Uh Oh!

Hudson has a new word!

Park Day

Yesterday, the kids and I went up to the pretty park nearby again,

We met up with my friend Rebekah and her daughter, Laura. Jasmine and Laura spent the entire time running,

Only occasionally pausing for breath

Hudson thought the purpose of the trip was to taste new things, namely tiny stones, pine needles, sticks and cigarette butts.

Bekah was playing with the girls until she ended up getting one foot wet. Then she did her own thing, throwing tiny stones into the pond
and being really cute :)

Birthday Boy

I can hardly believe it's been a full year since Hudson was born. Remember my emotionally unstable pregnancy, with four weeks of labor threatening, and 4 trips to the hospital just to get labor to quit again (two of those trips after my water had started to break)...and then ending up needing to be induced because it just didn't want to really start??
I'm very glad to be on this side of it.

And now...
He walks. He's starting to get close to a run, or at least a trot. If I'm walking behind him, I don't have to slow down to risk trampling him (just have to make my strides smaller). He's got a handful of words ("nurse" being his new one: it's now "nana" instead of "mmmm"). He has a fantastic sense of humor. And he's showing signs of being very intelligent, and seeing things in a different way from his sisters.
And he loves us. Sure, there are times when I wish I could get a couple hours away from him, but I know the separation anxiety will soon be a thing of the past, and I don't want to wish away all the sweet parts about this time in his life.

So happy birthday, sweet Hudson Tyler! We are so incredibly blessed to have you in our lives!

Honesty

(warning: this is one of those write-as-I-think-of-it posts, not well thought-out at all!)



This week I was a part of something political, for the first time in my life (well, other than voting). It was so exciting to see others who agree with us! It was invigorating and just awesome. The kids had a great time being a part of it, too!

But it made me think more about myself.

One of my goals in life is to make people around me comfortable and happy. It's not an insecurity on my part...I just enjoy seeing other people happy. In return, though, I really don't want to be made uncomfortable. I don't need people to do what I do, but don't appreciate it when people attack me for my beliefs.

So I am very quiet about things I know most people disagree with. Even on occasions when I know I'm not in the minority, I still avoid it. It's one thing to write a post about how much how much I love Wegmans, which was fun but really not controversial (unless someone who reads this is pro-Tops ;) ), it's another thing entirely to write about our choice to have a home birth or to homeschool.

And you know what? I really don't see myself changing anytime soon. Sure, it feels good to have a twitter account where I'm more outspoken politically, and I love having groups of friends I can open up to about nursing in public. But for the most part, I'm fine keeping those thoughts quiet around the general public.

I found out a few months ago, that if you're open to talking about it, I will talk to you about things that are more controversial. I will be polite and respectful, and I need the same from you. Don't come to me trying to convert me to your line of thinking, though. If I honestly am looking for how I feel, I'll let you know that. But even then, if I feel like you're trying too hard to convert me, I'll shut down completely! Pushiness is very unattractive to me.

Which is why I don't push myself on others, as well. Even though my heart breaks thinking about people who don't know Jesus, knowing that they need him, I just pray for them and try to keep the lines of communication open. It's just not in my makeup to evangelize. I couldn't try to sell at JoAnn's, I couldn't convince people to try samples of bread products at Wegmans, and I can't walk up to someone and say "do you know where you're spending eternity?" Definitely different levels of importance, but all are things I'm uncomfortable with and watch enviously as people like my brother can just jump in and talk comfortably with anyone!

Finishing the Month

~I love that Josh doesn't do April Fool's Day jokes, because I've always hated the day.

~We found the cemetery where some of Josh's more "famous" family is buried, including a Revolutionary War patriot!! Very, very cool.

~it's APRIL!!!

~I get to share my birthday with Easter again this year. Last time (in 1999) was a flop, so I'm hopeful that this time around will be better (I know it will).

~I'm celebrating my birthday by taking three days off of the computer. As in, I'm unplugging the router and modem. And we're going to get out and get more pictures and visit Grandma Hudson.

~it's GORGEOUS!!!!! Sunny and 70s and perfect! I love spring!

~My girls love to dress up! (these are their Easter clothes, photo shoot attempt one)

(too bad Hudson isn't so sure...)