H&H

I can't believe it is nearly August. I am so in denial about the upcoming school year! I think that's partly because this year I don't exactly know where I will be yet, just that I'll have a job. But I think that's also been God's way of telling me to just enjoy the summer with my boys and not worry about anything work related. Holden and Hunter have grown and changed so much just since their birthdays in March! Holden is getting taller, (I can tell because a lot of his shirts are getting really short) leaner, and is a full-fledged little boy. His vocabulary and understanding of things expands daily. Hunter, of course is at the age where he grows literally overnight. He has such a personality now, recognizes people he knows by sight and voice, and is a rolling babbling, ball of drool. Here are the latest in my constant barrage of pictures. I feel like they grow right before my eyes, so I try to get pictures of every precious moment.

Holden LOVES ice cream this summer! Last year he wasn't a big fan but I think it hurt his teeth. Now he understands the whole licking concept. :) I love that he loves it, since it is a great excuse for me to have some, too!

Hunter working on some head control. He still can't get back over once on his tummy. Note the saying on his shirt; cracks me up! And can you see his little faux hawk? His hair is now growing straight up in the middle.

Holden has been doing an awesome job at swim lessons this summer. He loves "Miss Betty," and has been working really hard to overcome his fear of going underwater. It is still a big issue for him, but he's come a long way. I am proud of him for trying even when he is scared. He will cry a little, but then he will do what she asks, and he's SO excited when he is done. This past week he started going off the diving board with a noodle. He gets a kick out of telling people "I mam SO big! I go off the diving board!" I love how he says "mam" for "am."

Give the boy cheese balls, and he is a happy camper. He saw these at Sam's Club the other night, and his eyes lit up as he announced, "Daddy, those are just like ALVIN'S!" (From Alvin and the Chipmunks movies). He carried the tub through the store and we were cracking up because it was about the same size as him.

My Hunt-man with his gummy grin. He constantly has a hand or fingers in his mouth, and Dr. Dewey confirmed at his 4 mo. appt. that he is working on some bottom teeth. While they take their time popping up, we call him our St. Bernard with the amount of drool coming out of his mouth.

This picture makes me laugh because he looks pretty enough to be a little girl, esp. with the pink towel. He had a week with a horrible diaper rash. I think it might have been a result of the teething. (?) I felt so bad for him, as he would literally bleed when I wiped, and just cry big crocodile tears. I did baking soda baths, and laid him out on towels each night to air dry. He LOVED that part of the night, free and breezy. :)

Daddy and his boys. He's a keeper!

Hunter sporting his hand-me-down swim trunks for the first time. How cute is he?! He also tried to eat Holden's head.

Jay remembered that as a baby, Holden had a tiny pool we put him in. He didn't want Hunter to be deprived, so he grabbed one at Walmart and put it next to Holden's bigger pool. Hunter LOVED it!! It forunately had a little rainbow hood so that he wasn't in the sun. Illinois is having one of the hottest, most humid summers we've had in a long time, and he hasn't been able to be outside much. Good call, Daddy!

Love how Jay looks like he's wearing the pool.

Another milestone: Hunter started cereal and baby food this week! I think it's so fun when they start eating. At first he kinda gags when he eats; I think it's the consistency difference. He likes the cereal and wasn't a huge fan of applesauce; I wish I had a picture of his face when he tried that because it was priceless! I think it is just so sweet compared to the formula. He eats it better mixed w/ cereal. Today we tried sweet potatoes, and he really liked them. Ate a whole jar! He is still figuring out what to do with his tongue so half of each spoonful comes back out. Makes for a messy baby!

Finally, Jay and I about died the other day when Holden walks in naked as a jaybird except for these Cardinals SHORTS around his neck! He thought they were a shirt?! Then he couldn't get them off. Jay had to really work hard to get them off without hurting his head. NO IDEA how he got them on in the first place?! He was not amused that we were amused by this, and did not appreciate me taking pictures.

Live...from the Hobson household!

Here are a couple of recent video clips of the boys. In the first one, you can see how much they enjoy splashing each other in the bathtub. Holden starts it, and Hunter gets excited and kicks his legs right back at him. If you bear with the LOUDNESS that is Holden, :) you will see Hunter belly laugh near the end. Pardon the discussions about "tooting" and Hunter peeing on himself; typical night at my house!

