The Hutchisons

Jude is TWO!

2012-01-31T06:48:00.000-08:00

I really can't believe it. My baby boy is TWO. Where did all the time go? It actually makes me a little teary-eyed to realize that two years have gone by so quickly. Before I know it, he won't want to cuddle or ask me to "hold you". He won't need me to "rock you" before bed time, or want my 'fix-it' kisses. I must soak in every second.

Jude,

You really are a complete joy. I can't even say your name without smiling. I love that God has given you the gift of making those around you happy. You have such a silly spirit, a contagious laugh, and a joyful demeanor. I pray that you will always use your gifts to bless those around you.

Some of your favorite things right now:
-shooting basketball hoops (the second you wake up, you ask where your ball is and say you want to shoot hoops)
-building anything (you got some really great tools for Christmas and your birthday that you use to build all sorts of things)
-spinning the football (you love how Daddy gets to spin!)
-Toy Story anything (you love the movies and the toys. Daddy just got you some boots just like Woody's!)
-treats (the great thing is that we can tell you that an orange is a treat, and you are happy!)
-Mickey Mouse (it is your favorite show right now)
-your blankies and your Mr. P. (Mr. P has been a bedtime necessity for awhile. Now you love soft blankies to rub on your face.)

Some of your favorite words/sayings:
-"hold you" (when you want me to hold you)
-"Loly" (your affectionate name for Lola)
-"That's cute" (You often tell us that Lola's bows and pink things are cute)
-"Oh gosh!" (I love this! And you almost always use it when it makes sense)

For your second birthday party, we did a Toy Story theme. You absolutely loved it and were very excited to play with all of your new Toy Story toys. Friends and family came over to help you celebrate. You loved having everyone sing to you.

I am thankful that God has allowed me to be your mommy. I have learned so much from you, and truly feel blessed to call you my son. I love you, Jude Prehn.

Typing with one hand.

2011-12-10T21:51:00.000-08:00

I have obviously fallen short of my blogging intentions, but typing with one hand is hard.

Now, don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of opportunities to type without a baby in tow, but I use those moments to SLEEP!

Lola Harper was born on October 19, healthy and beautiful. She is the most amazing little thing. So content, a great sleeper (this is me knocking on wood), and very patient (I can tell this already because she puts up with her incredibly silly, very active two year old brother!). I have been able to stay home for the last two months and I couldn't be happier. I love being a mommy so much and cherish the time that I get to spend with my littles. Jude has done so well welcoming his little sister. I can honestly say that there has not been one moment where he has shown jealousy or frustration with her. I did not know exactly what to expect, but I definitely did not expect him to be so mature. From the instant that he met her, he has been in love.

This is Jude running to meet his sister!

Loving on Lola.

My big one month old!

Over the past 7 weeks, we have been blessed by sooo many people. We are grateful for all of the wonderful meals, the precious gifts, and the acts of service we have received. Thank you to all that have blessed us in these ways. It has made our time sweeter and much less stressful!

A quick update of Lola's first few weeks:

-Born Wednesday, October 19 at 12:57 am.
-Came home on Wednesday, October 19 at 6:30 am
-First outing for doctor checkup on October 20
-10 day check up and Halloween on October 31
-First road trip to Waco/Austin for cousin Kinley's first birthday party.
-First smile on November 15
-Slept for 5 straight hours at night on November 19
-One month check up November 22 (23 inches-96%, 10lbs 12oz-87%)
-Second road trip to Temple/Waco for Thanksgiving November 23
-Sleeping in consistent 4.5-5 hour stretches every night starting December 3

We have loved being a family of four and couldn't imagine a life without our sweet Lola.

This morning, Justin got Jude out of bed, brought him downstairs to our room, and turned on cartoons. I had just finished feeding Lola so the four of us got to cuddle in bed. Justin then got up and made donuts and brought them to us. As Jude scarfed down one too many, I sat back and thanked God for my family. No amount of money or 'thing' could ever compare to the memories we are making. God has blessed me, indeed.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

One year ago, Justin and I were going through quite the financial crisis. With a business that did not succeed, lots of debt, and news that my new job was not stable, I worried…a lot. God does not call us to live in fear, to worry or doubt, but He calls us to live in faith and to trust in Him. To worry is to reject the very essence of God’s provision over us. When we worry, we negate our faith/trust in Him.

I recently mulled over the definitions of faith versus trust. It is so easy for me to say that I have faith. I fully believe in our God, the one who is unseen, the one that gave His own son for ME. I have faith that my God is my protector, my shield, my deliverer. But…do I TRUST him? Do I fully trust that my God will not harm me nor forsake me? Worry is a selfish act that separates us from our Father. When we worry, we deny our need for God and our trust in Him and believe that we can fix things on our own.

Because of the fall, things will never be perfect on earth. There will always be stresses in our life that could lead us to worry. God never promised us a perfect earthly existence. He only promised us a perfect eternity.

So, back to last year…
I definitely struggled with trusting God. In my heart, I knew that God would never leave me nor forsake me, but in my mind, I was constantly trying to figure out ways that I could fix our situation. I was distraught over our financial situation. Jude was almost one and it just did not seem practical to think about extending our family until we could get our finances under control. Justin and I had a plan. I would find another job and we would work hard to pay off debt, then we would think about having another baby.

It really is funny that we think we know what we need! Despite our plans, on February 15, 2011, I found out baby number two was on the way. I will be honest and say that I was in a complete state of shock. On one hand, I could not have been more thrilled. On the other, I could not have been more scared. How were we going to take care of and provide for two babies? How could we possibly afford this? I wanted to thank God for giving me the rich blessing of a child, but wanted to also question His judgment!

As I sit here this Thanksgiving, my heart is full. I have tears of joy as I think about God’s abundant grace and faithfulness. I am thankful for His provision and HIS plan for my family. I am thankful that God works in me, despite me. And, I am thankful that God gives me forgiveness as I work on giving up control and trusting completely in Him.

“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Deuteronomy 32:4

40 Weeks!

2011-10-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well, October 17th came and went with no LOLA!

