Hayden a Sleepwalker?!

This is Hayden's Mom here and just a fun story to document on our little guy...On Sunday, Feb. 26th going into Monday, Feb. 27th Hayden got up about 2 a.m. and ventured into the living room where he proceeded to get a book, sit down in his chair, and "read" it.  After a few moments he then set the book down & played with a few trucks for a couple of minutes and then walked right back to his room, climbed into bed and went back to sleep!  Richard, Hayden's Dad, watched the whole thing and not once did Hayden notice he was there!  We may have a sleepwalker on our hands but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what he does next!  We know he loves trucks & tractors however this is taking dreaming of them to a new level!  Oh, Hayden!

Almost a First Full Week Back...

On Tues., Feb. 21st Hudson & I each had a great day at daycare.  Hudson got to meet Mom's new boss, Jill, at lunchtime and was a huge hit as he flirted with her the whole time!  Hudson also really enjoyed one of bouncer seats and learned he could kick the octopus on it.  He thought it was pretty funny.  I got to enjoy some outdoor play and found a boxedler bug!  I had lots of squeals as we watched it and got to touch it.  We also painted today which I was only half interested in but it didn't turn out too bad:

On Wed., Feb. 22nd I got to try fresh lemon juice which I got to help squeeze.  It was delicious.  Hudson got pretty excited when Mom stopped by at lunch again and this time with work friend, Michelle.  He kept cooing and talking all day about the visit!  After daycare Dad & Mom picked us up to attend Ash Wednesday Mass and Hudson got his first ashes!  I rubbed my ashes off right away but Hudson did pretty good leaving his on.  After mass we had a fish dinner & even stopped for shakes!   By the time we got home Hudson had most of his ashes gone but you can still see a little bit:

On Thurs., Feb. 23rd Hudson slept the morning away after our big night & even slept again after his morning bottle!  The daycare ladies think he's such a sweet boy.  In the morning at daycare I got to play with string and make mittens and of course I picked my favorite color blue as one of my colored strings!  I love playing with glue.

By 10:30 a.m. I wasn't feeling so hot and my temp was up to 101.  Mom came and got me and took me to the doctor to find out what was wrong.  After a couple of hours of tests they confirmed I tested positive for RSV.  RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a respiratory virus that has cold like symptoms but can lead to serious lung infections, etc.  Dad picked me up so Mom could return to work and I got put on antibiotics and sentenced to home & bed.  Since RSV is highly contagious Mom picked Hudson up from daycare and took him to Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard's to stay until my fever & cough broke.  By Sat., Feb. 25th my fever was starting to lift and I was starting to feel loads better.  Hudson seemed to be enjoying all the love at Grandma & Grandpa's house and even got to hang out with Great Aunt Patty, Great Grandma Betty and Great Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard on the 25th!  By late night on the 25th Hudson started coughing a bit but no temp so we thought ok.  Today, on Feb. the 26th I was pretty much back to normal so Mom picked Hudson up in the morning to bring him home.  By mid-morning Hudson and Dad were both running temperatures and had coughs!  No church this Sunday.  For the rest of the day all us boys were pretty much resting and Mom was taking care of us.  Hudson goes to the doctor tomorrow so we'll see what next steps are...

1st Day of Daycare!

Today was Hudson's 1st day of daycare & my first day with my little brother!  Hudson seemed excited too as he was wide awake in the morning ready and raring to go!  Here he is in his new Carter's outfit (*from Uncle Adam & Aunt Audra - can you believe he's already in 6 months at 2 months?!).  Look at him, all smiles:

On our first day we were doing pretty good and only running a little late.  Here we are all ready to go; do you like Hudson's new aviator hat?  It's pretty cold in the morning so I usually get to take my blankie with me; introducing Brownie Love Blanket.  Dad helped me nickname it.

Hudson all bundled up and no clue what's in store!

As today is President's Day the staff is limited so Hudson got to join me in the gym until everyone arrived.  Here's Ms. Linda (*my regular teacher) taking him until one of his teacher's takes him to his room.  I must admit when it was time to go to our individual classrooms I was pretty upset when they took my brother from me.  I didn't want him out of my sight and actually followed him to his room.  They just didn't understand that Dad had told me it was my new job to look out for him and I took my new role seriously.  After a bit I decided it was safe and agreed to go back to my room but I am keeping an eye on things.  Apparently Mom learned of the story and all the teachers thought it was pretty cute.

Here's Hudson's classroom; the Sweet Peas Room:

Here's their lunchroom where he'll eat once he starts on real food.  As you can see their is sign language on the wall which we start to learn in the Sweet Pea's Room.  Typically kids stay in this room until they are about one or so.

