October Fun!

Well we have had a very busy month....we started it off by taking Hudson on his first trip Missouri to visit Grandmommy and Grandaddy Lewis and all of our friends there. Since Todd was on Fall Break were were able to spend a long weekend there. We enjoyed dinner with friends, shopping with Grandmommy and a stroll downtown St. Charles. We also visited the school we both worked at last year and the kids I worked with while I was there. They were all so excited to meet Hudson and he was such a good boy while we were there.

Todd with Abby...she was in the classroom I worked in last year and I became very attached to her. Even when she would tell me now and fall to the floor I still cried my eyes out when I had to leave her. She was so happy to see us and especially LOVES her "Toddy"and we enjoyed getting to see her and see how much she has grown since we saw her last. We miss all our kids from last year but especially sweet Abby:)

Me and Hudson with all our favorite girls:) Amy, Bobbi, Tracy and Karen (Cindy must have been actually working) were the girls I worked with and became so close to. They were some of the first to find out about Baby Hudson and had to help me keep it a secret along with helping me with sweet Abby. They were amazing and I loved every minute at Castlio because of them. There were so many times after breaks I would come back to work not wanting to be there and they got me through it. Between the drama, gossip, making fun of my southern accent and lots and lots of laughter....they made my year. I miss them all so so much and want them to know just how much they mean to me:)

No trip to St. Louis is complete without taking a stroll downtown St. Charles. Todd grew up there and we took lots of trips there while we were dating. We were excited to take him down there for the first time.

Later that week...Zack, Cherith and Ella Kate came for a visit. Zack had to go out of town for work so Cherith and Ella Kate stayed here and we enjoyed every minute with them. We spent lots of time at Nana and Poppa's so that I could play with Ella Kate and Aunt Cherith got some quality time with Hudson. He loves her and she helped us out a lot while she was here. When it was pretty we spent some time outside so Ella could play. She loves being outside and running around the yard and playing in the leaves.

Ella Kate and Hudson playing outside at Nana and Poppa's

We tried all week to get some good pictures of Ella Kate and Hudson together but you can imagine trying to get a fifteen month old and an eight week old still long enough to take a picture. Luckily, we were able to snap a few cutes ones.

Ella Kate holding her "baby". She was so cute with him. Every time she would wake up from a nap or come into the room where he was she would pop that passy out and say "baby". She also liked trading pacifiers with him or if he was crying she would take him his. It was so precious. I can't wait to watch them grow up together and be the best of friends:)

Splish, Splash....taking a bath!!!!

We decided it was finally time to give little man a bath in his Rainforest tub and of course Mommy took lots of pictures. He liked it at first but I think he was glad when it was all over.

Hudson in his bath for the first time...he wasn't real sure what to think.

Isn't he the cutest?!

He wasn't too happy when it was over and he had to be dried off and changed so he needed his passy to make him feel better.

Much better...still doesn't look too happy though!

He was soooo tired!

So I have gotten a little behind on the blog....I am still trying to get adjusted to being a mommy and making time for my blog. We are loving every minute of our baby boy and have been very busy since his arrival. Hudson is growing so fast and seems to change everyday. He is a very active baby and is awake a majority of the day. He is sleeping much better than he did the first few nights and we are starting to get in a routine. We have had lots of company and blessed to have lots of wonderful people from church bring us food the past two weeks. This past weekend we were excited to have Todd's brother Byron and his wife Jennifer in from Dallas. They were so excited to finally meet Hudson and we enjoyed our visit with them too. Today we got Hudson's newborn pictures taken and some family pictures. He is was very good for the pictures and was awake for most of them. Here is one of his pictures....isn't he sweet?! We should have the rest soon!

Hudson is HERE!!!

So here is a short version of Hudson's arrival. I went into the hospital Wednesday August 27th around 5:00 AM (long story...I thought my water broke) only to be sent home around noon with "early" labor. The doctor said I would be more comfortable at home and to come back when it is time. I was NOT happy! So around 6:00 PM my water "officially" broke (although the doctor still told me it hadn't) and we made our way back to the hospital. I was in labor all night and was not making any progress. I began throwing up and the doctor was concerned I was getting dehydrated. He decided to keep me and that they would induce in the morning! They stated me on some fluids and then around 9:00 AM they started me on Pitocin to help get the process started and I was able to get my epidural. So thankful for that! Todd had decided to come back to Henderson to get a shower and get a few things for the hospital....and A HAIR CUT...seriously?! Well, a little pitocin was all I needed! While he was still in Henderson the nurse checked my progress and I was already at a 6. So, I call him to tell him to get back to the hospital quick! In the mean time, my doctor comes to check again and I was already to an 8! I was ready to push by 12:00 but they decided to let me rest a little so I would have the energy to push. I pushed for about an hour. He was turned so he had a little trouble coming out.

