Happy Birthday Hudson!

My baby is one! 

I don't really want to talk about it because I might just cry! 

Actually I'm still in denial. 

So let's just not talk about it, mmmkay? 

Hudson James,

Happy Birthday little man! 

You are the sweetest, most gentle baby ever. 

Your favorite thing in the world is to cuddle and you are happiest when I am holding you. 

You are fiercely loved by your 3 older siblings. 

They love on you and baby you all day long. 

You aren't in any hurry to walk and that is fine by me. 

You look just like your Daddy. 

One day you might have a real beard like him too. 

You can be a hard nut to crack but once we get you laughing you have a hard time stopping.

You love to watch what's going on in the world around you. 

Most of the time you would rather watch the craziness around you (usually your siblings doing whatever it is they do) than play with baby toys. 

You are very laid back and easy going. 

You love food. 

And you love. love. love. your thumb. 

You balance us out. 

I can't imagine our family without you in it. 

You bring so much joy and happiness to our lives and we love you so so much! 

I'm so thankful I get to be your Mama! 

I love you Huddy buddy. 

baby with a beard

Mini Aaron?

My friend gets all the credit for this awesome picture.
It's so wrong yet so so hilarious.

And yes...you guessed it. 

Duck Dynasty does have a beard app. 

Sorry Hudson. We promise not to show this to your girlfriend one day. 

2 months old

This little man is 2 months old already!

Hudson went from being a sleepy newborn to a smiley baby overnight. 

He loves to be in the middle of whatever is going on and just watch the craziness around him and he loves. loves. loves. his big sister Maddie (I got the cutest video of him smiling at her). 

We are soaking up every minute with our littlest guy. 

And since I was in professional photographer mode I tried my best to get a picture of the 4 of them. I finally ended up with this gem

but it took a whole lot of these kinds to get it. 

Obsessed

I just can't get enough of this guy.

He's absolutely perfect.

Except when he poops on me. 

Which I'm sad to say has happened more than once. or twice.

And I also can't get enough of Picmonkey.

It makes me look like I have way more skills with my camera than I really do.

2 weeks old

I can't believe our little guy is almost 2 weeks old. 

We are absolutely smitten with baby Hudson.

He definitely gets lots and lots of cuddles,

kisses, 

and snuggles every day. 

He's pretty much got the best 3 big siblings ever.
They all love him so much and are so protective of him.

This baby boy has already got us all wrapped around his little finger.

We are in trouble :)

Welcome baby Hudson!

He's here! 

I'm so excited to introduce you to our newest addition....

our precious son 

Hudson James Sellars

Born March 14th, 2013

at 2:00 a.m.

6 pounds 15 ounces

19.5 inches long

He is absolutely perfect!

We are so in love!

After such a l.o.n.g. pregnancy it is so good to have him here.

On the outside.

In our arms. 

And finally home! 

The other kids are pretty obsessed with him too.

They are constantly fighting over who gets to hold him. 

 I'm just soaking up every second of the precious newborn stage. 

It's my favorite (minus the no sleep part).

My mini mama. 

Here she is burping Hudson.

I'm so blessed! 

I'm having a baby!

I'm going to have a baby in a month or less.

That's crazy. 

And exciting. 

The other night I snuck in a little sewing time for our little man. 

It was pretty much the first (and only) thing we have done to get ready for our new baby. 

I was getting so giddy thinking about our baby Hudson (that's his name...I can't remember if I have told you guys that?!) and about his arrival.
I can't wait to meet him and to not be pregnant anymore. 

Oh to not be pregnant anymore.

Anyways, just wanted someone to freak out with me (and be excited) about the fact that our 4th child is almost here.

I figured you guys would be good for that.
Ok...I better go now and get ready for a baby. 

Just in case he decides to come early.      

Bye Bye Bed rest!

Guess who is off bed rest?!!

ME!!!

I went to my regular OB yesterday and he said since my ultrasound looked good and since I have been walking a little (for the past week) and not bleeding I can be off bed rest. 

I still have to take it easy but I can be home alone with the kids and leave the house and walk!

It feels so good to use my legs. 

I'm SOOOOO excited! 

Fresh air never smelt so good.

Not being on bed rest is awesome but I am really sad that I won't be seeing all the people that have been helping me with the kids. 

I made a couple of them promise to come hang out regularly with us.

It's going to be so weird getting back to regular life. 

Now I actually have to do dishes and laundry.

Yuck! 

But I do get to go to Target. 

Which I will be visiting today.

27 weeks and an update

I'm 27 and a half weeks pregnant with our sweet baby Hudson.

It's pretty crazy to think that we have already survived 3 full months of bed rest. 