Here's one of the nap rooms; Hudson's bed is the second from the left with the blue blanket.

Here's Hudson's first and very own basket!

We each had a great first full time day back.  I enjoyed using my hands & eyes to throw the light-up ball in the gym.  It was fun learning to bounce it different directions and try to catch it.  Hudson had a good first day which included a lunchtime visit from Mom & her pervious boss, Shari.  He also enjoyed looking in the mirror and smiling.  He was a hit with the staff as such a happy, smilely boy and he was wore out by the time we got home as you can see!

Welcome to Little Giants Hudson!

February Frolics

On Wed., Feb. 15th we had a sad day as it was our last official day of Mommycare as Mom heads back to work on the 20th!  We enjoyed lots of extra hugs, cuddle time and activities however we'll miss being at home with Mom and we know she'll be missing us.  On Thurs., Feb. 16th I got to go to daycare to prepare for my first ever concert in the evening!  We did some extra song practice but the best part of my day was finding puddles outside and splashing in them!  I was a little bummed to see the snowman we made had melted but perked right up to jump in his puddle remains!  Hudson had a great day with Mom (*their last day at home just the two of them) practicing sitting up and working on holding his head up at tummy time.  Looking good Hudson:

Dad, Mom, Hudson & Grandma/Grandpa Prestegard met me after daycare to take a tour and participate in our February Frolics.  We hosted a bake sale, book sale and art show in the gym to raise money to update our toddler playground.  I'm pretty proud of my artwork and I can now say I'm a real artist as all I made was sold!  Ok, so maybe Grandma & Grandpa and Mom & Dad bought it but as you can see I have real potential:

Learned to swirl paint and mix colors all by myself!  Here's me as a snowman and sitting down in my puddle as the poem suggests:

This year's theme was "...a child reaches for your hand & touches your heart!"  Here are my hand prints that go with the poem.

At 6:00 p.m. all the toddlers performed in the lunch area in front of all our parents, family & friends (*we were in the middle of their large circle).  We did lots of actions with our songs and even had a few props.  We sang some of our favorites which included "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "Ba Ba Black Sheep", "Skidamarink", "ABC Song", "Snowman Song", "Shake Shake Shake Song", etc.  Here I am shaking it away:

Here's our group and I'm off to the left:

Of course during the sit down portion of the performance I sat down by my good friend, Ava Oswald, which I'm sure our parents thought was adorable!  Here we are & Ava's on my right.

We had an excellent performance and everyone was really proud of me.  I didn't even get mad when one of my buddies stole my chair during the performance I just walked over and picked up another chair and brought it back!  Everyone was pleased with my problem solving skills!  Afterwards we all went to Double Play to celebrate my performance and I sat in a big boy seat - no more highchairs for me! 

On Fri., Feb. 17th we had special visitors!  Mom's good friends Emily & Kelly came down from the Cities with lunch and their boys Max and Miller & Jameson.  It was an excellent play date and I had a ton of fun.  Hopefully we can do it again soon!  We then had a relaxing evening at home although after I went to bed Hudson got to be up with our friends the Hansen's who came over for movie night.  Don't feel too bad for me for missing out I needed my rest for on Sat., Feb. 18th I got to go to Grandma Judy's house to have a play date with my Cousin Hannah!  I was pretty tuckered out when Mom & Hudson came to pick me up.  I love Hannah and always have so much fun.  Here's Hannah hanging out with Hudson when they came to pick me up:

Our fun weekend didn't end there!  On Sun., Feb. 19th after church we met Uncle Jared for breakfast as he was driving through town on his way home to Sioux Falls, SD.  He brought me the coolest orange snow plow I have not let out of my sight; even took it to nap time with me!  Hudson a Twinkle & Learn Tambourine which lights up and plays music and is pretty cool too.  Uncle Jared is the best because at breakfast I got scrambled eggs and after I was done with mine Uncle Jared let me eat his.  He even let me eat some more after we ordered him another order!  Did I meant I love eggs!  After nap we went to Mankato to run some errands; I got to go with Dad to the tractor store and then we went to the indoor jungle gym.  I had a blast and was pretty wore out as I slept part of the way home.  Hudson hung out with Mom and got some fun stuff to wear but definitely not as cool as going to the tractor supply store.  What a big, fun week!  I am sad Mom goes to work tomorrow but it will be exciting showing off my baby brother to everyone at daycare.  Can't wait!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  This morning we had lovely breakfast of coffee cake and my new favorite, scrambled eggs!  Afterwards I went to daycare for my first Valentine's Day party.  We exchanged Valentine's, had special treats and played fun music.  Mom & Hudson had a nice morning hanging out at home.  After nap Mom & Hudson picked me up to go to Mankato for my ear check with the ENT specialist.  The good news is my tubes are still in place however the bad news is when I have a cold they have a hard time keeping up with necessary drainage.  So now I get to use these fun drops as needed to help clear the path and assist with pressure.  The best news of the visit - it was quick!  Afterwards we picked up Dad's favorite pizza for dinner and met him at home.  Hudson and I both wore special Valentine's Day shirts and even posed for the camera:

I love my brother!

