A Game of Possum & Potty Time!

Hello!  This is Hayden's Mom writing a quick entry to capture a couple of funny stories about Hayden recently and hope you enjoy them.  Hopefully Hayden will actually post!

On Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, I had run to the store quick and Richard or Dad was at home with the boys.  Hudson was sleeping and Rich/Dad went to put Hayden to bed for the night.  At first Rich/Dad thought all had gone well as they read books, did prayers and after a few moments Rich/Dad thought Hayden was asleep so left the room & shut the door.  After a few moments Rich/Dad heard something so went back to the room and sure enough Hayden was not asleep and actually snuck out of bed & was starting to get a toy out.  Rich/Dad put Hayden back to bed, waited until he thought was asleep and again left the room.  A few moments later Rich/Dad again heard a noise from Hayden's room so went to check on him.  Sure enough Hayden had been up playing in his room & when Rich/Dad opened the door he was trying to sneak back into bed before getting caught!  He didn't make it all the way so he laid where he was, closed his eyes and pretended to be sleeping.  As Rich/Dad calls it this is Hayden's new game of possum!  We're in trouble now!

As I'm sure Hayden told you Hayden has been staying at home with me for "Mommycare" while I'm on leave from work.  During our time together we've been working on all sorts of things including learning to count to 3 and now working on counting to 5.  By Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, Hayden pretty much got 1, 2, 3 down however has been a little inconsistent.  On the morning of the 23rd Hayden was being a little mischievous and I told him if he did not stop what he was doing he would be put in a time out.  He stopped, looked at me and continued.  I said on the count of 3 if you do not stop you will be placed in timeout.  Well I said 1 and then the little stinker proceeded to say 1, 2, 3, smile and the again, continue what he was doing laughing this time.  Some how I think in that moment he knew he was too smart for his own good!  He did get a timeout too!

We also wanted to quick note & thank the good Lord for the amazing weather we're having.  Today, Dec. 28th we went to the park again and enjoyed the good weather.  It has been a strange month to be able to play outside, go to the park, etc due to great, fall like weather.  Snow can be fun but almost 40 degrees in December is awesome.  We are doing our best to really enjoy it.

Finally, as you may know Hayden has begun to be a little interested in the potty and on Dec. 27th & Dec. 28th we had a some big moments - Hayden actually sitting on the potty.  Granted nothing happened each time however actually showing interest & wanting to sit on it and just tyring are big moments to us.  As we told him practice makes perfect so we'll keep trying until we get it.  Way to go Hayden, we're proud of you!

Hudson's First Smile!

On the night of Dec. 26th going into Tues., Dec. 27th Hudson slept 5.5 hours which is almost sleeping through the night!  Basically he's dropped his 1 or 2 a.m. feeding and is sleeping until between 5 to 6 a.m.  I think Mom & Dad are pretty excited!  The bigger news is on Tuesday, Dec. 27th Hudson socially smiled for the first time around 11 a.m. - not a gas smile!  He did it several times during three separate occasions throughout the day.  Although it happened so fast we couldn't capture the first smile on camera here's one of his later smiles which Dad & Mom think was his Christmas present to our family.  How beautiful!

Our Sergeant Christmas

On Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, we woke up to have breakfast with Uncle Jared and Aunt Ashley before getting ready for Grandma & Grandpa Sergeant and Uncle Byron to arrive for our last Christmas.  Here's Grandpa Scott meeting Hudson for the first time - what a great Christmas present!

After their arrival we finished getting a large feast ready & had lunch.  Then presents!  I loved present time as not only did I get to open my gifts but everyone let me help open theirs too!  I had such a fun time.  Some of my favorite presents I got was a truck that hauls logs, lots of John Deere stuff including a truck & tractor set, a learning globe and this cool interactive bus that will help me learn to spell.

Here's everyone at Christmas and me in the middle running around helping everyone!

Grandma got Uncle Jared, Grandpa Scott & Uncle Byron matching Sergeant Grillmaster shirts she found on a trip; after all they are all "Sergeant's"!

Here's me helping Grandma open our gift to her.  I even helped wrap it and decorate it with stickers!

Hudson got some cool gifts too including a personalized piggy bank below, lots of John Deere stuff including John Deere cowboy boots, diapers and books and DVD's to share with me.

Here's Dad, Hudson, Mom & me with Hudsons' new cowboy boots!

I was really excited about a truck DVD that Great Uncle Jeff & Aunt Becky gave me which Uncle Jared helped me put it in & play it which then I wasn't much interested in Christmas anymore!

Hudson slept through most of it too but did get a really cool Winnie-the-Pooh  baby scrapbook.

The best and last present of the day was to Hudson & I from Grandma & Grandpa - a Ferrari!  Yep, they got us our very own battery powered Ferrari from Cars 2 Movie.  I think Dad & my Uncles were just as excited as I was.  If you haven't seen the movie the car's name is Francesco Bernoulli who races against Lighting in the movie.  So cool!

Here I am ready to race except they have to finish putting him together first!

Here's Hudson & I with Grandpa & Grandma.

Here we are with Uncle Byron, Uncle Jared & Aunt Ashley - all the "kids".