On Friday, I started having somewhat consistent contractions, so I thought for sure that she was on her way. By the time that I was able to leave the office and get to my midwife, my contractions had completely stopped. So typical, haha. Though the midwife said that I had not progressed much since my last appointment, she still advised me to come in on Monday (yesterday) to start a natural induction process. They think that sweet Lola is getting pretty big and they know her big brother was 9 pounds and was born in 6 short hours!

Our families headed up to Dallas for the anticipated arrival on Sunday. We had everything planned out for how Monday would go. At 7:00 on Monday morning, Justin and I woke up, loaded the car, and headed to the birth center for our 8:45 appointment. I kind of had a weird feeling, like a "this is not going to happen" feeling, but we brushed it off as nerves and proceeded anyway.

Once my midwife (a different one from Friday, but the one that I usually see) saw me, she seemed quite hesitant about any kind of induction. She said that my body just did not seem ready yet and that we should probably go back home! Not exactly what I was expecting to hear, but it actually kind of relieved my gut "I-don't-feel-ready-yet" feeling. So, I dropped Justin off at work and headed back to tell the news to my family. Thank goodness they all live relatively close and they were none too bitter about the 'wasted' trip!!

So, on Monday, instead of having a baby, I walked, napped, took Jude to the park, and mowed the grass. I figured if mowing the grass did not start labor, nothing I can do will! Today, I am back at work, bouncing on an exercise ball, and praying she makes her arrival soon. Adjusting patients with a large 40 week pregnant belly is becoming quite difficult!

Below I have posted the most recent belly pics. The 40 week one was taken early yesterday morning, hence the 'sleepy eyes'.

38 Weeks

39 Weeks

40 Weeks

Waiting for Lola...

2011-10-11T12:21:00.001-07:00

Lola's nursery is officially done. All we need now is the sweet girl who's going to occupy it!

I am very thankful for a creative husband who thinks outside the box and is also able to bring my ideas to fruition. He did a great job with her room. I am also thankful for sweet friends and family who contributed to the nursery by way of furniture and decorations. I absolutely love how everything came together!

Quick Pregnancy Update:

2011-09-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

I have been really bad about blogging. I actually love to write, and love updating the blog, but I am just.plain.tired. Between working insane hours, commuting all across the metroplex, spending time with my sweet family, and being exhaustingly pregnant, I just haven't found the time to 'journal' as much as I would like.

Though I know I have complained a lot about the heat, getting huge, etc., I have actually really enjoyed this pregnancy. With Jude, I had pre-term labor and spent the better half of my last trimester lying in bed. So, it has been such a relief to be able to "fully function" up to this point. I say "fully function" in quotes, because I don't know if waddling around constitutes true functionality.

Miss Lola is growin' and a growin'. She is still a mover and shaker, a night owl, and sweets lover. It is fun to try to guess her personality by her in-utero tendencies. Justin is confident she will be quite the rebellious one. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and say that she is just strong-willed. Anyhow, I can't wait to see and kiss her sweet face. And, I can't wait to see what my two boys will think of her. I just know that Justin will be the best daddy to a little girl, and Jude clearly already loves her (see video below)!

We will finally finish her room this weekend and I am so excited to see the finished product. It is a modge podge of several styles and ideas. And I think it will be perfect. I will post pics as soon as it is completed! Here are some more belly pics. Please excuse the excess of pony tails, t-shirts, and shorts. Like I said before, it is hot, and stretchy, comfy clothes are all I can handle, ha.

31 Weeks:

32 Weeks:

34 Weeks:

35 Weeks:

36 Weeks:

37 Weeks:

My pregnancy so far

2011-08-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

My pregnancy so far:

This week marks 30 weeks; only 10 more to go (hopefully less) until we get to meet our sweet girl. I am so eager to see her, hold her, introduce her to her big brother. I can’t help but wonder what she will look like. We she look like Jude, blue eyes and blonde hair? Have red hair like her aunts? Be dark complected like her uncles? So many combinations of traits!

One thing that I do know about Lola is SHE LIKES TO MOVE. Jude always moved a lot in utero, but this girl has a CRAZY amount of energy (I think we may be in trouble here!). I seriously do not think that there is a single 30-minute period in the day or night that I do not feel some sort of movement. She likes to abruptly push, steadily lean, and vigorously kick.

Overall, this pregnancy has been pretty easy. I actually like being pregnant, although Justin may think otherwise with all of my complaints (most of which boil down to the fact that I’m hot, no pun intended, or super tired chasing Jude-bug around!).

Although I think that I have grown at an absurd pace, I guess I just forgot how big you actually get when pregnant (especially when you grow nine pound babies!). Looking back at pregnancy pics of Jude assures me that Lola isn’t some giant, I just feel big.

We still have quite a bit to do before Lola arrives. Her room has not been painted and we still have some furniture that needs to be re-finished. Poor Justin will have his hands full over the next 10 weeks; luckily, he is super talented and will be able to pull off all of my crazy ideas with perfection.

I will keep you updated as the room and pregnancy progress, but for now, here are some belly pics from the past few weeks.

19 Weeks:

21 Weeks:

23 Weeks:

25 Weeks:

27 Weeks:

29 Weeks:

Jude at 18 months

2011-08-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Jude,

What you have been up to (and in to)…EVERYTHING!

Wow. You change everyday and it constantly amazes me the things that you learn. Language development is such a fascinating thing to witness. You learn new words every day, and I am shocked by your understanding and implementation of them.

