LOTS of Pics

Jason look a little crazy but Hudson is cute!

This is his latest funny face!

This picture was taken while I was running like a crazy lady towards him...

Loves Larry!

He thinks it's hilarious when we blow on his tummy and now he's started doing it himself except it's very slobbery!!

Reaction to the flash!

He's looking at me saying Hello, which he does anytime one of our phones ring.

Alli Rose, who is I believe a tad bit jelous of the little man. Alli's my shadow and has been for a LONG time now. She's begging me to spend the night but I told her she can't sleep with me and Jason anymore and she has to give me a few more weeks. The other day when they came over she was more worried about what I was doing than anything, I even got her to eat broccoli and cheese! At one point she crawled in my lap like you would hold a baby and said "Lindsey, I just have one question, am I still your baby?"

Ashlee, Alli, and Abbi

Sweet Story

This past Sunday we went to Mt. Carmel which is the church where I grew up. Jason was sick so it was just me and the little man. At the entrance of the sanctuary we were talking to some folks when one of my students, Diana, came up and gave me a big hug. She had tears in her eyes, she had been waiting to see Hudson! I had already decided before I got there that I would let her hold him even if it was for a short while (I've been really trying to stick to the no holding thing), but Diana HAD to! So I handed him off while I took his jacket and blanket off. Those tears in her eyes never went away.

Diana was also adopted. She is now a freshman in high school and a very special girl to me. While we were waiting I don't think a week ever went by that she didn't ask me how the adoption was going or had we heard anything. I also remember the day I told her about him, she was SO SO excited!

But my favorite part is that she and Hudson share the same court date. When I posted our court date on the blog she was so excited and went and told her mom, Pam, about their court dates being on the same day. How awesome that out of 365 days in a year, Diana and Hudson would have the same court date. The same day Pam and I both knew for sure that our children would be forever in our homes, there's nothing like it!

It has meant a lot to me that a young lady has shown so much interest in our adoption. I'm sure her thoughtfulness and excitement has came from her own story and also knowing that Hudson has his forever family where he is loved ever so much. But it's not just about children finding homes. So many people have commented to us (and I'm sure every person who is and has adopted) about what a wonderful thing we are doing for a child. But what about what that child is doing for us! Hudson has filled a hole in this ol' girls heart, he's brought more to me than he'll ever know. I'm sure Pam feels the same way about Diana, don't we all adopted mom's??!!

So, Hudson, thanks for lighting up my life. I am honored to be YOUR Mommy!

My Dearest Andy Rooney Griffith Carney

I don't think Andy even opened his eyes in all of the pics of Hudson in the green/blue p.j.'s. He is quite the dog! I'm so glad I bought him at a horse show this past June. My Sally is getting older so I thought Foxxy needed a new playmate so Andy came home with me. Casey and Will have his full sister and she is pschyco, completely and totally nuts! We're so glad we have the sane one!!

Two Posts in One Day!!

Oh yes, it's your day, I've posted twice so be sure to scroll down to the next post to see more cute pictures!

I'm usually the one behind the camera but Jason caught these cute pics tonight of him kissing Mommy! He is so funny, he grabs my face and pulls me to him puckered up the whole time. I'm just so happy he's learned to pucker up until a few days ago his kisses were with a wide open mouth, I would just close my eyes and hope for as little drool as possible :) !!

Puckered up!

Isn't it cute the way he hold my cheeks (there's lots for him to hold on to with my chunky cheeks HA!)

Picture me saying, "Where's Mommy?"

Then making some crazy sounding noise...

And him cackling the entire time! I love it!

Sunday

Hanging out with Aunt Casey

Playing with cousins Robert and Loretta

Starting him young! Although Dad says we need to find a play weedeater so he can get started practicing that since he'll spend more time riding the weedeater than mower :)

Hudson and Meemaw :) I spent so much time with my Meemaw and still do, it's so neat watching her ooh and ahh over Hudson. I wonder if she was this crazy over me!!!!

This morning Hudson and I went to Mt. Carmel (Jason was in bed sick). He was very good, I thought he was going to get a little loud a few times but Granny said he was okay so we stayed in the church service. I enjoyed getting to see everyone after the service but I don't feel like I got to talk as much as I would have liked. I hope I wasn't short with anyone, I ended up having to chase Hudson around, he was having a blast!

I have more to write and tell but it will have to wait until tomorrow, I have to go feed horses. So tune in tomorrow for a really awesome story and some cute pics of "The life of Andy Carney"!!

Us

So, there have been quite a few people asking how we are doing? Of course their first question is how is Hudson, but the next one is how are me and Jason. So I thought I would do a post to let you know how we are and what the past 21 days at home has been like...


