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