writing

Hudson drew the top picture for Spencer a few days ago... to let him know that the package {to the side of the drawing/note} was his. He placed it on the nightstand in our room and left the note. It was quite cute. My favorite is the backwards "d"... he will get it at some point. And I love it while this lasts. It makes me smile to myself. Him concentrating so hard on his name and being so proud of his ability to write it... to the point of writing it everywhere. Like R's kitchen - yes in pen.

It reminds me of when I was little, probably his age, my grandma had a beautiful Mercedes and I loved it. I thought it was so fancy. I can still smell it... I swear I can. Or the memory of it. One day I, for who knows what reasons?!?, pulled down the middle divider {you know what I am talking about... the "arm rest" in the back of cars} and wrote my name loud and clear with blue pen {I remember the color} on the inside of the arm rest. I thought no one would ever find it... you know until they needed somewhere to put their arm?! What is wrong with kids? With me as a kid!!

When my grandma found it I remember her calling me a "shit". I was a shit. Really, when have I not been one? I laugh about it now... in a "ohhh that sucks" kind of way. I love you grandma. I love you I love you... I do.

Later that afternoon Hudson was playing "Dr." with a check in chart and all. {Isn't the treasure chest cute? My mom and Hudson made it a long time ago, and Hudson still stowes away all lost coins in our house... and hard cash as well. Watch your wallets when you come around... and don't say I didn't warn you. wink wink.}

Grey Smiles

So excited to actually have a video get through blogger video. I have tried so many times.

I love this boy of ours.

6:30am + rain = a good time

Grey's room

It is done. And Spencer is a magician. To be exact. They told us the horizontal planks wouldn't work because the wall with the window is actually two inches shorter than the wall with the door entrance... gotta love old homes. BUT it was done. And is everything that I pictured in my head at night. Thanks to my main squeeze... and of course my mother and I added a few things.

{Bedding is from Land of Nod.}

• I got the Peter Pan paintings from a toy store in town...

they were originally in Hudson's room when he was born.

• The curtains my mother whipped up for me,
• The material I bought at a discount fabric store

{don't mind that I have an extra 4 yards... I swear my head is in lala land most of the time. When the guy asked how much I needed I said "Oh 9 yards"... ummmm nope Whitney, all you needed was 9 feet. But whatever. I am a little embarrassed.}.

• Changing Table was Hudson's original.
• We painted it with Sherwin William's Rushing River and bought new hardware.
• Hardware is from Anthropologie.
• The cute paper fans are from Grey's shower.

The Owl Art is something I made.

• The frame is from Ikea, and then owls are little punched out papers on thick adhesive tape dots. Worked out great.
• All birds were stenciled and hand painted.

{Don't mind the picture is lop-sided}

• Light is from Lights Plus
• Alphabet poster was a gift for reagan, but works out great in Grey's room as well.

Find it here.

• Horse and Beehive were bought at Home Goods
• "The Son of a King" was a gift from my ever so talented sister Aarean.

Find her here.

Spencer and I have decided we are probably going to take down the shelf... it is too much for us. Instead I will hang the "Son of a King" by the alphabet poster and figure it all out. I am not sure.

Then there is the best piece... this little love. All cozied up and nestled in bed.

1 Month Pictures

You have to know... this little man was not a happy camper when I was taking these... not happy at all.

Although, really non of the pictures turned out "non-crying"... he still is stinkin' cute. I love the baby squished up face when crying. It is what they do - cry, eat, pop and coo... it is all perfect. Until it is 2 am and they are doing all the previous. Then not so cute. But I will still keep him.

He was one month on the 4th of March. Grey is a very calm baby; still. He weighs around 9 pounds... and is just a peaceful old soul. Grey loves to be held tummy to tummy, like a football. He nozzles in deep when a soft blanket is near and loves for the blanket to be on his head, cradling it. He also is soothed when I place both my hands on this cheeks and lean in and whisper to him... as well as when I hold both his hands with one of mine while cupping his face in the other. He might just be a cuddle bug, fingers crossed.

He is now solely bottle fed, and is on soy. And likes to just taste/lick the tip of the bottle before allowing it to enter his mouth.

His eyes have a slight hint of blue, and his hair carries a bit of auburn... but then again who knows? He is a look a like of Spencer, almost more than Hudson was - if you believe that one.

He really is a sweet little man and we love him. We love him more than we knew was possible, yet again.

