Christmas at home

We had a wonderful Christmas here at home!Our first time to stay home at Christmas and it was nice to wake up in our own beds.Hudson helped me bake cookies for Santa and we set those out by the fireplace and even wrote him a note and drew him a picture. Hudson was excited that Santa even wrote him a little note in return (and Rudolph signed it, too!).Hudson loved all of his gifts, but the train table is at the top, I think!He hasn't stopped playing with it yet...I told Darrin it's like a gift to the two of us, too!
I'm now 38 weeks plus a few days. I go to the doctor tomorrow (Tuesday) for a final ultrasound to check growth/weight of Brody. The plan is to be induced on January 4th if he hasn't arrived by then because of his size. Hudson was already 6 lbs, 1 oz and he was born at 36 weeks and it was "difficult" to deliver him. She thinks Brody is large and is hoping to spare me a C-section.

38+ week pic

We're ready for Brody!!

37 weeks and counting!

Well, I've officially gained "full term" status, which is exciting.

I never even reached "full term" with Hudson since he was born at 36 weeks.

I thought I was uncomfortable towards the end with him...I had no idea what uncomfortable really means! I'm hanging in there, though! I want Brody to stay as long as he needs to and I want him to be as healthy as possible! I just hope he's nice to his mommy during labor and delivery. I'll try to post a 37 week picture later this weekend when I've actually gotten dressed and put on make-up. We'll see if that actually happens...

We took Hudson to the Gaylord Texan on Wednesday night when it wasn't too busy. He had sooo much fun looking at all the lights and trains! We also got him to sit on Santa's lap and he was much happier to do so this year....Here is last year's picture:

And here is this years! Big difference! He's such a big boy these days!

Whew! Finally!

Okay, I know I've been HORRIBLE about blogging lately.

Sorry! It has been SUPER busy with school and by the time I get Hudson down (which, unfortunately, has been around 9:30pm most nights lately) I'm exhausted and all I want to do is eat my snickers ice cream bar, take my bath, and go to bed. That's what 8-months pregnant will get you. Speaking of, here is my current state:

I'm almost 36 weeks, which is when Hudson was born. I don't think Brody will be quite as early, if he comes early at all. I'm not sure why....just a feeling I have. I don't think I'm quite as big at this point as I was with Hudson and I'm not nearly as swollen, although I have put on the same amount of weight.

Speaking of Hudson, he is doing AWESOME. He continues to amaze us with the things he learns. Nearly every day, he says something we didn't realize he knew...like the days of the week. It's Saturday here and we're watching football...they flashed a number "14" on the screen and he said, "14"....I think he's going to be very creative because he's been using his imagination a lot when he plays. He'll say, "I'll be right back" and then he'll go get some imaginary food and bring it to us to eat. He gets very upset when we don't eat it, too! :-)

Here he is as a garden gnome for Halloween (he had a blast this year):

We had an awesome Thanksgiving! We spent some time at my parents house (Hudson had fun getting pushed on the 'cart' by Grandpa...and then demanded we do that for hours):

We also got to spend Friday night and some of the day on Saturday with Darrin's mom and sister and her family to watch Dane (nephew) play his last college football game. It was GREAT to see them and catch up....Hudson is not the happiest of travelers yet and he was not always the most cooperative so he and mommy didn't watch much of the game, but we had fun.

And here are his most recent "school pictures":

And I finally got a good shot of Hudson and mommy:

24 week pic

I'm now on week 25! Only 15 more to go...but probably less if Brody is anything like Hudson.

Brody is the size of an eggplant and weighs about 1.8 pounds.

And...here is a Hudson picture. I need to be better about taking more pictures of him!

He's got peanut butter all over his face in this one....but that's pretty common.

Nana, Aunt Jen and Aunt Mel visited us this weekend! It was wonderful to have the company and since Darrin and I both had football games on Friday, it was great to have a sitter here!

Hudson had a wonderful time and is super excited about his new hot wheels and carrying case!

He's napping right now, so I better get back to laundry and lesson plans!

20 week pic

It's official! I'm halfway (more than halfway now) through this pregnancy!

I'm actually 23 weeks now, but haven't gotten around to taking another (good) picture.

It is definitely a BOY! We're planning on naming him Brody and we can't wait to meet him.

I'm not sure if Hudson really understands the whole concept of getting a little brother.

He is noticing that my belly is getting bigger, though. The other night, we were sitting in the rocker, reading bedtime stories and he lifted up my shirt to see my belly and just kind of stared at it...confused. I said, "Yeah, that's Brody in there." He nodded and said, "Yeah, Brody." Then he lifted up his own shirt and pointed to his belly and said "Brody"....so it may not actually hit home until Brody is born. Either way, I think Hudson will be an awesome big bro.

This is a tough one.

So I'm sitting here. Trying to explain what it means to have lost our sweet girl, Morgan.

I've actually sat down here several times and had to walk away. So today, almost one week after we had to put her down, I'm hoping I can get all the words out this time.

I wanted a dog my entire life. I waited 23 years to get her and when I did, she was everything I'd hoped for. I liked Darrin immediately when I met him. But I fell in love with him when I met Morgan. No lie, she sealed the deal. Not only because of her and her "charming personality", but because of the way Darrin treated her and loved her.

My first impression of Morgan was when I walked into Darrin's apartment and she started squeaking and shaking (and jumping), she was so excited to meet me. She was always excited to meet anyone, honestly. She was 4 years old at the time. Not necessarily a puppy anymore, but definitely not an adult.

I loved Morgan instantly, though there were definitely the fleeting moments that she made it difficult. Like coming home at our duplex, finding our kitchen trash can knocked over and half-eaten trash everywhere. Or the time we came home (around Christmas) to find chocolate candy wrappers everywhere and then dealt with the ensuing interesting sounds and smells that couldn't help escape her body. (I think even she regretted that one).

But then there are other memories....like when I had my car accident and hurt my wrist. It was unbelievably painful every time I had to clean the wound and Morgan would camp out by the bathroom. She just wanted to be there for me.

Or the time I cried on the bed when I got the phone call that my grandmother had passed away and she laid her head on my lap and looked up at me with more concern in her eyes than a LOT of human beings are able to show.

She was constantly by my side when I was pregnant with Hudson, especially the night my water broke, I think knowing it was going to happen before I did. And then when we brought him home from the hospital, again with the squeaking....she couldn't contain her excitement. She was gentle, loving and protective in every moment she spent with him. I grew to love her even more, seeing that.

Morgan gave us so much love. Every moment this week has been difficult...filled with memories of her. Every time I come home and open the front door, I expect to hear her footsteps on our (incredibly) loud laminate floor. When Hudson drops a Cheeze-It, I start to call her name. The lint in our dryer makes me cry because of her hair. When I go to bed at night I look for her and when I wake up, I expect her to be waiting for her breakfast.

I know I'll see her again someday. I hope she'll greet me at the gates with that puppy smell....she'll be running around with no joint pain and a thick, healthy coat of hair....comfortable, not itchy.

Like I said...I waited 23 years for her and she was worth the wait.

Morgan, we love you and we miss you. so. much.