Last Post Before I Turn One!

                      

                               

Wow, so much to tell you since my last post! 

In mid-July, Mom, Dad and I went up to the cabin in Nisswa to hang out with Auntie, Randy, my cousins Max and Noah and Grandpa Andy. Mom and Auntie took me out on a paddle boat ride and later we went for a cruise on a pontoon.  I had so much fun being on the water and swinging in the hammock.   I also have to brag about my close encounter with a bald eagle. A bald eagle was spotted enjoying a shore-lunch just as Sophie had wandered away into a neighbor's yard.  We all had a scare for a moment when we thought Sophie was the eagle's lunch and were relieved when it turned out the eagle was enjoying a dead fish and Sophie was just misbehaving.  Check out the picture - pretty neat, huh?

Later that week, I visited my Grandma Andy at Lakeview Ranch.  She smiles every time she sees me and she loves it when I sit/squirm on her lap!  Grandma isn't able to talk much but she has managed to say "he's so cute" and "he's so smart"!
 I love my grandma and know that she loves me too.

The next week in July we drove down to Indiana to vacation at Nana and Papa's house in Hobart.  It was a great visit and we celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary for Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Hodge.  I met Great Uncle Cliff and Great Aunt Betsy and their son, Bruce, and daughter, Jennifer.  I also met my "cousin" Payton, the newest baby in the family (she belongs to dad's cousin Mike and his wife Amy).  On our way to Hobart we stopped in Chicago to see Auntie Lisa and Uncle Jim's apartment and to wish Auntie Lisa good luck on her half marathon.  Another highlight during the visit was getting to trek along with Mom and Dad and Uncle Matt during a visit to Three Floyds - a great little brew pub dad and Uncle met like a lot!  Nana and Papa spent lots of time spoiling me with love and attention - I swam in the pool in the front yard and played with the toys Papa gave me - they make lots of fun noises!  Nana and Papa and I talk on Skype on the computer, but I have a hard time not attacking the keyboard during our conversations -I get so excited to see them and hear their voices.

 

In the last part of July, I really mastered my army crawl and began to throw a special hook of the right knee with a heel pull to "scoot" me forward.  Crawling didn't seem to get me where I needed to go as quickly as I wanted to get there; so, on August 8th, I figured out how to get to a standing position from sitting and on September 11th I took two steps.  Now, shortly before my first birthday, I am pretty much able to walk across the room without falling!   The whole house is now a giant treasure chest - I love to play with all the funny things in the kitchen drawers and to rearrange the jars of jelly in the refrigerator.

Other highlights during the last part of the summer included my first trip to the zoo.  It was a hot day to visit the zoo and I wasn't overly impressed with the animals in small cages.   I also recently went with Mom and Dad to an apple orchard.  Mom shared a little of her apple pie with me...mmmm.... also picked out my pumpkin for Halloween in the pumpkin patch!  I can't wait for Dad to help me carve it and toast the pumpkin seeds.   Oh, one other recent highlight -  Mom and Dad finished the Twin Cities Marathon.  I was their training buddy on many runs and a couple of times I agreed to have a babysitter so that they could complete their long run.  Auntie and Randy came to watch me the day of the marathon and we caught Mom and Dad at mile 16 and mile 23.  For Mom's birthday, she asked dad to run the marathon with her and he helped her train stuck with her the whole race.

As I approach my first birthday, I have to say it has been a great year!  I have learned to walk and am learning to talk using baby sign language - my favorite signs are "more" and "milk"  Mom and Dad think I am the best baby in the world and we have  think we are very blessed!  I know I have lots and lots of relatives who love me and a noisy Schnauzer who seems to like me best when I am in the high chair.  This weekend I will get to be with my family to celebrate my first birthday - I can't wait to tell you all about it in my next blog.

Peace and Love, Little Hud

 

           

Fun in the Summertime!

