November

I try to do a quick post at the end of every month. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to forget things. My monthly recap is simply to be reminded of the small things, the big things, and the everyday life of the in between.

November, like every month, seemed to pass quickly. We were thankful for the comfortable weather. Many of our days were passed exploring our yard and enjoying the final days of pleasantness.

We are wrapping up our fall schedule--Bible Study, story times, and playgroups. Our schedule will change in the new year. We are enjoying having Daddy home during the afternoons and nights....this too will soon change. Soccer season is approaching!

It was a month of thankfulness. We are convicted that we don't practice thankfulness each and everyday. We loved naming and talking about what we are thankful for, and in the process, we are learning to be thankful for the messy moments of life too.

Hudson

Hudson had his 18 month check up this month. While we were there, we discovered he had strep. We also discovered that it takes two people to give him his medicine. We wrestled him to the floor for every dose..twice a day for ten days. It wasn't fun. Will got sick in the process. I was the last man standing.

Hudson's vocabulary has really increased. He is even beginning to make phrases. Last night, he told me night night and then said muah (kiss). Then he told me bye bye before going to his room to bed. He will say names of food, people, body parts, and some animals. He will point to objects and name them. He sometimes surprises me by naming things I didn't even know he knew.

We are working on our animal sound. Hudson proudly knows that all animals say "Boo!" We are also naming our letters and numbers. He loves to sing the alphabet song with me. I mean B, D, A, C, E is the way the alphabet song goes, right?

He loves to Hokey Pokey. He knows how to open doors. Really excited about that...ha ha! Of course, it isn't all fun. We aren't dancing around doing the Hokey Pokey all day. We have many meltdowns.





Occasionally there are household disasters:





Books:

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I read "One Thousand Gifts," by Ann Voskamp. It is one of my favorite reads of all times. It gave me perspective I hope I never lose. I am now working on my 1000 gifts.

8. The smell of yummy food in the crockpot.
15. Hudson asking for more. We have an abundance of food.
18. Pulling out Christmas decor from the attic.
27. Everyone around the breakfast table.
100. My Mr. Fix-It.
106. The Target 1 spot.
109. The security of our salvation.

Will and I are reading "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die," by John Piper. This book has really short chapters, and we are using it as a small devotion at dinner. Afterwards, one of us would add a leaf to our Thankful Tree. Just a few little things that added so much warmth to our nights together..nothing profound. We didn't have deep theological discussions over our mashed potatoes. We are simply trying to pursue God as a family. It is a messy process.

Excited about celebrating the Advent season!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is usually a blur. It is hard to see as many people as possible in just 2 days. We are blessed with huge families.

Our first adventure was to see the George family. We had family from LA, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, and Brent, Alabama.











I squeezed in lunch with high school friends on Friday. I got to hold the sweetest little twins!





Then, it was time for more turkey and family fun. This time with the Taylor side.







Hudson was a tad overwhelmed by all the people. I didn't take a picture of the Taylor side, but we celebrated with close to 30 people. Seeing fifty people in all, many of them new faces, is overwhelming!

It was a good time. We had full bellies and happy hearts. We are blessed and thankful. We pray we would in turn be a blessing to others.

Operation Christmas Child

We really want to cultivate a spirit of giving in our children. One way we are attempting to do this is through Operation Christmas Child. This year, Hudson packed a box for a 2 year old boy. As our family grows, we want each child to pack a box for the same age child as them.

We hit the one spot at target for most of our loot. We found a yo yo, ball, airplane, truck, teddy bear, book, and a tiger. We also sent some of our individually wrapped hard candy left over from Halloween. We probably spent less than 10 bucks.





We included a letter and pictures of Hudson. We told the little boy that we hoped our gift would point him to the greatest gift...the love of Jesus.

Snuggie Love

Meet Snuggie. He came into our lives shortly before Hudson was born. He was a free gift with the purchase of a his baby dresser. As it turns out, this little blanket has become significantly more valuable than the dresser.


He has seen better days. Besides being eaten by dog, he is carried around 85% of the day by a certain messy toddler. He is his best friend and constant companion.