Words that you can sign:
Ball, football, cat, dog, momma, dada, brush, teeth, cracker, juice, drink, water, apple, fruit, banana, cheese, more, please, thank you, sorry, yes, no, game, shoe, stars, bear, outside, tree, leaf, bye-bye, clean, shirt, diaper, all done, milk, I love you, bat, sad, sleepy, baby, gentle, pray, eat, play, up, down, help, hot, cold, hat, hair, nose, ear, listen, mouth, book, signing, time, flower, rain, wind, snow, stop, dirty, chicken, balloon, hurt, fish, peach, pear, share, nice, cry, play, friend, nice, pray…

Words that you can say:
Momma, dada, ball, bath, bat, eat, cracker, juice, treat, outside, dog, Oscar, Gigi, Deeda, Pops, Zane, Leif, bubbles, play, Lola, cheese, banana, grape, peach, uh oh, whoa, done, up, down, bye-bye, baby, hot, cold, more, hat, moon, God, amen, book, dirty, yum, chicken, balloon, wash, fish, Gabba, share, game, yes, no, turtle, frog, pool, walk, nice, sad, friend, bed, water, diaper, silly, belly, bite, teeth, brush, push, nose, phone, shoes, shirt, stuck, tickle, star, help, fork, snack, me, mine, I want…and probably a lot more that I am not thinking of. It is crazy how fast you pick up on words and use them. You practically learn a new word every day! You are one smart little guy.

You have such a joyous personality; full of life and full of your Daddy’s sense of humor. I so pray that you keep your silly spirit! I just love watching you and listening to your contagious laugh. You do have a serious side, though. Like your Momma, you like to be in charge and point to exactly where you want to go and where you want other people to be. It is cute now, but I am sure down the road, we will have to talk! You love to dance, love to ‘go crazy’, play outside, play any kind of sport, jump, laugh, and EAT. You also absolutely love the movie UP. You don’t get to watch much television, but for some reason, this movie has you hooked. You can literally sit and watch the whole thing, which is crazy because you NEVER sit still!

You are a TURKEY. I know that you are beginning to learn the difference between right and wrong, and you choose to what is the most fun! I can see a stubborn streak running through you already. It is definitely going to be harder to discipline you than I thought that it would be. I just can’t stand to see those big blue eyes cry. But, I know that it is for your best interest, and luckily, your sad eyes don’t have the same affect on your daddy! We know that testing our limits is part of your learning process and you are learning well! In all honesty, you have been soooo easy and actually mind pretty well.

You have recently become very interested in praying. We have to say multiple prayers at each meal and at bedtime, which Melts.My.Heart. A few weeks ago, you were persistent about saying your own prayer. You would not let me put you down for the night until you could say your very own prayer. With your fingers tightly clasped together, you so sweetly prayed (after repeating me) “God, (signed thank you), for Momma, Dada, Lola. (Signed I love you). Amen.” It seriously brought tears to my eyes. As your mommy, my main goal (along with your daddy) is to teach you to love our God; to honor Him with prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and action. I cannot wait for the day that you make your own personal decision to follow Jesus.

We love you, Jude Prehn. And can’t remember what our lives were like before we had you to chase around, worry about, laugh at, and love on.

Friends, Fun and the Fourth.

2011-07-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend we stayed in Dallas to celebrate the Fourth with friends and have a little down time with just the three of us. I love long weekends and the excitement one extra day at home for Justin brings.

On Friday night, we just hung out around the house, cooked dinner, played with Jude, then watched a movie once he was down for the night. We needed a low-key evening to prepare for the rest of the weekend!

Saturday was a day full of festivities. Our group of Dallas friends have an annual get together that is tons of fun. Grown men forget that they are not in college anymore and play Schlitterball (a made-up volleyball/soccer game), act like children on a slip and slide and just have an all around day of fun.

Sunday, after recouping from a day in the sun, we slept in, ran errands and then took Jude to see an air show and fireworks display in Addison. SO. MUCH. FUN. We had incredible seats thanks to one of Justin's coworkers/friends. Jude absolutely loved the airplanes. His new favorite and most appropriately used and inflected word is WHOA. He could not get enough of the airplanes! Once the sun set, the fireworks began. It was passed Jude's normal bedtime and I was a little worried if he would make it, but once the show began, he stared in amazement. Life does not get much better than living it through the eyes of a child.

On the way home from Addison, Justin and I reflected on parenthood, our freedom, and how blessed we really are. It sometimes just does not seem real to me that I have a family. And not only that, that I have been blessed enough to have a family in America. Where we are afforded much more than many around the world. Where we can go to sleep at night and know that we are FREE. I love my little family and I can't wait to create many more memories with Jude, Lola, and Justin. God is so good.

Today, after a short visit from a stomach bug, I decided that it would be best to stay put and not make any plans. At first I was kind of bummed that we would not spend the day with friends or find something fun for Jude to do, but today ended up being perfect. Jude slept until an unheard of 8:30 and the rest of the day followed suit. We lounged, laughed, and ate lots of great Justin-prepared food. Lunch was hot dogs (not my favorite, but a tribute to the holiday) and dinner was grilled bar-b-q chicken. After dinner we played outside and watched Jude run through the sprinklers and eat popsicles. Once again, living life through a child's eyes is more fun than I could have imagined.

So, all this rambling is to express how blessed I am. I sometimes forget about the simple things when counting my blessings. But I shouldn't, they are the sweetest.

It's a...

2011-06-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

GIRL!

Lola Harper Hutchison will grace us with her presence in mid October. We could not feel more excited or blessed.

We decided not to find out the sex during the ultrasound, but had the ultrasound tech write down the sex on a piece of paper. I then took that piece of paper to a bakery, and they made a beautiful cake with the appropriate colored icing inside. We waited to cut the cake until later that evening with a few family members present. It was such a fun way to find out! As soon as Justin cut into the cake and I saw the PINK icing, I melted. Having a little girl will be so much fun! I can't wait for all of the pink and bows (which is pretty funny, since I HATED pink and bows as a little girl!).

Jude will make such a sweet big brother. He has been practicing saying Lola, and actually says it pretty well. It is so cute to listen to him say her name. Now, I know that he does not understand the concept at all, but when I ask him where the baby is, he lifts up my shirt and points to my belly button. So sweet!

