Crazy Fun

So, what is new with Hugh? Well, he is finally eating again now that the never ending cold has finally ended. We have his big test at PCH tomorrow...hoping that all his muscles in his throat are fully developed. However, they have told us that if there is no change - it may just be his swallow (and they assume one of us has the same swallow...I guessing he got this wonderful trait from me). So, all the thickening and expensive therapy for nothing...awesome. I guess we'll see tomorrow. He has been standing independently...very impressive. He has taken A step! Several times I might add...not all at the same time, but A step at several different times. I know, I know...you all are SO amazed. Maybe we'll start 2010 with a walker...heavy emphasis on maybe. We continue to see his personality come out more and more...we love it. He continues to mimic a lot of my faces...wow, I really need to smile more and quit the smirking. We are loving every minute with him...he is so much fun.


We were blessed this past weekend with a sleepover with two of our amazing nephews. This is the third year we have had a nephew/nephews spend the night...it is so fun. The rule is as soon as they are potty trained, they can spend the night. So, Eli says to me (he is very smart), "Logan is potty trained and with your rule, he should be here." I explained to him that his Mom didn't think I was ready to handle four kids and he says, "Yep, you wouldn't be able to handle Logan." Too funny. Logan - you were missed and you are coming next year...I know Jake can handle it. We had lots of fun with games, the Wii, too much sugar, VHS movies, a Christmas party with our small group...lots of fun (and craziness) all around. My favorite line from the weekend - from TJ, "I loved Robin Hood. It was the best movie." He makes me smile - the movie is from the 80s. Of course, I wanted to document the weekend...at the last minute. So, I bribed the boys for pictures because they kept telling me how much they hate pictures (especially Eli...he kept telling me how much he HATES them, I believe the evidence below contradicts his story).







Oh well, I tried to get some shots...kudos to people who get great shots of their multiple children. Oh, and this is what happens when you give a six-year-old a camera.


Ah, we love these boys. Hugh had a blast...looking forward to lots more in our future...or, I guess until they become "uncool". We wish all of our nieces and nephews lived here for sleepover fun!

Thankful

We were able to spend this past Thanksgiving as a family and with lots of family around us (missing a few located in Alaska, Tennessee, and Flagstaff...you all were very missed!). It reminded me that we have so much to be thankful for...the list is unending, but I thought I would share some things we are thankful for.


Sleeping babies. SLR cameras. Crazy boys. Small spaces. Pre-lit Christmas trees. Microwaves. Internet. Random people's blogs. Clean babies. Clean house. Handmedown clothes for Hugh. Dried fruit. TV online. Parks. Swings at the park. Working from home. Eye drops. Stuffed animals. Food Network. Comfy couches. Biggest Loser. Walks. Salt. Red meat. Hair ties. Contacts. Sunglasses. Grandmothers who watch grandchildren. Animal free home. iTunes. HOV lanes. Hybrid cars. Coupons. Pacifiers. Balloons. Big beds. Clean sheets. Folded laundry. Homemade trail mix. Crispix mix. Vacations. Cake cookies. Melissa's cupcakes. Christmas music. Quiet. Jobs. Our home. Books. Seeds. Herbs. Plants. Trees. Meals in a bag. Crockpots. Self check-out lanes. My mom's on-line Blockbuster membership. Good food. Candy.


Like I stated, so much to be thankful for...but what are we really thankful for? Friends. Family. Hugh's smile and laugh. Generosity of friends and family. God's Word. God's perfect and holy Son, Jesus Christ. Our salvation through Jesus Christ. God's promises to His children. Our hope. Our love. Our life. We know that everything else will fade...all the "stuff", but our salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ is for all eternity...like I stated...lots to be thankful for, more than we could ever repay.


We hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!

They Come at Night...

