Happy Halloween!

Isn't this the cutest little monkey you ever did see?!

He insisted that he put on Hoss' hat!

Playing games at the annual Harvest Party at church. I remember working it last year thinking about how much fun this year would be! And it was! Hudson was a little overwhelmed at first and stuck by my leg and then before long he was off and running like crazy!

Miss Perry, you better not be putting a spell on my little man!! Isn't she cute, Perry the fairy!

These two just crack me up! They were glued to each other and I thought I was going to have to pry Hudson's hand from Jordin's to get him to go upstairs to one of the bouncy things.

I think he enjoyed his first Halloween. His version of trick or treat sounded like "Pick or Pete"! Too cute! He was definitely wanting to eat every sucker that was put in his bag!

He has started saying his full name and when you ask him what his name is it sounds like "Hudson Lude Carney". It is so cute, I'm going to have to get it on video. So I've been getting him to tell everyone. But when we were at A. Mitzo's and U. Charles' I asked him what his name was and he said "monkey". I said, "No, what's your name?" And he just insisted it was "monkey!" Then he scratches his arm pit and says "ee ee ee!" So tonight we were the proud parents of Monkey Carney! He really liked his costume!

Aunt Casey-we missed you but Happy first married Halloween! Can't wait til Thanksgiving so you will have a long weekend home!

Grandmom-I need a c.d. with the pics of you and Grandad from tonight since I didn't take any with my camera. Don't forget the ones I took the other night when y'all were playing with the tractors!

Weekend

On Friday we went to the homecoming parade. He had a lot of fun! Enjoyed the fire trucks and picking up candy and then we played at Riverbluff Park for a little while afterwards. Later that afternoon we went to Cool Springs and didn't make it home until late. He had an exhausting day that left him napping on Saturday for over 3 hours.

This is how he left the house on Friday morning, prepared for all of the mud and rain. Let's just say he didn't come back in looking like this!

Well, I've decided it's time...for big boy underwear! We made it through Friday with 3 accidents and same on Saturday. On Sunday he wore pull ups more than underwear because of church but other than that we are going to keep him in underwear all the time except at night. He does wake up dry most all the time. And he goes when we put him on the potty but he doesn't tell us when he has to go. Already today he has told me twice when he had to go! Woohoo! I'm hoping this is an easy transition, we'll see!

We have a busy week ahead but a fun week as it's treasure hunts for lessons and a trail ride with the adults! Revival was great last night and I'm looking forward to it tonight!

Thursday

This is probably my favorite picture from our first trip.

So glad I get to experience this twice a day now. I was on cloud nine when Jason took

this!

I had planned on posting more this past week but have been so busy I haven't had time. Training is awesome and I'm riding 7 horses a day for other people right now so between that, spending time with H. and J., and teaching, there's not much else left to do except sleep.

For those of you reading this that live close by, our revival starts this Sunday a.m. at 11 and 6 and then Mon.-Wed. night it's at 7:00. Bethel FWB Church. Leave me a message if you need directions! I am so pumped for revival and I cannot wait to see and hear what the Lord has to say!

This past Sunday was the one year anniversary of when we came home from our first trip. That was a horribly hard day, I can remember both of us crying on the plane ride back home. We landed that night and went back to my parents house where both mine and Jason's families were to see all of the pics and just really support us and eat some good food. That night our heads finally hit the pillow around 11 and we were exhausted to say the least. Jason's phone rang that morning around 1:00 and we found out that Bruce, who had worked for Jason for nearly 3 years had passed away in a car wreck. We got up and went to be with his family. The next few days are a blur, a major emotional blur. I'm sure this past week has been hard on Bruce's family as they've remembered those days. I know Jason has sure missed Bruce this past year he not only a very hard and loyal employee but he made a good friend to Jason and anyone else he met. Take a moment for me and say a prayer for Bruce's family.

Hair Cuk

Hudson got a new hair "cuk" yesterday. It was looonnnnggg past due and I think it may be a little too short but the way it grows it'll be back like I like it in no time.

This is Hudson's fake smile! Abbi is spending the night with us tonight. She and her sister rotate who's turn it is to spend the night. I always crack up because Alli is always quick to remind me it's Abbi's turn to spend the night so it can hurry back to her turn!

So far our house has been pretty crazy! Yes, crazier than normal! Is this what having two kids is like!? Hudson is having a blast and was sooo excited when we told him Abbi was coming. He walked around the house with his hands in the air saying "Where's Abbi?"

I told Jason, we're just going to have to do this more often, I think he's going to be worn down before his normal 11:00 bed time! Yes, my child goes to bed at 11 and gets up at 9, horrible I know, but he's on my schedule!

Abbi has shown him how to flip!

Day 1 and Day 2

Picture was taken within about a min. of them walking up the stairs and handing him to me.

A little later that day we were getting some smiles!

Front of Orphanage #20

Day #2

I can still remember sitting there on that couch. The door you see in the right hand corner led to his room. We would wait everyday for them to bring him out. By trip #2 I would just waltz right in and get him!

