I am a smart, successful and strikingly beautiful woman. (OK, that last one is definitely an exaggeration, but the first two are true.) I am able to follow directions, read a map and while I would never be described as "domestic" I have prepared a few tasty dishes in my life time. That being said, I am physically incapable of making an omelet. I am not talking about making the world's best omelet. I am talking about an edible ham and cheese omelet that other people would actually recognize as an omelet.
Hudson's very favorite food on the entire planet is a ham and cheese omelet. He doesn't have a large repertoire of food, but there is a special place in his little heart for ham and cheese in omelet form. He eats them almost every day, sometimes several times a day. Travis makes them for him, Mammaw makes them for him, Vick makes them for him and he orders them at restaurants. I am the only one unable to provide for my little omelet lover. I understand the concept, it is the execution that gets me every time. I just cannot flip those damned eggs over in one piece. So when I make breakfast, my poor little boy has to eat an "inside out omelet." (This is what we call the mess of scrambled eggs with chunks of ham and cheese in it that I put on his plate because every time I try to flip it all hell breaks loose and I am forced to start scrambling.) I know he still likes it and it is basically the same thing, but I just can't understand how I can let some little $.99/dozen eggs get the best of me.
I feel this may be held against me later in life, when Hudson is in therapy. The therapist will say "Tell me about your mother." Hudson will reply, "She was a good mom, or at least she tried. She just couldn't give me the only thing that I wanted, a ham and cheese omelet. She gave me scrambled eggs instead." Then there will be tears and bills for thousands of dollars and Hudson will never be able to have a successful relationship with someone that can't make an omelet. OK, that may be a little over the top, but it could happen.
I will conquer an omelet. I cannot let my son down. His future depends on it. Do you think there is an omelet making class I can take? Preferably online because I have a very hectic schedule.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
This Motherhood Thing is Hard
When our children are young, we teach them to listen to their parents, grandparents, babysitters, teachers, etc. We tell them to follow directions and stay inside the lines. When our children grow up, we want them to question authority.
If our children are mean or bully others, we tell them that it's not OK because it isn't nice and it can hurt others' feelings. But when our children are the ones being picked on, we tell them that words can't hurt them.
When a child is young, we call them "independent" and bull headed as if it is a bad thing. When they grow up, we expect them to never back down from a fight or take no for an answer and relish in their persistence.
If we don't keep score, then we are raising "wimps" that have no sense of healthy competition yet if we do, we are clearly defining the roles of winners and losers, creating self involved, egotistical maniacs and self loathing nerds.
With these contradictions (and this is the tip of the iceberg), how are we supposed to know how to raise our kids? What is the correct answer to all of their tough questions? In the last month Hudson has asked me why people that aren't white live in America, if he will go to Hell for breaking a pinkie promise, and "why are all these Chinese people in here" (we were in a nail salon.) I did my best to explain the answers to these ridiculously mature (and ill informed) questions to my 5 year old. I have no idea if I did a good job or not.
Of course, I want my children to share my views of the world (I obviously believe I am correct) but I don't want them to have my views because I told them it was true. I want more than anything for them to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions of the world. I am painfully aware that when Hudson starts kindergarten, the value of my opinion is going to plummet and the opinions of his friends, his friends parents, his teachers, and even his favorite bands will be soaring. The only way I can do this is to arm them with knowledge, listen to them with acceptance and live my life filled with love.
I refuse to lie to my children, even (or most importantly) when it is regarding an uncomfortable topic. I have already explained what tampons are, how babies come out (both ways), and about adoption. My parents never lied to me and instilled in me the importance of telling the truth. I can't even lie to telemarketers. My parents censored my world with a very liberal hand. I wasn't allowed to watch Dirty Dancing even though I knew what an abortion was in kindergarten) but my father forced us to watch Tommy (FYI, Rick - this is not an appropriate movie for a 6 year old, no matter how important to their musical education.) I read Kurt Vonnegut in the eighth grade - I didn't understand most of it but I could definitely tell that dude was crazy. I may put an age requirement on Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving. (Also, no matter how it is marketed, Labyrinth is not a kids movie. No one under the age of 17 should be exposed to David Bowie is gold spandex.)