I think I have almost forgotten what it feels like to be normal

yet at the same time I think we are finally getting used to this new normal.

Before bed rest I rarely spent a whole day at home.

We were always out and about doing something.

And now...well we almost never leave the house (unless I'm being naughty and we sneak out in the wheelchair). 

Life has definitely creeped by instead of flown by at its usual frantic speed.
And in some ways that has been nice.

I have definitely gotten to enjoy my kids more and savor their littleness while it lasts  

because I'm sure before I know it bed rest will be over, baby will be here, and life will be a whole new level of crazy (4 kids under 5! yikes!). 

Anyways, yesterday I had my dreaded glucose test.  

yuck.

 Thankfully I had Aaron in the room to keep me company while we waited for the sugar to do its thang. 

He was sweet enough to let me destroy him in a game of words with friends. 

Thanks babe. 

AND we had another ultrasound to check on the progress of baby and the hemorrhage. 

Isn't he the cutest baby ever? 

The ultrasound showed that the hemorrhage has shrunk a lot and still has a lot of shrinking left to go. 

Baby Hudson is growing great and was measuring 5 days bigger than he should (which is a great sign and means my placenta is functioning well). 

I'm still on bedrest but I was freed to do a little more walking around the house (thank you Jesus!). 

I go back in a month for another ultrasound and check up so we are just praying that things are smooth sailing until then.  

Thanks for all of your prayers for me and Hudson! 

And apparently Aaron and I only make one kind of kid.

I found some pictures of Wesley and Madelyn...

look at how similar they all look! 

Good thing they are super cute :)

Baby update

Hey guys! 

Just a quick update on me and baby for all of you who are interested.

We had appointments with the perinatologist and my regular OB this week and we found out...

-we make the cutest babies ever (but we already knew that). I love getting a peek at our little guy at all of our ultrasounds. 

-the giant hemorrhage is still there but it is sllllooowwwly shrinking. It was a few centimeters smaller this month.

-The giant thing in the baby's bowel/colon was gone! Praise Jesus!

-But his intestines still "light up" on the ultrasound. They think it is just blood that the baby has swallowed.

-My amniotic fluid looked really cloudy which most likely means that there is blood particles in that too (which apparently they think is fine). 

-The tests for Cystic Fibrosis and infections all came back negative!

-And I'm still on bed rest :) indefinitely.

But today I'm 24 weeks which means we have successfully survived 2 whole months of bed rest! 

Woo hoo!! 

We are so blessed by the countless people who have helped us watch the kids, who have dropped of groceries, made meals and come over to visit. 

We definitely wouldn't be able to get through this without you! 

Jail break!

Yesterday my husband let me escape!

I told him it was important for my mental health to get out of the house.

plus I needed some new leggings and some Starbucks.

  So we went where anyone who has been trapped in their house for over a month would go...

Target!

Don't worry people I rode the motorized wheelchair/shopping cart thing the entire time.

And my husband made sure to capture lots of pictures/videos of me in it for future blackmail. 

Thanks babe. 

Mmmm...Starbucks! 

And since I was already breaking all the rules that day I decided to snap a quick belly pic (my very first one this whole pregnancy!) just to prove there really is a baby in there.

(Pic taken at 21 weeks preggo)

Hope you got to get out and enjoy the cool fall air this weekend too!

Choosing to be thankful

I really want to title this post 

things that suck about being on bed rest.

  

This morning I sent Mackenize off to her last soccer game and her end of the year party. 

And I was mad. 

I want to be there so bad! 

I hate missing out on life and I hate not being able to be there for my kids. 

And I hate that bed rest affects way more people than just me. 

And I could go on and on about all of the reasons why bed rest sucks. 

And part of me really wants to

but instead I'm choosing to be grateful and thankful for all the good things in my life right now.   

I want to dwell on those things instead. 

Because when crazy uncontrollable things happen 

we get to choose our response to them. 

And instead of being bitter I want to be grateful.

So here are the things I choosing to be grateful for.

-A precious baby that I'm on bed rest for. I'm so thankful that he's still on the inside and that he's growing bigger and stronger each day. 

-My husband who has been serving me and the kids so sacrificially this past month and a half. He has been such a trooper and even finds ways to go out of his way to bless me.  I'm one lucky lady! 

-All the friends and family that have been helping with the kids! 3 kids isn't a small task. I know it's tiring and they have been going out of their way to keep them entertained and alive. We are so blessed by the people God has surrounded us with!   

 -Little, pretty reminders of the outside world. 

-Friends that have stopped by for a visit or my favorite...game night! And friends who bring yummy treats.

-Leggings and Uggs. The best bed rest wardrobe ever.

  

-These three cuties that keep life from being anything but boring. 

What are you choosing to be thankful for today?