Summer is speeding right along and so is my first year - I am nine months old today! Mom and Dad cannot believe their little baby is now scrambling around the floor on his hands and knees moving from one room to the next in the blink of an eye. I have done a lot of fun stuff this summer and will share a few of my favorite memories:

Friday night I joined mom, dad, Grandpa Andy, Auntie Nik, Cousins Max and Noah and Randy at a Twin's game for an outing with the Alzheimer's Association. We all were allowed to do a lap around the grass at Target Field to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease. We wish Grandma Andy could have been there with us, but we will show her pictures and tell her all about it when we go to visit. All day Saturday I got to spend time bonding with Auntie Nik and my cousins and I had a blast! Mom and Dad went out for their long 13/15 mile runs and I went with Auntie to Noah's soccer game where I played on the blanket in the grass and watched the big kids on the soccer field kicking the ball. Mom and Dad went to a Band of Horses concert that night and Auntie Nik, Max, Noah and I stayed at home. Tornado sirens went off, so we had a lot of excitement. Last night, Dad took Mom to La Belle Vie for her big birthday dinner and I went to the Kopka's house to hang out with my buddy Harper. Of course, when mom and dad came to pick me up at 9:00, I was still wide awake.

The second weekend in July we had a family vacation at Bluefin Bay up on the North Shore. We spent the first night in Grand Marais and then Great Uncle Phil and Aunt Maureen treated everyone to rooms overlooking Lake Superior for the next two nights. Our cousins from Georgia (Mandy and Mary) flew up with Bryson and my distant cousin Shyne. We all had fun at the alpine slide and enjoyed a grilled dinner by the campfire!

                                     

One of my highlights for the weekend included my first swim in a pool. Although I thought the water was cold at first, I soon decided swimming in the big pool was a blast. After a bit of coaxing, Dad talked mom into letting be dunked totally under water a couple of times and I was a bit shocked but survived. I also enjoyed a little time in the warm waters of the hot tub but I did not care to get my feet wet in Lake Superior...brrrrr. Saturday night Mom, Dad and I had fun playing games with Grandpa, Auntie, Max and Noah and Randy - I managed to hang in there until about 11 pm when I finally crashed in my Pack-n-Play in Grandpa's room. It was a real treat to have a family reunion on the North Shore!

Fourth of July weekend we were lucky to have Uncle Matt come to visit us and stay for a few days!  We all went to a Twin's game and hung out with Uncle Matt's buddy, Greg.  One of our favorite activities that weekend was the visit to Minnehaha Falls and the Sea Salt Eatery where Dad enjoyed his crawfish po' boy and Mom and I shared fish tacos.   Dad took a couple of vacation days to hang out with Uncle Matt and they had fun golfing one day but worked really hard in the yard cutting down lots and lots of tree branches the other day.  Thanks Uncle Matt - I didn't know you were a lumberjack.   We have so much fun during your visits and enjoy our trips with you to the St Clair Broiler.

Back in June, Mom, Dad and I took my first camping trip to Great Bluffs State Park. I slept in a tent for two nights! At first they thought I could sleep in Sophie's canvas dog crate, but I thought that was a really silly idea and Sophie didn't like it either. So, instead, they pushed me around the campground in my reclined stroller and waited for me fall asleep that way before putting the whole stroller in the tent. We had a campfire both nights and enjoyed hot dogs and beans for dinner one night and smores both nights!

Latest Happenings

So, some time has passed since we last spoke.  I hope all of you have been having a great spring season.  My spring social calendar has been full - here is a rundown of recent activities:

1). I saw my first Yankees' game at Target Field on Wednesday night courtesy of  Great Uncle Phil.  We had tickets in the Legend's Club and I stayed awake for the entire game and didn't cry even once.  Mom and Dad got lots of positive feedback from folks in neighboring seats about how well I behaved!

2).  I have two teeth busting through my lower gums.  Who knew getting baby teeth could be so painful?  I fuss a tiny bit more than normal as a result of my swollen gums, but I am a pretty good sport about the whole thing. I sure am enjoying nibbling on Baby Mum Mum rice crackers and Gerber teething biscuits.

3).  My army crawl is getting stronger and faster every day.  I mostly crawl  propped up on my hands as I scooch my knees under my chest, but occasionally I throw a single leg in the mix.  When I  see a toy that interests me, I am quite determined in my efforts to reach it quickly.

4).  On Sunday, May 23rd, I was baptized at Grace University Lutheran Church.  The service was followed  by a nice party with lots of family and friends joining us for lasagna, Italian salad and a Buttercream cake at the house.

5).  Auntie Lisa and Uncle Jim babysat me for an entire day when Mom and Dad drove to Fargo, ND, to a funeral for Grandpa Andy's nephew, Craig.  Mom had never been away from me that long before - from the time I went to bed the night before (8:30 pm) until they got back from Fargo at  5:30 pm.  She missed me, of course, but I was having fun hanging out with Auntie.