Hunter has been in the exersaucer a few times now. He loves it, and gets these huge eyes looking at everything. I think it overstimulates him! Ha! He is still pretty wobbly and can't last very long. My video was cut short because I realized he was spitting up. :)

My little Hunt-man

We've had nicknames for both of the boys. As a baby, Holden was always, "Bubbs." Don't ask; Jay started calling him that and it stuck. We also called him "Boss-Man" because he could boss a whole room of adults with a single whimper. :) Hunter has become "Chubbs," due to his adorable cheeks and thighs (sorry, buddy!) and one day Holden called him, "Hunt-man," and we've been calling him that ever since. Anyway, this post is for Hunt-man.

I can't believe my baby is almost 4 months old already. He is doing new things daily, and changing by the minute. I swear sometimes when I get him out of his crib in the morning, he has grown or looks older. Love, love, love my baby boy! This month has been really fun because he has started rolling and laughing. There's nothing like a baby belly laugh to make you smile. He was laughing and squealing when I took these. He has a lot more hair at this point than Holden did; maybe he won't lose it. It has also started to stick up like peach fuzz on the top of his head. :) I must add that I LOVE his loooong eyelashes. "Wasted on a boy," as they say, but they are beautiful!

Hunter adores his big brother! Holden gets more smiles and laughs out of him than anyone else. He will be crying, and Holden will walk up and say, "Hunt-man, whatcha think you're doin'?" and Hunter's face will split into a grin. If Holden is active, (which is most of the time!) Hunter will crane his little neck around or roll so that he is in a position to see him. I am so glad that they already love each other, and will have each other as a buddy as they grow.

Hunter and Mommy. He really likes to "fly" in the air now. Just watch out for the drool below!

Daddy pictures. As you can see, Daddy's genes are very strong. We definately know they are related. :) If you look closely at the pictures to the right and left, you can see that the top of Hunter's shirt is completely soaked. He has started teething very early; nothing to show for it yet, but I could fill a cup with the drool. He will take his tongue and push on his gums, chomp on his fingers, and is starting to be able to grab objects to chew on, including my thumb on occasions. Poor baby has a nasty diaper rash bothering him, which I think is a result of the teething. I don't think it's fair that such tiny little people have to suffer so many issues. Being a baby is hard!

Hunter rolls from his back to his tummy almost the instant you lay him on down these days. He is getting better at propping up on his arms and holding his head up for longer lengths of time, but then he tires out and gets mad. He can't get himself back over yet so someone, often Holden, has to come to his rescue and push him back over. Then he rolls and the game begins again. :) A lot of times, he is content to lay and rest on his tummy awhile, often sucking on his fingers. He won't take a paci, but he soothes himself with his middle and index fingers. His pinky, pointer, and thumb stick out on either side of his mouth. This is how he falls asleep, too.

Getting a drink from big brother. Holden is very helpful with "his baby."

My sweet boy. He is wearing 6-9 mo. clothes (can fit into some 3-6 still depending on the brand but they are snug), drinking 6 oz. of formula about every 3 hours, and naps about every 2 hrs. I just stopped nursing him at the 3.5 mo. mark. I always had to supplement as I just don't get much milk in, but I am proud I was able to do it much longer than with Holden. He loves his bottles and lets us know when he is overdue for one!

Recently, he started sleeping in his crib. Being that he is probably my last baby, I wanted to keep in the bassinet longer, but he is so long that his legs were sticking out the end! :) I am curious to see how many more inches he has grown since 3 mos; he was 25 inches then. I am guessing he is around 27 now. How we got a tall kid out of the two of us, I have no idea! Ha! He sleeps in his little wedge so that he doesn't roll and wake himself up, although he can still manage to get himself sideways in it, and sometimes on his tummy with a leg over it. Acrobat! The burp cloth is under his head since he drools so much, and usually he has padding under his tush because he pees soooo much, just like Holden did. I put him in Pampers Baby Dry diapers, which boast 12 hrs. of coverage. Yeah....not so much with my babies...after 3 hrs. his diaper is bulging and he wets through every time. I even tried doubling up and putting two diapers on him and he still leaked! I don't know if it's the way he positions himself or what. (?) He is still waking up once a night, usually around 2 or 3 am, and wanting a bottle. Half the time I think he wakes up because of his loaded diaper though, poor guy. I was hoping to have him sleeping all night before going back to school, but I don't think it's going to happen. And that's okay; this time I have the perspective of knowing how very quickly this baby time goes.

Hunter absolutely loves his swing! I am so glad we are getting more use out of it this time around, because Holden wasn't a big fan of it. I think Hunter has gotten used to it very early out of necessity; being a second child, he has to get put down more. When I put him in it, he immediately looks up at the spinning monkey and birds and starts babbling at them. He has found his voice recently, and it often sounds like some kind of prehistoric bird is in our living room! He is so LOUD! He will hang out in his swing very happily, and also falls asleep and naps well in it. (Like how the pacis are sitting on his tray even though he doesn't use them? I am always trying since it is so nice to be able to soothe a baby!)

