A Week of First's

Let me tell you! This week was two first's for us..
Hudson was invited to his first birthday party. And it was adorable! Any mom can relate when it comes to seeing their kid in a situation they've never been in and loving it. Like it's truly the only thing on the planet. Their smiles are ginormoous and their eyes are everywhere, like a ball in a pinball machine. Boom, Boom, Boom. And it's so happy! I think you get the picture. This was basically pure joy for him. And me, watching him.

Can you say, "Arcade bliss?" Oh, this kid. 

Another "first" was hair cuts!

Hudson had his first hair cut. Ever. First off, there's nothing cuter than a chunky kid in the hair chair, with the hair cape, his hair wet and sleeked back (lookin' like a mullet), eat'n fruit snacks! Can I get an, "Amen!" And, sooner than I realized all 'dem curls were on the floor, (which was so sad), but the mullet/frizz/velcro on the back of his head that collects everything from leaves to fuzz was finally gone :) 

And then it was my turn... Let me preface, I've wanted these for a long time. They're super adorable. Who doesn't like an adorable BANG? I'm talkin' full on, straight across, Zooey Deschanel bangs... at least that's what I hoped for. Question, Why is Pinterest so perfect? News Flash! It's too perfect! After cutting my bangs I realized that Pinterest isn't real, haha. Every bang photo I searched and Pinned is perfect, but mine (which wasn't pinned, obviously)! I can't be too negative, though. They are growing on me, but seriously Pinterest... why'd you make me think my hair would look like you?! Note to self: Real life is... thin bangs, not full and voluminous, and instantly takes you back to 3rd grade when you had them, forgot you looked ridiculous, and now they're back! Okay, my rant is over. And they aren't that bad, it's just a drastic change. But thanks to Pinterest I can now look up inspirational printables that will help me love my hair, haha :)

the beginning of something really great

Sheesh! If you haven't noticed, it's been over a year since my last post. How embarrassing! I could list a million excuses as to why, but instead, I'll just say that this year is going to be much better; I'm going to be much better.

I know resolutions are so last month :) but, one of them I want to blog about, more so to keep me accounted for. I'm a little late in starting it (I started January 19th)..... This resolution is, writing a letter, "thank you" note, "thinking of you" card, etc. to some one EVERY SINGLE DAY this year. I'm sure you're thinking, "that's so much postage!" But, not every note will be mailed. And I'm going to try and blog about some of them as my year goes on, but keep them anonymous. I do want to point out that each note I write will be meaningful. I want each day to be for some one specific, who I think about and then write to. And I have, so far! It's been really sweet and fun to express my thanks to the people around me. I'm definitely an "old soul," which I secretly love, and writing notes is something I really enjoy. And it's a great way to serve each day. So, please wish me luck! (With my track record for remembering things, I'm going to need as much luck as I can get!)

So, here's to a new year, a new computer, a new determination and new resolutions! Enjoy!

Six Months!

Six Months old today!

Hudson Jay Evans: 

21 lbs. 

27 in. long

loves playing with things that crinkle: chip bags

smiles all of the time

not the best sleeper, yet :)

loves making noises & watching basketball

makes your heart skip a beat

brings us so much joy

has the bluest eyes

loves to eat!

can sit up by himself

loves eating oatmeal cereal

oh, and hates naps!

nicknames: hudbug, hudders, hudson jay

That's a wrap! 

Happy 6 months, sweet boy!

Crying it Out?

Tomorrow it will be exactly one week since we started the "crying it out" technique. I have to say, I was really apprehensive about doing it, like REALLY apprehensive. But, it had to be done. Before trying this, I would cringe when I thought about night time and bed time. Hudson was so sweet during the day, and our days were fun, but when night fall came, I wanted it to be day time again. It took me hours to get him to sleep and back to sleep. over and over. never getting a break. And sometimes (more like most of the time) I'd give up and just bring him into our bedroom because it was much easier, and he'd actually sleep there! But, he'd usually end up kicking Jordan out of the bed and onto the couch. Literally, Jordan would wake up with Hudson, asleep, while pushing Jordan's back or kicking it. OR he'd wake us because he would turn his head to the right and then to the left. over and over. still asleep, mind you, but acting like he needed more space and was trying to get comfortable. This kid is hilarious! So, you can see why we needed this, or at least had to try it out.
This process is not fun! not one bit. But has been my saving grace. The first night, after doing our bedtime routine: bath, jammies, nursing and songs, he cried for an hour and a half. Thought I was going to die. It took everything I had to not go pick him up. After that night his crying decreased more each night. fifty minutes, then thirty, twenty, twelve, ten and five. During each cry session I'd always bring up to Jordan how "Hudson probably thinks we've abandoned him and that we're never coming back! and what if the stress of him crying interferes with his brain development?" I came up with every little excuse possible. anything to get me in his room and comforting him. Jordan would quickly correct me. lovingly. About this process. He helped me realize how "crying it out" wasn't just for our sanity, but Hudson's, too. Waking up six or seven times a night for a baby isn't good either. True. Jordan also helped me feel better about this process by relating it to the gospel. [[Loved this thought he shared.]] He brought up Heavenly Father, and how He sometimes gives us hard things because they will teach us and help us grow. And during these hard times He watches us and knows our feelings about them. But, he doesn't take them away. at least not until they have changed us in the way He wanted them to. And that's us right now. Doing a hard thing; hearing him cry, but knowing how great and helpful this will be soon. for Hudson and us. and it has! He is sleeping until almost 4 am every night and is a much happier baby during the day. His naps are even better and more regular.
So for those who aren't too sure about "crying it out," maybe try it? I was scared. oh so scared. But, it saved us. and now I have my nights and time with my husband. and Heavenly Father will help you. I know it!
Oh! and did I mention how soundly they sleep? I love checking in on Hud and seeing him fast asleep and glowing in the dark (his jammies glow in the dark. cutest. thing. ever.).

