Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Gag Reflex

My son is 11 months old and has turned into quite the picky eater. This is not all too surprising considering I was once a picky eater and my husband is still. My question is this: Am I doomed forever?!?

I am at the point where I've become just really frustrated and need some solid, good, tried, and true advice from mommies who have already been down this road. So here's what I am currently dealing with - I call it the Gag Reflex - and my son Hudson is incredibly talented using this tool while eating!

Like I said before, my buddy is 11 months old. He does really really well eating pureed foods. In fact, he LOVES most of them (except bananas). Since our 9 month appt I have been trying to get him to eat more solid foods including food that my husband and I eat. Boy's just like his mama and loves carbs - give him any type of cracker-like food - and he is in heaven. He self feeds only with these types of foods. Loves cheerios, goldfish, ritz crackers, animal crackers, and bread. Um, who doesn't?

Anything else I attempt to put into his mouth and here comes the good old GAG REFLEX, followed by...VOMIT everywhere! I usually try new foods at lunchtime so that if he does vomit he doesn't have a belly full to throw up. My attempts have included fruits like cut up bananas, pears, mandarin oranges and veggies like cooked green beans, corn, peas, and lima beans.

I have discovered he likes to eat cut up bites of grilled cheese sandwiches. I usually try and throw in a slice of ham or turkey in the grilled cheese in order to add some protein to his diet and he USUALLY does a good job of self feeding. Sometimes I'll have to stick the first bite in his mouth but of course I always run the risk of him gagging it up for whatever reason.

These are some trends I've noticed:
- anything cold or wet he refuses to pick up including meat
- he'll only pick up crackers, dry cereal, bread while sitting in his high chair
- Gags on most jarred "3rd Foods"
- Tastes the first bite of whatever I'm feeding him. If he likes it, great. If not, hands go up to cover his mouth and if I try and shove it in anyway he can instantly gag and vomit the food up.

I guess I'm just starting to stress because my pediatrician said by his one year appt (coming up at the end of April) he should no longer be eating baby foods, should be self feeding most every meal, and basically should be eating whatever solid foods we eat. I know this is not going to happen in a month and will most likely take more time since I do have a picky eater on my hands but any suggestions or advice would be gladly taken. Please! I just want Hudson to have a better, more well-rounded diet and of course I'd love for all the gagging and vomiting to stop too:)

Thanks!
Erica

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Food for Thought

Just thought I'd share a new favorite food website/blog I heard about. I am looking forward to making some of these yummy eats in the near future. Check it out!




Hope everyone had a blessed Sunday! Have a great week!

Friday, March 25, 2011

A Heavy Heart mixed with Delight

Evie's Birthday Celebration Picnic
March 25, 2011

Evie's Garden

As many of you know, our dear friends Jonathan and Alicia lost their sweet precious Evie Grace last December. It's been a tough 3 months for them but yesterday had to definitely be one of the harder days for sure. Yesterday was the girls' 2nd birthday.

I started the week off both anxious and sad because I knew how hard it was going to be for Alicia and J. Finally Friday came. I woke up that morning with such a heavy, heavy heart. I mean I just ache for them both and of course for sweet little Ramsey. She is such a delight.

Maybe that's why God put that word at the forefront of my mind yesterday.

Delight? Yes, delight.

Why on earth of all days, would He want me to think "delight?" Why not...grief, sadness, or unfairness? Because He is God. And He is always trying to show us the good in all things. Even things we can't seem to understand or wrap our minds around. So because I was a little confused I simply looked up the word "delight" in the concordance of my Bible for some clarity.

And just like that. Click! Light bulb turned on. I found several verses that really seemed to make sense and speak volumes to me.

You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy
-Micah 7: 18

The Lord you God is with you,
he is mighty to save,
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing
-Zephaniah 3:17

That is why, for Christ's sake,
I delight in weakness,
in insults,
in hardships,
in persecutions,
in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong
- 2 Corinthians 12:10

Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight
- Matthew 12:18
(When I read this one in particular - I instantly thought of Evie)

You see, even though yesterday - March 25th - was somewhat sad and bittersweet for everybody; it was also a day to delight in. Evie Grace is, was, and will always be the definition of delight. I think everybody who knew her would most definitely agree. And now she has the honor of serving as a delight to our Heavenly Father. Oh, how I know He delights in her:)

So in honor and remembrance of her birthday Alicia and J invited some of us to have a picnic lunch at Memorial Park where she is buried. We ate lunch at "Evie's Garden" - as Alicia likes to call it now (which I think fits perfectly). The associate pastor at their church said a few words, read some encouraging scripture, and then had a special prayer for Evie and the Harrisons. We sang Happy Birthday to Evie, and then released pink balloons to celebrate the special occasion. It was with no coincidence - very delightful!


Buddy getting ready to send his balloon to Evie

Happy Birthday sweet girl! Hope you like your pretty pink balloons!

Daddy and Ramsey watching the balloons

And Ramsey...well that little stink fish has really turned into such a delight! Yes, she did just turn 2 and we all know what a challenge 2 yr olds can be sometimes but you should see her - she is just so stinkin' sweet. I mean, look at her!


I love how she says "erica-hudson" when she sees us or when Alicia makes the turn down our street. I literally melt when she lets me hold her b/c it seems as though Evie was always the one to warm up to me first. I love how she gets shy and embarrassed being the center of attention (like her mama). And I love what a delight she is to her parents. Despite the hardships they've had to endure, the Lord clearly delights over this entire family. And I'm so grateful that he assured me how he does it:)

We love you sweet, special, delightful Evie girl!
Happy Birthday!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Spring Forward!

Do I dare say it....

