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....

He Walks

I keep forgetting to post on Hudson walking. He started walking at 14 months. It took him a while until he felt comfortable enough to really walk. Now he does just great though! Besides the fact that he looks kind of bow-legged. He uses his new found skill to run away from me while having his diaper changed and while we are in sacrament meeting. I can't complain too much about the first one though because he looks so dang funny running (and laughing the whole time) with his naked bum showing.

Pat's Run, Year Three!

Can it be that another Pat's Run has already come and gone? Time sure flies. I am not really an avid runner but Pat Tillman is so inspirational to me that I look forward to this every year. I ran so slow this year but I did my best. Hudson was a real trooper. I made him a shirt again this year. My dad pushed him in the stroller (and still got a faster time than me, what the heck?!) I am going to try to stay in better shape now so I can do better next year. (Even though I'm pretty sure I said that last year and didn't do it. )

I think I'm whiter and whiter every year.

Easter

We had a great Easter this year. It wasn't Hudson first but it was definitely more fun because he is older. He loved putting eggs (and rocks) into his basket. We had a fun egg hunt in our backyard with the Jensen clan. We drove down to Tucson for Easter Sunday. We had great food and a fun egg hunt there as well. I found all my eggs first! Woo hoo. We had a pinata too. It malfunctioned a little but we all had a great laugh.

The pinata was beheaded

Playing with bubbles

Stealing chips from my cousin

Project One

I'll admit it. I've been a lazy blogger. There's just been so many other things to do. I've had a lot of projects. This is my latest one. I refinished our table. It turned out pretty good. This is the first time I've ever stained anything. It is so messy and smells awful, I think I may have gotten a little high. That's probably why you have to be 18 to buy it. One project down, a million to go!

Before:

After:

The Zoo

Jacob and I took Hudson to the zoo for the first time. I thought he would totally love it, because he really seems to like animals. I think he might be a little young still to appreciate it though. He kept looking at the pigeons, even when there was a giraffe like ten feet away. He did seem to have fun though. His favorite animal (besides the pigeons, ha ha) was the orangutans. He kept pointing at them. He seemed to like the elephant too. He really wanted to grab this one swan that was sleeping really close to the fence. He would have grabbed it if I had let him. It was a beautiful day outside and we all had fun. Even though I am pasty pale and can only handle so much sun.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck?

This is apparently what Hudson does when he is in his crib and doesn't want to go to sleep: He gnaws on his crib. I go in to get him and he has a wood shavings beard. Maybe I should feed him more so he stops destroying his crib. It hurts me to look at it. Any suggestions on how to get him to stop doing this?

Mini Jacob?

Okay, I know that I am kinda crazy about this but I swear Hudson looks like me! Everyone tells me he is Jacob's twin but I think he looks more like me. And I am usually right. I am putting it to a vote again. Here are baby pictures as proof.

Hudson's Latest Trick

He's one step closer to walking! And yes, he's eating an otter pop. He definitely takes after me. :)

City of Ashes

Alright, so I know this makes me pretty much the coolest person ever. I have already read another book. Please hold your applause until the end. I started reading the Mortal Instruments series, of which City of Bones was the first book. At first, I was a little confused about everything but after reading the second book, City of Ashes, I like the series much more. There is so much information to take in that it's hard to fully appreciate the first book because you're trying desperately to understand what the heck is going on. However, you don't have to do that with City of Ashes, which made me like it much more. The same icky situation exists but I have a feeling that it will resolve itself in the final book. There is a lot of great action and it really is unlike any book I've read before. I want to live in this world with the characters. I even have dreams of me living there. Although I guess that happens when you stay up till 2AM reading. That's not the latest I've stayed up either. Anyway, I would definitely recommend this series! It's exciting, magical, and it's not easily predictable.

Goal for 2010

I have come up with a goal for myself that I find totally achievable. I am going to read 30 books this year. I actually stole this idea from my sister, although her goal is 20. I have more free time so I am going for 30. I should say 30 new books. I've read 6 books this year if you count ones I've already read. Anyway, I am going to read the books and then review them so youcan see if you want to read them or not. The books that I have already read this year are: The Time Traveler's Wife, and City of Bones. Time Traveler's Wife was a little bit crazy for me. And it was rather sensually graphic. I wouldn't recommend reading it. Unless you're into that sort of thing. There were some parts too where I had no idea what the author was talking about. City of Bones was pretty good though. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but it was an interesting story. It fits in with the sci-fi romance that is so popular right now. Although the ending of the book wasn't my favorite. I have two more books to read in the series and I'm hoping it resolves the issue. I love when I start a trilogy that is already finished. I hate waiting around! (Hunger Games book 30 coming August 2010! Woo Hoo!) 28 books to go!

Nice cover, eh?

One Year

It has been one year since baby Hudson was born. I can hardly believe it! Where did the time go. One minute he looked like this:

and could fit in half of my arm.

Now he looks like this, and he takes up half of my body. Over the past year, we've gotten less sleep, changed a million diapers, taken a ton of pictures, and gone through more cheerios than we can count. We have enjoyed it all. Well maybe not the less sleep part. We love this little guy so much! He makes us laugh all the time with his funny faces and his silly noises.

He occasionally makes us mad.
We can't wait to see what the future holds! Hopefully nothing else broken. :)

Christmas/New Year's

Boy oh boy has it been a busy couple of weeks. We loved seeing our family so often but it definitely tired us all out. Hudson had a great first Christmas. He liked playing with the wrapping paper after it was off the present. He loves his new toys too, although it's been hard trying to find a place to put them all! We had a great New Year's too. We went out to some friends' house and had a fun night. Hudson was sleeping away. We ate great food. I think I ate 5 pounds of apple dip. Although it was busy, I am a little sad that it's over. The holidays go by so fast! Oh well. Here's to 2010!

Christmas Eve, He makes this face all the time
Aunt Aubrey helping him open his present

At Bass Pro Shop

Jumping on the tramp with Dad

Hudson and all his toys, spoiled much?