The sickies that is...they always come at night...and not just "night"...the middle of the night. They came around 2AM and only stayed for a short time, but then they came at 4AM and didn't leave. Why do they ALWAYS come at night? Why not come in the late morning or mid afternoon? Oh, well. So, as I was holding our little guy in the middle of the night and I was thinking about how much I wanted to be sleeping...and then Christ reminded me to be thankful for the unexpected and to show compassion (Mark 6:31-37). I was reminded that I won't always be able to hold my baby and snuggle him...especially in his time of need. I was very convicted about how selfish I am and am so thankful that Christ has forgiven me...and continues to me forgive me...even when I am selfish. Honestly, Hugh seems just fine...congested and not eating (drinking...just not eating). Who knows...maybe it is teething?!? When in doubt, teething always works. We are hoping for a better night and that the sickies stay away (but not the teeth...we want (and Hugh needs) the teeth to come)!


We were excited to be able to be a part of our family dedication tonight at our church (no worries to any moms...we don't bring our "sick" baby into the nursery...we don't roll like that). We are so thankful God has blessed our family and it is our greatest desire to live for His glory and for our son to know Him. We desire to live this out everyday and for God to grab a hold of Hugh from a very young age. We are thankful to be a part of a church that is cross centered and we know we will be faithful to pray for our family.


And anything new? Not really. As Hugh approaches his thirteen month, he is still perfecting his crawling form. He still has to fit through every small space...the smaller the better. He has started pointing a lot...pointing is not rude to Hugh. So, we explain every item he points to. He still loves to play outside, loves to be silly, continues to be all boy (laughs every time he farts or burps...seriously, are boys just made that way?!?)...and we love him more and more each day!

All Things Small

So, I decided to post today and Jake told me I am still doing a weekly post...just not calling it a "weekly" post. Whatever. Hugh is a total boy. And, what does that mean? He thinks he can do anything. Like fit into really small spaces...under beds, under chairs, in his play cube...and the list goes on. So, rather than save him (I figure if he can get himself in...he can get himself out), I take pictures...because it is too funny. Why are boys made with the "I can do anything" gene? He is already thinking that he knows better than his Mama...well, he is crazy...just like his Mama.



We love this little boy. He is so fun and is so expressive. People are always commenting to me on his many expressions and his big eyes...we love it. He is too cute. He still loves to play outside and loves to get dirty. It so fun to watch him explore and watch him figure things out. Of course, being a boy, he needs to figure out how things work rather than just knowing they work. He is a biter...Jake thought it was funny to bite him and so Hugh thinks it is funny to bite people...well, Hugh bites like a dog and it hurts...hopefully he doesn't have rabies. He is getting so much better with stairs and has learned how to go down backwards...he is still learning, but so much better. He loves to mimic my faces...especially my smile with the BEAUTIFUL Johnson squinty eyes. I think he is really jealous that he doesn't have my squinty eyes...and can you blame him? Oh, and the blog curse struck me big time...he is a climber. He saw a little friend climbing in the nursery this past Sunday and I am sure was thinking, "I can totally do that. He does...he is having fun...so, why not?" Like I said, all boy...and we wouldn't want it any other way.




He has graduated from his feeding therapy appointments...praise God! God has been so faithful to grow and develop our little guy. He also had his first bottle in eight months that didn't have any thickener!!! This is HUGE progress and we are thinking that we are FINALLY past his swallowing issues...we'll know in a few weeks. He is showing some signs of dehydration and we are really working on it...always working on something. It is crazy how much stress and worry a little person can cause...and it amazing how much God can bring you to your knees and show you that He is who He said He is...and He wants you to depend upon Him. I remember telling one of my sister-in-laws (when I was pregnant) that I couldn't wait to have the baby so I could stop worrying...and she laughed and told me that the worrying hadn't even begun yet...so true. Thank God for His patience and love...we would be lost without it.



(Yep, still spitting at him for smiles.)

Oh, and this last one is a special picture for Jake...so cute...while playing with the electrical socket...whoopsy daisy.

The Things We Will Do...

I wanted to get some cute shots of Hugh in his Flagstaff Fire t-shirt and of course Hugh wanted nothing to do with it. He was giving me the "Mama, you are crazy. Leave me alone." looks.