This past winter, as well as celebrating Christmas, we read books on Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. When answering questions about God, I am careful to begin with "Some people believe..." When asked about the future, I try to keep it as generic as possible so not to impose any of my expectations on my children. That being said, this is so much harder than I thought it would be.
I remember very vividly taking Paige and Hudson to the ball field to watch Travis play. It was August. It was hot, so very hot. Paige was 3 months old and Hudson had turned 2 in June. I had Paige in the sling sleeping and Hudson was playing in the dirt. We were having a good time until Hudson said he had to go potty. Potty training was something that we were toying with, but not necessarily actively pursuing. (I thought Hudson was too young to start worrying about it - I was wrong.) So there I was, trying to keep Paige from waking up - if she was awake, she was screaming, and taking off Hudson's diaper and trying to get him to hover over the potty in a disgustingly dirty bathroom, telling him "Don't touch anything!" while covered in sweat and dirt. I remember thinking "I can't do this." That was a piece of cake to what I have on my hands now. Sure, that was physically demanding, but what am I supposed to say when my son tells me that only white people are from America? How do I teach them to know the difference between the truth and a lie? How do I keep from screwing my kids up?
This world is full of bad news. It is full of double standards and contradictions. I need to figure out how to filter (not censor) the bad while exposing all of the good. I would rather my children be wise than smart. I would rather them be loving and accepting than "important." I want them to be able to respect other's opinions without buying into them and I want them to believe in themselves and humanity always.
If our children are mean or bully others, we tell them that it's not OK because it isn't nice and it can hurt others' feelings. But when our children are the ones being picked on, we tell them that words can't hurt them.
When a child is young, we call them "independent" and bull headed as if it is a bad thing. When they grow up, we expect them to never back down from a fight or take no for an answer and relish in their persistence.
If we don't keep score, then we are raising "wimps" that have no sense of healthy competition yet if we do, we are clearly defining the roles of winners and losers, creating self involved, egotistical maniacs and self loathing nerds.
With these contradictions (and this is the tip of the iceberg), how are we supposed to know how to raise our kids? What is the correct answer to all of their tough questions? In the last month Hudson has asked me why people that aren't white live in America, if he will go to Hell for breaking a pinkie promise, and "why are all these Chinese people in here" (we were in a nail salon.) I did my best to explain the answers to these ridiculously mature (and ill informed) questions to my 5 year old. I have no idea if I did a good job or not.
Of course, I want my children to share my views of the world (I obviously believe I am correct) but I don't want them to have my views because I told them it was true. I want more than anything for them to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions of the world. I am painfully aware that when Hudson starts kindergarten, the value of my opinion is going to plummet and the opinions of his friends, his friends parents, his teachers, and even his favorite bands will be soaring. The only way I can do this is to arm them with knowledge, listen to them with acceptance and live my life filled with love.
I refuse to lie to my children, even (or most importantly) when it is regarding an uncomfortable topic. I have already explained what tampons are, how babies come out (both ways), and about adoption. My parents never lied to me and instilled in me the importance of telling the truth. I can't even lie to telemarketers. My parents censored my world with a very liberal hand. I wasn't allowed to watch Dirty Dancing even though I knew what an abortion was in kindergarten) but my father forced us to watch Tommy (FYI, Rick - this is not an appropriate movie for a 6 year old, no matter how important to their musical education.) I read Kurt Vonnegut in the eighth grade - I didn't understand most of it but I could definitely tell that dude was crazy. I may put an age requirement on Kurt Vonnegut and John Irving. (Also, no matter how it is marketed, Labyrinth is not a kids movie. No one under the age of 17 should be exposed to David Bowie is gold spandex.)
