An Update From The "House of Testosterone"

Hudson "going to the North Pole."

Jack in his Bumbo (or bimbo as Hudson calls it)

Jack in his warm winter suit.  "So Cute!"

Sweet little Jack

The boys!

My sweet sister-in-love, Molly, bought me the most hilarious book for Christmas, called "House of Testostorone."  It is one mom's account of living in a house with 4 boys (her husband and three kids).  It is HILARIOUS!!!  Even though I just have 3 boys (Mark, Hudson and Jack), I think I still qualify as living in a house of testosterone.  Okay... so it has been quite a while since my last blog, but let's just say it has been pretty insane here at the Caswell house.  Our sweet Jack has had tummy trouble from day 1 and it just continued to get worse and worse.  He continued to scream more and more, and sleep less and less.  He went to see the GI doctor twice, and now, after 4 months, we have discovered that he is lactose intolerant.  So, we switched him to a lactose free formula and problem solved.  Wish I would have known that 4 months and no sleep ago.  His temperament, however is a "little" different from his big brother, and he puts up quite a fuss when you lay him down for a nap.  Let's just say he throws a serious fit, and then he gets over it and goes to sleep.  With Hudson, we could just lay him down wide awake, and he would put himself right to sleep.  Good thing Hudson was the first. : )  : )   Hudson has had a string of viruses for the past couple weeks, and he has not quite been himself either.  But, such is life with 2 under 3.  I have some cute pics of the boys to post.  Even in the midst of craziness, they are still so stinkin' cute.  

Baby Bear

Oh our little Hudson had us rolling tonight.  When Jack was born, Nana bought Hudson a "baby" bear from Build-A-Bear.  It was complete with its own diapers, bibs, bottles, rattles,etc.  Nana gave this bear to Hudson when we brought Jack home from the hospital.  I thought it was going to be great, but I was DEAD wrong.  He just looked at the bear and looked at his Nana and I like, "what do you want me to do with that?"  So, baby bear just sat in his room, occupying a space on his bed, until recently.  He has really decided that he likes baby bear.  We check his diaper often and give him his bottle and blankie.  Hudson is just as concerned about baby bear as he is Jack.  Today however, Baby Bear became an extreme distraction during nap.  I could hear Hudson over the monitor saying, "You need a bottle baby bear", "Baby bear is trying to poop", "poop baby bear", "I change your diaper", "patty cake-patty cake bakes man, put it in the oven for Jack and me."  So, being the intelligent mom that I am, I head upstairs and tell Hudson that baby bear is trying to sleep, and if he keeps talking baby bear will not be able to take his nap.  Hudson looked at me, an in all seriousness said, "But baby bear's eyes are open, he's not sleeping."  How can you argue with that?  What stuffed animal did you ever have that did not have his eyes open.  I am supposed to be smarter than my 2-year-old son, but today he definitely won.  The saga with baby bear continued at bedtime, as Hudson continued to talk to and play with baby bear instead of sleeping.  So Mark went up and told them that if the two of them did not go to sleep, baby bear would have to sleep somewhere else.  When he came down and told me what he said, we both just cracked up.  I told him what I had learned earlier, that baby bear could not sleep, his eyes were always open.   Oh what a mess.  : ))

Blessed to be a Mommy!

I must admit, most days I really do feel completely whipped, but also so completely satisfied.  Being a mommy is by far one of the most amazing, gratifying, intense, and wonderful things I have ever experienced.  I am just in awe that the creator of the universe would allow me the privilege and responsibility of raising two precious boys with Mark.  Whether I am dancing around the room with Jack, trying to relieve all his crazy gas, or playing Thomas with Hudson, the adventures never stop.  By the end of the day I pass out the minute my head hits the pillow, but I am so blessed.  Blessed to be a Mommy, and blessed with two precious boys.  

More Fun Holiday Pics!

Here are a few more pictures from our blessed Christmas time.  Enjoy!

"Bright eyes"

Let's go for a ride with Thomas.

Thomas' Driver

Our smiling baby boy!

"Rolling the dough."

"Conductor Hudson"

"Getting messy"

"Hudson frosting one of Aunt Molly's sugar cookies."

"Happy Birthday Jesus"  (Our seminary Daddy said we should put three candles on it for the trinity.)  : )

Happy New Year & The Cotton Bowl

The New Year began with a visit from my mom and stepdad and a trip to the 2009 Cotton Bowl.  This was our Christmas present from Mimi and Papa, and it was AWESOME!!! Eventhough our Red Raiders did not show up for the second half of the game, it was great to be there.  It was also a wonderful day for Mark and I to enjoy each other, minus our sweet boys. 

 "Get your guns up!"

"Me and my Stepdad"

"Happy Couple!"

Merry Christmas (Belated)

Well....  I have finally had some time to blog!!!  What a fun, fabulous, and crazy holiday.  We had some awesome family time over the past couple weeks.  I will try to fill you and give you some pics to see what happened at the Caswell house.  We spent a few days before Christmas with Nana, Big Daddy, and all our aunts, uncles, and cousins.  We had a blast, and Hudson absolutely adores his 7 -year-old cousin Sam, and his Uncle Chris (Sam's) dad.  Hudson got a really cool pick-up truck (thanks Nana and Big Daddy), and lots of cool "Thomas" engines,  and some great pjs and books (thanks Grandaddy & Mima.)  Jack continued to have tummy trouble throughout the holidays, but his sweet little smiles, giggles, and cooes kept us going.  He turned 3 months old on Christmas day and is just growing like a weed.

We started some new traditions at our house, like making peppermint bark (Hudson got to crush the candy canes with his toy hammer) baking sugar cookies with "Chef Hudson" and making  a happy birthday Jesus cake, complete with candles and song.  Most of all, we just enjoyed being together as a sweet family of four.  God has richly blessed us with beautiful children and extended family, and a wonderful church to serve at.  What a great 2008!