I am super excited about seeing Justin with a little girl. He is such a wonderful daddy to Jude. My favorite time of the day is when Justin walks in the door from work. Jude not-so-patiently waits by the back door, peeking out the window, waiting for his DADA to come home. As soon as Justin steps in, Jude smiles, giggles, yells 'DADA' and runs to Justin. I know that Justin has already made such a positive impact on this little boy; showing him how to love, respect, and laugh. Jude absolutely adores him. So although I know it will be completely different with a girl, I know Justin will be equally as wonderful. Probably just not as much rough housing, wrestling, or batting practice (haha)...

I'll post again soon with some pregnancy updates.

-BH

Any Guesses?

2011-05-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I am already 16 weeks pregnant with this sweet baby. And, I am finally feeling better! Yay! It is hard to believe that I am almost halfway there. I guess time goes a little faster chasing around an active 16 month old.

So far, I have enjoyed being pregnant, especially now that the nausea is gone. I do, however, feel like I popped out a little sooner this time. I guess that is to be expected the second time around.

Me at 5 weeks!

Me at 13 weeks (please excuse the bad hair!)

Yesterday I got to hear the heartbeat again! I absolutely love that sound. It is so incredible to think that I have a miracle growing inside of me. God is good. Here is a very short clip of that precious sound!

We find out what we are having on May 23. I absolutely can not wait. Any guesses?

BH

Another Change...

2011-04-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

About a month after I started my current job, I was informed that Texas Health Resources (a large company that owns many hospitals and medical clinics in the metroplex) was going to buy out the company that I work for. I was told that this may or may not affect my position, but to be ready in December to start looking for employment. Well, December came and went with no talk of my position/program being cut. I carried the thought in the back of my mind that my job was very unstable, but I began to think that if my job was at risk, I would have heard some sort of news by February/March. Well, I got news on Friday (completely out of the blue!) that my job has been eliminated. I have thirty days to continue working here, which to be honest is a little hard, until I will once again be looking for work! I absolutely love the people that I work with and that will be the hardest part of leaving my job.

I know that God works in mysterious ways. That has been shown to me time and time again. He does have a perfect plan. I just have to have faith and let Him show me His plan according to His timing.

With all of this being said, I would love all prayers, especially for understanding and peace of mind. Also, I have been struggling with what exactly I am 'called' to do. I love chiropractic as a practice/philosophy, but I am just not so sure how I feel about the profession right now. With the economy the way it is, it seems that you have to have your own, established practice to being doing well. Most people consider chiropractic care a luxury, so it is one of the first things they cut out of their budget when times are tough. That makes it hard for a chiropractor to find work! It is just discouraging to invest so much time, heart, and money to a career (and schooling) to not find employment. So....I may be expanding my horizon. Looking past just chiropractic. I am willing to consider any profession that allows me to use my knowledge in the science/medical field or my Bachelor Degree in English. If you know of ANY job openings, medical related or not, I would love the information. Thank you for your continued prayers!

BH

Jude is going to be a BIG BROTHER!

2011-04-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Well, God is quite good at surprising us. I don't know when I will ever learn that I am not in control. I seem to think that I have my life planned out, and that I know exactly what is going to happen and when. Ha! Thank goodness we have a Father that loves us, cares for us, knows our future, and BLESSES us.

God has given Justin and I another opportunity to parent one of HIS precious children. We are due in mid October and couldn't be more excited (or surprised!). We have been beyond blessed being the parents of Jude, and we are thrilled to be raising two children. Since the babies will be so close in age (21 months), I just know that they will be best friends! I truly have no 'gut' feeling on what we are having. Part of me thinks it would be great to have another little boy so he and Jude could do 'boy things' together. The other part of me is dying to have a prissy little girl. I want PINK, BOWS, MORE PINK AND MORE BOWS! Regardless, we just pray for a healthy, happy child.

I promise to get better at updating my blog, especially since our family is ever changing. I really hope to use this as sort of a pregnancy/mommy journal to update others (and remind myself) of all that is going on in the Hutchison Household!

Bobbie

Jude's First Birthday Party

2011-02-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

Well, better late than never, right?

Jude’s birthday party was a huge success! It was fun to celebrate his first year with all of our favorite people. Jude is blessed to have so many people that love him.

We chose an ‘owl themed’ party: Look Whoooo’s Turning One. It was so fun to shop and prepare for the party and look for fun owl things! (Side note: start saving now for any future children’s parties, ha!)

J-Pops, Gigi, Jim and Vickie Thompson, and Trent and Amanda all came in early to help prepare for the party. We literally could not have pulled everything off without the help, plus it was fun to stay up late and get everything ready!

Justin made the cake, and I personally think he should start selling his creations. He did a fabulous job and made it seem so easy. Trent and Amanda baked cupcakes and they were decorated by too many people to count. Gigi ‘made’ mini quiches, I made fruit salad, J-Pops cubed enough cheese to feed an army, and we served Chick-fil-a nuggets. We had quite the spread….and we ate it all.

Jude received so many great gifts. He loves to get in and out of his ‘cozy coupe’ red car, play with puzzles and wear his cowboy boots. He also LOVES all of his new books, but wants to read them himself (he will NOT sit still long enough for me to read one page!). His new push toy, race track, shape sorter, and computer have all been such entertainment for my little man. He just loves to play, and play hard. I can already see the ALL BOY personality coming out; he constantly throws, bangs, and yells with excitement.

I was very curious to see how Jude would react to the birthday cake. He has had a very clean diet and had not been introduced to anything sweet. When the cake was placed in front of him, he just stared. Finally, after a little encouragement, he pinched a piece of the icing off and tasted. Soon, another pinch followed. Then another. I could tell that he really wanted to dig in, but he didn’t like his fingers being sticky, so I wiped them and he grabbed a chunk of cake and shoved it in! From that point on, his cares of sticky fingers went out the window, and he couldn’t get the cake to his mouth fast enough!

It has been such a blessing to watch my baby grow into a little boy. He is truly amazing and has brought us so much joy in his one year. Thank you to all who have loved and shared with us!

A Year In Review

2011-01-18T12:37:00.000-08:00

Get ready for the longest post ever...

