7 months!

Oh man Hudson is doing so many things! He will be seven months old in a few days. Where in the world did seven months go??!!

He’s on the verge of crawling. He gets on his stomach, puts his head down and tries so hard to put his knees under him. Also while on his stomach he lifts his chest and head up and spins. It’s so funny. If we hold his hands he can walk across the room. He used to just tap dance when we did this, now he will put one foot in front of the other. He sits up too. He can’t get himself in a sitting position but he sits there on his own for a while. He’s figured out how to throw fits and he very much knows who mom is. He loves his Bubby (Caleb) and Lala (Makayla). He likes to watch them play rather then actually play with them. He finally slept through the night last night. I finally started letting him cry at night (not a long time) and each day he sleeps more and more without waking up.

Again, where did seven months go??

Christmas

I’ve been looking back over the years at my many Christmas’s (26 to be exact), some I remember, some I don’t. I’ve had turkey, ham and even 7-11 for Christmas dinner.
Each Christmas comes...the lights and tree go up after Thanksgiving...the kids go on Winter break...and although I say I won’t, I spend way too much on Christmas gifts.
But seriously at the end of Christmas day isn’t it awesome?
Our Christmas went on and on and the kids (myself included!) loved it! We woke my mom and Caleb up and went to the living room full of presents. Caleb loved all his gifts and Hudson loved pulling the bows off of his presents!
We all hung out and played with new toys and did presents until more family got there. We had a very yummy dinner and opened presents one more time after we ate since my brother and Dad brought more. Makayla came over a few times to see everyone and open presents. It was great.
I could hardly believe it was already Christmas! Where does the time go? Well in the words of any 5 year old kid, "Only 364 more days to go!"

December already

Well it’s official, Caleb is nine.
He said that this years birthday was the best birthday ever! I thought I was nuts letting four nine year old boys stay the night but all was well. Only one closet door off track and the Christmas tree is still standing so not bad I’d say.
Yesterday was a snow day which the kids loved! We got a foot of snow and more is expected this Thursday. I didn’t mind it but today, today was COLD! This morning at 6 am it was -23 at my house. Yes, you read that right NEGATIVE 23 degrees. In other words, WAY TOO FREAKING COLD!
Our house is decorated and our tree is very pretty. I need to finish my shopping and get the presents wrapped. I’m sure I say this every year but Christmas came so fast.
Makayla is doing great with us. She is such a blessing to have around.
She’s kind, helpful and loves to play with Caleb & Hudson. I’m very thankful for her.
Hudson is doing great! I love that kid! He has learned to roll from his back to his stomach and has made quite the sport of it. However, he cannot roll from his stomach to his back and hates being on his stomach so he’s in quite a pickle a lot. He babbles and smiles all the time and has taken a liking to blowing raspberries.
Caleb is almost off track again for school and is quite looking forward to the break. He gets rather spoiled when he’s on break...I let him sleep in, lounge around in his jammies and he gets to stay up later watching TV.
So, anything worth sharing going on with any of you?

November

Can you believe it’s November already? Christmas is about to knock on the door and so is Caleb’s 9th birthday. That I can hardly believe as well.

I have some time to kill before we head off to church and thought I’d update you all on the craziness around here since I’ve been back

First, Caleb made honor roll on his report card; very proud of him. I’m hoping to get him signed up for basketball to start in January…we took a break from Fall sports so he’s ready now. He had a sleep over last night and it’s amazing all the things you learn about your kids by watching them interact with their friends. And it’s also rather embarrassing the things kids will share with other parents such as I learned Caleb’s friend’s dad wears tighty whities…who knows what he has said about us.

is 4 months old now. Time goes by so fast. He smiles all the time and laughs now. He is extremely ticklish and laughs like crazy when I pretend to bite his feet…cutest thing ever! His personality has definitely come out strong. He has learned to throw fits and how to whine. His hands get in the way ALL THE TIME. Try to feed him and his hands are pushing it every which way and he is constantly knocking his binky out which drives me nuts. He sleeps great at night only waking up once of twice.

For Halloween Caleb was Luigi and was as monkey. I’ll get pictures up soon enough.

I have some big news to share that I’m really happy about. Last weekend Makayla came to live with us. I’m so thankful for her. She started school on Wednesday and all is well so far. We have a meeting with her teachers and counselor on Thursday to make sure she is transitioning well. She has her own room here (which we had to scramble to clean out since it was our “extra” room). We’ll get some posters and stuff up soon for her so it feels like her room to her. Things are definitely busy with another body here. Between making lunches, doing homework and getting them to bed I’m exhausted at the end of the day.

I’ve been in my new job for 2 weeks now. I like it. It is a very busy position which I like because my day flies by. I’m excited to have Holidays off too so this Wednesday I get to be home and hang out with the kids who are out of school.

So that’s about it for now, I’m going to go get the kids dressed.

Almost done!

Well unfortunately I just couldn’t shoot the handgun good enough so I will not be making honor grad. However, as long as I miss no more then 5 on my test tomorrow, the handgun will be the only thing stopping me from getting it so I’m proud of that. Today was our last day of class. I’m so happy! Tomorrow morning is our test and then graduation in the afternoon. We turn everything in tomorrow and I fly out at 12:40 on Saturday. It went by rather quickly and I had lots of fun but I must say this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Not the academy part….the leaving my kids, especially a three month old baby for three weeks. This last week was really hard for me and today when I talked to Caleb he broke down about missing me which in turn brought on my tears. Gosh I miss him. So much.

I can’t wait to be home. CAN’T WAIT!

