2 Years - Week 8 - Towers

This not-so-little boy loves to build towers and is SO proud of his work!

 He stacks just about anything - toy bins, boxes, clothes, plastic containers, Ideal Blox - the list goes on and on! 

It is hard to get a picture because this usually happens before I can snap a pic...

(In these picture, Hudson was building at Great-grandpa George's house! Great-grandpa was getting a kick out of all of the building and destroying, and he was impressed by Hudson's creativity!)

2 Years - Week 7 - Arts and Crafts

The winter has given us plenty of time to paint, color, and experiment with Play-Doh. Hudson LOVES all of it - and it gives me a break from playing (and picking up!) trains! 

I love how hard he concentrates to dip his paintbrush perfectly into the water and into the colors! Blue is favorite color, and he insists on lots and lots of blue while painting!

He has been painting all sorts of things...

Christmas/birthday thank you notes!

Random creations!

Valentines!

{He was SO SO SO proud of his valentines that he quickly said "yes" 

when I asked him if I could take his picture next to one of his painting! SO cute!}

 Hudson and Arlo also created this marker masterpiece for the 

Love Your Library Tile Project. 

{Their tile will become a part of the new library, 

and the proceeds will support literacy programs and will be matched with 

National Endowment for the Humanities grant funding!}

Play-Doh is still a little advanced, but he enjoys smashing it, 

pouring it into containers, and rolling it into balls and snakes! 

I'm sure he'll be sculpting in no time; )

Now I just need somewhere to store all of these creations; )

2 Years - Week 6 - Bike Ride #1

Dear Hudson,

I was SO excited to get you your balance bike for your birthday! I watched SO many YouTube videos of amazing two-year-olds cruising around and was sure you'd be into riding as well. 

So far...you're not that into it.

You love your helmet! 

Who cares if it is only on your head while you eat your cereal!?! ; )

 

 You sat on your bike a few times inside after your birthday, but we had to wait until the weather was warmer (and until we bought your helmet!) to try it outside. When we FINALLY had one warmish day (and your helmet!), I anxiously waited for you to wake up from your afternoon nap. 

I couldn't wake you - look how peaceful you looked!

Daddy and I got you all ready to go, and I snapped this picture of you on your bike...

...before you toppled over: ( Mama and Daddy FAIL!!!

You refused to get back on, but you kept on your protection for some basketball...

When you screamed as we put you back on the bike it was clear that you weren't going to ride anymore, we played at the park a bit...

Even though this bike ride #1 was a fail, I'm still excited about your bike and am sure that you'll love it in no time! I'm looking forward to warmer weather, trips to the park, and maybe even some bike rides to the park: )

Love YOU, Bubba!

Mama

PS: Next time I won't let go of the bike to take pictures until you're ready - I'll make Daddy take the pictures instead; )

2 Years - Week 5 - Choo Choo!

Many little boys go through a Thomas the Train phase, 

and Hudson is smack in the middle of his right now! 

He wants to wear his "choo choo shirt"...

...and play with with his "choo choos..." 

He wants to read a "choo choo book" at bedtime (and while on the potty!)...

 He wants me to make up songs about trains, 

and he wants to watch a "choo choo show" every time he is near a TV...

He want to make train whistles shounds, 

and he wants to play "choo choo iPad" games....

We bought him some Thomas Wooden Railway trains and tracks for Christmas, 

and he plays with them almost every day.

We haven't figured out why, but he likes to put his body on the ground 

and move in a circle along with his trains... 

I know there will be many more phases in the years to come, 

but I'm really enjoying this one and hopes it lasts a while l: )

2 Years - Week 4 - My Valentines

It is impossible to explain 

how much I love these two.

They look a little bit alike, and they both have a special place in my heart.

So thankful that my dreams are coming true with the love of my life...

and that he helped make me a mama.

***

The day before Valentine's Day, Hudson and I made these heart-shaped banana-bread muffins for his daycare pals...

When woke up early the next morning to head to the gym, 

I was greeted by these beauties and a card...

I went straight to work from the gym, so Nick sent me this gem...

We had dinner at Freddy's with Mom and Great-grandpa George, 

and we got home in time to play with Hudson's choo choos.

I know it is a made-up holiday, but I love it because it makes me reflect on my relationships with others. And, it is a good reminder that there really is

SO MUCH LOVE

in the world and in my life.

***

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings

2 Years - Week 3 - "Happy"

Hudson,

The past few weeks have been rough. I've been sick and tired, and our household has been more than a little bit out of whack.

I can always count on you, though, when I'm feeling sad.

As soon as I tell you that I'm sad, you respond by patting my chest over and over and repeating "happy" in your sweet voice. (If I'm really lucky, you give me a kiss, too!)

You learned the sign for "happy" (patting your chest) at Toddler Sing and Sign this fall, and you picked it up right away. We've talked about feeling "sad" and feeling "happy" many times since then. You seem to know that these feelings are opposites, and – even though I didn't tell you – you also seem to know that "happy" is a better way to feel than "sad."

When you learned the sign, it never occurred to me that you would try to use it to make me happy. I am so glad that you thought of it, and I am so glad it works: )

I love you every second of every day.

Mama

2 Years - Week 2 - Holding Hands

Hudson usually refuses told hold my hand in public: (

I think he just wants to be independent, but my head and heart skips ahead to the future to a time when he will always refuse to hold my hand...and I probably won't even ask anymore. 

(Maybe that won't come true...but how many teenage boys hold hands with their moms!?!)

In Target last weekend, Hudson agreed to hold my hand - and actually wanted to hold my hand - rather than run through the store like I can't control him he usually does.

So thankful that Nick was there to capture the moment for me: )

I am also thankful that Hudson still likes to cuddle and hold hands when we're in the car or at home. If he is upset in the car, I can reach back and hold his hand for a minute and his world becomes a bit happier. At home, he scooches close to us on the bed, on the floor, or on the couch, and he almost always rests his hand on each of us or holds our hands.

Nick loves to document Daddy/Hudson moments to share with me!

I know some day that he'll grow out of this, but I hope he will hold on a little bit longer.

I don't even care if it is in the middle of dinner...