Jude,

One year ago today, you changed our lives. We never could have imagined how much joy you have brought us. There is not one minute that goes by that we are not reminded of the blessing you are to our lives. How favored are we that God chose us to be your parents?! We pray that God will continue to mold us a fitting parents that will discipline, love, and direct you to be a Godly young man.

Here is a glimpse of your first year:

January 18, 2011 4:05 pm: You were born. Your Daddy was the first to touch you and you looked up at him with your big blue eyes. It was love at first sight for both of you. You weighed 9 lbs and were 21.5 inches long.

February 4, 2010: Your first basketball game. We headed to Mary Hardin Baylor to see Uncle Zane play.

February 10, 2010: Your first real smile at me. It. Melted. My. Heart.

March 1, 2010: You noticed your hands for the first time. You could spend every waking second inspecting and moving each individual finger. I love watching you take everything in. I can already tell you are going to be meticulous, like your mommy.

April 4, 2010: Your first Easter. You looked quite dapper in your argyle sweater and while golfer’s hat (even though your Daddy was not sure it was manly enough).

April 28, 2010: You began to sleep through the night. I use this term lightly, though. You would go to sleep around 8:30, wake up for at least one feeding at about 3:30, then sleep until about 7:00.

April 29, 2010: One of my favorite moments. You began laughing. Your laugh is so contagious.

May 9, 2010: You gave me my first Mother’s Day and you were dedicated at church. You were very good and slept through most of it.

May 12, 2010: You rolled over from your stomach to your back for Mommy. You had been trying so hard and were getting quite frustrated, but you were so proud of yourself when you mastered the maneuver.

May 17, 2010: You rolled over from your back to your stomach for Daddy. Both of your were thrilled.

May 22, 2010: Your first vacation, a trip to the beach. The Hutchison family headed to South Padre. You loved the water, the sun, the sand, and ‘chilling’ on the floaties!

July 1, 2010: You started army crawling. Our lives definitely changed with this newfound ability. You were now highly mobile and VERY fast.

July 18, 2010: You started eating solid foods. You loved, loved, loved the avocados!

July 21, 2010: You sat up independently and looked like such a big boy.

July 31, 2010: Your first wedding. You were the ring bearer in Zane and Emmy’s wedding. You were absolutely adorable and so good. Not a single peep through the entire thing!

August 21, 2010: You pulled up for the first time on me, then on EVERYTHING.

August 29, 2010: You pulled up in your crib. Daddy had to lower the mattress at 10:00pm to ensure that you would stay put through the night.

September 2, 2010: Christina taught you “This Little Light of Mine” and you eagerly held up your ‘little light’ any time you heard the song.

September 4, 2010: You cut your very first tooth; the bottom right central incisor.

September 5, 2010: You signed MILK very emphatically to let me know that you were hungry.

September 13, 2010: You love your Daddy so much, and to let him know, you signed “DADA”.

September 19, 2010: You cut your second tooth; bottom left central incisor.

October 1, 2010: You started clapping! Which was quite fitting since we were in Albany to see Uncle Leif crowned as Homecoming King!

November 13, 2010: You became a cousin. Kinley Brooke Thompson was born. You also cut your two front teeth.

November 25, 2010: Your first Thanksgiving. You very much enjoyed all of the food and the family.

December 4, 2010: You saw and fell in love with Santa Claus. You especially loved his white beard.

December 25, 2010: Your first Christmas! You loved tearing the paper and handing me each small piece that you tore off. You also loved the boxes that the gifts came in!

January 3, 2011: You took four steps from me to your Daddy!

January 11, 2011: You love our dogs, Oscar and Zeke. When they came in for the night, you excitedly signed “puppy”. You also decided that they needed extra food, and fed them your dinner.

January 13, 2011: You are now a walker! You took 10+ steps and chose to walk without us standing you up.

It is so hard to believe that you are now one, and I must admit that it is hard to see you go from our little baby to our little toddler. This year has been filled with firsts and we can’t wait to see what your second year will bring. It fills our hearts with so much joy to watch you learn and grow. We love you, Jude Prehn!

Lately...The Woes of a Working Mommy

2011-01-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

I've been a really bad blogger lately. There have been so many things going on and I am just not keeping up!

I hate to devote a whole blog to a 'rant', but here it goes... This is not intended to be a pity party and I expect no affirmation on my abilities as a mother and wife. But, sometimes I just don't seem fit for this role. I mean, let's face it, I've left much to be desired lately.

Between working a full time job, commuting two plus hours everyday to work, and normal daily activities, there hasn't been much room for things that I expect to do as mommy and wife. Wouldn't it be great if I set my alarm (and woke up when it went off the first time instead of pushing snooze 6 times!), made breakfast for the family, left the house with no dirty dishes in the sink, and came home each night to a clean house full of folded laundry where I could walk into my fully stocked pantry and pick out the items for our planned-ahead-of-time dinner? Instead, I find my self scurrying around like a crazy woman each night trying to just fix some food that sort of resembles and is somewhat suitable for a main meal.

I really do have FULL intentions of being organized and have little dreams of living inside of a Pottery Barn magazine. But my reality is much different. I 'see' so many of my friends planning lunch dates, cooking fab meals, playing with their babies, and still having time to take that much needed (and envied) nap. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that staying at home is HARD WORK, but this mommy could really do without the stress and guilt that working outside of the home so graciously provides.

I am so thankful for my sweet husband who doesn't mind that the laundry is in a (clean) pile on top of the dryer, that dinner is either cold or unprepared, and there there is sink full of dirty dishes that he will devotedly do at the end of the night. I am thankful that he loves me no matter how tired, grumpy, and stressed I may be. I am thankful that we have our precious Jude to bring us back to what really matters. So, for now, since I can't be perfect, I'll choose to spend every spare second with my boys. The moments we have each evening completely make up for all inadequacies that I feel throughout the day. Those are the moments I will remember. And, at the end of the day, I don't want Jude to remember his mommy frantically buzzing around the house. I want him to remember family time; laughing and playing together.

