New Shoes and a Trip to the Zoo

We were halfway to the zoo this morning when we realized Hudson had no shoes. This is real life. We planned our whole morning down to the last detail, but no one thought to put shoes on the baby. We made a detour to Walmart. I do like the shoes. I just wasn't too happy about having to buy them at 9:00 this morning.

We saw the kangaroos, monkeys, lions, and tigers. We played in the sandbox and walked by the barn. We even got to pet a few furry guys. The best part was that we got to spend the morning with Daddy.














I regret to say that if you have seen me in the past two weeks, you have probably also seen this cardigan. I should take if off soon.

Our Days

It seems that the whole world lives by "school year" time, so the new school year has brought a new schedule for us. In the future, I'll look back and wonder what I did all day, so I feel the need to document these little details.

Hudson has been waking around 7 each day. He runs straight to his high chair for his breakfast. After breakfast, I usually make him stay in his chair for a little activity while I clean the kitchen. Thanks to Pinterest, I have tons of homemade activities for him. He plays with finger paint, markers, crayons,play dough, plastic eggs, puff balls, pipe cleaners, fabric, etc...



I sometimes read the "Jesus Storybook Bible" to him after this! Sometimes....

Afterwards, we play for a little bit, and then he watches a movie, aka screams for me to get him out of the pack and play, while I take a shower. Then, we go on our morning outing. Monday is grocery day. Tuesday is story time at the library. Wednesday is Bible Study. Thursday is usually a play date or other morning errand. Friday is our fun day!

I have started cleaning a little bit each day, and Hudson still loves to help!






After our busy morning, Hudson takes around a two hour nap. Afterwards, he eats a big snack, and then we usually will play outside, ride in the wagon, go to the park, or rummage around the thrift store. Will usually gets home around 3:30 during the fall, so afternoons go by in a blink.

It is really hard to give an account of my days. I am a very scheduled person. Playing in the floor for two hours doesn't fit a checklist. I am learning so much through the messy schedule of raising a toddler. I am grateful for so many friends in the same stage of life as me. It is such a blessing to do this together.

Nook

We finally finished our little bedroom nook. Thanks to my talented husband!

Our bedroom had a little dent in the wall with a window. A vent was on the carpet, so it was wasted space.



Will redirected the air vent and made a frame for a bench.



Then, he built the bench. He made it so that it opened for storage. It was a hard job, so he needed Huds to help.







He painted it white. We had leftover paint from a previous project.



Then, it was my turn. Time to make it personal.

First, we needed a pad to sit on. We found a burlap type patio pad at Old Time Pottery for around 12 bucks. I just snipped the tie on ends.




Then, I found a shutter for 4 dollars, which was turned into a shelf. I framed old hymns to go above the shelf.






I clipped our missionaries onto some twine and hung the twine from the shelf. Now, while I am doing my quiet time, I can remember to pray for them!



I covered an old cork board ( 1 dollar thrift store find) with burlap leftover from my table runner. I decorated the burlap with paper doilies. This is where I clip my little reminders.



Then, I covered four pillows in fabric. I had lots of help from my patient mother in law! Two of the pillows were yard sale finds, and two were ones my mom gave me. The fabric cost around 10 dollars.



Here is the finished project:



It has added so much character to our room! It is a little refuge for me!

The initial cost was the most-for wood and redirecting the vent-around 60. We tried to find everything else really cheaply. The total investment was probably 85 or so! Not bad!

I love my little nook.

Thrift Store Finds

I love thrift stores. It is exciting to rummage through tons of "junk" for little treasures. The past couple of weeks I have found several items that focus on the world. I love maps and globes, so I am pretty pumped about these finds.


A Latin map of our honeymoon location:





A vintage puzzle of the US:



Framed Latin Map of the World:



Globe:





Huge floor map:



Too bad the last one is missing Tennessee. I am excited about Hudson learning about the US through the huge floor map. I plan to hang the vintage one up in his toddler room. The rest of the goods will find resting spots around our house!

a welcomed interruption

My good friend encouraged me to blog about a tender moment with my sweet son today.

I am a task oriented person. If I have a list of to-dos, this is usually what is on my mind. Unfortunately, when you are running a home, this list is never really complete. As a result, I often struggle with not being "all there" with Hudson.

Today, as I buzzed around the house checking off my list and feeling so good about myself, Hudson whined and tugged at my legs. I kept giving him little "tasks" to keep him busy, but he continued trying to get my attention.

I finally dropped what I was doing and began to play in the floor with him. Within one minute, Hudson thanked me by looking into my eyes and giving me a big hug and kiss. We spent the next thirty minutes playing and laughing together.

While I can't play in the floor all day everyday, my main "job" during the day is to live life with my little man. I won't get the days again, and I want to look back and remember more days like this.

Bye Bye Rattail

August

Wow! I can't believe it is time for an August update.

Will started back work this month. My weekly schedule hasn't kicked into gear yet, so Hudson and I have been trying to pass the time productively. He wakes up at 6:15 most days and naps at 11, so the morning hours seem to drag. We have been taking lots of early morning wagon rides. This is a great time for me to pray and also to teach Hudson about nature. He points to everything, and I have fun telling him what it is. One morning, we spent two hours playing at the Chick-Fil-A playground. He loves to interact with other children! We also have ventured to local libraries, which usually have little play areas. I am always up for new ideas to get us out and about. I love that I can broaden his horizons by taking him different places daily. I love being his teacher.

I keep waiting for him to have separation anxiety, but so far, he has not. So, if you are a stay at home mom and people tell you that your child will be afraid to go to anyone, this is not true! It depends on your child's personality. When I drop Hudson off in the nursery on Sunday, he runs right in and starts playing! He will stay with anyone.

He is learning to follow simple commands. He will go to his highchair when it is time to eat, stand my the door when we are leaving the house, and go to the bathroom for bath time.

His favorite games right now are the Itsy Bitsy Spider, London Bridge, Ride a Little Horsey, and Pat a Cake. His new favorite pastime is dropping toys down air vents. He stills loves to throw them down stairs too. I wish he would just play with them!

There isn't much too report this month. We enjoyed a going away party for friends moving to Colorado. We will miss you Kelly and Jonathan! I got to see my old roomie Heather get married. Will gave me a night out with the girls before Stacey moved to Baton Rouge for the fall, and we attended a few birthday parties!

Books- I read Room. So good! Told in the point of view of a little boy who has lived in a room his entire life. His mom was captured and held captive by an older man. It is an easy read and so interesting. I also read House Rules. It is about an autistic teenager. It actually had lots of similarities with Room. I liked the insight it gave me on autism. I also read The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning. Manning has several books that teach on the love of God. I couldn't read him constantly because I don't think it would keep me balanced, but it is so good to be reminded of the deep love God has for His children. I needed that this month.

I'm glad football season is here! I love how it brings people together for fellowship.