Random pictures

Heartbreakers!
Hudson laughing with his Grandpa
Our new rug (on "trial" from the store)
Handsome Bosco (who by the way...thinks the new rug is HIS...he lied down on it as soon as Rob unrolled it)
Happy Hudson!

Hudson's Birth Story

This post is for you Cindy! Although I'm not sure if you will want to read it...!

My little Stinker's due date was November 19th. I was positive he was going to be late because I had NO signs or symptoms of being anywhere near giving birth. I didn't feel like the baby had "dropped", I didn't lose my mucous plug, I didn't feel super uncomfortable...I felt totally normal. Even the night before I went into labour (exactly one week early), I stayed up late, talking to Rob about our upcoming baby. I went to bed after midnight, which was REALLY late for me while I was pregnant. Then I woke up to pee at around 3am. Then again at 3:15am. Then again at 3:30am. It was then I felt some cramping. The same pain as menstrual cramps. I didn't think anything of it, and tried to go back to sleep. I still wasn't sure that I was going into labour. I didn't even wake up Rob until around 5am. I don't think he believed me when I said "I think something's happening". Anyway we started timing the contractions, and by 8am they were strong, lasting a minute, and were five minutes apart. So off we went to the hospital (which is less than five minutes from our house). I was already 3-4 cm dilated, and was told that most first time labours progress at around 1cm an hour. I had opted for no drugs, and instead managed the pain by lying on my side and squeezing the bed rails as tightly as I could. I didn't want anyone talking to me, didn't want anyone touching me, nor did I want to move around. I lied there, on my side, holding the bedrails, not saying anything for hours! The nursed said I was progressing faster than the other women on the ward (everything's a competition, eh?). THEN...the little Bugger must have changed his mind about wanting to come out...because he HELD ON!!! To make a long story short...you have to dilate to 10 cm before you can start pushing. I made it to 8-9 cm by around 3pm...and then STUCK. OH MY GOD DOES IT SUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO PUSH WHEN EVERYTHING IN YOUR BODY TELLS YOU TO PUSH PUSH PUSH!!! The nurse suggested that sometimes getting an epidural relaxes you into dilating the final centimetres, which sounded heavenly by that time. But it was too late. The epidural didn't work!!! By 7pm (16 hours of labour) I was still stuck at 9 cm, my contractions were INSANE, my body was shaking, I was making involuntary noises, and the baby's heartrate was doing weird things, so they recommended having a C-section. All that work, all that time in pain...and I wound up having a c-section!!! But by 7:32pm...Hudson was born...and he was perfect...and seeing your baby for the first time makes it all worth it.

(And it really couldn't have been that bad considering I'm already thinking of having another, right?!?)

Tummy Time

It's amazing how much babies change in one week. Last week Hudson hated tummy time. His neck muscles weren't that strong, and he would spend most of the time flat on his face...and obviously that's not fun! But now look at him. The cutest part is the noises he makes while doing tummy time. Kinda breathes heavy and grunts...like it's hard work. He makes me laugh...

Happy Blog Anniversary!

This quote is how it all started...can you believe it's been one whole year since my first blog?!? I sometimes reread my previous posts and I laugh that I have shared some pretty "personal" things about myself for anyone and everyone to read! Do I regret telling you all that I have a security blanket, or that I don't like pooing in public, or that I have posted pictures of my big, fat, pregnant belly wearing nothing but my bra??? Not for one minute. Because it's me. Real. Did the handful of negative comments I have received over the year hurt my feelings? They really didn't. I swear to God I think (actually I KNOW) that they bugged Rob more than they bugged me. I have had fun writing about my life, and even more fun reading your comments (which is why you guys should LEAVE a comment!). I have linked to so many people's blogs over the year...and it's funny how I honestly feel like I "know" people...total strangers...because I read about their daily lives...like I'm snooping on them! Anyway, feel free to keep snooping on me...

(wow...this is the first post since Hudson was born that didn't involve him!)

Happy Valentine's Day

Yes motherhood can be hard...
so can marriage...
but then I have a lazy morning in bed with my boys...
and my heart melts...
and it's all worth it.
Love you stinkers like crazy!!!

Hope you all have a good Valentine's Day!

crazy cold week

Hudson and Kaitlyn (she's 2 months older) at my boss Elena's baby shower last weekend in Ottawa. Three of us pregnant at my branch at the same time (in a small office of 10 women)...people were scared to drink the water!











Visiting the cousins in Montreal! Romy, Victor, and Edouard were GREAT at entertaining my Little Stinker!!! Everyone got lots of slobbery kisses.










Auntie Susan snuck in some snuggles (the few minutes that her kids WEREN'T holding Hudson).


















Halmonie was a very busy grandmother...















It was an insanely cold week here. I got a mini vacation, spending time at my mom's place in Montreal. Nat: I pretty much hibernated for a few days so I didn't call you. We'll have to do coffee next time!

this little piggy...