Tis The Season

2010-12-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love this time of year! And I am so excited to enjoy my first Christmas as a mom. Jude has brought us so much joy throughout this year, but there is something even more joyful about celebrating the Birth of Our Saviour with him. I know that Jude does not grasp the importance of this holiday, but I still bask in the beauty of the Season and pray that my own child will grow to love and celebrate Jesus.

On a more secular note, it is so fun to see Jude enjoy the lights and festivities that the Christmas season brings. Jude LOVES our tree. He crawls to it, stares and claps! Luckily, he has not tried to pull up on it yet (my main fear), but instead he just sits in amazement.

This weekend, we braved the malls with Gigi and J-pop, more to look than to shop. For some reason, the mall atmosphere really puts me in the Christmas spirit. Maybe it's the gigantic trees, bright lights, orchestra music, crazy shoppers, or the smell of apple ciders and peppermint mochas wafting through the warm mall air. Who knows, but we so enjoyed going from mall to mall, looking at the decorations and enjoying the spirit of the season. Jude got to see Santa and he LOVED it. He was all smiles (picture to come later)! We also did our annual Highland Park drive through. The houses are always so beautiful! I thought that Jude would enjoy seeing all of the lights, but he conked out before we even started! Maybe next year...

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone. As far as I can tell, Jude really enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. He ate lots of yummy food and took a long nap, much like the rest of us! My side of the family came to our house Wednesday through Friday, and then we headed to Waco to spend time with the Hutchisons (and Thompsons). It is so fun that Jude and Kinley got to celebrate their first Thanksgiving together, though Kinley slept through all the fun! She is so precious and I can't wait to see her again at Christmas!

Fall

2010-11-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

There is not much new happening in the Hutchison household, but we are staying plenty busy! I started a new, full-time job on Monday and I love it so far. I am working in a medical office in Sunnyvale (east Dallas) as the Director of Rehabilitation and Chiropractic. I will be seeing patients referred from their primary care physician for physical medicine and rehabilitation. With this new job, I have stable hours, which I am super excited about. No more random days with long hours!! This will allow a much more organized evening routine for us.

I know you are all probably tired of hearing about it, but I think my son is AMAZING. He is such a gift and blessing to us. Over the last few weeks he has started to walk around the room holding on to furniture, stand on his own, and use sign language to communicate with us a lot more. He can now sign DaDa, milk, more (we think), I love you, and he definitely recognizes the signs for NO, eat and MaMa! He loves to read books and have books read to him, analyze his toys, talk to anything that will listen, and play with the remote (which is probably a sign that we are using it a little too much!) It is such a joy to watch not only is physical growth, but his intellectual growth as well. I think I am going to have quite the little thinker on my hands!

It is hard to believe the holidays are upon us. It does not seem possible that it has been a full year since I was 'waddling' around trying to get a nursery put together, holiday plans in place, and Christmas presents purchased. I absolutely love this time of year, the smell of the air, the cool weather, and the 'holiday spirit'.

So excited about the upcoming birth of my niece, Kinley Brooke Thompson. I will become an aunt for the first time, and I am so excited for Jude to have a cousin. I know they will have so much fun growing together! I am hoping that she makes her debut either this weekend or next so we can make it to Austin!

That is all for now...

Happenings of the Hutchisons

2010-10-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

I have been in such a writing slump for the past month. Maybe it is because I have been CRAZY busy, a bit stressed, and trying to savor every waking second with my family...But, I think I have overcome the fog, and want to give a quick update.

For starters, Jude is AMAZING. He is growing, inspecting, learning and exploring. He is curious, meticulous, and inquisitive. I absolutely love watching his wheels spin; soaking in every last detail of his current interest. With every new stage, I claim that it is my favorite. But, I truly think this IS my favorite stage!

Justin and I have been crazy busy with work the past few weeks. I recently started a new job and have been in training. I have been working from 8:45 am-7 pm every day and don't get home until close to 8. When I get home, it's dinner time for us and Jude (so thankful that Justin has cooked every night), bath time for Jude, then bed time for my sweet boy. Then, only a few short hours until it starts all over again. Needless to say, I am so ready for my training to be done and my normal hours to begin. With all of this craziness, I have been struggling with some severe 'mommy guilt'. I am sure all of my other working mom friends can relate. The penetration of this guilt is so deep. It hurts my heart every day. I know that it is not possible for me to stay home, and I actually do love what I do, but for some reason, the guilt is still there. Like all things, I am sure 'this too shall pass'.

With all of this being said, I apologize to my friends and family members for my non-existence these days. I still love you all, pray for you and think of you often. Hopefully my schedule with drastically slow down in the next week or so and I will be able to invest more time into our relationships.

Well, I now realize that this blog has turned in to a sob story, and that was not my intent. Just wanted to update on the 'happenings of the Hutchisons'.

Summer Happenings

2010-08-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on this summer. With the change of my job, Jude's daily growth, and our busy schedules, I feel like our little family has not sat still for one second!

At the end of July, we had the pleasure of celebrating the marriage of my brother and his sweet wife, my new sister, Emmy. It was such a beautiful, fun wedding! Jude was one of the ring bearers and he looked adorable all dressed up in a bow tie! Since I was also in the wedding, I somehow managed to leave without getting ANY pictures of my little man. I know that the photographer captured many great moments and I can't wait to see all of her pictures! After the wedding on Saturday, we stayed in Waco for my mother-in-law's retirement party. Heather has worked so hard and created so many different opportunities for growth and ministry at First Woodway Baptist Church. I know she will be greatly missed, but I am so excited that she now can take a break and relax! Plus, selfishly, we now will see her more often!! In fact she came and stayed with us on Monday night and was able to keep Jude all day on Tuesday.

The video is Jude 'blowing bubbles' with his GiGi.

Last weekend, we headed to Albany to see my parents. It was great to see them again before school starts and they get insanely busy. We were also able to watch Leif, my youngest brother, in his first football scrimmage of the season. Leif is such a great athlete and it is so fun to watch him play. The thing that is so awesome about Leif, is that he is so humble. He truly has a gift, but he accepts it as that, a GIFT.