6).  Nana and Papa Warren gave me lots of love during their trip to Minnesota to attend my baptism. They think I'm the greatest - it sure is nice to be the first grandchild.  But, I am excited to share their love and have some playmates in the family someday.

7).  Uncle Matt came and stayed with us for a few days during the baptism too.  He gets to come back to see me the weekend of July 4th when we will be going to another Twin's game.  Uncle Matt is a cool dude and makes his living these days playing the market - how exciting.

8).  Mom and Dad and I are busy training for the Twin Cities Marathon.  I get in six mile rides watching the leaves in the trees and all the other people biking and walking in Saint Paul and they struggle to catch their breath as they push me along.  Sophie gets to ride in her backpack when Mom bikes to work and I get to ride with them during the training runs.

I am looking forward to a three day weekend of family time.  Mom and Dad and I are joining Grandpa Andy, Auntie Nik and Cousins Max and Noah for another baseball game tomorrow.  The Twins play the Texas Rangers - Grandpa Andy is probably very excited to have his three grandsons and son-in-law accompany him to the ballpark.

1/2 Year - Odds and Sods

Well, who can believe it, I am now officially 1/2 way to my 1st birthday (and my first birthday cake)!   I have been pretty busy in recent weeks, so here are a few odds and sods.

Earlier this month, I celebrated my first Easter up in St. Cloud with my Grandpa Andy, Auntie Nik and Cousins Max and Noah.  I didn't help dye the eggs this year, but I think I will be a good helper next Easter.  We all made it to church Easter morning and I liked listening to the brass instruments.  We missed Grandma Andy and know that she would have made it a very special day for me if she could have been with us.  My Easter basket had a few goodies (Horton Hears a Who stuffed elephant and $100 for my savings account) and Uncle Phil and Maureen brought me a stuffed bunny.  Oh, and "the Bunny" left a fishing pole and some tackle for me at Mike and Mary's house.

We celebrated Dad's birthday on the 10th of April - Mom and Dad took me out for a six mile ride in my jogging stroller and later that day we had a nice dinner at Cafe 128.  I am starting to think that dining out is for the birds - Mom and Dad are having to work a little harder to keep me entertained (and quiet) so the other diners can eat in peace. 

As a birthday surprise, Mom had arranged to have Dad's friend Brady fly in for a visit on April 16th.  Brady stayed with us for four nights and we did a lot of cool stuff.   On Saturday the 17th I went to my first Major League Baseball game.   We all went to see the Minnesota Twins play in their new stadium, Target Field.  We had rock star seats about 10 rows behind home plate and enjoyed a hitting fest as the Twins beat Kansas City on a bright sunny day.  Weekend highlights also included a ride in my stroller at the outdoor Walker Art Center's outdoor sculpture garden and a trip to Minnehaha Falls and the Sea Salt Eatery for fish tacos.  Mom and Dad didn't have baby food along and tried to get me to eat some oyster cracker crumbs mixed with water but I wanted none of that.  The weekend visit by Brady also included dinner at the 112 Eatery where Mom and Dad resorted to keeping me entertained by letting me "gum" a lambchop.   I grabbed that sucker with both hands and sucked like there was no tomorrow - good stuff!

On Earth Day, I was banished from daycare because of a slight fever the day before.  So, after Mom and I dropped Dad off at work, we went to see my first rock and roll show in front of the student union at the U of M.  Cloud Cult, a local favorite and band that Mom and Dad saw when I was still "on the inside" played a free concert to kick of Spring Jam.  It was a little loud, but I saw lots of other babies there enjoying the show.   After the concert we picked up Dad from work and headed to my six month check up.  I am 15 pounds and 3 ounces (11th percentile) and now 27 inches long (70th percentile) - a long and skinny baby.  Dr. Seiler said that it is okay that I am a featherweight and that there is no need to worry as long as I seem to be eating well.

I would say that my first six months have been a charmed existence.  The verdict is still out on daycare - I suspect full days with mom or dad all to myself would be best, but I have lots to entertain me at Lasting Impressions and I like all of my friends in the Little Squirts' room. 

