Hudec Happiness

Forks in the Road

2011-05-05T00:19:00.000-07:00

I have had some pretty amazing friendships in my life... but I've learned that friends come and go.... people grow apart, life takes you in different directions. I have also learned that besides God, family is #1. I have to say that I am blessed to have a truly amazing family... I depend on them, I love them, they're my whole world. I can't say that I wouldn't be who I am without them... because, yes, they've helped shape me. Yes, they've helped guide me. Yes, they've given me the morals and the groundwork to build my life on. I've made my fair share of mistakes in my 29 years... some small, some big. My family has always been there through it all for me. I am stubborn and entirely too independent. But the truth is, that God is the one that has made me who I am.... I've always known right and wrong, truth from lies.... God gives us this amazing thing, Free Will. Amazing and horrible at the same time? lol Because of my free will, I've made choices and mistakes in my life, and dealt with the consequences because of MY own free will. Somehow God always manages to bring me back to Him though (thankfully).
Tonight I am thankful for the family He has blessed me with.
Tonight I am thankful for my friendships:
Like I said... I've had my fair share of friendships... good and bad. I think the friends you choose to let into your life affects you in more ways than you'll ever know. Again, lessons learned. I have some pretty amazing women in my life right now... I feel like God placed me where I am in perfect timing (of course). I have been at a dead end, no no... I take that back. I had reached a fork in the road of life. Only my sign had more than just two options, it had all kinds of options. (forgiveness, anger, hurt, content, breakthrough, me, God, peace, stress, worry...) the list goes on. One of those crazy signs like a cartoon sign.... part of me content with being where I'm at in life... part of me wanting so so much more. So I took this leap of faith... out of my comfort zone, the harder but more rewarding choice in my journey. I started walking. I am still walking... not walking, I am running. I have more peace then I've felt in YEARS. I have more joy than I've had in YEARS. I'm learning more about myself, I'm learning to open up, I'm learning to forgive, I'm learning to lean on God more than anything, I'm learning to love no matter what, I'm learning to be a stronger and better person... for myself, my husband, my daughter, my family, my friends. These friendships in my life right now are a major incredible blessing. They aren't like any friendships I've had before. They are here to walk my journey with me, to pray with me, to encourage me, to listen to me, to make me laugh and be there when I cry. I am thankful. I am so very very thankful tonight.
I am excited to see where God is taking me, because right now I feel on fire for Him. And it feels so good... its been entirely too long since I've felt this.

Contentment

2011-04-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

Bobby and I recently started at a new church, The Stirring, and it has been a blessing in more ways than we thought it would be. We had been wanting to try it for months and months, and finally did... and we're so glad we did. We feel closer to each other, we're working on things that have needed to be worked on for a year now, we both are on fire more for God. We're doing devotions together and praying together, it's given us that extra push to take a hard look at our lives and marriage. We've sat down and written down where we want to see ourselves and our family 5-10-15 years down the road... and we're striving for that vision of our marriage now. We're both putting more effort into it than we have in a very very long time, if ever. And it feels good. It feels good to feel welcome at a church, and to be able to get involved... life group has been amazing for myself. I never realized a bible study could cause so much to stir up inside your heart. It's forcing me to take a look at myself and where I stand with God, and who I am in God... and trying to better it, trying to be who God intended me to be. We feel very very blessed...

As far as Savannah, she's doing great! She's 2 years and 3 months now... talking non-stop! Her Mimi said the other day that she's giving her cousin, Cole, a run for his money when it comes to being a talker! And thats alot!! She loves to be outside, and we're so excited for this summer... to be at the pool, take swimming lessons, be at water works, have bbq's with our family and friends. She's made some great little buddies..... who she talks about DAILY... Ruby, Malea, Baby Daffy (daphne), Madison and Baby Kenzie (McKenzie). She's one lucky little girl.

Life is good!!! Bobby is working like crazy, I'm still part time.... focusing on Savannah, my family and my friendships. Wouldn't trade them for the world!

Two Blessed Years...

2011-02-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

The love of my life, my heart, my soul, my everything... is two years old. How did this happen? Wasn't it just yesterday that they were laying her in my arms for the first time? That we were sleeping on the couch, nursing every hour? The memories I have with this little girl are priceless. I wouldn't trade them for absolutely anything.... life is good. God is good... He has blessed us beyond measure.

Whew how time has flown by

2010-12-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

So its been over 8 months since I last blogged. Thought, what the heck, might as well blog another. I don't know if anyone looks at these, but they sure can help pass time... or get things off your mind!

Savannah will be TWO, TWO! Can you believe it?? In less than a month. I am flabbergasted by how fast the time has literally flow by. I feel like we just had her 1st birthday party, and here I am planning the next (which, if you know me well enough, you know I've been planning this party for MONTHS now). And let me tell you *whoever 'you' may be*, she is one stubborn little girl who is definetely coming into her prime of the whopping two's. Don't get me wrong, she is a very sweet little girl (no longer a baby people tell me... even though she is always my baby), she listens very well (ok ok 80% of the time.. but thats still good, right?!).. she is polite and says/signs please and thank you for everything (signing by the way, is amazing.. she does TONS of signs). She's just starting to show lots of personality, and like her mommy and daddy, that includes stubborness and a hot little temper. But what did we expect?? If she doesn't get what she wants, she screams. (daddy says 'huh, just like her mommy' ?!?!?!) Sooo, we're working on that. =) She really is a good baby though, I don't have alot to complain about. She's a total mommys girl still, which I adore. She talks like crazy!! She's so very smart (I know, every parents says/thinks that, but really... really... she is).

