Exercises

Sorry I have 4 videos of Hudson running but they just crack me up!  

From his "Hey Mamma!" to his swagger its just adorable!

Sock Gloves

Wordless Wednesday

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons!  I have a love/hate relationship with swim lessons.  Its usually hard for me to commit and maintain the time and it always seems that Huddy gets sick during them.  So this year, I chose to do them on a Wednesday afternoon to keep my weekends free.  Luckily, Jared joined us for one so I got a few pics.  This was Hudson's best lesson yet!  He is so cautious and still so hesitant and fearful in the water.  His favorite part is the songs by far!  The teacher this time is fabulous.  She is great at letting the kids pick their pace and not letting us parents force them.  The first time we did swim lessons, I forced Hudson quite a bit, hence he's still so timid.  

This is how a swim lesson afternoon goes.

I pick Huddy up from Miss Lexies.  I talk about how we're going swimming in the water.  He seems excited.  Then we get there...He doesn't want to get out of the car.  He refuses to change into his trunks.  I start to talk it up about how much fun it is and how we sing songs.  No go.  Tears begin to fall, hard.  I'm frustrated and he is too and we aren't even in the water yet!  Finally after a bit of wrestling, we're ready to go, tears and all.  He gets in the water and this is how he looks....

Happy!  Yes he is happy.  FEW!  They start off with a watering can and water mommy/daddy or the kiddo.  Then it was time to sing a song!  After "The Wheels on the Bus" it was toy time where they pick a toy and throw it in the water and they "kick, kick, kick" to it and swim using their arms.  Hudson didn't really well this time!

After that, it was time to get on their back.  Hudson usually hates this but he didn't pretty well this time.  The instructor gave Hudson 3 balls to keep his hands distracted, great idea!

The next thing they did was dunks.  Hudson really doesn't like this and clings to us and won't let go.  This time Jared dunked him and he was still smiling.  Jared asked him if he wanted to do it again, and he said yes.  This is HUGE progress in water world for Huddy!

Then it was time for jumps.  This has been another highlight for Huddy!  He still won't stand and jump but he sits and scoots on in with big smiles, laughter, and giggles!

The last thing is the goodbye song.  Goodbye!

This was by far our best swim lesson experience! I think I will enroll him again in the winter and spring before he turns 3.  He needs as much water exposure as possible:).  

Good job Huddy!  Keep it up, we're so proud of you!

Thanksgiving Round 2

After a day of decorating it was time to head down to our 2nd Thanksgiving.

Round 2: The Haaks 

This year has been such a blessing because normally Jared has a deadline of Dec 1st for his job which means he usually works all Friday and Saturday and sometimes Sunday after Thanksgiving.  But this year, they lost a few clients so he had the whole weekend off.  It was so nice!!! We decorated the house for Christmas and then were able to head to Sunnyside for another Thanksgiving feast.  

We had a nice, small gathering with Great Grandma and Grandpa Haak; Grandma and Grandpa; Jordan, Lissa, and Baby Claire; Daryl, Tiff, and Baby girl (in tummy); and of course Jared, Huddy, & I.  

I couldn't resist these adorable Claire shots!

Now that all of the boys are having kids, holidays are just becoming more and more fun.  

So we took a few pics with Huddy and Claire.

Hudson saying "cheese" with his cheeser face.

Hudson loves visiting the cows at Grandma and Grandpas, not to mention Grandma and Grandpa!  

He also loves playing with his aunts and uncles:).

Hudson loved going upstairs to get more books.  He would go up and down, up and down.  Luckily, Aunt Lissa enjoyed reading them to him.  His favorite for this trip was the "The Pokey Puppy" and "The Three Billy Goats Gruffs."

Then it was time to say goodbye.  Hudson waved to the cows!

"Goodbye cows!"

Thanks for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and time with family Ev and Hank!  

We can't wait for Christmas:).

Thanksgiving Round 1

This year we were blessed with two rounds of Turkey dinners!
Round 1: The Arnholds
We had a lovely Thanksgiving with my folks at the farm.  It was the usual fam with Nana, Papa, Gigi, Gpa, Aunt Kiki, Jared, Huddy, and I and a new addition this year Daneenie!  Daneen and I work together and I taught 5th grade with her.  She didn't have anywhere to go this year so we invited her up and I'm glad we did!  We were missing Uncle Joe so it was nice to have a distraction.

The whole gang

My little turkey/potato/sweet potato/cranberry monster:).

Yearly Haak Thanksgiving picture

After our meal, Huddy was ready for bed so we put him down.  

Then it was time to color with the lovely Daneenie and Gigi.

When Hudson woke up, he was excited to play with his turkey Nana got him.  Gobble, gobble!

Afterwards, we joined the men downstairs for some football and lego fun.  Daneen played with Hudson for a few hours making and building houses, cars, trucks, and all sorts of fun objects.  These legos were Uncle Joe's and so they are very special to our family.  We missed you Uncle Joe!  

The famous Papa picture after his big meal, wind down:).  

Notice the pink cup?  This is a classic Arnhold heirloom:).

Another classic Jared pic.   Gotta love family time:).

This year it was so nice to be with family.  As I reflect on Thanksgiving, I really have so much to be thankful for.  I started a small list:
1. God
2. Jared
3.  The Hudster (he always makes me smile)
4. Family, immediate and all:)
5.  Our home
6.  Our jobs and provisions (especially the funny things kids say)
7. Our church family and small group
8. The blessings of a healthy family
9. A wonderful daycare for Hudson
10. Christmas music (I can't resist after Thanksgiving)

I'm thankful for you too!