One of our super secret projects during Mommycare (*while Mom was on leave from work) was making Valentine Day frames for my loved ones.  We then put a picture of Hudson and I in them and mailed them off.  Here's me working on them one early morning in January.

Mom was impressed with how creative I got with the heart placement.  The frames were fun to make and also helped to teach me the shape of heart as well as work on colors red, pink & white.

Of course we made a special frame to go along with Dad's Valentine's Day gifts and here he is showing it off!

Here are some of my first Valentine's from my first ever Valentine's Day party.  Notice Ava & her parents made me the cute heart to your left and my buddy Jack & his parents made us homemade heart crayons which is on the bottom right.  I handed out Valentine cars of course which you can see here - the coolest part is you blow up the attached balloon & they go flying!

Dad & Mom treated me to some new truck & tractor sticker books as well as some construction lace up cards.  I was pretty pumped for all my transportation stuff!

Hudson got a personalized "Who Loves Hudson" book that he helped Mom hold up!  He just keeps getting better and better with his hands.

Us boys did good and brought Mom home "cyclone" (*red & yellow) roses; she loved them.  What a great day; we hope you had a very Happy Valentine's Day too!

To Waterloo & Jesup, IA!

On Thurs., Feb. 9th Hudson & I headed to Waterloo, IA with Mom for Hudson's first trip to Grandma & Grandpa Sergeant's.  We both slept the whole way and it was fun to wake up at their house on Fri., Feb. 10th.  After breakfast Grandma, Mom, Hudson & I made a special trip to the Phelps Youth Pavilion in downtown Waterloo and what fun we had!  Most of their exhibits are centered around art and famous artists however they had so much to see and do.  Here's Grandma Anne and us at the entrance.

Here's Mom & I pretending to be American Gothic or the most farm Dad & daughter in the world, although, we got it a little backwards!

Here I am drawing and having fun...

There latest exhibit is called Mini Masters which is a mini-golf course all based on art.  Here's Grandma and I playing the Andy Warhol hole and I must say pretty good.  Very fitting that we play golf when visiting Grandma & Grandpa Sergeant given how much the Sergeant's love to play!

Here's me playing the Georges Seurat Impressionism/Pointillism hole of "Sunday in the Park".  Other holes included Monet, Picasso, Pippin and Munch.  Pretty cool to be part of the art!

Hudson and my favorite exhibit was the farm one of course.  With a cow you could milk and actually mowed, hay bales you could load & lift, and a tractor that was hooked up to a computer screen so when you turned the wheel it looked like the scenery changed.  Pretty awesome.

Grandma Anne helped me draw a picture for Hudson and me.  Other favorites was the children's dress up theater & stage, school house, farmer's market and large building blocks.  Highly recommend you visit and play too!  Afterwards we had lunch at the Screamin' Eagle and I made Grandma & Mom laugh when Hudson began to cry a little bit I openly mocked him with rubbing my eyes and doing a fake cry.  Apparently I'm growing up with a mind of my own & showing some personality.

After a big nap Great Uncle Brian & Aunt Debbie showed up to play.  We had a great time and I enjoyed hamming it up for them.

Great Grandma Shirley came over for dinner and some cuddle time with each of us.

On Saturday, Feb. 11th we got to introduce Hudson to Mom's other Mom, Jane Demmer.  We also stopped by Great Grandma & Grandpa Vogel's house for some fun play time.  We then had lunch with Grandma Dawn & some fun play time with Great Grandma & Grandpa Kress.  After a big nap I got to play with Aunt Rayann before Grandpa Mark babysat me while Mom, Hudson and Grandma Dawn went to a special remembernce service for Great Grandpa Pete in Raymond.  I had a blast with Grandpa wrestling on the mat he got for Hudson and I.  Although I think Grandpa has more fun pushing me around at this point; just wait Grandpa you better look out!

