present revealed:

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Here are some pictures. There were over 400 taken. I chose to post 10. I'll post more later!

big bro eating a hot dog!

swimming at the end of the party!

looking absolutely adorable in his new wagon.

nom nom nom

digging into his smash cake!

woohoo new wagon!

his awesome ducky cake!

birthday outfit before the party

Today my baby nephew turned one year old. Sigh. He had a fabulous birthday full of yummy cookout foods, a huge ducky cake, lots and lots of presents, and fun in the pool! I'll post pictures sometime soon - but for now I'll reveal the special present I made for my love. I love writing poems, and I like making things. So the idea of a poetry scrapbook came to me! I took an 8x8 scrapbook and wrote a stanza on each page - and then I found a picture that was associated with the corresponding words. It was beautiful, but I obviously forgot to take pictures of it.

The scrapbook went from the day he was born until he turned 1 year old. I still have 7 empty pages, so I will scrapbook his birthday party in the back of the book! Here's the poem I wrote for him:


On July 26th

a year ago today,

God sent us a baby boy

on a hot summer's day!

He was such a tiny baby

with dark hair upon his head.

He never made a peep or cry

as he lay in his baby bed.

Clayton was so excited

He finally became a big brother!

Aunt Shannie had a nephew...

but then she got another!

We put him in a hat...

and wrapped him warm and tight.

He was healthy and content,

this baby was just right!!

He grew up so fast -

right before our eyes...

Before we even new it,

Shannie was feeding him french fries!

His eyes changed from blue to brown

and he lost all of his hair.

And when he learned how to crawl,

he followed Clayton everywhere!

He fin ally got two bottom teeth;

he chewed on all his toys.

And mommy realized her hands were full

raising two sweet, wonderful boys.

Then July rolled around again,

and this baby boy turned one.

He had a ducky pool party

outside in the sun!

Just last year I met him,

so tiny, wrapped in blue.

I loved him when I saw him

...that baby boy was YOU!!!

Happy first birthday,

my favorite baby in the world!

I've loved watching you grow up

and how your hair has curled!

You're the luckiest 1-year old

on this planet Earth.

You've got the best parents and big bro

and they loved you before your birth!

So have a happy birthday,

and next year you'll be two.

You're the greatest Hudson on this earth,

and I will always love you!



Happy 1st Birthday, my dear sweet baby!!!