Nothing Better...

 There are few things better than being reunited with dear friends! Our good friends the Warners came into town for just a short visit and we were so excited that we got to go see them, even if it was just for a few hours! We met Keith and Ann down on the island, and I think anyone who knows them will agree with me that they are some of the most kind and genuine people you will ever meet! We felt so lucky to know them and were so sad when they left! (Keith is a few semesters ahead of Ben in the program.) Ann was my saving grace during those lonely days with my husband studying long long hours and all my family and friends far away in America. Since our Chase and their Alise were just tiny babes when we first got there we spent hours just hanging out at Ann's place (which later became our place once they left) when the babies were just too little to be at the pool or beach with everyone else. Ann's friendship brought me so much happiness and made the island feel more like home. We could laugh about the crazy things that happened there and she could calm my fears about the stress of school. The woman is a saint! Even though we've kept in touch over the last year, it's just not the same as being together in person! I was so happy to see her! And we got to introduce our new little ones to each other-

Hudson- meet Jack!

We joked that they are future best friends-

but seriously- we unknowingly dressed them in matching outfits!

If that isn't a sign of impending friendship I don't know what is!

 Keith is holding sweet little Alise, snoozing away there. Chase and Alise are soul mates! We joked about it all the time, but they seem to have the same little personality! Stubborn, mischievous, LOVE food, and pretty happy go lucky! I wanted to snap a picture of them together (you know, for their wedding video one day), but this was the best we got!

And just for fun-

here are Chase and Alise over a year ago-

December 2011

 Funny story-

Keith had a handful of fruit loops for each of them.

Chase hurried and gobbled down the fruit loops in his hand,

then started reaching over for the fruit loops in the other hand that Alise

was sweetly eating one at a time!

They do both love food, but Chase is definitely a little more agressive about it!

 Oh the good memories!

We love this family and were so happy to see them again!

Ann and I have plans to be next door neighbors someday-

hopefully it pans out!

Thanks for the fun morning Warners!

And just for fun,

here is Chase on the way home, so so drowsy...

 ...and asleep literally one second later!

Chunky Monkey

This little chunk is now a whole month old!

How can it be that one month flies by, and yet it seems like we've 

always had Hudson as part of our family.

Hudson is a much bigger model than we are used to-

the clothes he wears these days fit Chase this way around 3 months!

We love his chubby cheeks and his double chin,

and mostly his sweet disposition and calm, patient demeanor.

This baby has been a blessing in so many ways.

 I have a wonderful friend who compulsively dresses her children in matching 

outfits on a nearly daily basis.

I have yet to ever do this purposely,

but a few days last week I unknowingly dressed them in coordinating color schemes.

This is just one example,

that I didn't even realize that I'd done the brown and blue stripes until my mom pointed it out.

(I am functioning on very little sleep these days- I'm just happy that my children get dressed)

So sweet Jana- this picture is just for you!

I wish I had photographic proof of the day before with their orange and gray outfits-

but you get the idea :) 

Aunt Heidi and Instagram

My sister Heidi is the cutest aunt to my kids-

she loves them so much. From the minute we told her that Chase 

was on his way she's been completely smitten and spoiled these two!

She has posted the cutest pictures on Instagram with the boys that I just love-

so I stole them off her facebook page, and added the captions she wrote.

Here's a little documentation of my gorgeous sister and what an awesome aunt she is:

My little swimmer

I love being an aunt more than anything!

Chaser made this picture pretty awkward by insisting on his mom holding him...

Missing my main man today.

(While we were in Florida)

Came home to play with this little guy.

(This was right when we got back from Florida and she was in the middle of finals-

she drove down with a few spare hours she had to see him)

Love at first sight.

He's too precious.

This is the best.

I'm a lucky girl.

(Also when Hudson was born-

Chase really really loves seeing Aunt Heidi!)

Babysitting

(when Hudson was born)

We are working with Chase on "being soft" 

with baby Hudson.

One last snuggle before bed. 

I'm so lucky I got to spend time with my favorite little guys today.

Making cookies with my favorite guy. I am so domestic.

 I mustache you...on a scale of 1 to hipster, how do we look?

We love Aunt Heidi! She's come down from school every weekend since Hudson was born and we love having her around! Chase especially adores her, and I'm sure Hudson does too even though he can't express it yet. These boys are so lucky!