This past winter, as well as celebrating Christmas, we read books on Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. When answering questions about God, I am careful to begin with "Some people believe..." When asked about the future, I try to keep it as generic as possible so not to impose any of my expectations on my children. That being said, this is so much harder than I thought it would be.
I remember very vividly taking Paige and Hudson to the ball field to watch Travis play. It was August. It was hot, so very hot. Paige was 3 months old and Hudson had turned 2 in June. I had Paige in the sling sleeping and Hudson was playing in the dirt. We were having a good time until Hudson said he had to go potty. Potty training was something that we were toying with, but not necessarily actively pursuing. (I thought Hudson was too young to start worrying about it - I was wrong.) So there I was, trying to keep Paige from waking up - if she was awake, she was screaming, and taking off Hudson's diaper and trying to get him to hover over the potty in a disgustingly dirty bathroom, telling him "Don't touch anything!" while covered in sweat and dirt. I remember thinking "I can't do this." That was a piece of cake to what I have on my hands now. Sure, that was physically demanding, but what am I supposed to say when my son tells me that only white people are from America? How do I teach them to know the difference between the truth and a lie? How do I keep from screwing my kids up?
This world is full of bad news. It is full of double standards and contradictions. I need to figure out how to filter (not censor) the bad while exposing all of the good. I would rather my children be wise than smart. I would rather them be loving and accepting than "important." I want them to be able to respect other's opinions without buying into them and I want them to believe in themselves and humanity always.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
My Hero
My husband is my hero. I have never been more in awe of him than I was on Friday and every time I think about that day.
We were on vacation. This is a time of relaxation and us being off the grid. I hadn't thought about work in a week. Work was the furthest thing from my mind. Work should have been the furthest thing from Travis' mind but I guess when you are a Firefighter/EMT you are never truly off duty.
We were in the hotel pool, playing with our kids, having a beer when I hear a woman start screaming. I have to be honest, when I first heard the screaming, I thought "WTF? Why the hell is that woman screaming?" It turns out that a little boy was drowning. I don't know if the screaming woman was the little boy's mom or a stranger, but if she hadn't started screaming this story may not have such a happy ending. Apparently, the little boy had been playing with the diving sticks, or that is what I heard, when he started to drown. No one knows how long he was under but someone pulled him out and Travis preformed CPR. He was doing compressions and another pool goer who happened to be a nurse was doing mouth to mouth. All I could see was a small pair of feet and legs sticking out of the crowd.
I couldn't watch and I didn't want to. All around me people were crying. A lot of the people stood around and watched the drama. I grabbed the kids and walked to the beach. Hudson, who is very observant, kept asking me what was going on. I just told him that there was an emergency and Daddy had to help. I tried to keep them distracted but it was really hard, especially since I could barely stand up. When I heard the ambulance sirens, my knees almost buckled. I couldn't think straight and I was shaking. I wouldn't let go of Hudson and Paige's hands and they couldn't understand why. I could tell that word of the accident was spreading by watching the people on the beach. They were standing in clusters talking and kept looking back at our hotel. It seemed like an eternity before Travis came to find me and the kids.
He finally found us and it seemed like a full 5 minutes before he told me the boy was OK. I am sure it was only like 5 seconds but he couldn't tell me fast enough. It took six rounds of CPR but Travis finally got his pulse back. He was breathing on his own but was still unresponsive when the ambulance took him to the hospital. As soon as Trav told me he had a pulse, I started crying. I couldn't stand the thought of someone almost losing a child. The hotel confirmed that he was released the next day and he was perfectly fine. I don't know that boy or his parents but I am so glad that my husband saved their lives - all of theirs. I couldn't have done that. He was so calm and knew exactly what to do. That is his job, I get that, but I have never seen him do that before. My husband saved some one's life. That little boy has a future because of Travis. His parents will always be grateful to my husband. He is a hero to many, not just me.
