Baby's First Christmas!!

As usual I've been slacking in my blog updates..but it's been a busy month! With all the preparations for Christmas, working full time and enjoying Hudson I haven't found time to blog. But I am done training at work for now so I will update here when I have the time. Prior to Christmas Hudson turned 9 months!! I swear time just keeps going faster and faster. I can't believe his first birthday is right around the corner. It's time for me to start planning!

Lets see ....at 9 months Hudson can:
-Army crawl to get where he wants to go
-Climb over the legs of chairs, our legs, toys, etc.
-Eat 'finger foods' and raw fruit such as apple slices, pears, etc.
-Clap
-Wave (a little after 9 months .. he did this for the first time on Christmas Eve)
-Talk up a storm!
-Laugh at Maverick constantly
-Sleep through the night (usually..)
-Drink less formula and eat more solid foods
-Pick up small objects (such as pine needles off the carpet ..ugh!)

The weekend before Christmas, Hudson took his first plane ride to visit The Bloom Family in Spokane!! He did great on the plane sleeping the whole flight (although it was only an hour each way ..) We were so relieved he didn't have any problems since he had been diagnosed with an ear infection a few days before leaving. I guess the antibiotics and ear drops helped! We had a nice visit with the family, but as usual it went WAY too fast since we were there less than 2 days. We had a family dinner and gift exchange at Katie and Kyle's on Saturday, then Sunday we went and visited Grandma and Grandpa Bloom at their new Assisted Living home. We hope to make it back over to the East side soon .. once all the snow and cold weather lets up! :)

Christmas came and went much to fast, as it always does. We spent Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family and my Aunt Gail and Uncle Dan's house in Montesano. All the McIntyre's were there as well as the Ayres', Grandma Patty, Steve, Hudson, Andy and I. My dad and sisters didn't make it this year because they were on vacation in Oahu! Lucky ducks!! We had a fun day playing the annual "Christmas Challenge" my Aunt Gail creates, eating a delicious dinner of crab salad, Prime Rib (for the non vegetarians!), Sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, potatoes, Berry Pie and a variety of Grandma's Cookies and sweets! We then opened our gifts. Hudson got the Fisher Price Lil Zoomers Speedway, A Christmas story book, Corduroy book and I'm sure some others that I'm forgetting about. On our way home, we stopped at Nancy and Kenny's to say hi to everyone there where we stayed WAAAYY past Hudson's bed time. Luckily he had napped in the car, because by the time we got home and got him to sleep it was close to 11 p.m. On the plus note, he slept through the night until 8 am Christmas morning...a gift in itself! :)

When we awoke Christmas morning, Hudson, Andy and I opened our gifts to eachother and from Linda and Steve. Hudson then ate his breakfast while we waited for mom and Dean and Nancy and Kenny to come over for brunch. Around 11 they all came over and we had a delicious brunch and opened more gifts!! Hudson was such a spoiled little guy this year. Some of his gifts included: Rocking horse that neighs/winnys, Ride-on Fisher Price Ice Cream Truck, Busy ball popper, lots of books, a few wooden puzzles, Fisher Price trucks, fire truck and police car, Fisher Price Mailbox, Inchworm, Ugg boots, Lily and Jack boots, several pairs of PJ's and a couple of outfits. Of all the gifts he received I think he was much more interested in the boxes, paper, ribbon and bows! Although, that's pretty much what we expected! :) We had a pretty low-key Christmas day, everyone left in the early afternoon and Hudson napped while we got things cleaned up a bit. After he woke up we went on a family walk, then I got a few side dishes ready and we went to my mom and Dean's house for Christmas dinner. Overall we had a wonderful Christmas and I was so thankful to finally get the day off after having to work it the past 4 years!!

Hudson's First Thanksgiving and SNOW!

