#48: Music Classes!

This month we enrolled in music classes at Toddle Tunes. This Thursday (July 28) was our second class, and we loved it!

The class is 45-minutes long and has 2-3 instructors that play music and sing songs with the babies, introduce them to new sounds and instruments and at the end the babies even get a chance to play with the instruments the instructors used that day! It's so precious.

Each week has a different theme, the first week was Blues and this week was Sounds from Afar, with different instruments from Russia and Africa. During the Blues class the instructors brought out a miniature Martin guitar for the babies to play as well as a very unique fretless bass guitar. But right now, Hudson's favorite thing to play (i.e., chew and bang with his hands) are the "baby" tambourine and maracas.

The class is for newborns up to 10 months, and there are age-group classes all the way up to 8 years old. In our Thursday class, most of the babies are around Hudson's age (7 months), and one of his little friends, Elenora, was actually born on the same exact day at another hospital in Santa Monica! They play together nicely and shared the Russian "music maker" instrument.

#47: Hudson's 7-month Update

So I say this every month, but I cannot believe how quickly these months are passing - my little baby is already 7-months!

He turned 7-months on Tuesday, 7/12 and his check-up with the doctor was today. He continues to grow like a weed and is also hitting some developmental milestones.

Here are this months growth stats:

• Weight: 22 lbs, 11 oz  (95th percentile)
• Length: 29 inches (95th percentile)
• Head: 46 cm (85th percentile)

This month he gained 1 lb and 10 oz, grew a whopping 2 inches (jumping him up to the 95th percentile for height). For clothes he is wearing 12-18 months, with a few items being 6-12 months.

We keep introducing new foods and started a new eating schedule this week where he eats breakfast at 9:00am, lunch at 1:00pm and dinner at 5:00pm. He has bottles for his snacks at 7:00am, 11:00am, 3:00pm and bedtime, 6:30/7:00pm. His favorite foods right now are rice cereal, mango, apple, bananas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and broccoli. He does not like sweet peas or peaches, but we'll keep trying. We also just introduced Puffs (like a Cheerio), which he LOVES! He tries to pick them up and put them in his mouth and is really close to making it, but for now I feed it to him.

In terms of development milestones, he is right on track. Sitting on his own and playing with his toys, starting to "turn" the pages of the books, loves playing with his blocks and stackable cups. He does the army crawl, but I still think it will be a few months before he is truly mobile.

Sitting pretty, reading and bundled after a bath | Month 7

#46: Another Beach Weekend

We've been taking advantage of the summer weather here, and have made three trips to the beach. It is about 20 minute process getting our umbrella, beach blankets, food, Hudson's food and toys set-up - but it's worth it! Hudson loves to watch the ocean waves come in and the sound makes him sleepy (especially if he is all cuddled up in the Ergo!).

This past Sunday we hit up M Street Kitchen for their Happy Hour ($3 Sangria and $3 Appetizers), we thought Hudson might be big enough for the highchair - but he was still too small. We put a wrapped-up shirt behind him, and his big eyes looking just barely over the table were irresistible!

Beach Days & Dinner at M-Street Kitchen | 7.9.11 + 7.17.11

#45: Meeting Grandpa Canuto

Today we made it over to Victorville, CA to visit my mom's father, Grandpa Canuto to me. Unfortunately he is not doing well, as we learned of a few medical issues recently. When we got there he was much frailer and weaker than last time I saw him, but he still was able to smile when he met Hudson. It was sweet to see them together.

*Update to this posting, my grandpa passed away on Wednesday, July 20 in the morning. We know he is with God in a better place, and appreciate your prayers during this time of grieving and remembrance. 

#44: Fourth of July in Evansville

This year for the Fourth of July we headed back to Evansville to visit Joe's family. There was a bit of hoop jumping to get there (2-leg flight into Louisville, then rented a car and drove 2 hours Newburgh), but it's always worth it to see family! Luckily Hudson was a good traveler this time, so it made things a lot easier.

We arrived on Thursday night and hung out with Joe's parents. We had a little lake time and Joe got to play Victoria with his dad.

On Saturday we headed to Owensboro, KY to see his brother's band, The Rubbing Alcoholics, play at his country club. It was about 95 degrees and 100% humidity outside, but that didn't stop his brother from putting on a good show! We had to duck out early to get Hudson to sleep, and once he was tucked nicely in his crib Eddie, Nancy, Joe and I had a cocktail on the dock and watch a neighbor's firework display which rivaled many city's shows. Very impressive!

On Sunday Joe's parents hosted the extended family over for a Fourth of July Lake Party, an annual tradition. The weather held up for half the day, so a lot of the crew was able to float on the lake. We also had a special visit by Hilda and were able to get an updated Prusz Family photo.

Monday came too quickly, and we spent the day relaxing. Took Hudson swimming in the swim spa and made a quiet dinner at home. It was such an fabulous few days with the Prusz family and we're already looking forward to Christmas when we go back. Hard to believe Hudson will be over a year at that point!