We told the kids what happened, but they don't understand. This is something that they won't be able to understand until they have children of their own and I hope they never fully understand. My children are an extension of my being. I live inside them and they live inside me. I imagine all parents feel that way. My husband preserved that for complete strangers. He is amazing. He is and always will be my hero.
We were on vacation. This is a time of relaxation and us being off the grid. I hadn't thought about work in a week. Work was the furthest thing from my mind. Work should have been the furthest thing from Travis' mind but I guess when you are a Firefighter/EMT you are never truly off duty.
We were in the hotel pool, playing with our kids, having a beer when I hear a woman start screaming. I have to be honest, when I first heard the screaming, I thought "WTF? Why the hell is that woman screaming?" It turns out that a little boy was drowning. I don't know if the screaming woman was the little boy's mom or a stranger, but if she hadn't started screaming this story may not have such a happy ending. Apparently, the little boy had been playing with the diving sticks, or that is what I heard, when he started to drown. No one knows how long he was under but someone pulled him out and Travis preformed CPR. He was doing compressions and another pool goer who happened to be a nurse was doing mouth to mouth. All I could see was a small pair of feet and legs sticking out of the crowd.
I couldn't watch and I didn't want to. All around me people were crying. A lot of the people stood around and watched the drama. I grabbed the kids and walked to the beach. Hudson, who is very observant, kept asking me what was going on. I just told him that there was an emergency and Daddy had to help. I tried to keep them distracted but it was really hard, especially since I could barely stand up. When I heard the ambulance sirens, my knees almost buckled. I couldn't think straight and I was shaking. I wouldn't let go of Hudson and Paige's hands and they couldn't understand why. I could tell that word of the accident was spreading by watching the people on the beach. They were standing in clusters talking and kept looking back at our hotel. It seemed like an eternity before Travis came to find me and the kids.
He finally found us and it seemed like a full 5 minutes before he told me the boy was OK. I am sure it was only like 5 seconds but he couldn't tell me fast enough. It took six rounds of CPR but Travis finally got his pulse back. He was breathing on his own but was still unresponsive when the ambulance took him to the hospital. As soon as Trav told me he had a pulse, I started crying. I couldn't stand the thought of someone almost losing a child. The hotel confirmed that he was released the next day and he was perfectly fine. I don't know that boy or his parents but I am so glad that my husband saved their lives - all of theirs. I couldn't have done that. He was so calm and knew exactly what to do. That is his job, I get that, but I have never seen him do that before. My husband saved some one's life. That little boy has a future because of Travis. His parents will always be grateful to my husband. He is a hero to many, not just me.
We told the kids what happened, but they don't understand. This is something that they won't be able to understand until they have children of their own and I hope they never fully understand. My children are an extension of my being. I live inside them and they live inside me. I imagine all parents feel that way. My husband preserved that for complete strangers. He is amazing. He is and always will be my hero.
Best Vacation Ever!
We just got back from the best vacation ever! The four of us went down to Myrtle Beach, SC for 4 days of hot, sunny, sandy bliss. We left Wednesday night with all intentions of driving all night, which of course did not pan out as Travis was sleepy from being a hero all day (sans sarcasm) and I was tired from packing for 4 people, shuttling children and puppies all day being a working mom that was going on vacation (there is a lot to do to get ready for vacation!)