We had such a fun day and after everyone left I was a little tuckered out and took over a 3.5 hour nap!  I think even Dad and Mom napped a little too!  Thank you again to everyone for such a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas!

On behalf of the Prestegard family we want to officially introduce Hudson and spread love & cheer to you and yours this holiday season.  Here is Hudson's birth announcement / our holiday card.  Merry Christmas!

On the morning of Sunday, December 25, 2011, Hudson's 1st Christmas morning.  He's wearing 1st Christmas fleece P.J.'s and slept over 5 hours during the night!

Here I am having Christmas breakfast with my fun Santa mug from daycare.  I'm also wearing holiday PJ's with Santa on them that I got for my 2nd birthday.  Dad & Mom picked them out because they looked like little men's PJ's that button down and have a pocket in front in everything.  Very handsome.

When we woke up Christmas morning we had breakfast and then got to open presents from Santa and each other!  Some of the favorite things I got was a new wooden truck & trailer, a rug that has roads on it so I can "drive" in the house, a "Cy" pillow pet and a new John Deere DVD!  I can't wait to watch it!

Dad & I each got new Cyclone stocking caps and Dad even got a matching scarf.  Here's us sporting our new hats and even Hudson has one so we'll have to get a picture of the three of us at some point!

Dad thought it would be cute to give Mom a "Mommy Day" with gift certificates to some favorite places like getting a pedicure, etc from her 4 Amigos (*Dad, Hudson, Kato & me) in which Dad & I put a picture of us together.  Yep, we put our heads on the bodies of the 3 Amigos movie poster!  Here's Hudson, me and Mom showing our really good artwork off!  Very funny!

Hudson got some fun gifts as well like his first ornament, a book of bedtime prayers and his first Cyclone book.  He had to get something Iowa State since Dad, Kato & I did too!

Santa even came for Kato!  He got some dog treats, a new Cyclone collar and as you can see here a new chew toy which he dug into right away.  Kato was a very happy doggy after all his treats.

Here's Mom & Hudson with one of his big gifts an archive box.  It's engraved with his name and birth information and filled with newspapers, magazines, etc from the date he was born and we'll add other keepsakes to it like baby booties, hat from hospital, etc.  I have one too & I think they are very special.

I even gave Dad & Mom something for Christmas and even made my own wrapping paper!  At daycare we created a counting book using our fingerprints for the animals.  Here's the front of the book:

The book counts from 1 to 10 & also has colors.  The hope is we'll read it together to assist me with learning my numbers, animals and colors.  Mom & Dad loved it and we read it right away.  Here's the number 9 with 9 thumb prints that make up the bees.  My teachers helped me make it pretty but I think I did pretty good!

Here's Hudson's first Christmas outfit!

After breakfast and presents at home we got ready to go to Great Aunt Patty & Uncle Butch's house for Christmas lunch.  We had a great time playing with cousins and hanging out with family.  We were also blessed to have a four generations picture of Grandma Judy's side of the family.  Here's Dad with Hudson, Grandma Judy, Grandpa Allen, Great Grandpa Albert, me & Great Grandma Betty.  Good looking group!

One of my second cousins got Dance Party 3 for Wii and the best present of the day was watching Uncle Butch dance!  Here he is racking up the points.  We also got video but we'll save that for later!

Afterwards we met Aunt Ashley and Uncle Jared at our house to hang out before the Sergeant Christmas tomorrow.  This was the first time for them meeting Hudson and here's a great picture of me, Aunt Ashley & Hudson.  I was praticing saying "Chzzz".

That evening our good friends Alan & Sarah Meyer stopped by on their way to their family's Christmas to meet Hudson and hang out.  This was an extra special treat since they moved to San Fransisco.  We had such a fun night and an awesome Christmas.  Thank you everyone & hope you have a Merry Christmas too!

Hudson is 1 Month Old!

On Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, Hudson turned 1 month old!  His first month has been filled with nothing but firsts; i.e. he has had his first car ride, first stroller ride, first time home, first time to church, first holiday - Christmas, first bath, first feedings, first time meeting family & friends, first doctor appointment, etc.  Within his first month he has learned to nurse and become somewhat on a feeding schedule, has begun to focus and follow objects if you go slow & hold them close to his eyes, and is very strong.  He is able to hold his head up for a few seconds at a time and even turn it from side to side to look around.  He is able to lift his head and turn side to side even when he's on his tummy.  He still sleeps most of the time however has become more alert at times and consistently alert sometime between 7 to 11 p.m.  Mom says this way he can hang out with our entire family as that is when Dad is home too!  We feel so blessed to have Hudson join our family this past month and can't imagine what our lives were like before him.  We love you Hudson!

One month old picture with his personalized one month tie - what a handsome guy!

1 month old on Christmas Day and of course when Santa comes!  Here's his Christmas Eve outfit.

Here he is in his Christmas Day outfit.  He got two "My 1st Christmas" bibs which are so cute, "My 1st Christmas" hat and his shirt says, "What Santa Doesn't Bring Me Grandma Will" which in my experience is very true - thanks Grandma's!  Happy 1 Month Old Hudson!