I can still remember laying in bed after that first day and just being head over heels! Just praising God for all of our answered and unanswered prayers. He was everything we asked for. The first day went so well that I wasn't sure what to think about day 2. We were prepared for him to cry and not want to be around us and a lot other things that we were expecting to not go so well, not because we were looking at it negatively but because that's what our agency and most all other families went through on day one. But he never did, he just warmed right up to us more everyday. He was hesitant at first and not sure what to do. Probably wondering who this crazy lady was and why was she kissing and hugging him so much. He eventually started laughing and loosening up some.

Sometimes I just want to forget these days, I know that sounds awful. I don't like the thought of the orphanage or the smell of the city. I can't stand remembering so vividly walking away from him everyday. He feels like he's been here with us for forever. As much as I don't want to remember I know a part of me would never really forget even if I could. It's such a reminder of God's sovereignty, His hands at work, His hands holding us all even when we were half a world apart.

I'm so thankful the Lord adopted me and I also wish I could forget those days when I was deep down in the mud and mire. Sunk up to my eyeballs! But that's a part of my story. My story of God's grace and redemption. Just like Hudson was not born of my flesh but he's a Carney, no less. I was born into sin but I'm marked by the blood, I'm a daughter of the King, no less! Oh, my sweet, sweet Jesus and my precious baby boy, how they soften this ol' country girl's heart!

A Year, Already?

It's hard to believe that a year ago at this time we would have been sleeping off a long day of walking around Moscow and soon to be waking up to the day we would first hold Hudson. I still remember getting off that plane and meeting Jon and Janice, two of the biggest blessings! And then making our way to the Embassy and trying to hold our eyes open! Falling asleep at 7:30 and waking up at 3:30 in the morning!

Jason and I were laying in bed last night just reliving it all! So I thought I would post some pics of what we were doing a year ago. And I'm sure I'm going to be taking a little stroll down memory lane this week so you're welcome to come along with me. This past weekend I've already had so many feelings just remembering meeting Hudson in the orphanage and looking at the loving, crazy, funny, smart little man that has blossomed!

Speaking of weekend. We spent it at a horse show in Murfreesboro. Jason spent the weekend on a teen retreat. I hated to miss it, but this was going to be a big show and we had been planning on it for months. The girls did very well, I'm so proud of them. Hudson had a rough night staying in the hotel which made for a long nap yesterday when we got home.

Jason preached for the first time and Darryl was so awesome for taping it. So we stayed up until midnight last night watching it. He did great! Y'all know I'm pretty honest and I wouldn't say that if he didn't. When he was going over his notes with me on Friday afternoon he was afraid he was going to be so nervous. So I helped him with his nervousness by pretending I was picking my nose, making faces, etc. while he was going over his notes (Ha!). Yes, you're thinking about how good of a preachers wife I'm going to be! All picking aside, he got up there and didn't seem that nervous and looked up from his notes very well and really let the Lord speak through him. God is so good, and He was there and moving!

Praying...

These are some pics of him praying the other morning at breakfast. He has begun saying his own prayers and it pretty much consists of thanking Jesus for tractors and backhoes!

I haven't been off of horses the past two nights before 8:30 so I'm exhausted but wanted to get these pics posted. We spent the weekend at a horse show. October is one of my busiest months but once it's over there's one more show in Nov. and then show season is over for this year.

Hudson goes to the Dr. on Friday for a check-up so I'll have a new post with his latest measurements! All I know at this moment is he's tall and skinny!

Finally...a new post...

Tuesday was the first day I have felt like doing anything and I feel like all I've done now is play catch up. So that's why it's been a week since I posted. I am on my 5th load of laundry today and I've been washing for the past two days, too. I had no clue that beind down a week would create this much laundry!

Today I got down all of Hudson's fall/winter clothes and it felt like Christmas again. I had forgotten what all was in there and they were so cute! I know it's been a little over a year since the shower but thanks again to everyone who gave us something. We didn't buy a diaper until August, how awesome is that, you guys provided us with diapers for almost 9 months! His clothes are so cute, he's gonna' be sylin'!

Everyday after he gets up from his nap we go to the potty and he almost always has to pee. He was sitting there and I didn't think he had and I asked him, "Hudson did you go pee pee?" He said, "Yes ma'am!" I said, "Hudson Carney are you lyin' to me" He must have thought I said, "Are you lion?" Because he immediately let out his lion "roooaarrr"! Needless to say I could not keep a straight face, it was hilarious.

One more story...yesterday while eating lunch I was telling him how he needs to stop playing with his food and actually eat it, I was using my stern voice, and while I was in mid sentence he interrupted me and said "Pray Mommy". Of course I had to stop and pray. I'll have to get a picture of him praying, it's the cutest thing in the world!

I'm loving this stage. He's able to tell me so much. I think his favorite word is "Mommy". He says it at least every 3 seconds, but so far, I don't mind. I waited long enough to hear it! He can tell me what hurts and what he wants. And he's learned that anytime he says yes or no there should be a "ma'am" right after it when he's talking to me. And I know I kiss him at least 1,000 times a day and hug him but he's so affectionate back. I love getting random hugs and kisses and yesterday when we were in wal-mart he said, "Mommy, love you!" He also is concerned if someone is upset or hurt. When I didn't feel good last week he would walk over and put his hand on me and say, "Mommy sick".

Okay, I'm done braggin on my boy, but I just love him!