Anyway, I was very proud of my packing job. The last time I attempted to pack for Travis, I failed to pack him any shirts. I don't mean that I didn't pack him any clean shirts or dress shirts or T shirts. I mean that I didn't pack him anything to cover the upper half of his body. He was not a happy camper. But this time I packed for all of us and I did a pretty darn good job. I managed to pack everything that everyone needed but without packing too much which is my usual modus operandi. Oh wait, I did forget the adult toothpaste but I brought the kid toothpaste which, in case you were wondering, is absolutely disgusting. I also loaded the car completely by myself, hooked up the new DVD player (money very well spent), got waxed and pedicured (Paige also got a pedicure but passed on the waxing), took Hudson to get a haircut and went to my nephew's baseball game (but got rained out.) I was pooped. Travis started driving at 11:15 on Wednesday night and I woke up at 5:50 Thursday morning at a rest stop 50 miles outside of Knoxville, TN. Since Travis was exhausted (he is a hero for a living, you know) I decided to get the show on the road. I ran into the rest stop to pee without a bra on, "You're welcome Mr. All Night Rest Stop Security Guard" and downed a 5 hour energy (disgusting but works) and started hauling some vacation ass.
It should be noted that in the entire 8 years that Travis and I have been together, I have only driven a car in which he has been a passenger about 10 times. (This may be a slight exaggeration but seriously, he never lets me drive.) I tried to text (it was just 1 message, Mom!) and that wasn't allowed. When I was searching in my purse for my Chapstick, he grabbed the wheel and I don't think he even really wanted me to scan the radio stations. That being said, it wasn't long before I gave up the pilot's seat and opted to be the navigator instead. The kids were awesome on the trip (way better than I had imagined) and it was all totally worth it when the kids saw the ocean for the very first time.
The first thing we did after checking in was walk to the ocean. Paige immediately started rolling around in the sand looking suspiciously like a SI swimsuit model vying for the cover and Hudson was yelling "Come on, Ocean! You can't take me!" I loved watching them experience the sand - we built a sand castle; Travis is quite the sand castle engineer. We found a crab. We jumped in the waves. After we dragged them out of the water, we went to eat at Margaritaville - delicious! There was a funk band that Hudson loved and he did a little showcase of his dance moves. We also went to the old time amusement park and Hudson was quite the dare devil. He rode the Viking Ship and the Caterpillar (which made Mommy very nauseous.) Paige rode the mini Viking Ship and we all rode the carousel (which also made Mommy nauseous. I think I am getting old.)
The next day we did more beach and pool and then went out to dinner with Matt, Jess and Baby Gus. We did some souvenir shopping - Paige got a dress, shocker! and Hudson wanted a Hermit Crab cage (no crab, thank goodness, just the cage for his shells.) On Saturday we just hung out at the pool that day, no beach for us, but we did go to Pirate Mini Golf which Hudson loved and Paige didn't care for too much even though she got a hole in one. Travis got 6 hole in ones and I think he is contemplating a career change. We then ate pizza and played Boccie Ball in the yard. Krista joined us that day and the kids fell in love her. Hudson was doing great swimming with his water wings and Paige (Little Miss Sassy Pants) says she already knows how to swim but she loves jumping off the side of the pool into our arms. Paige also had a few new imaginary friends show up on vacation - Kenna, Wuska (I think she is Russian) and Cheryl. Hudson just hung out with Chain (he is a super hero.) I love those kids.
On the last full day of vacation we slept in and then ate breakfast with the Berg's and Krista. Then we headed to the beach but that was short lived because it was too windy. We went back to the pools - we got lazy in the Lazy River and Paige did lots of "swimming" in "her pool" (the mini Lazy River.) Jess, Krista and I went to get massages (awesome!) while the boys and Paige rested and then we hit the pool again. After that, we went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner where they sang Happy Birthday to the kids and they got to paint crab shaped Rice Krispie Treats with strawberry, chocolate and caramel sauce - they loved it. It was the perfect ending to a perfect vacation.
I am sorry that our first official Ellen (Bergman and Cornehl included) family vacation is over but it couldn't have been more perfect. The children were wonderful and we had so much fun. Even the car ride home wasn't miserable. We went to Sonny's BBQ (a must whenever we go south of Corbin, KY) and it was delicious as always. Paige ate everything. The kids were not ready to come home and nor was I. It was the first vacation that no part of me was ready for it to be over because this was the first time that I had all the people I love on vacation with me. I can't wait to do it again next year!!!