Things I am thankful for:
-Justin (He has been so strong and supportive through all of my stress this summer.)
- Jude (No matter how stressed I am, I can look at him and all my stresses melt away. I am thankful that God has blessed me with a healthy, happy baby.)
-My new job (There are so many people without work, and I am thankful that I found a job so quickly.)
-The TRUTHS that God continues to reveal to me. (I am learning everyday, that I am not in control and that I must fully depend on HIM.)
-Our church family (They have all been so supportive in prayer. We are so blessed to have such an amazing church family.)

~Bobbie

Change

2010-07-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't love change. I am a creature of habit; I like things my way and like to have CONTROL over everything. Just ask Justin, haha. All kidding aside, I am a planner, a list maker, a follower of all rules.

Things in the Hutchison household have been changing, and I am not sure if I like it! God is growing me and I am trying to be patient. I know that He will not stretch me beyond my ability to adapt, and that He has a perfect plan. I'm just going to have to learn to be a bit more patient and accept the changes as they come.

As many of you know, I am selling my chiropractic business. This is not really a choice, but a necessity. I loved working in my office, but it just was not working out. With the economy and my low working capital, there were just too many variables to keep the doors open. Thankfully, there is a doctor in Wylie that will be taking over the practice and securing my lease. This is a blessing! I know that while the whole situation is not great for us, this doctor and his family are happy beyond all measure. I know that this was an answered prayer for them. I recently had a friend from church remind me that God can use my weakness to bless others. I am thankful for this perspective because I really am having a hard time understanding why I have to suffer this CHANGE. God is faithful to those who love Him, and I know that His plans are far greater than my own.

On another note, Jude is changing too! My little man grows everyday, discovers new things, and develops more of a charming personality by the minute. He is just so much fun. Recently, he has really started to notice the dogs. He yells at them, begging for their attention and 'kisses'. The dogs are interested in this little babbling person, but are still a bit hesitant when Jude grasps for their ears and tails. Jude sees this as a fun little game, but the dogs quickly tire of being harassed. I can see much fun between the three of them in the future.

Jude has also become mobile. He is not quite crawling, but can army crawl to his preferred destination. I have my bets that he will be crawling before the end of the month!

As everything changes around me, I am reminded that not all change is bad. I will learn to adapt, and will eventually see the new circumstances as the comfortable norm. Then, things will change again...

2010-06-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Hutchison family vacationed in South Padre Island a few weeks ago and we had a BLAST. It was so much fun taking Jude to the beach for the first time. He loves bath time, so we figured that he would probably like the pool and ocean too. And, we were not wrong. Jude loved splashing and relaxing in the pool and was intrigued with the ocean. We didn't let him venture too far off the beach, though. The jellyfish made their presence known, so we kept our distance! Overall, our first vacation with Jude was a success! Jude is such a happy, easy baby and we are truly blessed!

A family picture.

Jude and J-Pop on beach.

Jude with GiGi.

Jude relaxing on the float.

Mr. Personality

2010-05-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Jude is now four and half months old. It is so hard to believe that so much time has already passed. It really seems like just yesterday I was praying that he would make his arrival before the new year.

Jude is starting to show so much personality. He is quite the talker (he takes after his mother) and he is really funny too, just like his daddy! He really seems to enjoy the sound of his own voice and gets a kick out of the multitude of noises that he can make. I LOVE how vocal he is becoming and how interested he is in what we say to him as well. He IS Mr. Personality.

One of Jude's favorite 'toys' is his jungle gym mat.

He absolutely loves to play, pull on, talk to and laugh at his sea creature friends. Once he is bored of the mat, he proceeds to roll over, scoot off the mat, and move on to something else. He is not crawling yet, but something tells, me that I better start the baby-proofing now. He is just so anxious to get going! He also really loves to 'walk'. Anytime that he is able to put weight on his feet, he takes steps and dances up and down. He prefers to be held so that he can stand up and check out the world. My little man is trying to grow up, but I'm just not quite ready to give in to the fact that he won't be a baby forever!

~Bobbie

2010-04-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

It has been absolutely FOREVER since I have posted anything, but I really want to keep this thing up now. I would like to have a record for Jude and this is as good of a place as any.

Well, brief re-cap: I opened my chiropractic practice on December 3, 2009 and worked for a few weeks. Jude was born on January 18, 2010 (BEST day of my life), I took off 2 weeks of work, then started back at the office. Things have been slow, but are picking up. I am loving being a mommy to my sweet boy. I am so blessed that God chose me to parent such a wonderful gift. Jude is so perfect and I can't imagine life without him.

Justin and I decided to have Jude at a birth center with a midwife. We knew that we may meet a little resistance with our parents and friends, and that some people would think that we were weird, but I am so happy that we chose to do it that way. I really wanted to experience labor without the interference of drugs, and I wanted a midwife that would be with me throughout the whole process and let me labor at my own pace. I spent the majority of my 6 hour labor walking around, letting gravity take its toll. The whole process seemed surreal and was actually, very spiritual. God is an amazing God. Jude was born at 4:05 pm and he weighed 9 pounds and was 21.5 inches long. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!

In the past 3 months, Jude has changed soooo much. He is developing a funny personality, that I am certain will be like Justin's. He is a happy, content baby. His big blue eyes and bright smile are full of curiosity and excitement.He brings so much JOY to my life. I look forward to what God has in store for our sweet baby.

2009-09-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

Build out on my building finally started yesterday! I am beyond excited, but now I need to get busy with the ins and outs of running my own business. The next few weeks will be full of firsts and I cannot wait.

On a different note, I absolutely love this time of year. Fall is my favorite. I love the weather, the aromas that fill the outdoors, stores and kitchens, football, and the anticipation of Christmas that makes everyone smile! Although I want to relish in the season, I keep finding myself fast-forwarding to January. I just can't wait for Jude to be here! But, to keep me busy until his arrival, I have been blessed with wonderful friends and family who are throwing me baby showers. I am so excited to start filling that nursery with little clothes and 'necessities' for my sweet Jude.