October Bliss

I'm a little late but... in October we went to a [[real]] family owned pumpkin patch! It was our first as a family! Ahh, so cute. huge pumpkins. baby pumpkins. pumpkins everywhere. and it was chilly. My favorite! What's even better, it wasn't just Hudson's first pumpkin patch experience, it was Jordan's as well. We had great fun, spent more than we wanted too, but that's all a part of the experience :)

One reason for going to the patch to get pumpkins was to find a good pumpkin for a contest we decided to enter Hudson and Kealaka'i in. Poor Hudson did not have fun. We won. I'm sure you can see why :) Adorable little pumpkins!

We also celebrated Halloween! [[My favorite holiday.]] Jordan was such a sport. I'm so lucky. We went as a family of scarecrows! adorable. Hud was the cutest scarecrow I've ever seen! Hope you all had a great October, too!

So Many Faces

I can't believe how many faces Hudson makes. He is always surprising me. They crack us up, (even the sad faces. he's still so cute!), so I had to share. What a character!

Sheesh, what a ham!!!

Hymns & Hudson

    It's hard to write this post because I feel so overly exhausted and couldn't be more frustrated and sad with how Hudson has been sleeping lately, or lack there of. Each night this week he hasn't slept well at all. I'm up literally every hour and sometimes it takes me two hours to get him back to sleep. Talk about frustration overload and lots of tears. So, this has been my week. And to make things harder, before this week, he was sleeping so well--Still waking up 3 -4 times a night, but falling right back to sleep and sleeping for at least 2 hours. 

So there's the background to this post... 

    Last night, while attempting to put Hudson back to sleep for the third time, my emotions were high and all I wanted to do was cry. As I was rocking him in our chair I began to sing to him. [[Special fact about Hudson: Jordan has a song he sings to him to get him to sleep-You Could Be Happy by: Snow Patrol and I sing the childrens hymns- I Love to See the Temple, I Am A Child of God and A Child's Prayer. (By the time these songs are over he is usually fast asleep.) It's a little sweet and special thing we each have with him.]] So I am singing these songs (my songs) and praying at the same time for help and comfort. (My frustrations came from feeling like I'm not being the best mom, my child should be sleeping, I must be doing something wrong.) As I'm singing and silently praying, a new hymn comes to mind to sing next, I Will Follow God's Plan.

My life is a gift; my life has a plan. 

My life has a purpose; in heaven it began. 

My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth 

And seek for God's light to direct me from birth. 

I will follow God's plan for me, 

holding fast to His word and His love.

I will work, and I will pray;

I will always walk in His way.

Then I will be happy on earth

and in my home above. 

    [[Background: This hymn was an answer to my prayer because it's what I would sing to myself during my pregnancy, when times felt hard. It helped me get through feeling huge, and uncomfortable; or when I couldn't sleep because my body ached or just simply, when my attitude about being pregnant was low.]] This hymn raised my spirits and reminded me that Heavenly Father is here for me and I am participating in His plan. I am follow His plan, by bringing one of His sweet spirits into this world. It taught me that being a mother is my great role in His wondrous Plan and that He will bless and help me as I follow His commandments, especially His commandment of being a mother. 

    As you can imagine, my frustration dissolved and I was left with the comfort that I can do this. And as I looked down at my sweet boy, Hudson, I knew this was my calling and that His spirit needed me, at all times; even when I'm frustrated and feel helpless and lost as a mother. It was simple: I will work, and I will pray and I will walk in His way, and then I will be happy on earth. Simple, but not easy.

    To all mothers who feel the sleepless nights will never end or they'll never get their child to sleep in his crib or through the night, the opposite will happen. It hasn't for me, yet and being a mom is hard, but it will. It will because that's the work. And we have pray and the Spirit is with us, to direct our path. This hymn explains it (our life's journey) all. I hope I can remember always that my life is a gift; its from Heavenly Father. And He has given me and Jordan another life gift, and that's Hudson. It's all a part of His plan, and within His plan is help and comfort from HIM.