Hudson @ 2 1/2

Hudson has blossomed in so many ways!  Right now some of my favorite sayings are:

~"Mommy watch this!"

~"I'm so proud of you"

~"You can do it Dadda!"

~"I can jump.  Watch me jump Mommy!"

~"She's a good mommy" as he snuggles me. "I love my mommy."

~Most noises outside are daddy.  "Daddy's home!" or "Daddy's mowing the lawn."

~Today Hudson was finishing up his lunch and threw some crust on the floor.  I responded with "That's not a good choice."  Then it was time for the potty and nap.  On the potty I hear him saying "I threw my food and that's not a good choice!  I made a bad choice."

~He loves "forts" right now.  He will run up to me and say "Mommy, let's go in my fort now!"

~Last night Hudson was talking before bed and we heard "Uncle Jordan, Aunt Lissa, Baby Claire!"

~"I'm checking my email"

~"I'm all done"

~He often compliments himself with a "Good Job!"

~One of my favorites is "I love you with my whole heart"

~"I have feet!"

~"I want some breffast"

~Miss Lexie took the boys to the library for their Monday puppet show.  A lady came in late and sat in front of him, blocking his view.  Her pants were lower...She turns around and says "Oh my I bet you can't see" and Hudson replies with "I can see your butt."   Ha ha.

~At Miss Lexie's, common phrases are "Mommy will pick me up after nap!" and "I would like toast please" and later on "I would like some hot chocolate with marshmallows please!"  Hudson gets to pick what he wants for breakfast most days, and most days its toast.  He knows what he wants.  Each day when I pick him up, his face lights up and he runs towards me with the biggest smile.  Best part of me day:).

~ We still quote the phrase "What's going on down there" when Huddy had his accident at Miss Lexie's at the park.  She asked him "What's going on down there" and he replied with "I don't know what's going on down there."  What a nut!

~Hudson used the phrase the other night "I need some space" meaning he wanted daddy to move away from the ottoman.  He has heard this from me:( but used the term correctly so I"m proud:).  This has been used when he is playing in his tent with daddy.  Then there are times he says "I want you in my tent mommy, daddy!"  "You want to come in the tent with me."  We reply with "I do?"

Favorite Activities:

~He is full of snuggles, hugs, and kisses.  I love 2!  Especially when we are reading or watching a Veggie Tales:).

He is really into the Little Einstein's right now.  He asks to watch them daily:).  He loves to build towers with his legos and he uses the phrase "My legos are like the Eiffel Tower" this is from Einsteins.

He sings the Leap Frog song: "Every Letter Makes A Sound" and he knows almost all his letters and sounds.  I will often quiz him (for fun) and say "What does M say."  He replies with "M says mmmm."

He can find random letters in no specific order.  For example we'll say "Find D for Daddy.  M for Mommy.  J for Uncle Joe. P for Papa or N for Nana."  He can find them all and tell me their sounds.  He is just a little sponge right now.  He is always asking to play with his "letters."  It's quite the hot toy right now:).

He will often ask if he can paint:).

Even in the tub:)

For this he said " I was coloring so fast!"   He now knows how to make circles too.

Hudson speaks in complete sentences always!  I get a "Yup" sometimes but most often it's "I'd like some pink juice please mamma!"  Hudson amazes me because he hears and uses words in their correct contexts.  An example is when he wants snack.  "I would like some pink juice please mommy" or "Can you come in the tent with me?"

He LOVES to read.  We do this in the morning (before work), in the evenings, and before bed.  He really likes Nana's "red book" of nursery rhymes.

~He is in love with his pumpkin from Halloween.  He fills it with cars, toys, trains, you  name it.  Sometimes there is even a treat or two in it:).

Routines:
Hudson is a great sleeper still; even with out a crib!  He says in his bed all through the night.

He is fully potty trained and had a few accidents in late October. Another funny saying is "I have to go peeps and poops Mamma!"
He is in daycare full time at a small in-home up the street from us.  He loves going there to see Miss Lexie!  He has so much fun with weekly field trips to fun places like Jump N Bounce, Mobius, Rosaurers touring the bakery, playdates in the park, and so on.

At Miss Lexie's he has certain routines for breakfast, lunch, and snack.  My toddler gets 2-3 snacks after nap because apparently he is starved...well i don't know about that but if he misses a snack he is very upset.

Often times he will say "My mom will pick me up after nap" and I do always.  I know he misses home and I feel guilty sometimes for working full time.  When he has the choice to go see Papa on his tractor for a hay ride, Hudson's reply is "Let's stay home."  He just wants to be at home.  He's a home body and I love it.  I know he misses being at home so I try not to plan too many activities on the weekends.

Hudson is very routine and likes things in certain orders:

From bananas to cars, you name it everything has a specific order.  Don't mess with the order!  

Fall was really fun this year with leaves, pumpkins, and outfits.

Hudson loves anything to do with cars or trains.  His favorite train is this one:

He likes recognizing the letters and telling me their sounds.  This is fun to him!  

He is also into imaginary play.  

Here he is making cookies.  In his words "I'm making cookies to eat first."

He also has a new obsession, sock gloves!

Discipline:

Hudson isn't an angel 100% of the time.  We've had quite the transition when mommy went back to work full time.  It think most days he averaged 2-5 timeouts each afternoon/evening in Sept/Oct.  Hudson does really well with choices.  I give him two choices, both of which I'm ok with, and he usually choses the right one (the one I want, haha).  For example, the potty became quite the issue this fall. I told him he can have a time out or go potty. You choose.  Well he almost always chooses the potty!  YAY!

This is my boy most days, an absolute delight!  Daddy and I are so thankful for you and love you with our whole heart!