Anyway, I was very proud of my packing job. The last time I attempted to pack for Travis, I failed to pack him any shirts. I don't mean that I didn't pack him any clean shirts or dress shirts or T shirts. I mean that I didn't pack him anything to cover the upper half of his body. He was not a happy camper. But this time I packed for all of us and I did a pretty darn good job. I managed to pack everything that everyone needed but without packing too much which is my usual modus operandi. Oh wait, I did forget the adult toothpaste but I brought the kid toothpaste which, in case you were wondering, is absolutely disgusting. I also loaded the car completely by myself, hooked up the new DVD player (money very well spent), got waxed and pedicured (Paige also got a pedicure but passed on the waxing), took Hudson to get a haircut and went to my nephew's baseball game (but got rained out.) I was pooped. Travis started driving at 11:15 on Wednesday night and I woke up at 5:50 Thursday morning at a rest stop 50 miles outside of Knoxville, TN. Since Travis was exhausted (he is a hero for a living, you know) I decided to get the show on the road. I ran into the rest stop to pee without a bra on, "You're welcome Mr. All Night Rest Stop Security Guard" and downed a 5 hour energy (disgusting but works) and started hauling some vacation ass.
It should be noted that in the entire 8 years that Travis and I have been together, I have only driven a car in which he has been a passenger about 10 times. (This may be a slight exaggeration but seriously, he never lets me drive.) I tried to text (it was just 1 message, Mom!) and that wasn't allowed. When I was searching in my purse for my Chapstick, he grabbed the wheel and I don't think he even really wanted me to scan the radio stations. That being said, it wasn't long before I gave up the pilot's seat and opted to be the navigator instead. The kids were awesome on the trip (way better than I had imagined) and it was all totally worth it when the kids saw the ocean for the very first time.
The first thing we did after checking in was walk to the ocean. Paige immediately started rolling around in the sand looking suspiciously like a SI swimsuit model vying for the cover and Hudson was yelling "Come on, Ocean! You can't take me!" I loved watching them experience the sand - we built a sand castle; Travis is quite the sand castle engineer. We found a crab. We jumped in the waves. After we dragged them out of the water, we went to eat at Margaritaville - delicious! There was a funk band that Hudson loved and he did a little showcase of his dance moves. We also went to the old time amusement park and Hudson was quite the dare devil. He rode the Viking Ship and the Caterpillar (which made Mommy very nauseous.) Paige rode the mini Viking Ship and we all rode the carousel (which also made Mommy nauseous. I think I am getting old.)
The next day we did more beach and pool and then went out to dinner with Matt, Jess and Baby Gus. We did some souvenir shopping - Paige got a dress, shocker! and Hudson wanted a Hermit Crab cage (no crab, thank goodness, just the cage for his shells.) On Saturday we just hung out at the pool that day, no beach for us, but we did go to Pirate Mini Golf which Hudson loved and Paige didn't care for too much even though she got a hole in one. Travis got 6 hole in ones and I think he is contemplating a career change. We then ate pizza and played Boccie Ball in the yard. Krista joined us that day and the kids fell in love her. Hudson was doing great swimming with his water wings and Paige (Little Miss Sassy Pants) says she already knows how to swim but she loves jumping off the side of the pool into our arms. Paige also had a few new imaginary friends show up on vacation - Kenna, Wuska (I think she is Russian) and Cheryl. Hudson just hung out with Chain (he is a super hero.) I love those kids.
On the last full day of vacation we slept in and then ate breakfast with the Berg's and Krista. Then we headed to the beach but that was short lived because it was too windy. We went back to the pools - we got lazy in the Lazy River and Paige did lots of "swimming" in "her pool" (the mini Lazy River.) Jess, Krista and I went to get massages (awesome!) while the boys and Paige rested and then we hit the pool again. After that, we went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner where they sang Happy Birthday to the kids and they got to paint crab shaped Rice Krispie Treats with strawberry, chocolate and caramel sauce - they loved it. It was the perfect ending to a perfect vacation.