My boys

I feel like we have now settled into a routine with two kids! It's crazy and hectic most of the time, but somehow we make it to the end of each day without completely tearing the house apart and with everyone fed and healthy. Some days go better than others, but we usually go on a walk in the stroller, play with toys, read books, take naps (so far the boys have been pretty good about napping at the same time-hallelujah!), I nurse Hudson every 2 hours while Chase gets into as much mischief as he can. I'm completely exhausted by the end of each day, but so happy and in love with these babies. I'm surprised that motherhood can be such hard work and so enjoyable and rewarding and amazing at the same time. Several times a day I look at their sweet faces and can't believe I'm so lucky to get to be their mom. Then Chase pours a whole glass of water on the floor and Hudson starts screaming and I'm pulled back into the tornado that is our lives these days. It's a good thing they are so cute!

 I took the boys out today to the doctors office- my first time going out with both kids. Due to cold/flu/RSV season, Hudson doesn't go anywhere but the doctors office and a few friends homes. We've gone out in the stroller, but this was the first time loading both boys in the car and going out in public! They both did great, thank goodness. Since Chase had so much trouble gaining weight at the first we weighed Hudson to make sure he's gaining enough. Sure enough, the boy weighs 10 lbs 7 oz! He's gained almost two pounds since birth and isn't quite a month old yet! Chase was 3 months old before he had put on two pounds, so I think it's safe to say Hudson is eating enough! This is bittersweet for me- of course I'm relieved and thankful that he's healthy and gaining weight so well, but I love my tiny little newborn. It is sad for me to think of him growing out of his adorable little clothes and becoming a big baby instead of a tiny baby!

 Hudson's "blue steel" look

 Chase's awesome rug burn on his nose-

due to him thinking it's funny to run around with your head on the carpet.

It doesn't even bother him, which has caused him to reopen it several times.

Whenever I take pictures of Hudson Chase likes to hop down in them

and be part of the action!

Every time I set Hudson down today Chase was practically on top of him,

trying to bond with his brother!

He also "helps" me burp Hudson and thinks it's hilarious when Hudson actually burps.

Now he pats my back and says "I burp Mommy!"

Newborn Heaven

I have spent the last three weeks in newborn heaven!

Newborns are sure a lot of work- even an easy going newborn is exhausting,

but so sweet and so worth it!

I got Hudson's newborn pictures back today and I couldn't be happier with them!

I have a few good friends who are excellent photographers and

have done pictures for us in the past-

but none of them live very close to us and I happen to know

they have big, busy things going on in their lives.

A gal I went to high school with posted a flash sale of facebook in December

for half off a newborn session, so I jumped at the chance since I loved her work.

I'm so happy I did.

I love the way these pictures turned out. 

I think they capture his sweetness perfectly.

It was hard to narrow down which ones to post because I love them all so much!

Here are my favorites of this sweet baby:

Valentines Day

 This picture is from Valentines Day 2007- the night of our first kiss! I remember it feeling magical and went home completely giddy and so excited to tell my roommates all about it. This was just a few weeks after we met and obviously things just went up from there! Fast forward to Valentines Day 2013- we didn't have anything elaborate or romantic planned (life with a newborn!) but it was a wonderful day nonetheless. Ben studied all day, and I got to spend my day with these little loves!

 It was these goofy little boys who really taught me about love at first sight. Words can't express the love I have for my children. Even though life is crazy with them most of the time, and between the two of them they might be trying to slowly kill me from lack of sleep, I wouldn't trade my time with them for anything. I'm so glad I get to be a stay at home mom and raise these two sweet kids.

 After Chase's aforementioned heart shaped pancakes, we spent the rest of the morning immersed in Valentines Day activities. Chase made Valentines for his Papa and Nana, and originally made one for his daddy as well, although towards the end of the day he decided it was "just Chase's" and refused to actually give it to Ben- who was very understanding about the whole thing :) Chase did help me spend the morning making heart shaped cinnamon rolls for Ben (which turned out okay- I could have cooked them a little longer, but they looked cute). I've also got to hand it to Disney Jr for always being so festive around holidays, and Chase and I enjoyed a Valentines day themed Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode. Ben and I exchanged cards when he got home and he bought me some new jewelry. We gave Chase a valentines present in the form of a book- the Cat in the Hat, which he loved. My mom grilled hamburgers for dinner and brought home some heart shaped cookies for our previously disappointed Chase. After Chase was in bed, Ben and I spent the night cuddling Hudson and watching episodes of our favorite TV show- Castle. It was a simple holiday for us, but I loved it. I'm glad I got to spend the day with the people I love most!

Chase making Valentines

 The finished products-

I might have to save Hudson's forever because 

I can't get over how cute his tiny feet are!