Top 10 in 2010

Happy Last Day of 2010!!

I'm well aware I haven't blogged in over a month, and for that I apologize. But, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year....and we wish and hope the same for you and yours! I've seen + heard about other bloggers doing this and thought it only appropriate that I at least blog again before the end of 2010. These are our families top events throughout the year in chronological order...

10. Hudson's BIRTHday....of course!

Sure, this was 4 months into the year, but Jay and I are pretty sure that nothing cool happened to us in those days before April 8, 2010. Hudson has blessed our lives more than we could have ever imagined and has made this year the best we've ever had!

9. Graduating from Grad School

I'm still not sure how I managed to finish grad school in the month after Hudson was born, but on May 22, 2010 (my Sissy's 24th birthday) I graduated with my Master's in Teaching and got a nice pay raise! Thank you to my understanding professor's at Mercer University! (This pic was from a little graduation party we had since I chose not to "walk" at graduation.)

8. Grams turned 90!!!

And Jay and his family got to go out to Electra, TX to celebrate with her. Unfortunately, we decided it was best for Hud and I to stay behind, but we were celebrating Grams in spirit!

7. My 1st Mother's Day

What is there to say? I finally understand why mothers around the world looooove this holiday. I love being a Mommy!!!

6. Jay's 1st Father's Day

We celebrated with a Father's Day breakfast at J. Christopher's with Jay's family. I got a yucky stomach bug later, but that gave Jay more time to just hang out with his favorite little guy.

5. SEASIDE

In July we went on a family vacation with Jay's family to Seaside, Florida...a.k.a. my favorite place in the world. My family used to vacation there every Spring Break and it's my little Heaven on Earth. Our plan is to make it an annual thing...my fingers are crossed!

4. Linds + Bryan got Engaged!!!

On August 6, 2010, Bryan proposed to my sister in Laguna Beach, CA and we got to surprise her and showed up moments after he popped the question and spent the night with them celebrating! It couldn't have happened without our parents and we thank them for that....we will never forget it! If you want to read more about their engagement story, read it here.

3. Thanksgiving

Pics from our Thanksgiving weekend....we have so much for which to be thankful!

2. Atlanta's 1st White Christmas in 100+ years

This would have been my favorite Christmas anyway (it's like being a kid again when you're the parent!), but then it snowed for the first time on Christmas day in Atlanta in over 100 years! And it didn't just snow, we got multiple inches, and it stayed for days! It was so pretty, and even though Huddy won't remember it, we have pictures to prove to him that it snowed on his first Christmas (and probably the only time it will in his lifetime).

1. Booked our Trip to Meet Hud's Great-Grandpa + Grandma (although it'll happen in early 2011)...what a way to ring in the New Year! We can't wait to see them in Arizona!

I hope 2011 brings you as much joy as 2010 brought us, and may God bless you!

Election Day Off = Halloween Weekend Recap

Gwinnett County gave us the day off for Election Day today so I figured I'd use the opportunity to upload my photos from this weekend to share with you. Enjoy....

A happy boy on Game Day

 All decked out in Halloween gear, and split between Georgia and Florida!

 Opening his present from Aunt Kara and Aunt Christine!

 A house divided!

...but we still love each other!

 Trying water out of a sippy cup for the first time.

Halloween Night. An angel and a skeleton.

 Going trick-or-treating in the wagon....like big boys!

 A witch and a ghost answered the door!



 All tuckered out after eating all that sugar.

Just kidding. :)

....And go vote!!!

I Had a Dream

I had a dream last night that Hudson and I were on a jet and, for some reason, in order to protect Hudson or save him, I had to put him in a pod and eject him from the plane while we were over the ocean. I knew that by doing so he had the best chance of survival, but it was nearly impossible to do. As I watched the pod with my baby in it plummet toward the ocean, I thought about how crazy it was that I was putting his safety in the "hands" of that pod and fate, but that I had to have faith that what I was doing was going to save him.

When I left Hudson at Open Arms, his daycare (or school as I'm calling it), for the first time this morning, I felt the familiar feeling that I'd felt during my dream. I know that he'll do great at school and that he's going to learn so much and make friends, but it goes against my motherly instinct and every. bone. in. my. body. to leave him in the care of people who don't know him (no matter how sweet and caring they are--and Miss Angela and Miss Erika certainly are), love him and would die for him.

But I have faith. I have faith that God has him there for a reason. And I know that He loves him even more than I do.....even if that seems impossible. :)

Bright and early before school...too excited to eat!

 On our way!

Playing at school the moment we arrived...there are so many more toys than at home!



Pumpkin Love

Do you love pumpkin as much as I do?!?! If so, check out the following from fellow bloggers, family and friends....they are tried and tested by moi. :)

1. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
http://www.flythroughourwindow.com/2010/10/my-eyelids-are-held-open-with-toothpicks/
(You'll have to scroll a ways down for the recipe (easiest thing I've ever made!), but as a reward, you'll get to see Darby's little rovers and her other creative projects.)

2. Pumpkin (or squash) Risotto
http://igameals.com/?p=167
This recipe is from a girl I knew in high school! It's not too pumpkin-y and went really well with rotisserie chicken and pear and praline pecan salad. (Thanks for the help with pairing the food, Mom!)

3. Fran's Pumpkin Pie Dip
I got this recipe from Jay's aunt. Mmmm....

10 oz. cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat)
3/4 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. packed brown sugar (I used the Splenda kind)
1 1/2 Tbsp. orange juice
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves

Process in food processor until smooth. Serve with gingersnaps (or 'Nilla Wafers!).

4. Pumpkin Baby
Take small bites, please!

Do  you have any pumpkin recipes you can share with me? Due to my fear of a pumpkin shortage, I just bought an insane amount of canned pumpkin and would love to use it in some new recipes! Please share in your comment. :)

Happy Halloween! xoxo

You know you've been a parent for 6 months when....

....you completely forget to turn the monitor on one night and don't realize it until it's time to get up the next morning!

P.S. Please don't turn us in to DFACS. :)

Hudson @ 5 and 6 months!!!

Hello?!?! Is anyone there?!?!

Probably not, but in case there's a lone soul out there who still checks my blog, here's a sampling of the latest pics of Huddy Buddy from the past month....

Chillin' on his tummy, playing, wanting to crawl...@ 5 months

The best "nest" picture I got of Hud @ 5 months...except I forgot the egg! Grr...

Comforting the sweet boy after he decided he no longer liked the "nest."

One more try....

Okay...we'll just play with the egg on Mommy's lap then!

Seriously--he's that happy. And he makes me that happy!

Sitting all by himself....the day before turning 6 months old.

He's loving being able to sit by himself!

Those eyes. Those cheeks. Those lips.

And this is the other face he makes when he's not smiling. So serious and deep in concentration!


Happy 6 month birthday Hudson!

Opening up his half-birthday present. :)

Blocks!

Mmmm....the citron block is yummy!

We got to have a play date on my furlough day with Kelly and Kaden! It was so precious to watch the boys interact with each other for the first time.

Kade was waaay better at "army crawling!" That smirk on his face reads: Eat. My. Dust.

His 6 month "nest" photo shoot went much better than @ 5 mos. now that he thinks he's a big boy.

....I'd really like to take a bite outta this egg....

Well, that all for now. I'd like to say you'll hear from me soon, but who knows when the next time will be. At least know I have ideas for future posts that I would love to work on when I find the time. ;)

Besos!!!