Uncle Matt is coming to town on Monday, and I hear lots of people are coming in for my baptism later in May. I'll be wearing the baptism gown that Grandma Andy knit many years ago and was worn by my cousins Max and Noah. My cousins love me very much and I know that I have big booties to fill!

Hope everyone is having a great spring!  I know that I will grow up in a great family full of people who love me.

Out and About

Hello Everyone,

Here is an update on my latest activities.  Two weekends in a row I have been traveling out and about.  On St. Patrick's Day we drove 450 miles to Hobart, IN, to visit the Warren and Hodge families.  I spent four nights at Nana and Papa Warrens and I did a lot of socializing!  We went to Indiana to celebrate Great Grandpa Warren's 85th birthday.   Grandma Warren who lives in a special care center for people with dementia came for the day and so did about 25 other Warrens and we ate Italian beef sandwiches, enjoyed a big birthday cake and partied late into the night.  Dad's side of the family is famous for big gatherings with lots and lots of family and lots and lots of food!  Even Great Uncle J who is in the FBI flew in for the party and he had been off doing special undercover training - pretty cool stuff.   We missed Great Auntie Deb this visit but did get to see second cousins Jessica and Justi. 

During the visit I also went over to see Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Hodge.  Great Grandpa cooked us breakfast his standard breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage patties and biscuits with homemade jam and Great Grandma took me to the basement to enjoy the porch swing hanging from the ceiling.  She thinks I'm a little prince and I know she is the queen.  I was also lucky enough to have Great Aunt Sandie and Great Uncle Ray drive all the way from Cleveland to make a spring visit.  They gave me some great Baby Einstein videos that I have been mesmerized by on the big screen TV - they are so relaxing and teach me all about classical art and music.  Great Auntie Peg also came to visit me.  She cuddled me a bit and brought me some new froggy pjs for spring. 

It sure was good to see Auntie Lisa again!  She was wearing a big sparkly engagement ring that she had just received from her now fiancee - Jim.  They will get married in a little over a year and I may get to be in the wedding  - I can't wait.  Auntie Lisa did a good job feeding me and cuddling me and spoiled me with a cool Small Paul onesie with a monkey smashing his guitar and a couple of other cute items from the boutique in downtown Hobart .  Of course, Uncle Matt was with me for the weekend too - he is "retired" now and I am really lucky he has days to spend with our family!  He and Dad were watching a lot of NCAA basketball and cheering hard for Butler (Dad's college) who is now on their way to the Final Four - go Bulldogs!

Nana and Papa Warren love me lots and lots and were thrilled to have me visit!  Nana Warren gave me a storybook all about my birth - she made it herself and it is really, really neat!  Papa Warren is a bit of an artist himself - he showed us the new tattoo sleeve he is working on for his prosthetic leg - he is going to wear a Johan Brickie "tattoo" on his leg - maybe if the Bulldogs win a national championship in basketball Dad will convince him to craft something with a Butler Bulldog on it too. 

This past weekend, I also got to see everyone on Mom's side of the family.  Auntie Nik and Cousins Max and Noah came to babysit me on Saturday night when Mom and Dad had a date.  Mom and Dad enjoyed seafood with Carrie and Scott and then to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at First Avenue.  They missed me but knew I was in good hands and enjoyed getting to see a rock and roll show - they wonder if I will go to rock shows at First Avenue someday.  I fell asleep in Auntie Nik's arms and went to my crib at 10:30 and had fun hanging out with my cousins - they're such fun, big guys!!  Sunday we all drove to visit Grandma Andy at Lakeview Ranch to celebrate her birthday.  She was having a good day and managed to say a couple of sentences about how cute I am!  Grandma looked so pretty and enjoyed the chocolate cake Grandpa Andy brought her.  Great Uncle Phil and Maureen also came for the party.  Even Sophie likes to visit Grandma Andy at the Ranch because she gets to run around the facility and gets a lot of love from all of the residents.

Well, I am almost half a year old now and I am doing lots and lots of growing!  You can see in my pictures that I also do lots and lots of sleeping.  I am now reaching out my arms to show Mom and Dad that I want them to hold me.  When I was in Indiana, I even reached for the arms of both Great Grandpas - I love the old guys and am a bit of an old soul myself.  I am now able to roll over from back to front with ease and I am eating lots of different foods.  I have tried real mashed potatoes and applesauce and also baby food with a bit of turkey in it - my favorite special treat is a little crumb of pancake with syrup.  Auntie Nik rightly predicted mom had already let me try pancakes and yes, I do like them.  My bottles are also now mixed cocktails (1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 formula) because the daycare girls said I was fussing when I was finishing my bottles.  I don't like the formula straight up, but I will tolerate it when it is mixed with a bit of the good stuff.

