Birthdays, Babies, Best Friends & Bad Dreams

We've been busy.

Lightning just turned three years old.

He shares his birthday week with Her Highness. Sometimes this is hard for Thunder, as he doesn't understand why they are getting all the attention for an entire week. You see, birthdays last an entire week in our family. Well, cause that's the way it should be.

Thunder is such a sweet brother, but during this week each year, he likes to remind us that it's not fair that Lightning and Her Highness get to have their parties in the summer. He was born in November, so we're limited to indoor activities. Next year, he just may get to share his birthday week with his new baby brother.

Hail loves a party, no matter who it's for.

Her Highness is officially six years old. She's starting to act like it too. She's really into big girl stuff these days. Cliche', but I gotta say it... she is growing up so fast.

Next, we proudly announce the arrival of my BFF- Dixie's newest addition, "Dixie-lee." No, of course those aren't their real names. I'm trying to protect all of those I love, and keep their identities safe... for the sake of my Mother, "Cookie." Dixie-lee arrived this past week, premature and weighing only five pounds. She is an angel doll who the entire Hudson Family already adores. Her Highness informed me on the way home from the hospital that she

is no longer sad she is going to have a baby brother. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Oh, Honey, I'm so glad. You'll love him even if he is a boy. He will still be fun.

Her: Yeah, sure. I'm okay with it. I just wish that he can be as tiny as HER!

Five pounds, folks. Her Highness and her wishes are what got us into this, so I need her to keep future wishes to herself. I tried to explain that all our babies had been in the eight pound range, and Mommy was still intimidated by those chunky monkeys so I would like to have another one that size if at all possible.

Her: Nope. I want a TINY ONE! Five pounds is soooo cute!! Like my baby dolls!

Moving on.... This is a pic of me with my younger sisters. They are twins. No really, they are. And I love being their big sister.


And I'm going to LOVE being the AUNT to a set of TWINS!!! Yep, that's right. My sister, who will be referred to as Kell-Bell (a name I've actually called her forever) is preggers with twins. An ultrasound discovered that for her this past week. They can already tell that the twins are fraternal, just like my sisters. How fun is that???!!

Her Highness loves her aunts, Kell-Bell and Katie-Lee (her nickname has been in the fam for many, many years too.) And loves all the girl time she gets when we are with them and Kell-Bell's daughter, who will barely be two years old when these babies are born!

Hail has been busy preparing to be a big brother. Thanks so much to all my dear friends who have allowed him to hold their sweet babies. He gets very excited when he sees a baby, of any size-- even his own, and squeals over and over, "I wanna hode it! I wanna hode it!" Unfortunately, he doesn't always want to give the baby back. Recently, Hail decided that his turn was not over and squeezed the precious child he was "hoding" so tight that I had to get the jaws of life to pry his chubby little hands off the then screaming baby. I was scolding him, while still trying to set the baby free when Hail remembered the one way to pay me back that trumps all others... "I BITE IT! I BITE IT!" he shrilled with his teeth heading straight towards the baby's legs. I tossed the innocent child to the rightful owner and flung Hail into his bedroom to wait for his whoppin'. And a whoppin' it was cause you just can't do stuff like that. Even if you are only 1 1/2 years old. Props to Maureen for being such a good sport about it all and continuing to be my friend.

Oh, and Kell-Bell, since Hail has had so much practice holding and entertaining babies, I'm happy to inform you that he will be spending the month of January with you once the twins arrive.

This is Hail with Kell-Bell's daughter, who is only three months younger. But, he still insisted he "hode it! HODE IT!!"

I shall end with the following conversation that took place this morning. Bert and I were laughing, errr, I mean sadly discussing all the frogs/lizards/worms our boys have "loved to death" this summer. Just this morning they found a frog who apparently wanted to commit suicide because he trapped himself on our screened-in porch. Between our cats and the kids, I would have to say he truly had a death wish.

Me: Poor thing. Wonder how long it will live?

Bert: Not long. (Hollers to the boys) Just put it in the bushes and let him find his home.

Boys: After MY turn is over you can hold it! No, it's MY turn.

Hail: I HODE IT! I HODE IT!

Bert: You know, that's my nightmare... I suddenly become a miniature version of myself and the boys find me.... And want to play with me.

I couldn't quit laughing. It's still funny to me now... Bert, a tiny man, no bigger than a match and the boys, their normal size, noticing their Daddy creeping across the living room floor. Then, fighting over who gets to hold him next. Cramming him into a bug catcher with grass and dirt to eat, like they do all their hostages.

Snicker. Snort.

Oh, that's funny.