Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Uphold Peet

Hudson has started consoling himself. I noticed it first in the Target shopping cart while I was checking out. He was crying, rubbing his eyes and reassuring himself, "I know. I know." He does this when he's getting his diaper changed if he has a sore bottom from teething. "I know. I know," through his tears.

When he would like to be picked up, he will now exclaim numerous times "Up. Hold. Up. Hold. Uphold. Uphold. Uphold peeeeet!" (Peeeeet means please.) Just this week, he has added to this and will squeal "Weeeeeeee!" as he's lifted off the ground. Even if he's crying while being lifted! Our favorite new Hudsonism!

Friday, November 9, 2012

To Lincoln On Your Fifth Birhday

Dear Lincoln,

As I lie here in bed, eagerly waiting for you to wake up, my eyes are filled with tears. It was five years ago today when your dad and I were changed forever. Changed for the better. It was the day we became parents.

You were born via c-section at 12:35 in the afternoon. When I heard your first cry I was done. Melted. Madly in love. Your dad brought you over to me, wrapped like a burrito, your gigantic blue eyes were pretty much the only things visible under that enormous beanie. You were very alert. I couldn't stop kissing your soft, perfect, little face as dad held you on me. Due to the surgery, I wasn't able to really snuggle you for a little over an hour. When I was released from recovery and finally rolled to my room, you'd met the grandparents and Auntie Casey. Already they were completely smitten.

Over the next year and a half I ate up every minute of our alone time together. It was an incredible time in my life. I know I was meant to be a mommy. Your mommy. When Boone joined us, you were such an amazing big brother. Loved helping, kissing and cuddling him. I could see your strengths and pure acts of kindness really developing.

Watching you mature with your brothers makes me unbelievably proud. Sure, there are tough times, days I feel more like a referee, but I know that this too is a season. A season I will never get back. I am constantly trying to remind myself to capture these moments, and hold them as long as I can. I was in awe of you last night, when you asked me to dance to Tangled's "I See The Light" because "This is your favorite song, right, mom? Are you gonna cry?"

You are such a tender, loving, generous young man. Countless bouquets of wildflowers, jars of bugs you eagerly bring me, these are the best tangible gifts. The depth of our conversations about God, His creation, and the random rabbit trails you go down are some of my favorite memories that I will forever hold tight to.

Whenever I leave, even to run a 20 minute errand, you don't let me go without a hug and a kiss. Sometimes multiple hugs and kisses. You've chased me out the door countless times, yelling, "Wait! A hug and a kiss!!" I hope that never stops.

You, my boy have moves. Watching you boogie to anything with a beat makes my heart weep with joy.

Your eagerness for learning new things is a wonderful challenge for me, one I hope to encourage and nurture, never to stifle.

Everyday, at some point you explode with a "I'm SO EXCITED we're having a baby girl!!! She is gonna be so cute and so little!!" Your joy is contagious. You are constantly reminding me what is truly important in this crazy season of our lives.

So often I let my emotions and my stress take over, yet you will come up to me, crack a little smile and stare at me with those same gigantic blue eyeballs. "Can you snuggle me?" Of course.

Please never stop asking.

Happy Birthday, Five Year Old. I love you whole heartedly. Let's not rush it to six.

Mom