Happy 7th Birthday Hudson!!

My first born is 7 today.  How on earth did we get here so fast??  This week we have been taking a trip down memory lane watching so many of our home videos beginning when Hudson was born.  Last night we were watching and I just could not hold back the tears.  Becoming Hudson's mommy truly is one of those moments in my life that completely changed me.  As in the me before that day would never, ever be the same.  I can remember Matt and I wondering how we were going to do it---it meaning parenting.----7 years later we are still figuring it out.  HA!  I saw a video of our young 24 year old selves and thinking we sure looked like we had no business being married much less having a baby.  :)  We really did look like two kids...especially Matt.  It's so funny to think back on those early days of first time parenting.  How it took Matt 45 minutes to change a diaper.  (not really, but close).  How getting out of the house with a baby seemed so overwhelming to me that every possible 'what if' went through my mind that it nearly kept me from doing anything.  I can remember wondering how on earth people had more than 1 child.  I can remember changing Hudson's diaper one time and his newborn poop shot clear across to the other wall....and don't get me started on baby boys and their tee tee.  I was tee teed on plenty of times....I learned quick that with those baby boy diapers you have gotta be QUICK and have everything ready to go before you open that diaper up.  :)  We have SO MUCH video of Hudson as a baby doing absolutely NOTHING....but at the time we thought it was worth documenting and was the cutest thing we had ever seen (and it really was).  I can't help but laugh when I think back to Hudson's first year.  One thing is for sure though, Matt and I had a blast with our baby boy.  Those are such sweet memories of just the 3 of us. 

I love seeing his sweet face on the day he was born, hearing his newborn cry on the videos, & hearing everyone ooooh and ahhhh over him.  Hudson gave everyone in both Matt's family and my own a new name.  He was the first grandchild on both sides, great-grandchild for some, he made our sister's aunts, and my brother an UNK.  No child has ever had so many pictures taken of him---ever.  You could not deny the joy of that day when you watch those videos.  Precious, precious times.

Hudson at 7---He is such an interesting child, and keeps us on our toes.  He is so smart and so funny. Such a thinker that boy.  He has a memory like no one I have ever known.  He never forgets a face or a name.  He LOVES history.  I mean loves it with a passion.  Right now he is obsessed with learning about the presidents from the very beginning.  He loves to know all types of facts about their time in office.  How long they were in office, who the VP and first lady was, what happened while they were president...etc.  He also loves Texas history.  The Alamo is his favorite.  He is dying to go to Washington DC and go to every possible museum, see the Whitehouse, tour the Capitol, and visit all of the monuments.  He loves museums and is the type that wants every single thing read to him before moving on to the next.  He is the type of child you cannot say "I don't know to."  He wants to know the facts.  Google is our friend around here.  His questions about the Bible and God are almost scary at times because in all honesty Matt and I can look at each other and have no clue how to answer him.  We do our best, but they are questions that we, at 31 years old, have never even asked.  I believe with all of my heart that God has big, big plans for this boy of ours.  He is such a unique 7 year old, and I love everything about him.  I cannot wait to see what he becomes one day. 

Hudson is really into basketball right now.  Mini and Papa got him a cool bball goal for his birthday.  He has a had a lot of fun shooting hoops with his dad and his friends.  He also loves our new trampoline.  The kids have had a big time in the backyard lately.

Hudson is and has always been a daddy's boy.  He looooves his daddy and thinks that Matt is the absolute greatest thing that has ever lived.  Their bond is so tight.  Matt is so patient with Hudson and listens to him and answers his questions and plays whatever Hudson wants to play pretty much whenever Hudson asks.  I am so thankful that our boys have a man like Matt to call their daddy and look up to.  There is no greater man in my eyes.  Matt doesn't care what his children are into and doesn't push certain things that he loves onto them.  If his kids love it, then Matt will love it too.  He is their biggest fan.

Hudson is such a great big brother and loves being the oldest in our family.  He is such a goof and can make Harper and Holton roll with laughter.  Holton loooves his bubba.  Huddy loves that he is 1 of 3 boys.  He thinks it's sooo cool we have a house of boys.  He and Harper can flat get into some squabbles, but when we are going somewhere or doing something they are the first to ask, "is Harper going too?" or "is bubba going to be there?"  They love each other and really do have such a sweet bond.  I know she thinks he hung the moon.

Hudson's 7 year old Q&A:

How old are you?
7
What makes you happy?
going to Disney World, and doing stuff that is fun.
What is your favorite animal?
Tasmanian Devil
What is your favorite thing to eat?
fettuccine alfredo
What is your least favorite thing to eat?

vegetables that I don't like and sometimes colored icing and sometimes salad

What is your favorite thing to do?
 just fun stuff.
What is your favorite TV show?
 GI JOES
What are you really good at?
 basketball---not really good at it yet, but I'm good.
What is your favorite song?
 Anything Elvis or the Beatles
What is your favorite movie?
 Madagascar 1, 2, 3, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Karate Kid
What is your favorite color?

 green

Who is your best friend?
James and Thomas and Aiden from my class
What do you like to do with them?
 play outside
What do you like to do with your mommy?
 I liked when we went to see Mary Poppins at the Majestic together.
What do you like to do with your daddy?
 go to Rampage games, and Spurs games, and Cowboy games...and go to his work.
What is your favorite sport?

 basketball, baseball, and football

Where is your favorite place to go out to eat?
 Olive Garden and La Madeleine
What is your favorite book?
 Chapter books and books about history.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
 The President, or an Army guy---probably both
What makes you special?
 that I have 2 little brothers and a sister and I'm the oldest.
What do your mommy and daddy love most about you?
they love me to the stars.

7 years ago I had no idea what kind of little boy that sweet baby would become.  I pray everyday that our children love the Lord and choose to follow Him.  I pray that God has a mighty plan in store for them and that they are obedient to His calling in their lives.  But most importantly I pray that God uses Matt and I as their parents to help them become who He created them to be, and not what we want them to be.  I am so proud of my 7 year old.  I love him so much it hurts.  I had no idea 7 years ago that he would be our first of 4 children, and 1 of 3 boys.  I am so thankful for my sweet boy who at 7 will still cuddle with his mama and still sleeps with is 'bay'.  He is one of the greatest joys of my heart.

I love love love you my sweet Huddy bud!!  You are one of the dearest parts of my life.