Christmas Eve

Today, Dec. 24th we had a relaxing day at home getting ready for Christmas and just playing.  Hudson and I even napped together which as you can see is pretty cute!

As it's Hudson's first Christmas Eve here is his holiday outfit with "My First Christmas Bib".  Notice the Santa feet and under the bib it says, "Santa's Favorite".  I would amend to "One of Santa's Favorites!"

We met Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard at 4:30 p.m. church service and then headed to their house for Prestegard Christmas and an awesome dinner.  It was really fun to play with my Cousin Hannah and even more fun to introduce Hudson to Aunt Jenni, Uncle Kyle & Cousin Hannah and see Great Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard again too.  Here's me opening my first present from Grandma & Grandpa and it was a truck!  A waste management garbage truck that is almost as big as me!

We gave Hannah some girl stuff and also her very own namesake necklace.  She's so grown up now!

Here's me showing Great Grandma & Grandpa my new truck - how cool!

Here's Dad, Mom & Hudson opening his first present which was a cute outfit from Grandma & Grandpa.

Aunt Jenni, Uncle Kyle & Cousin Hannah gave me a blow-up Thomas the Train to ride!  It is so fun and Hannah and I had a blast riding it around the house chasing one another.  It even plays music & makes fun train sounds.  I can't wait to get it home to chase Kato with it!

Hudson got hungry before dessert so Grandpa fed him with Hannah's help.  Very cute.

It was nice to get a four generations photo of the Prestegard side.  You can see Dad, me, Great Grandpa Omar & Great Grandma Alice, Grandpa Allen and Hudson.  What a handsome bunch.

Here's Hannah holding Hudson with my supervision of course.  I am pretty protective of my baby.  What fun to have all the Prestegard cousins together!

After dessert we headed home to put cookies & milk out for Santa and go to bed.  I know Santa is coming as you can tell from my shirt I'm "On Santa's Nice List"!  Sweet dreams everyone.

Hudson Meets Santa & His 1st Party

On Tues., Dec. 20th Mom & I got ready for my daycare holiday party on Wed., the 21st.  We started by making sugar cookies for my teachers and then we went to Blue Earth to get a gift for my Santa exchange.  Here's me helping Mom frost and decorate the cookies.  We made stars, trees, stockings and gingerbread men.  I loved decorating because I could eat some of the frosting and decorations too!

I really enjoyed using the sprinkle shaker and Mom was impressed with how controlled I was with it.

Best part of making cookies is getting to eat some when we're all done!

Hudson had a fun day by getting a bath and trying on one of his holiday outfits.  This one is from Aunt Audra and Uncle Adam.  Isn't his hat, says "Baby's 1st Christmas", really cute?

On Wed., Dec. 21st Mom & Hudson met our good friend Stacy Grunden and her daughter Olivia who is just about 6 weeks older than Hudson.  Katelyn, like me, was in daycare so it was just the four of them for a fun outing and to introduce Hudson to Santa.  This trip was Hudson's first time in a stroller!  Hudson's outfit said, "Baby's 1st Christmas" and even had a fuzzy beard on Santa!

Here are some of Hudson's proofs:

This one below is the one we went with:

On Wed., the 21st I spent the day at daycare because of our holiday celebration.  I had a lot of fun opening my secret Santa present in which I got the Curious George Memory Game that I wanted to play but they told me I had to wait.  Darn!  The teachers gave us gifts too.  We got a Santa cup:

And we got a Clifford book too!  I really enjoyed our party and goodies.  What a fun day!

Mom & Hudson picked me up early from daycare to meet Dad at home to get ready for our neighbors annual Winter's Eve party - Hudson's 1st party!  It was fun to see Grandma & Grandpa there and a few others I've met before.  I really enjoyed all their goodies and Dorothy & Gary took good care of me and I got a bunch of trucks to play with while I was there.  They also gave me a really fun puzzle for Christmas and I really enjoyed playing with that too.  Happy Winter's Eve!  Hudson must have been worn out from the party because that night he slept almost 5 hours straight!  Dad & Mom seemed pretty excited about that!

On Thurs., Dec. 22nd Grandpa Mark brought Great Grandma Mary & Grandpa Richard to meet Hudson and celebrate Christmas again.  I was pretty excited when they pulled up and screamed through the window at them!  Dad even came home from work to have lunch with us.  For Christmas Grandpa Richard made me my very own wooden truck - what a special present.  I gave Grandpa some of his favorite candies and even helped him open his present!

Here's Grandpa & Hudson - he really liked his shirt that said, "What Santa Doesn't Bring Me Grandma Will".

The neat thing was that we got a four generations picture of Great Grandma & Grandpa with Grandpa Mark, Hudson & me.  Pretty amazing to have everyone there!

During the afternoon of the 22nd at Mommycare Mom & I made snowman ornaments for all my grandparents.  It was a lot of fun as mostly made of strong stickers and I enjoyed putting them on the snowman & saying what each sticker was, i.e. "hat", "shoes", etc.  I thought they turned out great & can't wait to start the rest of the Christmases tomorrow!