So, of course I started thinking of ways I could get him to smile. I started bebopping (you know, like rapping...yes, I am white, but I am so good at it...and dancing...you should see me dance...just ask my family, I think they still live in amazement of my skills) and playing a game called "Hubey's Shoes" (it is a game where I waive his shoe in front of him and say "Hubey's Shoes" and he tries to eat it...so, now the game sounds a little weird, but it made him laugh like crazy the other night). He gave me some half pity smiles with my attempts.


So, when all else fails...I spit at him.


Works every time.


Still no walking...still has absolutely zero interest. He watches other children and I am sure is thinking, "Good for them." We know he'll get there...or, he could be the kid who crawls into kindergarten with his bottle (no, we haven't even thought about starting to break that habit). So, we just let him crawl all over the place and let him get filthy...and Jake learns to relax knowing that he is crawling all over the ground during swine flu season...ah, such is life.

Hoppy Halloween!

So, week fifty-three...kidding. Hoppy Halloween! We were able to celebrate Halloween this year with Hugh and had a wonderful time in our neighborhood with friends. Yes, we dress our baby up...we think it is fun and do not think it is evil. However, now I am going to get on my soapbox for a minute (why?...because it is my blog and I can do whatever I want)...so, we saw kids (ten to twelve years old) dressed in super scary costumes...like the character from the movie Saw...I mean, seriously...parents pay for these types of costumes?!? Okay, stepping off of my soapbox. We had a good time with our little cheetah...so cute. He kept the head piece of his costume on all night...don't think he knew that he didn't have to have it on. Anyway, he looked so cute and it was a very fun night!



And, oh yes...Jake and I dressed up as well...as H1N1 (yep, the swine flu). We knew that not everyone would appreciate our witty idea, but people found it amusing...for the most part. Of course, we got some dirty looks...come on people, laugh a little. Anyway, now we are all battling sinus infections/colds...serves us right for dressing up as the swine flu. Overall, a great Halloween!



Hugh had his one year check up, which meant more shots. He only cried for about thirty seconds since I distracted with some booty. He weighed 21lbs. 15oz. (40%) and was 32in. (90%). He is doing great. We are so thankful to God for growing our little boy and keeping him so healthy!



We hope you all had a Hoppy Halloween!

Hughlapalooza!!!

(Once again LOTS of pictures...be prepared!)







Ah, yes...it was an extravanganza...the whole weekend! However, it was a lot of fun...we are glad we didn't have to title the post, "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To!". Hugh seemed to have a great time and there were a couple times in the night that Jake and I looked at each other and asked, "Where is Hugh?" Clearly, he partying like it was 2009...what, what?!? Friday we enjoyed the zoo (I think Hugh may feel about the zoo the same way TJ does..."the best part about the zoo is the playground") and Peter Piper Pizza with the cousins...it was a good time...I even think Aunt Melissa enjoyed the zoo...I know, I know...shocking. At least this time there was no meltdown from Hugh...even when we took the Icee away. We do know that he doesn't enjoy cotton candy...what is wrong with this kid?!? He enjoyed the 3P...of course. Loved the merry go round.









That night we decided to do a dry run with his cake...a cup cake. And, he LOVED it...more making a mess that eating it...it was so funny. The really craziness was on Saturday for his BIG family party...which is over fifty people! Yikes! It was a lot of fun. My worst nightmare came true when I ran out of food...yes, the biggest party foul ever. However, the guests were very understanding and hot dogs came to the rescue. The pinata was a huge hit...like no duh, of course would be...I did have them at my birthday parties until I was thirteen...oh and in case you all are wondering, I was definitely the most popular kid and was not a total nerd...it is totally "cool" to have pinatas when you are thirteen. Hugh wasn't really into the presents...too many other fun things to do...like glow sticks. Oh, yeah...we had glowsticks...look out 1999, glowsticks are making a comeback. He smashed his cake on Saturday night, but not like Friday night...however, it was still lots of fun. He had a terrific night and even got to stay up late...of course, we were hoping for an extra hour of sleep in the morning since he was getting robbed of it...yep, big, fat negative. Thanks to our family for a wonderful party...we look forward to so many more!