Randomness

There has been a lot going on in my daily life... like ummm me trying to get in the shower {alone} by 4pm... it is actually quite difficult. To be honest... my time magement skills {not that they were ever REALLY great...} have gone down the toilet. Don't even think that I will be anywhere on time. If only Hudson's shoes were permently attached to his feet, I might be able to slash a few min off my tardiness. {Let's just pretend that his preschool leaves the door open 5-10 min past "closing door time" because they all need a little fresh air... let's pretend.}

Anyway, so here are a few pictures that won't make a post on their own... because I am feeding a baby, wiping bums {not to be graphic}, burping a babe, trying to build legos/tents, washing pee off the top of my toilet - it is a mystery to me. Making & washing beds, trying to make a bunk bed {it is hard}, washing clothes... well trying to wash clothes and put them away {I have had to "rinse and spin" a certain load a few times because I forget. I know I know.} Try to figure out dinners, now that all "Ward dinners" are gone. And then whatever else seems to hit the fan, usually around 4pm. Good times.

So here ya go -

Hudson enjoying a yummy cupcake.

I am guessing she is a little sad here?

Me in my stationary spot... {I was reading "Discovering Witches" at this time...so if you think anything got done... you are wrong. I ignored everything except book, Grey and well that is it.}

Grey the handsome little love

Reagan and me helping Aunt Rach with a photo shoot.

Look at the peek on those lips... yummy.

I am watching you...

Tired and sad Reagan, she gets the short end of the stick... always in the car taking H places... one day little R, one day we will let you out too. Ha.

Pirate get-up at the local triple A.

Soooo big

{Forgive the iPhone quality...}

Little mini - Spencer

{And Auntie Rachie - Brinton -... you see some auburn in that hair?!? Think you might love the answer.}

Lioness Reagan

If you look closely, in the background, you will see the helpless victim's predator...

waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

She first watches the prey until he least suspects...

Then pounces with ease...

Gives the head a little nibble and lick... and kiss for good measure.

Lays right on top of him... to suffocate with love - ya know.

That is until her mother gets out from behind the lens to help the poor little baby out.

Couldn't ask for anything more yummy... as the lioness and her prey.

{Especially when she holds his hand when "I am not looking"}

Shower Shower Baby Shower

These two beauts gave me and little man Grey a WONDERFUL shower...

Rachael and Melissa

The decor... Melissa kept saying "Whitney you know I am not good at all the cute decorating stuff"... ummmm I beg to differ. Look how stinkin' cute it is... she needs to give herself more credit.

I couldn't believe she sat and folded all those paper fans to hang.

How do I have such good friends? No idea.

Seriously I hate being pregnant {like the end result}, but pregnancy I never want to do again. So the sign is fitting. Makes me laugh... the little "wagons" {again made by Melissa and Rachael} were the favors. So fitting.

These babies had me laughing the night before - pretty hard. At my sister Rachael's expense. These little babies are oreo dipped bliss. You have to freeze or refrigerate them for a bit before dipping them in melted chocolate. And Rach was having a little difficulty melting chocolate, not burning it. Hey it is hard to do!! And she looked like she wanted to throw something at my stove... I was dying. But let me just say, they were so worth it Rach... and they turned out beautiful. I now know how much you must love me. wink wink.

Then there was Miss Mandi, who of course was beyond helpful and lovely.

And just because I know she will hate it, but her sister will love it. {Here ya go Michelle!} Here are some pictures of Melissa Hot mama.

Thank you M, R and Man for throwing a shower and evening that was perfect.

Just wait until you all have your next {wait a while Rach :) },

I have all sorts of ideas for baby showers for you.

XOXOXO

Moms

I wonder if I am the only one, that when my mom comes to visit... or help {when I say "mom"... my mother in law is included in that word... although my intentions were to get some pictures of my mother in law too, I failed. I honestly don't know where my mind was... once she left I remembered all my ideas I had with her and my children - picture wise. Oh well - next time Kalle - promise. So although all the following are of my mom, just know that when I say "mom" it includes my sweet mother in law Kalle as well.}... I feel like I will never be able to do all that she does. She is pretty amazing. Pure talent to me, lately -or rather it is a bit of magic, is being able to have my laundry done before it even hits the ground. No joke, both these women have this ability to have my laundry done and folded before it hits the basket or ground. Not to mention how my children LOVE their grandma and nana. They love them more than me - pretty much. But that is okay... because I know what it is like to love your grandma and want to be with her 24/7. It is a blessing that my children have this. It is a blessing that I have this.

I could have not gotten through the first two weeks of three children if it were not for our moms. Thank you. I love you; so very very much. There are no words to express the amount of love and gratitude I have for you, for all you have done and given me and my babes. I hope and pray that one day I will amount to the mothers you are... I have big shoes to fill.

The above picture is my mom laughing at Reagan. Taken on the day we brought Grey home.

The picture below is when she caught me taking pictures.

But really... I mean she is pure beauty.

Grey and my mom... having a moment.