I'm not going to tell a little fib, the first few days at home were really hard on me, I thought I was going to pass out from exhaustion. After 15 min. of sleep in 24 hours and only a few hours the night before then coming home with a baby, it was rough. The night we got home Jason started throwing up and continued to for the next 3 nights, barely getting out of bed. So I went at it by myself. Hudson would wake up during the night and I would be on my feet in .02 seconds. I thought I was a light sleeper before, but now any little bitty noise and I'm straight up in bed. Especially with the monitor on, I can hear him breath. So I've learned to cut the monitor off if I want to sleep for more than 15 min. at a time. Our house is only 900 square feet on the bottom and his room is very close to ours, I can hear him just fine without the monitor! Anyways, after 3 nights of this and Jason being sick, I told Jason I didn't know what I was going to do if I didn't sleep. So he prayed and said, "Lord, you told us to come to you and you would give us rest and we REALLY need some rest!" That night Hudson didn't make a peep and I actually slept!


Once Jason got to feeling better and I was sleeping more things were much better! Jason has been awesome helping me out at the barn. I have only fed 2 mornings since we've been home. He's really spoiling me. I really do have an awesome man, but don't ask me that when the trash has been needing to be taken out for 3 days HA! HA! It got to the point that I HAD to get out of the house! I had a horse come in for training and so now I HAVE to go out and ride and I'm LOVIN it! So I'm riding 3 horses every afternoon and it just makes things different for me, is that weird? I have to be outside. I can't wait til it warms up since Hudson enjoys it so much, too.


Jason has been working on and off. I love the flexibility he has in the winter but do not love the income! But I would much rather have him home more right now than working 12 hours a day. He is a great dad and Hudson thinks he's a big play toy. He LOVES his "Dada" and says his name constantly. It bothers Jason that he won't go to sleep on him or lay on him much, but he won't because he's so busy wanting to play with him. Jason is very helpful with him, too, and much to my amazement changes diapers and does some of the dirty work.


The whole eating thing has been EXTREMELY rough. Hudson is having texture issues and they are not fun. It got to the point that my stomach would be in knots everytime I was going to feed him. I thought it was a battle of the wills at first and he was NOT going to beat me. I've backed off now and thing are more relaxing and less stressful on the two of us. It really helped me the other night when I was reading about biological children having this problem and the moms were all encouraging one another telling others who were going through it that it will take time. Same thing the dr. told us. So I guess I can't control everthing and am going to have to let him take his time. What was funny tough is when Jason was telling me he didn't want me to stress out about it and make a big deal about it. Fine, I said, you feed him. When Jason got done he was stressed, too, and I haven't heard anything out of him about me relaxing over it! The Dr. said give it a few months and if if isn't any better then we will see a specialist. They may have to send me to a specialist, too :)


After 5 1/2 years of marriage, 5 1/2 years of just us, it's been so different these past 3 weeks. We were so used to talking all the time (at least 10x's on the phone and then lots at home) and used to going wherever, whenever. Finally the other night we stayed up late talking and wrestling, and just being us. I needed that. I need the old us and the new us. This past week has felt the best for me as far as mine and Jason's relationship goes. Don't go thinking crazy things, it wasn't bad the past few weeks, just different. Now we are figuring out how to balance a 17 month old, evolve around nap time, potty time, eating, and find time to communicate with each other.


There are a few things I need in my day. 1. Quiet time with my Lord, which I wasn't doing up until this week when I realized nap time is perfect for it. 2. My man! 3. The Cosby Show which also comes on during nap time. 4. Being on top of a 4 legged beast and feeling the wind against my face! Praise God, we're getting there. I'm sure there will be great days and not so good days, but we'll get there.


This is definitely not the easiest thing we've ever done, but we didn't go into it thinking it would be. But there's nothing in this whole entire world sweeter than your own child laying on your chest and falling to sleep. Or lighting up when you walk into the room and reaching out for you. Or walking up saying "Lala" (aka Larry from the Veggie Tales), handing you the book then wanting to sit in your lap while you read it to him, even if you are trying to type a mile long blog post!

Too Funny

He was having a hard time balancing on the bed, he would stand and this was his face right before he fell, pretty funny (he thought so, too)!

This is his favorite book, Veggie Tales. He was so cute babbling, reading to himself.

Update

Just thought these pics of Andy and Foxxy are too cute. He is definitely attempting to say their names I think I'm the only one who understands him, though! He walks around the house calling them in the same pitch of voice that I do.

He is quite the cutie in his camo hat!

Last Friday his nose started running some and I think he probably picked something up when we went and had his TB test read (on Thursday). There were lots of sick kids coming in and I didn't let him down but while I was trying to talk to the receptionist he watch touching EVERYTHING! It seems to be getting better today and last night he slept the best he had in the past 3 nights.

Still struggling with the texture issues, please pray for us about this.

He is really gaining speed while walking. I think he'll be running before we know it. He's also really trying to say new words. He holds stuff up to his ear and says hello. He tries to say the dogs names. I ask him "Where's Mom's...ears, mouth, nose, eyes", and he points to them. He knows what the light, bath, water is. He's really understanding a lot more. He likes to hang out with me while I cook and he loves to go "bye bye". Sometimes it feels like he's been with us forever.