Finally putting the finishing touches on this blog post! Our goal for the new year is to write more blog posts again, that’s how we started way back when we were in college and Grace first moved away. It’s nice to have a space to go into more detail and really share our thoughts. With that being said, even though its taken me way too long to finish this, I wanted to write a post reflecting on Hudson’s first year and our first year being parents. I still can’t believe how fast this year has gone! I know everyone say that time flies, but when I look back I really can’t believe how fast it really went. Hudson was born one year ago January 12th at 1:02 in the afternoon on his great grandma’s what would have been 100th birthday. Our lives changed forever! He truly has taught us so much and every single day has been a new adventure filled with something new he’s done for the first time that stops us in our tracks. He’s the sweetest boy, whose brought more joy in our life than I could have ever imagined and opened our hearts to a love that is indescribable!!
We can’t help but reminisce on this past year as we look back on the pictures and video of our sweet baby boy!! Truly the best year of our lives! Here are some thoughts and things we learned…
Those first few weeks… I remember I couldn’t even look at my phone to respond to messages, everything was so new and sometimes scary- is he hungry? cold? ate too much? uncomfortable? The worrying didn’t stop! So thankful for our family who has been there helping from day 1 giving helpful advice and being there as we transitioned into parenthood! The best support system in the world! The day after Hudson was born, Joel had to leave for away games, he couldn’t even take Hudson home from the hospital, it was so hard for him, and he never would have left if it wasn’t for Anne and Matt who were here. Anne actually stayed in the hospital with me, while Matt brought us dinner! A few days later my parents flew in and stayed with me so I wasn’t alone and then flew back a few weeks later! I seriously don’t know what I would have done, those weeks are magical yet a blur at the same time and there was nothing like having my parents there to help. Shared more details on Hudson’s birth story in this blog post HERE
Sleeping
I remember when Anne and I took turns visiting Grace when she just had Mason and her husband was away, we took turns sleeping in her bed and I remember maybe sleeping a few hours and thinking how do you do this! She said when it’s your baby, it’s a new emotion, hard to describe, you just do without thinking and the sleepless nights don’t matter anymore. So new mamas & dads if you’re worried you won’t ever sleep again, don’t worry, you will and honestly sleep has never been a problem or something I think of when looking back at this year. I swear I slept better after Hudson (even with all the sleep regressions) than when I was pregnant, I sleep on my back so being able to do that again was amazing and after pregnancy I finally liked coffee again so the effects of caffeine benefitted even more so!
Traveling
At 7 weeks old, Hudson took his first flight home to Massachusetts. I remember looking at him, telling him to rest up because from now on he was going to be our little travel buddy and from that day forward there is not much that we do without him! I remember being so nervous to go to Target or drive with him then one day I remember so specifically my mom called and said it was Joel’s 100th professional NHL game, he was at his game and I totally forgot, she gave me the confidence to go to the store and pick up a cake! I’m laughing thinking about how nervous I was, but I parked next to a cart drop off, grab a cart and placed him right into the cart in his car seat and got Joel a cake! Hudson slept the whole time!
Our first flight I remember trying to stay strong for Hudson, he was so little and everything was so new, when we landed in Boston I finally let myself break down crying, I was so happy that we both made it! He ended up getting his 2 month shots back in Boston (we have two pediatricians because we live back in Boston for the summers) and we stayed for two weeks while Joel was away. Don’t be scared, if you are new to flying, it is seriously the most rewarding thing being able to travel together! I travel probably 90% of the time by myself so my biggest advice would be don’t overthink it- I stressed out for weeks and Hudson literally slept, woke up to eat, then slept again the whole time those first 3-4 hour flights together! Once that first flight together is over, you’ll never have another first flight and you’ll find out what works and doesn’t work! We have blogs HERE on traveling with babies & HERE if you’re traveling soon!
Feeding
I exclusively breast fed/ pumped for 5 months, honestly it seemed longer than that, but when I noticed he was becoming un-interested and not gaining the weight he should have been I stopped. He only had a few bottles when he was maybe like 1 month and at 5 months he immediately took a bottle and that was it from then on he only took a bottle and formula. Best advice would be just do what’s best for you and your baby! I thought I would be sad, but I wasn’t at all, I think it was more relief that he was happy with his bottle and getting the amount needed. Around 4.5 months he started the baby oatmeal and from 6 months on anything soft- it was so nerve-racking feeding him real foods, but I followed solid starts they gave me the confidence to notice what babies can actually choke on and how to prepare food. We didn’t really do baby lead weaning and I was so self conscious, am I doing the right thing? Hudson was on the smaller side so I wanted to make sure he was still getting enough nutrients, so we stuck with it, mixing baby foods and real foods, bigger bites, new foods and one day it’s like everything changed, he started to get the hang of real foods. It definitely takes time for them and for myself to feel confident, I was always so worried about choking or allergic reactions, but just keep with it and eventually you both will get the hang of it!
12 Months
Hudson just began walking! He’s been taking steps here and there, but days before he turned a year he started letting go from furniture and start walking! His favorite toys are his target shopping cart, hockey sticks and his walkers! He loves traveling with mom, watching dad play hockey and playing with his family & cousins! He learns something new every day that makes us laugh and smile.
Thank you all for following along this past year as our lives changes for the better when we became moms. I saw this reel that said, “no one prepares a mom for the lasts… the last time they’ll do certain things” It made me so sad, but also gave me a new perspective to cherish every day even more! Even the hard ones or the middle of the night wake ups when he just wants to be held. Moments like that won’t last forever so really taking it all in and enjoying all the little special moments!
Here are some of Hudson’s favorite things throughout this year!