This picture just makes me laugh. This was at my friend, Bridget's house, when we were over for a playdate recently. It's hard in the summer with such a young baby because he can't wear sunscreen yet, and doesn't handle the sun or the heat well. But being a second baby, he gets dragged along everywhere, so we have come up with many contraptions like this to keep him somewhat sheltered and cool. He is a good sport!

LOVE this picture!!! This sums up his personality well; sweet but also a bit ornery.

We love you, Hunter! You make life so much fun. We can't imagine it without you!

Jay's 33rd bday!

Jay turned 33 on the 18th. Holden picked out some balloons for Daddy;

Toy Story and Mickey Mouse. :)

We went to church, which was nice because Jay normally works on Sundays. Holden wanted to play on the playground afterwards. At 33, Jay still rules the playground...he can do a mean flip on the rings. Holden learned about King Balzhazzar (don't ask if I spelled that right!) and made the lovely crown he was wearing.

Family picture. Holden is in this cheesy, fake, close your eyes smiling phase.

Daddy and his boys. This was Holden trying not to smile. :)

Jay was asked to play in a benefit softball game on the Cornbelters' field. It was deputies versus ISU police, and proceeds went to the Special Olympics. Holden was so excited that Daddy was playing on "Corny's field!"

Some pics from the game. We left Hunter at home with our nieghbor, Emma. Illinois feels like Florida right now and he would have been miserable since there is no shade. I am so blessed to have so many willing babysitters!

One of the deputies' sons, Breven, was acting as a bat boy. He took Holden under his wing and let him help. He was so sweet to him. Holden loved sitting in the dugout with "the big boys," and running to get the bats. He thought he was so cool.

Jay requested lasagna for dinner (Stauffer's frozen lasagna is my friend! Tastes good and you just pop it in the oven. Since Lord only knows what homemade lasagna I attempted would turn out like!), and my parents joined us. Here are some pics with Hunter, who didn't hold it against us that we left him behind from the game.

Jay loves brownies, so Holden helped me make him a brownie cake for dessert. We had it warm with ice cream; yummy! Holden also insisted on Cars themed cupcakes from Walmart with frosting 2 inches thick. He thought Daddy "really needed them." My picky little eater cleaned his dinner plate that night so that he could have a brownie, ice cream, AND a cupcake. Needless to say, he was bouncing off the walls.

We love you, Jay! Hope you had a good bday!

Happy birthday, Grammy!

My mom's birthday was on the 15th. I think she looks amazing at 54! On the 14th, she and I went to visit my Granny in nearby Eureka, and do lunch and shopping on Washington Square. This was one of my first times leaving the boys with Jay all day; good trial run for him before I go back to teaching in the fall! They all survived, other than a swollen eye for Holden, courtesy of a run-in with the baby carrier. :)

We love this little restaurant that is in the old bank. Such yummy food!

We went back to Granny's for one of her delicious homemade cakes, and iced tea.

Happy birthday to you...

On Mom's actual birthday, the 15th, we went to Chili's. Our waiter was awesome when I asked him to take our picture...he climbed up in the booth across the way to get the perfect shot. (This was when we first arrived; BEFORE Hunter decided he was bored with watching us eat.) :) I love how the guys all have blue, and Mom and I have pink. It was not planned.

After dinner, we went back to Grammy and Papa's house for cake and ice cream. Holden was a big help blowing out the candles. (Even before Grammy was ready.) :)

Eric went in with Jay and me to get Mom (and Dad) tickets to the Beach Boys! They are coming to Bloomington in August. She was surprised and excited!

Holden ate both the cake Dad had bought, the leftovers from Great Granny's cake, (below), and also some ice cream. Picky he may be, but not when it comes to desserts or anything NOT good for him. :)

Finally, just some pictures of the boys with their Grammy and Papa. Mom helped Holden set up his train, Papa busted out the "old school" Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads, and then there were some shenanigans with the streamers. All in all, it was a good evening. We enjoyed celebrating with you, Grammy!

July 4th

I am still mourning the probable loss of literally 100's of Fourth of July pictures. :( I had cute ones of the boys together in their patriotic outfits, family pics, the neighborhood parade, the fireworks, and lots of Baby Hunter since it was his first July 4th. I am thankful for these few that I had taken on my phone so that I at least have some for memories.