Here's all four of us wrestling on our new mat and notice the Blue Earth Buc colors?!  On Sun., Feb. 12th we got to meet and play with Great Uncle Kurt, Aunt Yvette and cousins Autumn and Andrea.  Autumn even taught me how to race and count down to "Ready, Set, Go!"  I had a ton of fun and it was fun for Hudson to meet more of our family.  Although I must say I was pretty pumped when we headed for home during my nap and woke up to see Dad!

Today, Feb. 13th I woke up not feeling so hot and had a hard night sleeping due to my ears.  We had a Valentine's Day lunch date with Grandma Judy so instead we went to the doctor together to get my ears checked.  They gave us some drops to help with the blockage but no infection just my tubes can't keep up with my drainage.  Afterwards we had ice cream with Grandma Judy and even got some early Valentine's Day presents.  I love my Cars shirt and I know Hudson will look super cute in his new gray jumper!  The fun part of the day was showing off how Hudson is starting to really use his hands and even playing with his Mr. Crinkle blanket when sitting in his car seat.  He's growing up fast too!

Super Bowl Fun

On Sun., Feb. 5th we had a nice morning at church and I even helped Dad "usher" and hand out bulletins at the end. I thought it was pretty cool the way Father Leo would shake hands and say good-bye to everyone so I even went in front of him and started shaking hands and saying "bye-bye" to everyone too. Dad thought it was pretty cute and so did everyone else! Mom & Dad think its fun to watch me become more outgoing and friendly. As Grandpa Allen says, "His little politician".  After church we had a fun Super Bowl night at home with fun snacks and goodies.  We even had a silly string fight!  Dad and I enjoyed the "Giant" cupcakes that even had football rings on them for us to wear afterwards.  Here's Dad & I enjoying our cupcakes.

I love frosting!

We were pretty pumped when the Giants & Eli won too!  On Monday, Feb. 6th and Tues., Feb. 7th we had a couple of fun days playing at home.  We even finished our Valentine's Day projects and sent them off in the mail.  Can't wait for everyone to see them.  On Monday, Feb. 6th our double stroller came and I impressed Mom by helping her put it together!  I helped line things up and even fitted parts together and handed them to her.  I jumped right in it too when we were done.  Here's our handy work!

We had some brotherly love while at home and it's fun to watch as Hudson is interacting with us more.  He now has a cry to tell us when he wants us to play with him.  We call it is face time cry as he let's out this one little cry to say, "Hey, come talk to me!".  Then once you're in his face he coo's, smiles and has all sorts of movements.  Here's some pics of us brothers:

I even helped Hudson sit up and told him all about the tractor he was wearing.  Our favorite part of his outfit was his John Deere "boot" socks he was wearing!  Mom's impressed with how gentle I'm learning to be with him.

Hudson is starting to have really good head/neck control and even pushing himself up a bit.  He even went 8 hours through the night last night so officially sleeping through the night!  Here he is showing off for you!

On Wed., Feb. 8th I had a lot of fun at daycare playing with the sensory blocks and today, Thurs., Feb. 9th we had a lot of fun playing with the marble works.  It's a cool contraption that you drop a ball into and watch it roll down to the bottom.  Fun to do again and again.  Well I'm off to help Mom finish packing as we're leaving for Waterloo, IA tonight for Hudson's first trip to Grandma & Grandpa's houses.  Can't wait to see everyone!

Everyday Fun...

On Thurs., Feb. 2nd I had an awesome time at daycare with some Groundhog's Day fun although unfortunately he saw his shadow.  We even made our own groundhog puppets!  Here's mine:

We also got to paint teddy bears and of course I made mine blue:

While at Mommycare Hudson finally showed interest in his farm play yard and is starting to work on grasping things placed in his hands.  He also getting better at focusing and loves watching the cow move.  Here's Hudson!

On Jan. 16th Hudson first experienced his Boombo chair and since has been working on his head & neck control by sitting in it.  Looking good Lil' Bro:

On Fri., Feb. 3rd we had a fun morning at home and then had a special treat by meeting Dad in Frost to play at the park.  We then met Grandpa Allen, with Dad, for lunch at Julie's Bar & Grille, which has a new site in Frost.  I thought it was pretty cool that everyone said "hi" & "bye" to my Grandpa & Dad when they arrived/left so I too started to do the same.  Grandpa thought it was pretty cute and now calls me his little politician.  After lunch I had a good nap and then Mom & I played trucks.  Here's me showing Mom how to use the road:

On Sat., Feb. 4th we hung out at home most of the day but then took a special trip to Albert Lea for some shopping and a fun dinner out.  I impressed Dad & Mom by cleaning my plate and even eating some of theirs!  What a fun filled family day!