Has winter really come and gone? Well, I sure hope so! Last week's warmer temperatures, time change, and colorful garden blooms really had me wishing and hoping that SPRING has finally arrived. And since today is officially the first day of spring, I thought I'd share some of our "spring break" adventures.

Dianna and the kids came up from Dallas to spend a week here with the family. We really enjoyed their visit and now that Hudson is a little bit older he got to play and enjoy fun times with his cousins. He really took a liking to Brady - which of course is so sweet. Boy bonding I suppose?

Here are some of our pics. I will say that we spent 99% of our time at some type of park - Riverdale "Treehouse" Park was the all time favorite hands down. We went twice. And we did manage to take a field trip to Big Back Yard one day which of course was a fun time. But no trip would be complete if it didn't involve a walk to our neighborhood park! Hudson likes this one too, I guess mostly because it's familiar. I hope you are enjoying these warmer temperatures and taking in the beauty and wonder of God's awesome creation.


Daddy and Buddy swinging at the park


Grace and Brady going down the slide


Lots of friends at Big Back Yark

I'm ready! Even though I look sleepy...

Flower Bed - in literal terms

Cousins!

Favorite place at the park
Yay for short sleeves and shorts:)

Grace and Brady

Mommy and Buddy

I think he found a leaf

Hallie and Hudson having fun on the gator ride
Sweet counsins:)


Wednesday, March 16, 2011

ABC's of Me

So I was catching up on several of the blogs I follow and I came across this...a little bored you might ask? Well, just a little. Micah is out of town and Hudson goes down pretty early in the evening so yeah, here goes --

"ABC's of Me"

A. Age: Just turned 29
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore you dislike: I HATE folding laundry. Yuck!
D. Dogs: Sweetest gurl in the world - Riley - she's a British Lab
E. Essential start to your day: Um, caffeine. Duh!
F. Favorite color: yellow, turquoise, and I love to wear gold
G. Gold or silver: See above
H. Height: 5'2 on a good day
I. Instruments you play(ed): N/A - I skipped chorus and band in middle school
J. Job title: Mama
K. Kids: One precious baby boy - Hudson Andrew
L. Live: T-E-N-N-E-S-S-E-E
M. Mom’s name: Renee
N. Nicknames: I really don't have any.
O. Overnight hospital stays: Just when I gave birth to buddy.
P. Pet peeves: People who think they are entitled to free handouts, snoring, and gum smacking (I'm guilty of this sometimes)
Q. Quote from a movie: That's my husband's area of expertise - I got nothing
R. Righty or lefty: Right
S. Siblings: Nope. I'm an only brat
T. Time you wake up: 7:00 am
U. Underwear: Ewwww! TMI but yes of course
V. Vegetables you don’t like: Cauliflower
W.What makes you run late: Well, myself and my lack of planning ahead.
X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, Arm
Y. Yummy food you make: Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cake
Z. Zoo animal favorites: Giraffes and Panda Bears

Monday, March 14, 2011

Splish Splash...


Hudson was taking a bath!


In case you couldn't tell he loves his bath time:) Looking forward to taking him to the pool and beach this summer. I think we're going to have a little fish on our hands.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Birthday Surprises!

So yesterday, March 1, I turned 29. Blah. It was a fun day overall with several good (and some not so good) surprises. Thank you to everyone who called, texted, sent FB messages. I definitely felt very very loved. One more year til the BIG 3-0. Yikes!

GOOD vs. NOT SO GOOD

The day started off a bit too early for me. Hudson woke up an hour early for some unknown reason so my day started bright and early at 6 am - NOT SO GOOD

I did however get to take advantage of the beautiful sunny weather and went for a morning run. By myself might I add. (Micah was with Hudson) - GOOD

Then some of my friends took me to lunch to Panera - one of my favorites - GOOD

They even got me birthday happys:) - GOOD

Put Hudson down for an afternoon nap. He slept maybe an hour - NOT SO GOOD

Went to the park with Hayley, Alicia, and Emily and the kiddos - GOOD

Celebrated with family and dinner at the Millers. Mama Miller, aka Martha Stewart, cooked a delicious meal. She even made her famous homemade biscuits (my favorite) - GOOD

Put Hudson to bed at 8. He woke up at 11:15 pm screaming his head off and I panicked. He hasn't woken up in the night since the end of Dec. or first of Jan. so I didn't know what to do. Went in and no dirty diaper. He didn't want to be held or rocked so I just put him back in his crib and let the poor thing cry it out. I had never done this before and it was so painful to watch on the monitor. But I was sure nothing was wrong with him (except for maybe a tummy ache from all the ice cream bites we gave him throughout the day) so I decided to give it a try. I was sure he woke up the neighbors. I felt awful and honestly just prayed the entire way through it. After 35 minutes of crying and whimpering he finally fell asleep. And somehow managed to still wake up at 7 am - NOT SO GOOD

The GOOD definitely trumps the NOT SO GOOD category so for that I am very thankful!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Dishwasher Safe?

Does anyone think this constitutes as
"Dishwasher Safe?"


This is one of Hudson's new favorite spots to play, especially while I unload the dishwasher. Isn't it funny the little things that entertain children? Amazing!

Happy 1st day of March! Springtime please be around the corner.

A Trip to the Zoo

Memphis Mommies at the Memphis Zoo
February 19, 2011

So it had been awhile since we had visited the zoo - Halloween time to be exact - and the weather was supposed to be nice on this particular Saturday. It ended up being fine. Just a little cool and overcast. So a bunch of us girls (and Jonathan) decided to give it try with all the kiddos. Alas, lots of fun was had by all! Check it out for yourself:)


Mommy & Hudson

in honor of valentine's day
so cute!

All the kiddos

Having fun in his stroller seeing all the animals