Hudson Miller Lewis arrived on August 28th at 2:09 in the afternoon and he weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 inches long. I also have to mention he has the most beautiful strawberry blonde hair you have ever seen:) We instantly fell in love with him and I can't believe he is finally here. Things have been kind of crazy since Hudson's arrival. Hudson had his nights and days mixed up the first couple nights we were home. Then my Mom, Dad and Todd all came down with an awful stomach flu and were sick for DAYS. I just prayed that I wouldn't get it too. So that has been keeping us very busy. We went for his weigh in at the doctor Tuesday and he weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces which the doctor said was great because they don't expect them to back to their birth weight for a couple weeks. The doctor said he was doing great!! I will do my best to keep you all updated on our little man. Here are some of his very first pictures.

His very first picture

Us with our great Labor and Delivery Nurse Linda! She goes to church with us so that made it extra special that she was there. Thanks Linda!

I couldn't get over his hair. Beautiful strawberry blonde and LOTS of it!

Kisses from Mommy

Resting with Daddy

And the waiting begins......

We have officially started the waiting game! Although, I am pretty sure that Hudson is going to wait until his due date or after but everyone says you have to be ready if he decides to come early. I went to the doctor Thursday August 14th and not much progress. The doctor wasn't certain I had dilated any and then he said well maybe a little. He also reassured me that most first babies make you wait so I am thinking little Hudson may do just that:) Everything seems to be healthy. His heartbeat was in the 160's, my blood pressure is still good and my Strep B test came back negative so that was very good news. We are just getting anxious to meet our sweet boy!

Things have also been very busy for us the last couple weeks. Todd is back to school and staying very busy and I have started baby-sitting a sweet baby girl. She is almost a year old and a wonderful baby. The plan is to keep her until I have Hudson and then start keeping her again after he is born. I had planned on staying home with him and then eventually keeping a few kids and this opportunity came early. I am also keeping my cousins Miller and Andre two days a week which is another blessing because I can spend time with my two favorite boys while staying home with mine!

We also had a great visit with Zack, Cherith and Ella Kate. Zack had some business close to us so they came in for a long weekend. We love when they come to visit and hate that they live so far away. Ella Kate is getting so big and of course beautiful as ever. She is walking and talking...her favorite words our puppy and baby and "ba"or ball. I worked very hard on Aunt "B" but that just confused her with ball. I know she will say it eventually:) We hated to see them leave but we are looking forward to seeing them in a couple weeks for Hudson's arrival. Zack keeps asking me if I can wait until the weekend of Tennessee's first football game because they had already planned to come that weekend. I told him I would do my best but that also happens to be the weekend of his due date. We will see what happens:)

We are almost finished with all the work on the house. Just a little more painting to finish up and and we hope to start moving stuff in this weekend. So much work has already been done and it looks amazing. We are so excited about starting our family in OUR new home. I will post some pictures once we get all settled in.

Todd and Ella Kate were watching TV but of course she looked up everytime I took a picture. They were so sweet together.

The girls after church...we missed having Brandy there with us.

Todd and I with EK. I love her sweet face!

What a beautiful family:)

My Other Half

So I thought I would take time to devote a blog to my wonderful husband Todd. Since I am the one that usually updates our blog I sometimes forget to include him. Todd has been amazing throughout this whole pregnancy and very patient with me through mood changes, cravings and of course all the aches and pains that go along with it. I am sure that he is as ready as I am for the pregnancy part to be over and have our baby boy home. I am so thankful for him and all that he has done for me the past eight months.

Todd began his first day of school with the kids on Friday. Although they haven't started P.E. yet he did spend some time in the classrooms getting to know the kids. I am very excited for him to get back to school and doing what he loves but at the same time I am very nervous about him being 30 minutes away if I were to need him. Luckily, my mom has been helping out by taking me to doctor's appointments so Todd doesn't have to take off work but I would much rather have him there. We both know that Hudson is going to come when HE is ready not when it is convenient for us but hopefully Todd will have time to get there. So please keep the three of us in your prayers the next 25 days as we await baby Hudson's arrival.

Closing Time!!

It is official...we are homeowners! We finally closed on our house July 30th and we were thrilled. So as I am updating our blog my parents and Todd are at the house working on taking up floors and painting. Todd teases me and says I made perfect timing being pregnant during both of our moves. I would much rather be helping them then just sitting here especially since the "nesting" instinct is starting to set in. So I spend my time going through Hudson's things and trying to organize his clothes. There is lots of work to be done to the house but we hope to have everything done by next weekend so we can move in. I will post some pictures once everything is finished so I can show you the before and after. Thanks for checking on us!