Peace, Love and Happiness - Hudson

Spring Is In the Air

Hello Everyone!

Friday is almost here, spring is in the air and I am getting bigger (and more handsome) every day.  Last week I made my first trip to a steakhouse with Mom, Dad and Grandpa Andy - we went old school and visited Murray's during restaurant week  in Minneapolis - a belated birthday treat for Grandpa.  I hung out in my infant car seat the entire time - wide-eyed at first I soon closed my eyes and managed to catch some zzzzzs during dinner.  Grandpa Andy stayed overnight at our house because he was flying out to Florida to Twins' spring training in the morning.

Sunday night my fam went to an Oscar party at Mike and Mary's house.  I wore the Nirvana t-shirt you see in my photo above, Dad rocked the Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club and Mom sported a Rolling Stones t-shirt.  We wore our scullies and said we were the paparazzi - the party required either Red Carpet ready attire or movie-themed costumes.  We played movie trivia, cast our ballot to predict the night's winners, enjoyed a fancy spread of good eats and had a partied late into the night - 10ish.  A crowd favorite, I took home the prize for "Best Smile".

Dad left work early and picked me up from daycare right after lunch. It just so happened that when we got home, we found an Iron Maiden documentary on tv! Right now, my favorite song is "Run to the Hills," but there is plenty of listening left to do so that may change. Mom worked late, earning the bonus that she earned for all her hard work this past year, which included one of the biggest grants the University ever received.

This weekend we have a full social calendar.  Tomorrow night we are off to dinner at Carrie and Scott's for paella (a playdate for Sophie with Tucker) and Sunday we have another reunion with the families from our "Mom and Baby" class.  If we get a break from the rain, I hope to get a ride in my stroller with Mom, Dad and Sophie.  Next week we are off to Indiana - Great Grandpa Warren turns 84.  I think everyone will be excited to hear how much of a chatterbox I have become - it's so much fun to baby babble.

Ciao, Hudson

Mmmmmm......

Excuse the messy face - Mom, Dad and I are still working on this eating thing.  Notice in my picture that I get to hold my own wooden "practice spoon" during feedings.  Mom thinks this helps me feel a bit more independent and that it will help me figure out how feed myself someday.  I do manage to get the practice spoon into my mouth, but I still don't know how to get the cereal and apples on the spoon.  Hand-eye coordination is still a work in progress.  My favorite foods are still the fruits - pears, apples and bananas.  I think squash and peas are okay, but not as good as the sweet stuff.  Rice cereal and baby food are a nice supplement, but I still prefer a snuggly mealtime with Mom.

Yesterday we had company: Dad's cousin Charity and her boyfriend Steve and Auntie Nik and Cousins Max and Noah.  We all got together to cheer on the USA men's hockey team in the Olympic gold medal game against Canada. Although we exchanged high fives and jumped up and down when the US tied the game in the last seconds of regulation, we were slightly disappointed when they ended up losing in overtime as "Sid the Kid" Crosby scored one for the Cannucks.  Oh well, the US got the most medals in these Olympic Games - a record 37. 

One other highlight this weekend was getting to ride around in the new family car this weekend.  Mom and Dad bought a Subaru Outback "sport utility wagon".  The Subaru will replace Mom's 12 year old Nissan Altima which was hit 3 times while parked in front of our house in January.  All of the snow and ice this winter made for a bad year of on-street parking.   Our new ride is pretty sweet - for a wagon.  Now when Mom picks me up at daycare we won't get strange looks in the parking lot - the Altima was looking like a wreck with bungee cords holding up the bumper.   In a few weeks we will get to take our first long trip in the Subaru - we are going to Nana and Papa Warren's house.  I am especially looking forward to seeing Auntie Lisa - she is going to think I am big guy now. 

This week I am thinking good thoughts for Grandma Andy.  She had a long seizure this weekend and was in pretty rough shape.  We all love her and hope she feels better soon!  Mom may use a sick day soon so we can go visit her at Lakeview Ranch.   

Peace out - Hudson Elliott