Ten of my favorite little things...!

i'm a gross pig, or a good mama...

either i'm a grosser...or a good mama. why? i like to pick my son's nose. i get satisfaction out of pulling a booger out of hudson's nose, the bigger the better. he can't do it himself, and imagine how much better it feels for him? how much better he can breathe? on the same note...accidently getting his poo on my hand while changing his diaper, is like "oops" (and clean with a babywipe), not "ewwww! oh my god i have to wash my hands right away!". this morning he threw up on me twice and then fell asleep on me. i contemplated putting him down and changing my clothes, but instead chose to sit there with his smelly boob-milk throwup soaking my nightgown, because i didn't want to wake him. so yes...either i'm nasty or a good mama.

pouty baby...

common...he's just as cute when he's pouting as when he's smiling, no?

punky baby!

I swear to God his mohawk is all natural!!! We like it...pretty edgy and hip don't you think?

I don't have anything to blog about today...other than that last night was the LONGEST I have slept (uninterupted) since before I had Hudson. He slept from 11pm-ish to 4am-ish!!! Heavenly...

anyway, Audrey bugs me to post more and more and more pictures of Hudson, so here they are...

isn't his butt cute?

9 weeks

It's been a crazy week in our household. Rob got sick with the noro-virus (stomach flu) and was INSANELY sick to his stomach. Hudson and I lived downstairs for a few days, avoiding Rob like the plague (the last thing I wanted was for my little stinker to get so sick). We managed to escape the germs! Anyway, here is Hudson at 9 weeks. I finally got a shot of him smiling.

Boob Tube...

Audrey told me that she never watched as much TV in her life, as she did when she was nursing the twins. It's soooo true. Now I know why they call it the boob tube. I watch the tube, while Hudson is on the boob. Which is often. He's a boob beast. But it's making his cheeks chubbier, his legs chunkier, and belly rounder. I have to refrain from biting him everytime I change his diaper...he's just too yummy. call me if you missed an episode of ANY show and i can probably tell you all about it...

Happy New Year!

Hudson is starting off the New Year in his stylin' outfit...too bad we're staying at home!!! We were invited to ring in the new year at a 80's theme party at Rudy's tonight (sounds too fun!), but Rob's stuck working and the reality is I'll probably be asleep before midnight! Oh the joys of having a new born. I honestly am not complaining that I'm not going to a big party tonight...I can't wait to kiss my little boy smack on the lips and celebrate the end of 2006 and the start of 2007. He's made my year.

Happy Holidays!

We're back in Ottawa after spending Christmas in Montreal with family and friends. Hudson's first Christmas was crazy...but fun! He got lots of gifts...lots of cuddles...lots of attention. For the most part...everyone thinks Hudson looks like Rob. Although one of my friends sees Audrey in him too!!! I don't know about that...

Santa didn't forget Bosco...he got a big bone which he paraded around the house showing everyone so proudly.

P.S. Santa didn't grant me my wish...Hudson still wants to nurse every 2 hours!!! My dream of sleeping 6 hours in a row will have to wait...

clean...or play???

Hudson is asleep (after what seems like continuously nursing for the past 2 and 1/2 days straight!)...and I should probably vaccuum or clean the bathrooms...but instead I have decided to play on the computer and update my blog. It's more fun bragging about my son, than being a good housewife.

both hands!

I'm actually typing with BOTH hands right now...something that is a rare occurance since Hudson was born...as he's usually in one of my arms while I type with the other...
he's sleeping like an angel in his crib right now...yes his crib...like a big boy!


don't you just wanna kiss his perfect lips? nose? chubby cheeks?...

4 weeks old!

One month old...
still nursing every 2-3 hours...
still "tricking" me into changing his diaper, only to poop as soon as the clean one is on...
still sleeping best when someone is holding him...
still the apple of our eye!!!

before and after...

Shower BEFORE Hudson:

• patiently wait for perfect water temperature
• allow water to completely soak hair and body
• shampoo, and sometimes repeat (to clean out hair products)
• put in conditioner...allow to penetrate hair before rinsing out
• wash all over
• shave all necessary body parts
• pumice-stone heels of feet
• wash face
• take extra time rinsing everything and enjoy sensation of hot water before getting out

Shower AFTER Hudson:

• get in
• shampoo hair once (no need to repeat anyway, as I don't use hair products anymore)
• condition hair
• quickly wash body parts that need washing (i.e. armpits, privates, feet)
• wash face
• get out

Getting dressed for the day is similar...
Before Hudson: Care about clothes matching, looking stylish, looking sexy...
After Hudson: Care that shirt/top has easy access to getting boob out for nursing...

Don't even get me started on makeup and hair...

3 weeks...

My baby boy Hudson is 3 weeks old...

and my hormones are less volatile (the Tim Horton's commercial with the Chinese guy watching his son/grandson play hockey made me bawl my eyes out last week), Hudson's baby acne is clearing up nicely, I'm actually getting USED to only 4 hours of "broken" sleep a night, and Hudson is SLOWLY getting used to sleeping on his own (he sleeps so soundly in our arms...but the minute you put him "down"...he's up and wide awake)! I had a few episodes in the beginning, of feeling overwhelmed and wondering if I was going to know how to be a "mama"...but I'm happy to say those feelings have lessened...and I feel like I'm getting into my routine. I can't stop staring at him, feeling so blessed that he's in my life...he's a stinker like the rest of our family...a little high-maintence at times...he fits in perfectly!!!