One day Snuggie will be a distant memory. Hudson will lay him down and never pick him up again. I want to cherish today, when Snuggie is in Hudson's arms and Hudson is in mine.

I am on the couch, listening to the rain. My sweet, tired boy has been screaming from his crib. He needs sleep. Some days, it does us both good for me to hold him a little while. Not today. Today, I know he needs sleep. So, I am letting him cry. It is hard. It hurts me to hear him wail.

It reminds me of the love of our Father. It pains Him for us to hurt. Yet, sometimes, it is necessary. It is good.

"Are your ways, My ways, child? Can you eat My manna, sustain on My mystery? Can you believe that I tenderly, tirelessly work all for the best good of the whole world--because My flame of love for you can never, ever be quenched?"--Ann Voskamp

I know my love for Hudson is a pitiful comparison of His great love for me. Yet, I am grateful for the sweet reminders it brings me.

Thankful Tree

We were so excited to start our thankful tree! Each evening, we are taking turns hanging our thankful leaves on the tree.









Not sure how he got here:

The Grace Project

The holidays are a great time to be reminded of the joy that comes from giving. I have often had buyer's remorse from spending money on myself, but I have never regretted spending money to help another. I wanted to share one opportunity to give this holiday season.



Consider joining in on this!

October

I love October! This month we visited the pumpkin patch, a farm, and the zoo. We attended a costume party, a fall festival, and we trick or treated. I am pretty positive Will and I had more fun than Hudson at all these events.

Hudson had the hand, foot, and mouth sickness earlier this month. This was one of the hardest sicknesses thus far. He wouldn’t eat, drink, or take his medicine. He didn’t sleep at night either! I am glad we are done with that!


Hudson-18 month update-



Words- Mama, Dada, Ge, Paw Paw, Maw Maw, hot, bye hey, bubble, yummy yummy, God, Bible, cracker, go, car, uh oh, teeth, please, no, ball, baby, egg, tee tee, poo poo, boo boo. He will try to say nearly anything now.

Abilities- wave, clap, point, more sign, all done sign, dance, jump, pray, and make. animal sounds. He can point to head, toes, fingers, nose, chin, and belly. He will locate specific things around the house when you ask him to do so. He will also point to specific people. He can perform simple tasks such as, “Go to your highchair” or “Take this to Daddy.” He loves to participate in patty cake, ring around the rosy, ride a little horse, peek a boo, hide and seek, itsy bitsy spider, London bridge, and this little piggy.

He loves to give hugs and kisses.

He doesn’t like to watch tv.

He loves to share when prompted. He doesn’t want to share his snuggie or paci.

He has a temper!

His favorite” no, no” activities include: playing on our computer, using the remote, opening air vents, turning on the dishwasher, and sticking things down the toilet.

His favorite “yes” activities are blocks, shapes, cars and trucks, riding his giraffe, books, and playing outside.

He has become a picky eater. He loves cucumbers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hummus, ketchup, green beans, and spaghetti. He is not a fan of eggs, chicken, or anything soft and gooey. He will feed himself from a spoon now.

Books we've read-
I read the rest of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. These are great, easy to read Christian historical fiction. I also read Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenchess by Rachel Jankovic. This is an easy read. I think I will reread it when and if we have multiple kiddos. This isn’t a practical book, but it gives great perspective.

I guess the holiday season is practically here. I am excited about continuing our holiday traditions together.

Trick or Treat?

We took Hudson trick or treating with his friends Marcy and Dawson. The neighborhood we visited was very, very serious about the Halloween business. There was a parade and everything. We are not very serious about Halloween, but we are not opposed to collecting candy for ourselves. Hudson is not sure what candy is,and I don't plan on telling him anytime soon.

We made a few stops before our traditional trick or treating. Publix set up several trick or treating stations around the store. Hudson loves riding his in the car buggy. He says, "vroom, vroom."



Then, we stopped by the Booth's house.



Afterwards, we met up with a lion and Bob the Builder. Lions, giraffes, and Bob the Builder make great friends, but they don't share their candy.










We finally made it to the parade. This was a very serious parade-complete with a police escort.







There was a snake in one of the yards. A real snake. Like I said, these people are serious.