thanksgiving adventures

just got back from our trip to chicago and michigan to celebrate hudson’s first thanksgiving. it was a lot of fun. the dreaded long car ride went surprisingly smoothly, we had a blast shopping in chicago, loved seeing family, and very much enjoyed our stay in a ginormous mansion full of friends and family. here are a few pictures documenting our trip.

hudson loved the lights of downtown chicago. his love of watching little kids play was in full swing as we walked the streets of the city.

hudson learned “so big” while we were eating dinner the first night. he picks and chooses when he wants to perform this trick now. i think he likes to see us be complete fools as we say over and over again..how big is hudson? so big! so big! so big! it’s all worth it when he lifts those little arms in the air.

auntie chelle and hudson showing off their blazers. they were the best two shopping buddies we could ask for!

hudson LOVED playing with his uncle brandon. their first reunion was at our niece and nephews dedication at their church. they played and played and played until hudson was so exhausted that he fell asleep the moment i picked him up.

a few days later we drove up to the mansion for the holiday. we got to hang out with more family and friends. hudson’s second cousin, luca, and him learned to play much better together after this hilarious picture was taken.

brad’s sisters and their sweet babies on thanksgiving. hudson loves his cousins so much!

bath time! hudson looks like a little giant next to his 3 month old cousins. thankfully he played really nice and only splashed them a few times.

*yes lanie lou does have the most beautiful hair. she was born with more hair than i think hudson may ever have in his life. she is a little diva.

hudson in his santa outfit for a photo shoot with his cousins. it was quite hilarious trying to coordinate 3 babies into a picture. one exhausting experience, but very worth it!

little bear posing so sweeting for his picture. he is the most precious little thing. love him.

we ended our week hanging out with our “other” michigan family. cameron, elise and greyson were great hosts. we had a pajama party after dinner and enjoyed some chocolate and beer after the kids went to bed. perfect way to end our vaca.

happy belated thanksgiving!

 

 

 

a note to my 9 month old

hudson,

today you turn 9 months old. it’s hard to believe you are that old. it’s also hard to imagine what life was like without you in our family. i wake up every morning so excited to hold you, play with you, and see your sweet smile. the sound of your voice brings so much joy to my heart i can’t quite explain it. i love the way you move your hands and feet in circles while you eat. i love how you clap your hands whenever we say “yaaaaay”. i love how you smile and giggle when we play peek and boo and catch with your football.  i love when you crawl so quickly to your dad when he comes home from work. i love how much you love to play in the kitchen while i cook. i love watching you push around your little red firetruck. i secretly love that you are a mamma’s boy. i love most of all the way you snuggle with me. please don’t ever stop wanting to do this. i thank our lord each and every day for the amazing blessing that you are to our family. i love you my sweet son.

“for you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
i praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
i know that full well.
my frame was not hidden from you
when i was made in the secret place,
when i was woven together in the depths of the earth.
your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
how precious to me are your thoughts,God!
how vast is the sum of them!
were i to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when i awake, i am still with you.”

psalm 139: 13-18

day at the beach

we have had the most incredible fall weather this year. i am so thankful since i have been getting a little nervous about winter coming around the corner. hudson and i took full advantage of a nice day and went to the lake harriet beach to play around. hudson loves sand and thought the waves coming in from the lake were pretty cool. it was hard to believe we were able to enjoy a day at the beach in november!

pumpkin bread

my latest baking obsession is a whole wheat, oat bran, honey pumpkin bread. we honestly eat the whole loaf in one day. it is so yummy! i found the recipe on my whole food recipe app and pretty much copied it verbatim.

mix together
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup oat bran

1/2 teaspoon ginger

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1  teaspoon nutmag

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a separate bowl mix-

6 tablespoons cane sugar

1/3 cup coconut or canola oil

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup milk

1 1/4 cups pumpkin

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts

stir the second mixture into the first until just combined. fold in 1 cup of chopped walnuts.

bake at 350 degrees for a full hour. i made the mistake of taking it out just before an hour and it needed the extra time.

you can frost with cream cheese frosting or eat plain.

i have given hudson several pieces even though it has honey. i think because it is baked it is ok? he loves it anyway.

here is a link to the original recipe on whole foods website –

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1461

i’m a tiger hear me roar

for hudson’s first halloween, he was cute little tiger. we were kind of hoping the detroit tigers would be in the world series so he could be their mascot, but it worked out anyway.

we had a little halloween party with hudson’s friends reagan and alexi. we of course dressed them all up to take pictures as they looked at us like we were a bit crazy. it was fun for us at least.

we tried to get hudson to roar like a tiger all day. the closest thing we got was a really loud daaadaaa. maybe he should have been a lamb instead.

hope you had a happy halloween!