Bumps in the Road

It's been a really, really long couple of weeks with both kids battling some funky cold that they just can not seem to shake. It's been especially difficult for Madeline since she can't breathe at all she's just not sleeping. Nights have been REALLY, REALLY rough. Two weeks ago before she got sick she was sleeping 7, 8, 9 hour stretches without waking up, and when she did wake up she'd easily fall back to sleep.

One word: REGRESSION.

I'm blaming the cold and am super hopeful she'll get right back on track once she can breathe again. There is, however, a very serious fear that this could be the dreaded "4 month sleep regression" I've been hearing about....Just when I thought we'd been lucky enough to get a good night sleeper...SIGH. (really BIG sigh!)

You would never know by looking at her that she's just miserable. She really, truly is one fabulous baby. We could not have a sweeter, happier little girl. Here's to hoping it's just a phase.

 

And, here's one of the Hud, who you also would never know was battling a cold by looking at him. I wish I had this kind of energy!

 

Like Father, Like Son

My Morning with Hudson

Last Saturday I spent the morning with Hudson. We started out at swim class and then headed to Starbucks for some much needed coffee (for me, obviously) and a snack for the Hud. I'd been looking forward to our morning together all week. There just aren't a whole lot of opportunities for us to spend time together without Madeline and I really think it's important that we make an effort to do so on the weekend.

I'm pretty sure I was more excited about our morning together than the Hud was, but it was only a matter of time before my patience grew a little thin...

Here's the thing- we've been working on potty training for quite some time now, and I feel confident in saying, we're 100% there.
Done.
Mission accomplished.
Yippee!
Hooray!
Victory!
Adios diapers, hello underpants.
WOO-HOO!

But, and this is a big BUT...there are moments when I wish he was still in diapers. When could those moments possibly be, you ask? The moments when you've been at Starbucks for half an hour, sitting 5 feet away from a somewhat clean (comparatively speaking) public bathroom and you ask Hudson if he needs to use the potty. He replies, "No, no thanks," and we move on to our next destination. Then 30 seconds after he is buckled in and we're driving down the road he starts saying, "I need to go pee-pee! I need to! I need to go!" and then accompanies his screaming with a horribly uncomfrotable, borderline painful look on his face as he keeps screaming, "now!!"

UGH.
Are. You. Serious!?!

So...I'm forced to pull into the nearest gas station (ick, ick, ick!) so Hudson can go pee-pee. With strict instructions not to touch one single thing in that not-so-clean public bathroom, we got in and out and we were on our way. Ick!

Needless to say, not what I was looking for on my morning adventure with the Hud, but it comes with the territory, right? Oh-well, I'm certain this won't be the last time this happens. I better just get used to it, and carry chlorox wipes with me everywhere!!

All in all, we had an enjoyable time and I got some cute pics to post here for all of you!

I know it's blurry, but it's tough to get action shots with a phone camera...

Snacking at Starbucks

Hanging out by the fountains while waiting to get a haircut.

I love this smile! I love this kid SO much!!

pumpkin patch

Yesterday two very exciting things happened.

1. It was cold in Dallas! Yippee, Fall is finally here.
2. We bought pumpkins!

In the afternoon we visited a local pumpkin patch where Hudson had a lot of fun choosing pumpkins for each and every family member, including Willy Wonka, Dulce and Kitkat. These outings are becoming more and more fun as he gets older and I have a feeling this will be true for many years to come.

In case you're wondering where Maddie and I are...well, we're behind the camera (as usual). I'm wearing Maddie in the Moby. (as usual as well, love that thing!).

The Outtakes

Friday morning Hudson and Madeline were sitting together on the bed. Naturally I grabbed my phone to snap some pics. I take a lot (and I mean A LOT) of pictures. Thousands. Usually I get at least one good one for every 15 or so bad ones that I take, but not this time. There wasn't a single one in this impromptu photo shoot. As you can see, though it wasn't what I was going for, they turned out a bit comical.

 

You heard, what? 

Me?

 Grumpy?

 Not sleeping? 

 

That's the funniest thing I ever heard!

What's happening

Well, here's what's happening around the Akins house this week...

Hudson's cold kept him home from school for a few days, today he went back to school. Even though he was sick and sounded absolutely horrible, he had an absurd amount of energy and it was tough to keep him happy at home. Meanwhile, his sister has also been battling a cold which has made her one  grumpy little baby, totally not her usual smiling self. I miss her smiling self tremendously and am optimistic that it will return- pronto!

Sleep. Oh, sleep how I miss you. I know, you've heard me say it a million times on this blog, but gosh, I really miss my sleep. I remember when I found out I was pregnant with Hudson, someone told me, "Congratulations, but you'll NEVER sleep again!" And, it's absolutely TRUE! Just when a baby starts sleeping through the night something happens....teething, walking, talking, adding siblings, becoming aware of and afraid of the dark, all of which impact sleep. Then, there's just downright refusal to sleep at all. My personal favorite.

Hudson has decided that he wants to get out of his bed at least 10 times every night before he falls asleep. The second his head hits the pillow, literally, the second, he starts yelling, "I can't sleep! I can't do it, mommy! I can't sleep, daddy!" So, Scott and I take turns going in and out of his room, walking him back to his room, tucking him back in and telling him he's safe, he can go to sleep.

Typically, though, at this age, once he's out, he's out for the night. Thank goodness. His naps...well, Hudson has decided he's ready to give up his nap. During the week he naps at school, and usually he does take a nap there. At home, forget it. It's not happening. I was really hoping we could keep the nap well past age 3, but alas, it's not in the cards for us. You might be wondering why I care so much about naps and why I talk about them all the time...well, naps are the only time in the day where I can actually do anything- shower, for example. So, no nap means no shower, no anything. Either the naps must continue or I'm going to continue looking homeless. Perfect. Life would be so much easier if we had someone nearby to come over once in a while and lend a helping hand. If only.

Then, there's Maddie....she has decided this week that 4AM is a nice time to get up for the day. She used to sleep from about 8PM-4AM-ish, wake up, eat, go back to bed and stay there until about 8:30. Heavenly. About as good as it gets at this age. Recently, though, she wakes at 4AM, eats and wants to hang out and play (which is so adorable, but at 4:30 in the morning, no one but her wants to play). It takes about an hour or so to get her back down (thank you, Scott) and at that point, you might as well just get up for the day. I've read this is just a phase that 4-month-olds go through, though I don't recall if that happened with the Hud. Who the heck knows?!

I'm trying really hard NOT to read anything about sleep because it just frustrates me, but then I wonder, I must be doing something wrong, what could it be? Then I pick up a book, flip through and gain a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe I have found the one and only solution to all sleep problems.

Yeah, right.

It's funny, I tell Scott all the time, I read this...I read that...in this book and it said...blah, blah, blah...and if you do all of this, your baby will sleep! Then I say, it should have a disclaimer that reads: unless your name is Shelley Akins, then there is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING you can do. You're just outta luck, your children are two of the only kids on the planet that don't need sleep.

In all seriousness, our kids are awesome. They really and truly are wonderful and I love them dearly. I am so proud to call Hudson my son, and Madeline...well, she really is a GREAT baby. She is so, so happy and wonderful, but sleeping (especially with regard to napping) and riding in cars- NOT her specialties. Fingers are crossed this changes ASAP. I want my sleep back! (and while I'm dreaming, a quiet ride in the car would be much appreciated, too).

Here she is, my grumpy little girl.

Scott putting Maddie to sleep for the night. The cutest!

Our self portraits.

Taking a brief hiatus from town Grumpsville.

Does he look "sick" to you?

She's discovered Sophie and she loves her!