Oh and today, the pretty girl in the world turned 11! Can you believe it? Makayla is 11. I remember the day she was born with her ivory skin and red hair. And as she grew that red hair had the prettiest ringlets and she was always happy. She has developed into a beautiful pre-teen girl. I’m so in love with her and miss her so much. I cannot wait to see her! Now that I have weekends off I’m hoping to get to see her lots.

Well my uniforms are pressed, my studying is done, and my bag is ready to be turned in tomorrow so I think I’m going to go to sleep. Night

You know what I mean

So since I’ve been here I think I’ve taken up the word “ya’all”. I notice a drawl come off the end of my words when someone just said a word with their southern drawl attached. I’ve also heard “you know what I mean” with a New Yalk (yes that’s right) accent quite a bit and it cracks me up. Nice guy though. Who knows how I’ll come back speaking??

And for being the south where people are nice…I held the door at a restaurant the other day and out of 7 people (ya I counted) only one said “Thank you”. My kid has better manners then these tourists!

I’ve also seen our best shot in the class shoot a perfect 13 shots with the rifle right in the middle of the target. I’ve never seen such good shooting. Except, well, it was on his neighbors target, not his. And he’s a cocky one too so that part of me that believes we all get what we give got a bit of a kick out of it.

I went to St. Simons island and Jekyl island this past weekend. Love the ocean. Went to a sea turtle hospital which was very cool.

Day too many

My baby boy went from 12.11 lbs to a whopping 13.8 lbs in 2 weeks!! I’m so thankful that my kids are healthy.

We shot the rifle today which I’ve never shot in my life and I got 29/30 which is good.

I’m still in the running for Honor Grad! I had my first academic test today and missed 2 out of 60. That means my next test of 90, I can miss 5. This is not for passing, I can miss a lot to pass; this is for honor grad.

I also had my first self-defense evaluation and scenario today which I passed.

For honor grad you have to maintain an academic score of 95%, pass all your self-defense moves on the first try (you get two tries), get an acceptable or highly acceptable on your scenarios, shoot 28/30 on your rifle, 143/150 points on the pistol, and 5/5 on the shotgun and you have to do them all on your first try in addition to knowing how to make them duty carry (ready for work) and clearing the weapon (unloading, ready to put away). Again you get two tries.

I didn’t feel well this afternoon. I think I’m a little dehydrated and very mentally and physically exhausted. The rifle gave me a headache and the headache gave me a stomach ache, etc. And gosh I want to come home. I know it’s only a week left but that seems so long. I miss my kids a lot.

There’s some cool people in my class but there’s so many personalities that I’ve seen mild drama start so I stay back. Amazing what can happen in three weeks. I can’t imagine being one of the branches that are here for 4, 6, or 8 months.

Anyway I’m off to bed. Night.

Georgia

Savannah was beautiful! You can see the history in each street, it’s amazing. The parks are covered with Live Oaks and hover over the streets and the park. Each park has some sort of monument to honor the civil war veterans or the slaves or something. Very serene.

We’re going back on Friday to do a ghost walk of Savannah…scary and fun! Can’t wait!

It was fun to hang out with myself most of the weekend. I slept in, caught up on my shows thanks to abc.com. I went to the mall, I seen a movie, it was really nice. I miss my baby so much though. I miss Caleb too. A lot. But I can talk to them on the phone (which I have…lots) and they talk back. Plus they’re older. But , gosh I miss him. I hope he remembers me when I get back. I talk to him on the phone…he’ll stop talking or whining and listen to me so hopefully he’ll remember my voice.

Week one of the academy went by fast. Our first test is this Thursday so I’ve been studying a lot.  I had a little more fun and I hit the target every time so that’s a plus. Ha! I like the self-defense. Very basic but fun none the less.

So I’m just trucking along. And in the South, everyone is nice. Seriously. I might even come back saying Y’al!

Here I am!

So here I am…sitting in the airport in waiting on my shuttle to take me to the training center. It’s humid but not too hot so it should be really nice.

I can’t believe I’m leaving my boys for three weeks. Really sucks. But my work gives me $300 and a free plane ticket here so I’m going to make the most of it. I’d rather be off having fun then in my room miserable. They’re well cared for so it’s all good.

I didn’t bring my camera because I would way rather it stay at home take pictures of the kids then me in front of some statue so the only pictures you guys may get will be cell phone pictures.

Caleb gets to fly to his Grandma and Papa’s next weekend which he is really looking forward too. They’re always so good to him and lots of fun. He’ll be staying with his dad for three weeks and has no problem going to his sitters since he has a crush on her.

 Hud went to his monthly appointment Wed. Get this; the kid with the cheeks went from 12 lbs, 4 oz and 21.5 inches to 12 lbs 11 oz and 24 inches. So he has to go back because she’s a little concerned since it was so little weight gain compared to last time. I did quit breastfeeding and my breast milk was really fatty so I think this has to do with it. He eats fine and IS still growing so I’m not too concerned.

I’m sure I’ll have lots to write about on this trip…I am in the South after all.

Guess what

I got an office job! Thank God! Really, thank him.

I will be the Education Tech.

7-3, weekends and holidays off. I'll be home for Thanksgiving and home for Christmas and home on the weekends for Caleb and the evenings for Hudson.

Oh my gosh I am so happy!

Things I don't understand about my oldest son

He only sleeps under his comforter because he doesn’t want to make the rest of his bed in the morning.

Why he thinks he’s fat. Seriously, have you seen the kid? SKINNY!

His language which I can’t stand:

That’s tight = That’s cool
Sick = Cool
Clean = Cool

What happened to, “Hey that’s cool!”?

Tears

My sweet baby boy brought some stranger to tears last night. We ran into her in an elevator and she took a peep at my sleeping boy and thought he was so perfect she got tears.

He is perfect!

Both my boys are perfect!