This "Winter" came early, just as everyone expected. We had our first snow Thanksgiving week!! Hudson didn't really go out in it much, just enough to snap a couple cute pictures. I don't think he was too fond of it..mostly because I hadn't gotten him mittens yet so his poor fingers were cold! The snow lasted about 4 days then luckily melted off enough for us to make the trek up to Shoreline for Thanksgiving dinner at the McIntyre's house! Hudson was the center of attention and he seemed to enjoy that :)

We enjoyed a wonderful day with my dad's side of the family and Hudson even tried a little piece of turkey that daddy snuck to him :) He also had a bite of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and cranberries.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. It seems like we prepare for so long and then it's gone with the blink of an eye! Andy and I enjoyed our time together and with my family this year. Christmas Eve we spent with my dad's side of the family (which has become tradition). We went down to my aunt and uncle's in Montesano where we enjoyed spending some quality with my cousins, aunts and uncles, dad, sisters, brother and grandparents! We played some fun 'games' that my aunt put together, had a delicious Prime Rib dinner and opened some presents. As usual, my grandma went all out and got everyone tons of gifts. Andy and I got a food processor (which I asked for, to help make my own baby food later..), a Walmart gift card, some lotions/body washes and Hudson even got a cute little puppy jacket and some CD's.

After opening presents we headed back to Puyallup for celebration #2 at Nancy and Kenny's house. We stayed a couple hours and caught up with some relatives we hadn't seen since last Christmas. We then headed home to let Maverick out for a couple minutes before heading to the 10 pm church service at Calvary Community Church that we have attended off and on since moving to Puyallup. The church service was perfect, we sang some traditional Christmas carols, watched as the children told the youth pastor what they wanted for Christmas and he read them a story, then listened to a short sermon on "Hope." It was wonderful to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. I've always wanted to start a new tradition of going to church on Christmas Eve and I hope going this year has started that.

Christmas Day was more low key. Andy and I woke up around 9:30 and opened our presents from eachother and from his family that they mailed. We were thrilled to get a Canon video camera from Andy's parents!!! What a perfect gift to have just before Hudson is born. We can't wait to try it out and be able to capture all his milestones throughout his life. This will also make it much easier to share things with Andy's family since they all live across the state.

After opening presents we headed up to my mom's house for Christmas brunch. We enjoyed her delicious breakfast casserole with Nancy and Kenny, Mom and Dean, Steve, Shey, Bryce, Todd, Aunt Sharene and Tom and one of their neighbors. It was nice to spend more time with them since we hadn't seen them for long the night before. We finished off the morning/early afternoon opening a few presents and visiting before Andy and I headed home to relax before I had to come to work that night.

Overall we had a good couple days celebrating Christmas but we both agree that next year will be MUCH better with a little one around! Christmas really is about celebrating Jesus and children!!!

Andy finally got what he asks me for every year!!

Sisters!

Grandpa with a few of his granddaughters :)

Dad and Steve with matching sweaters from Grandma

Bryce and Cody playing football with Andy :)

Dean with Shey and Bryce

Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Kenny with Shey and Bryce

Cody loved the rawhide from Maverick! He didn't stop chewing it until it was gone!

{Happy 4th of July!!!}

Happy 4th of July to everyone!! Thank you to all the men and women that have served our country to give us the freedoms we have today. Wishing everyone a fun and safe day today!

A CELEBRATION DAY

Today is America's Birthday

so wave those banners high

be thankful for your freedom

as fireworks light the sky

Celebrate with honor

wear the colors proud

salute the flag Old Glory

show American pride

Hats off to America

land of the free and brave

our country stands united

God Bless the USA

Have a wonderful 4th of July

By: Rose Marie Streeter

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Well the Holiday Season is officially here! I love this time of year...even though all the stores are crowded I love holiday shopping and all the decorations :) I got most of our decorations up today, we just have to go get a tree, hopefully this week!

Thanksgiving came and went on Thursday. We had a good time up in Shoreline at my Aunt and Uncle's house with my dad's whole side of the family. All of us cousins were there, which was nice since that generally only happens once a year on Christmas Eve. We had a lot of delicious food of course and good company. After dinner Andy and I headed back South since I had to work at 2 am Friday morning. On the way home we stopped at my Step-grandparents house to say hello, then headed home so I could try to get some sleep.

The rest of the weekend was mostly un-eventful, just work and sleep with a bit of Christmas shopping and decorating thrown in there! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and remembered to celebrate your blessings and remember what you are thankful for.

Here's a few of the things I am thankful for this year:

1. Andy and both have steady jobs in an unstable economy!

2. We are able to keep on top of our bills and not get into debt

3. My relationship with Andy and how understanding he is of me

4. God's grace and forgiveness

5. The love of my family and friends

6. The resources to help others this holiday season

7. My crazy dog

8. My doctor that's helped me get to the root of some of my problems

9. The good health of most of my family

10. Pumpkin Spice and Egg Nog Lattes from Starbucks :) yumm...