me and I will give it to you! :) Don't be afraid to try new food! You just might love it!

I am Lazy

I have been such a lazy blogger lately! Even though I feel like my days all run together, I figured I should post what we have been up to. Mostly Hudson and I just hang out. It's gotten way too hot for us to be outside much, even though he loves it out there. He is getting pretty good at talking. He doesn't speak in sentences but he is great with animal noises and one or two syllable words, mostly words that are somehow related to food. A few words he says are: cookie, yogurt, eye, ball, all gone, more, apple, car, mama, daddy. The other day I gave him this tattoo to go along with his sleeveless shirt.

He is such a crack up. He likes to tease us. We will ask him to share his food. He goes to put it in our mouths and just before it gets there, he hurries and puts it in his own mouth. He makes such funny faces and has so much personality. I cannot imagine him as a two-year old.

My sister and I went to the Glee concert a few weeks back. It was awesome! I especially loved the Lady Gaga number.

We are excited, can you tell? I think we have like ten pictures of us like this throughout the years.

Just another funny picture of Hudson. I love his little teeth. I hope he keeps the gaps in them because I love it!

This is just for your viewing pleasure. I had my wisdom teeth out like a month and a half ago. Here is me after. Glad that my face is back to normal.

Other than our occasional trips to Jo Ann's or Target, we enjoy playing games indoors. I read a lot while Hudson plays, as is evidenced by the amount of books I have read so far this year. (Check the list to the right.) Jacob enjoyed a brief break from school, but has started summer school already. We can't wait for the days when he can come home earlier and spend more time with us! Hudson loves it when he comes home and definitely says daddy a lot more than mama. Even though Hudson and I are just staying at home, there is never a dull moment!

PS- My dad is now a concert reviewer down in Tucson! Click his link off to the right to read his humorous and insightful take on the music world!

Another Project

I found this table at goodwill and saw definite potential. I thought it was so unique, and has storage! A definite plus for a child with millions of toys and a mother who hates to look at them all the time. I didn't realize how much work this was going to be but I am pretty proud of the way it turned out. Slowly my living room is coming together!

Before: Hello 1980's!
After: Much much better

I love the top of this. Except for the scratch Hudson made on it before I sealed it. Grrr....