A Taste of Spring

We had about a week or so of perfectly beautiful weather the week before I was scheduled to go back to work.  It was in the mid-70's so we had to spend some time enjoying the nice days outside.  We took Hudson and London to the park.  Hudson instantly made friends with every kid on the play ground and had a great time.  We also loaded up in the double stroller and went for walks around the neighborhood.  I'm already over this month long winter-time stuff we've had---bring on spring!!!  Bring on the sunshine!

Thank You Aunt Jean & Uncle Lee

I was talking to my mom on the phone when we had a surprise package delivered to our door from Aunt Jean & Uncle Lee!  Hudson was so excited for another present to arrive....just when he thought Christmas was all over!  Jason got some scissors and opened up the box.  Hudson recognized which gifts were London's right away and brought them over to her.  Then he delivered mine to me.  He pulled his out and very excitedly opened them up!  Some kids do not get very excited about new clothes but not Hudson---as soon as he saw his new Monster Truck shirt, he had to rip off the shirt he had on and quickly put on his new one!  Next, he opened his new monster truck and soon he disappeared into monster truck pretend land!  He couldn't have been happier!!  I got some fabulous and super soft ducky slippers!  London got a really cute outfit and a very special beanie baby!  And Jason got a variety of yummy cappuccinos!  Thank you so, so much!!  We love and miss you guys!

Hudson Flashback: 1st Dr.'s appointment

I also found this one:  Hudson's 1st picture with Eli (Eli's so black that you can hardly see him--just his eyes glowing!).  Eli just wanted lay on Hudson's blanket---he could always find the softest spot in the house!

Oh and here's a collage I made:

2 Man Band

Papa and Gigi gave Hudson a harmonica for his birthday.  It is upstairs in his bedroom so he decided to play a pretend harmonica and he asked Daddy to back him up with the drums.  Of course I didn't have the camera ready for their best performance but you can get a good taste of their jam session from the video below:

London: 10-11 weeks

Future ballerina:

Princess London after her spa treatment:

Watch out Hudson...I'm also going to be a boxer!

Here are a couple videos of London smiling and trying to talk to us...that's about all she does right now but we love it.  : )

oops!  I forgot I can't rotate my video....

Houston Children's Museum

The week before I went back to work we met up with Misti and Carson at the Houston Children's Museum.  We had such a great time!!!  I can't wait to go back!  Hudson and Carson had so much fun playing together and exploring all of the cool things they had to play with!


On our way in, the boys were both drawn to this train right away. 

Next, they were greeted by this super cool, giant robot made out of telephones!  Hudson could have spent an hour in this one spot pretending to talk on phone after phone after phone! 

He soon discovered this scooter and took it for a ride! 

They also had fun playing on this boat and pretended to catch a net full of fish:

They both got to drive this ambulance and the police car next to it:

The diner was one of my favorites!  All of the kids had a great time dressing up like chefs, cooking food, washing dishes, and serving all of the parents sitting at the tables.

After a fun day of playing, we went to grab some yummy Mexican food for lunch.  Thanks to Misti and Carson for a fun playdate!!

London's Photo Shoot

Check out London's pics at: http://web.me.com/lrathwell/Main_Site/Client_Albums/Pages/London.html

Birth announcements will be on their way soon!

2 month check-up

London had her 2 month check-up today and received her first set of immunizations.  Dr. Hudson came along and brought his doctor kit.  He gave Dr. John a couple of shots and then Dr. John gave him one (a pretend one this time).  London did very well during her check-up.  She just cried for a little bit after her shots.  Other than that, she was all smiles!  I was a little busy keeping up with both Hudson and London to take any pictures so I took the one below when we got home.  The band-aids are where she got her shots. 

She has really started smiling big smiles and cooing lately and I love the sound of her sweet little voice!  She has really gotten settled into her schedule so she is much easier and predictable now.  She really only cries when she is ready to eat and ready to sleep...or if Hudson is driving her crazy!  He loves her so much but he talks non-stop and only has one volume...LOUD!  Adjusting to the noise at daycare should be a breeze for her!  However, she has started looking around for him when she is awake and hears him talking now...so I know she loves him too!

Here are her stats from her check up:
 Length: 22.75 inches (50-75 %)  grown 2.75 inches since birth
 Weight: 10 lbs. 9 oz. (25-50 %)  
 Head Circumfrence: 15 (75 %)

She wears size 0-3 months.  (She has officially outgrown her Newborn size clothes)
She wears size 1 diapers.
 

Grandma & Grandpa Holladay

Jason's parents live in Kansas, OK so they are further north and always get the worst of the winter weather.  We decided we could brave the snow and cold by Saturday and made the journey up to their house!  The roads weren't that bad until about 10-15 miles away from their house.  The closer we got, the more icy it became.  Luckily, we made it safe and sound and enjoyed our visit. 

Jason's Dad had just gotten out of the hospital so Hudson took his new doctor kit to make him feel better.  Grandpa Holladay had his gall bladder removed which contained 5 marble sized stones...OUCH!  He had some complications after his surgery and had to stay in the hospital for about a week.  (We hope you are feeling better now!  We love you!)

London meeting her Grandma:

Even though Grandpa wasn't feeling well he still found a little energy to play Hudson a couple songs on his guitar.

Hudson and Daddy built some domino towers and then knocked them down:

London napping in Grandma's arms:

Grandpa telling Hudson the story of The 3 Little Pigs:

I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas...

We woke up to snow Christmas morning!  Hudson was very excited to go out in the 17 degree weather and play!  We don't really have snow clothes so they had to layer up! 

Hudson & Misti playing in the snow!

Jason & Hudson tried really hard to make a snowman but the snow wouldn't pack very well.  So they had fun running and throwing the snow!

Hudson took a couple face plants in the snow.  Here is a picture of the first time he slipped and fell face first into the cold snow.  He was pretty upset.  It didn't take long to get over it and go run through the snow some more though!

Here is a video of the boys attacking me with snowballs!

Santa came!

Our original plan was to make it to my parents' house Wed. night then get up bright and early Thurs. (Christmas Eve) and drive up to Jason's parents' house.  However, a big snow storm came through and we couldn't travel on Christmas Eve.  We ended up spending Christmas Eve and Christmas with my parents and then we went to Jason's parents house on Saturday. 

Here is Hudson helping Gigi do some baking on Christmas Eve:

London and her Papa catching some ZZZ's!

Hudson is in pretend-mode 24/7! He pretended to put on his Santa suit and become Santa.  Here is Santa below saying, "Ho ho ho! ".

Gigi had to sit on Santa's lap while he checked his naughty list and she told him what she wanted for Christmas!  It was so funny because when he was done pretending to be Santa, he unzipped the pretend zipper on his pretend Santa suit, stepped out, pulled off his pretend coat, then pulled off his pretend beard.  He cracks me up!

Here is Hudson looking outside for Santa on Christmas Eve!  We had a beautiful White Christmas and it just so happened that while we were admiring the snow in the morning we saw 8 deer outside (maybe Santa's "reindeer"???)!!  It was a picture perfect Christmas morning!

Ever since Hudson went to London's 1st Dr.'s appointment with me, he has loved pretending to be a doctor.  Santa must have known about this because he brought Hudson a doctor kit.  Here he is giving Daddy a shot!  The kit contained a pair of play scissors so Dr. Hudson always gives you a haircut with every check-up!

Hudson and London made Papa & Gigi a stepping stone with their handprint/footprint to put in their garden.  Here is Hudson helping Gigi open it!

Hudson got his 1st digital camera!  He has already taken pictures of every single toy in his toy room!

Hudson's description of Santa