For pictures of my 'baby-bump' and progress on the office, check out my facebook.

~bobbie

The last few months...

2009-09-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

The last few months have been full of changes. I was working for a doctor that was on maternity leave and loved being in her office. It was such a good experience, and I was really sad when I had to say goodbye to all of the patients that I had developed relationships with during the last three months. I was really hoping that my office would be ready to go by the time I was finished filling in, but unfortunately that is not the case. I feel like I have hit EVERY single brick wall possible in this whole 'starting my own business' process. I just have to remind myself that I am not in control and that there IS a reason that I have been so delayed (I just can't figure out what that reason is for the life of me). As of now, I am looking at opening my doors either at the end of October or early in November. As far as the pregnancy goes, things have been really good! I have felt great and it has been so much fun seeing my body change. I also love seeing how excited Justin is about the whole process! He has been absolutely wonderful! Over labor day, Justin took me on a 'Babymoon' to Hot Springs, Arkansas. We wanted to get away from Dallas, but did not really want to fly anywhere. Hot Springs was close enough to drive, but far enough away to seem like a vacation. We enjoyed the weekend in a Bed and Breakfast (very interesting) and did a whole lot of nothing. We both needed the relaxing weekend and it was the perfect trip. Until Jude's arrival in 16 weeks, we will be so busy! We only have 2 free weekends until my due date, but I think that will help the time fly by. I am so excited for him to be here, but want to enjoy these last few weeks before our lives forever change.

~bobbie

Summer update

2009-07-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been awhile since I have updated and I have not been nearly as diligent as I thought that I would be, but here is the latest.

We are having a baby! Justin and are so excited about baby numero uno arriving in January. January 14 is the official due date, and we couldn't be more thrilled. I go back to the doctor next Tuesday, July 28, to hopefully find out the sex. Once we know, it will be on to decorating and name picking time!

I am currently using a doctor that I absolutely adore, but am considering using a midwife instead. If I go this route, I would have the baby in a birthing center near the hospital, NOT at home! I preach holistic health to all of my patients, I don't like drugs, and I know the biomechanics of the body, but to be honest, I am a bit nervous using a midwife purely because of what people will think. What are your ideas? Anyone ever used a midwife or heard stories?

My body has changed so much in the last 15 weeks. It is crazy that something that only weighs 2 oz can cause my pants not to fit! I have only gained 3 pounds, but I feel like I've gained 10. But I absolutely love seeing the 'bump'. It makes me excited each day to notice changes and read about the ones to come.

Besides baby stuff, a lot is going on. This summer has been crazy full of fun and work. I have been filling in for a doctor that is on maternity leave and I absolutely love what I do. It is so rewarding to hear and see patients feeling better! It has been such a blessing working in the office; the doctor has been so helpful and the assistant has taught me so much. I have plenty to carry with me to my practice. Speaking of...I should actually be able to open my doors by the first week of September. I will be closing on my loan in early August and then construction can begin. I am so excited to get things started and to treat my own patients. Please be praying that all goes well. I am still a little nervous about several details, especially how the baby fits into the whole scheme of things. I know that God has a plan, and He has blessed me with a wonderful family that will do everything they can to help.

Well, I think that is a sufficient update. I will post again soon.

Busy Spring

2009-04-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Not too much going on since the last posting. Justin and I have a really busy next few weeks. This weekend we are going to Temple to celebrate Krosby's first birthday. I can't believe that he is already 1! Next weekend, I head to Canton for my friend Ashley's bachelorette party, the next weekend we are in Waco to visit Justin's parents, and then we finally get a weekend to ourselves! Then wedding season begins....

Today, I met with a payroll service for my business and tomorrow a lawyer. There are so many things that I don't know when it come to running a business. It is hard to believe that I will be a business owner, not just a chiropractor! I feel so inadequate and not old enough, but I am so ready to get started. I know that, just as God has led me to this point, He will lead me through it.

Hopefully sometime this week, or early next week, Justin and I will start painting the house. We have been contemplating colors for a long time now, and we finally think we have it figured out. We considered having someone come paint for us; who knew that it would take a year's salary to get your house painted! Oh well, we will have fun painting....I think.

Super hum drum post, I know. But not much is going on with me. Just waiting to start working in June and working on my business.

~Bobbie

My first blog entry...

2009-01-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

A short recap on the last couple of years...

I met the love of my life while at Baylor and we were married shortly after I graduated in November of 2005. After the honeymoon, I moved to Dallas to be with Justin. He had been living and working here since December 2004.

In January of 2006, I started Chiropractic school. It was such a bitter-sweet journey. On one hand, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be, but on the other hand I wondered why 'where I needed to be' had to be so hard. Justin and I spent very little time together the first 2 years of our marriage, because I was always studying. But, he was such a good sport; he cooked most of our meals, did laundry, and kept me sane. After the first two years of school, my work load decreased and I entered my internship.

Justin changed jobs in February 2008 and has never been happier. He loves his job, the people he works with, and the level of creativity he is able to exhibit. I am so happy that he finally found a place that he can fully express himself and feel comfortable. He is so amazingly talented!

In April 2008, we moved from 'Dallas' and bought a house in Murphy ( a suburb of Dallas, north of Richardson, east of Plano). We absolutely love the community. It is a rather long commute for Justin, but he doesn't seem to mind. We decided to get out of the city so I could open my own Chiropractic practice.

On December 13, 2008, I finally graduated from school. It seemed like such a long road, but looking back, it went by pretty fast.

I graduated on December 13, 2008 and have never felt so relieved. I am excited (and scared) about the next chapter in our lives, but I am sure God will be just as faithful as He always has been. I plan on opening my own practice in Murphy; hopefully it will be opened by September!

I am new to this whole blog thing, but hope to keep it updated. I used to love to write, but I have been out of practice for the past 3 years. Hopefully it won't be too difficult to pick it back up.

~Bobbie