The night before, Holden helped me decorate his little motorcycle for the nieghborhood parade. He was so excited to ride it in the parade! He especially loved the pinwheels on the back because they remind him of a motor when they turn. We have yet to take his decorations off of the bike because he just loves them. This was the first year he rode on his own and wasn't in a stroller or wagon, although he pooped out about halfway through and got some assistance from Papa and Pepaw. ;) The lovely sore under his lip is from an unfortunate encounter with a toy metal truck.

Little Hunter in his "Born in the USA" onesie and souped up stroller. He never actually made it to the parade because he was tired and crabby by that point, and it was soooo HOT! He would have been miserable. Memaw offered to stay home with him so the rest of us could enjoy the parade. She had already taken Holden out to the Yogi Bear Campground that morning, where her sister, Teresa, had her camper set up. Holden had a blast there in the pool and got to see Yogi on the hayrack ride. I think Memaw was ready to sit in the air conditioning for awhile! ;)

In the evening, we had a cookout at our house with lots of yummy food. My parents and Jay's parents joined us. Then Holden, Jay and I went to the ISU golf course to watch the fireworks. Memaw stayed with Hunter again; too hot and way past his bedtime! Next year I am sure he will enjoy them. Holden had fun doing sparklers while we waited for the fireworks to start.

Patriotic cheesecake that I made. It was yummy!!! And easy. If you know me, I am no Betty Crocker. :)

Finally, these were taken the day before the 4th. Hunter had two patriotic outfits, so he wore red, white, and blue all weekend. We had a little photo shoot while Holden was napping because Hunter was in such a great mood. :) I could just eat him up!

Father's Day weekend 2010

Technology has not been my friend in the past few weeks. My USB cord wouldn't work to load pics, my I-Phone crashed, (fortunately Felicia the helpline phone tech. is the bomb!) and then my memory stick somehow malfunctioned and I may have lost 100's of special pictures, including the 4th of July and Hunter's 3 mo. shots. A friend's husband is working on it at the moment. I was able to salvage some, including Father's Day weekend. So here they are, a month later! :)

Hunter loves his Daddy!

Holden in his "My Daddy Rocks" t-shirt. He and Daddy love being goofy together!

Jay had Saturday off, so we enjoyed a special family day together on the day before Father's Day. Here he is with his boys. Holden picked out the new shirt he is wearing. (Sorry, Cubs fans!)

We took the boys to McGraw Park. Holden and Daddy had fun splashing in the fountain. It was a hot day!

Then they enjoyed the Splash Park. Jay would stand on a sprayer to stop it, then call Holden over to stand by him. Holden fell for it every time! See him running away lickety split in the middle right picture!

Oh, humidity, you are NOT my friend!

Hunter and I hung out in the shade and watched the action. Daddy and Holden also had some slide races, and then we visited the new "Super DQ" in town for some ice cream.

Saturday the 19th was also our 6th wedding anniversary. My parents watched the boys while we went out for dinner. They took a family picture for us. This was the best of the three Mom took...Holden's eyes are closed, but at least he's smiling, and our faces are all pointed in the general vicinity of the camera. :)

"Just the two of us"

On Father's Day, the boys and I went to church, had lunch at our house with Grammy and Papa, and then walked over to a park close to our house. Holden gave Papa quite the workout on another hot Illinois day! We walked on the trail before heading back home.

When Jay got home, he pulled out the slip n' slide for some water action. He is such a big kid! He and Holden had a blast, and I had fun watching them.

Jay would kink the hose behind his back, then tell Holden he had to kiss Elmo's nose to turn the water back on. Of course once Holden was face down on the mat, he'd unkink the hose! It took Holden awhile to figure it out. :)

Once the sun started to set so it was tolerable, we went for a short walk. This was Hunter's first time in the bike stroller (sans bike) and he loved it! Holden was a good big brother and made sure to hold onto the baby seat at all times. He was so excited that Hunter could ride with him!

We ended the day out at Comlara Park. We found a little dock and threw bread to the ducks and fish, and enjoyed the view. I love the pictures of Jay and the boys at the end of the dock.

My little Hunt-man and me.

Love my boys! Can you tell from the pink cheeks and the shiny faces that it was STILL hot at 7:00 at night?

Cracking up that you can see full pieces of bread floating in the water. Holden got tired of breaking them into pieces. :)

Pepaw was busy all day with his Heating and Cooling business. People need their air conditioners to work in hot weather! Holden was in his jammies by the time we saw his van pulling up down the street. Jay and Holden walked down to wish him a happy Father's Day and give him his gift. They shared a bedtime snack together. :)