I am sorry that our first official Ellen (Bergman and Cornehl included) family vacation is over but it couldn't have been more perfect. The children were wonderful and we had so much fun. Even the car ride home wasn't miserable. We went to Sonny's BBQ (a must whenever we go south of Corbin, KY) and it was delicious as always. Paige ate everything. The kids were not ready to come home and nor was I. It was the first vacation that no part of me was ready for it to be over because this was the first time that I had all the people I love on vacation with me. I can't wait to do it again next year!!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
My Baby Boy
My baby boy turned 5 today. And yes, I cried. I cried because he is growing up and I am not ready for it. Sometimes when I look at him, I can't believe how fast the last 5 years have gone by. He told me today that no matter what, he would always be my baby. I hope that is true.
Hudson is the sweetest child I have ever known. He loves to love. When he tells me I am beautiful (which is pretty often,) I feel like I have just won the Miss America contest. He is always ready to cuddle and always appreciative of gifts, no matter how big or small. I have never seen a kid get so excited about a plastic stool so he could reach the sink. When he's tired he likes to rub my ponytail and I love it. He is the reason I won't cut my hair.
Hudson loves to sing and listen to music. (He gets that from me.) Right now, his favorite is Jet - "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" but his recent playlist includes the Black Eyed Peas and The White Stripes. And of course, he loves Paul McCartney's Band on the Run. He knows the entire album. He plays a mean "air drum," just like his momma and don't tell anyone but he likes to dance with his sister. Hudson also loves to do crafts like me and has a new love of bedazzling. I love that he takes after me in some ways because other than these things (and a flair for the dramatics - we actually had to have a bedside vigil tonight when he scraped his leg; he is hoping he will be able to make a swift recovery so he can come on vacation with us tomorrow but as he stated "I can't control it!") he is all Travis.
He is a boy's boy. He loves sports and wants to play superhero (or as he calls it "action") all the time. He loves to fish and Travis is counting the days until he is old enough to take on the annual Alabama trip for the crappie run. He likes fart and poop jokes and when we wrestle he gives me a "butt face" which is exactly what it sounds like - he sits on my face until I tap out. It generally doesn't take me long.
Hudson is inquisitive (see my prior blog called Questions and Answers) and loves to know everything. He has asked me after I gotten home from work on more than one occasion, "So Mom, how much money did you make today?" He wants to know how everything is made and why your pinkie is called a pinkie and why I don't know a lot about space. He loves to do math and I am not positive but I am pretty sure he is starting learn how to read (I am not sure because neither Travis or I have taught him but he keeps "reading" things. He might be just guessing what the words are but if he is then he is a pretty good guesser.) He is always talking about what kind of school he should go to - fire school, chef school - he can't decide.
Right now, he thinks that I am pretty much the coolest thing ever. He loves to hang out with me and hates to stay anywhere overnight besides home. I fear that those days are quickly coming to a close. Hudson will soon be ditching me for sleepovers after basketball games and then shortly after that, he will be dating. He already loves the ladies so I am positive he will be quite the man around town. I hope that I will be able to teach him all the things he will need to know about girls and life in general because I don't want his future spouse to ever say "Didn't your mother ever teach you anything?"
Today, as we were talking about the future (he is so excited about starting school in the fall) he told me that he would always be my baby boy. He also told me that when the teacher said it was math time he would tell her that he already knew how to do "maf." (He is pretty good at math, though.)
I never knew how much you could love someone until I met him. Hudson stole my heart from the very beginning and I have never looked back. When I look at his face, it melts my heart every single time. I am excited for him that he is growing up; there are so many things that he wants to do. At the same time, though, I am scared and sad about all the things that he is about to experience.
Travis and I will no longer be the primary influences in his life, his friends will be. I won't be able to filter the things that he learns and hears from others. I don't want to lose him. I am dreading the day that he is too busy or embarrassed to give me a kiss before he runs off to play. I can only hope that he will always know how much I love him and support him. I will be proud of him no matter what and as long as he is happy in his life, I will consider my parenting a success.
Hudson Joseph Ellen (or Hudson Jophes, as he says) is my "best boy ever" and I hope he never forgets it. He is my smile, my heart and my love. He makes my world sparkle.
Hudson is the sweetest child I have ever known. He loves to love. When he tells me I am beautiful (which is pretty often,) I feel like I have just won the Miss America contest. He is always ready to cuddle and always appreciative of gifts, no matter how big or small. I have never seen a kid get so excited about a plastic stool so he could reach the sink. When he's tired he likes to rub my ponytail and I love it. He is the reason I won't cut my hair.
Hudson loves to sing and listen to music. (He gets that from me.) Right now, his favorite is Jet - "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" but his recent playlist includes the Black Eyed Peas and The White Stripes. And of course, he loves Paul McCartney's Band on the Run. He knows the entire album. He plays a mean "air drum," just like his momma and don't tell anyone but he likes to dance with his sister. Hudson also loves to do crafts like me and has a new love of bedazzling. I love that he takes after me in some ways because other than these things (and a flair for the dramatics - we actually had to have a bedside vigil tonight when he scraped his leg; he is hoping he will be able to make a swift recovery so he can come on vacation with us tomorrow but as he stated "I can't control it!") he is all Travis.
He is a boy's boy. He loves sports and wants to play superhero (or as he calls it "action") all the time. He loves to fish and Travis is counting the days until he is old enough to take on the annual Alabama trip for the crappie run. He likes fart and poop jokes and when we wrestle he gives me a "butt face" which is exactly what it sounds like - he sits on my face until I tap out. It generally doesn't take me long.
Hudson is inquisitive (see my prior blog called Questions and Answers) and loves to know everything. He has asked me after I gotten home from work on more than one occasion, "So Mom, how much money did you make today?" He wants to know how everything is made and why your pinkie is called a pinkie and why I don't know a lot about space. He loves to do math and I am not positive but I am pretty sure he is starting learn how to read (I am not sure because neither Travis or I have taught him but he keeps "reading" things. He might be just guessing what the words are but if he is then he is a pretty good guesser.) He is always talking about what kind of school he should go to - fire school, chef school - he can't decide.
Right now, he thinks that I am pretty much the coolest thing ever. He loves to hang out with me and hates to stay anywhere overnight besides home. I fear that those days are quickly coming to a close. Hudson will soon be ditching me for sleepovers after basketball games and then shortly after that, he will be dating. He already loves the ladies so I am positive he will be quite the man around town. I hope that I will be able to teach him all the things he will need to know about girls and life in general because I don't want his future spouse to ever say "Didn't your mother ever teach you anything?"
Today, as we were talking about the future (he is so excited about starting school in the fall) he told me that he would always be my baby boy. He also told me that when the teacher said it was math time he would tell her that he already knew how to do "maf." (He is pretty good at math, though.)
I never knew how much you could love someone until I met him. Hudson stole my heart from the very beginning and I have never looked back. When I look at his face, it melts my heart every single time. I am excited for him that he is growing up; there are so many things that he wants to do. At the same time, though, I am scared and sad about all the things that he is about to experience.
Travis and I will no longer be the primary influences in his life, his friends will be. I won't be able to filter the things that he learns and hears from others. I don't want to lose him. I am dreading the day that he is too busy or embarrassed to give me a kiss before he runs off to play. I can only hope that he will always know how much I love him and support him. I will be proud of him no matter what and as long as he is happy in his life, I will consider my parenting a success.
Hudson Joseph Ellen (or Hudson Jophes, as he says) is my "best boy ever" and I hope he never forgets it. He is my smile, my heart and my love. He makes my world sparkle.
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