What else is new?? Bobby is working for my dads construction company and loves it. And I love that he's not completely cluess about fixing things anymore (although I must admit, I still get nervous when he wants to repair something in our house!). It'll be almost a year since he's been there... and couldn't be happier. So much more so than he was at Schwans (I do miss the discounted food though). I'm still at Mercy, on the same floor, working part time still *think I always will*.

Life is good....

Thats my lil update. =)

Love of my life

2010-04-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on my quirky little girl!! It is April now, she will be 15 months on the 24th. She is walking, has been for over a month now.... ALL over the place. She thinks she is hott stuff now. I think so far this is my favorite stage, we go bike riding on the river trail, we play at the park, she follows me around all over the place, she blows kisses and is such a snuggle-bug. I love it. She has SO much personality, she is going to be a stubborn little thing... but she is such a good baby, she listens to 'no' very well.
Her Papa and her Mimi she just adores... she kisses their picture all the time, and gets so excited when we get to see them, have dinner with them, or when her Mimi gets to watch her! She toddles after her cousins, Cole and Carter, all the time when she gets to stay with her Auntie... and they just love her.
I can't wait for this summer... pool time, vacation with the family, the beach, she's going to love it!!!

1st Birthday Party!

2010-03-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind!! Savannah is now 13 months old... I had said I would post pictures of her birthday party. So here I am, a month late, but doing it! =) Her party was a huge success... the entire week of her birthday I was crazy busy getting everything together, organized, baked, decorated.... it was a blast. I couldn't have done it without my mom and her help and her gorgeous dishes and server-ware that I got to borrow. Thank you Mimi!!!

2010-01-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

Well, our baby girl is turning one in 8 days! I can't even believe its been a year. It has gone by so fast... what happened to the nightly round the clock, every 1 1/2 hours of feedings? What happened to my mom zonked on the couch with the baby in the moses basket next to her so I could get a couple straight hours of sleep? What happened to having a housefull of family and loved ones helping with this little bity 6 pound baby girl? I have SO many amazing memories from this year. Savannah has changed my world, my heart, my life... all for the better. And everyday she gets more personality and is more stubborn and hot-headed (just like her mommy and daddy). But everyday she would be content to just sit on my lap and snuggle and giggle and give kisses... she's my everything. She's starting to sign more and more... we've been working on signing for 6 months now. Everyone tells me they start signing back around 12-18 months. The other day we got home, and our Chihuahua came running up to her and she said 'doggie' and signed 'dog' perfectly!!! She is so smart!!

We're planning her birthday party for next sunday, on her actual birthday. And I'm so excited. I've been planning it for months now, and this week have been running around like a mad woman trying to get all the details in order. Pictures will be posted after the big event!!!

Holiday Time!

2009-11-22T23:11:00.001-08:00

Yup, you guessed it. It's the holidays! Already?!? Seriously, where did the year go?? I can't believe Thanksgiving will be here in 4 days... I'm excited and sad all at the same time. Thats just another day closer to Savannah's 1st birthday. Which I'm stoked about, just because it's going to be the most perfect little girl birthday party ever. But I'm so incredibly sad that she's turning 1. One!! How is my sweet little 5 lb 6 oz baby doll already going to be a year old? Next thing I know I'll turn around and she'll have a one year old of her own. The past 10 months (10 months in two days!) have been incredible. She has changed me as a person, for the better. She stole my heart utterly and completely. We have to have each other, my heart seriously aches when I'm not with her! And she is such a mommys girl is just melts my heart. She is crawling ALL over the house like a wild-woman... pulling up on furniture. My bet is that she'll be walking by or very very shortly after her first birthday. We have been doing sign language since she was 6 months old, and just recently (I swear) she's signing 'food' and 'more'. Everyone tells me by a year she'll really be signing! I can't wait!! She says mamamama and follows me all over the house, and screams with utter delight when her daddy gets home. When he leaves in the morning, she crawls to the front window, pulls up to her knees to barely peek out and says 'dadada'. It's the most adorable thing ever.

So we're excited for our first holiday season with our baby girl. Recipe is out for her first thanksgiving meal... we're doing lunch at grandma and grandpas house, and then dinner at Mimi's and Papa's house. It will be a fun night. I'll post pix afterwards! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! So much to be thankful for, such a blessed life....

Crawling!!

2009-10-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

Our Savannah-girlie is 8 1/2 months old and is crawling all over the place!! She started creeping about 3 weeks ago, and just the past couple days has figured out how to get on her knees and go. And boy does she!!! She goes ALL over the place!! She follows me in the kitchen, into the bathroom, its so stinking cute!! I must say I am not having so much fun having to watch every little thing that she gets into now. (like the bowl of cat food I found her in with catfood in her mouth and stuck all over her hands..... or the dead fly I found in her hand 2 seconds from popping it into her mouth also!) But I love this new stage, it seems like every new little thing is just so much fun! I love her sitting up, and get so excited when I get to try new foods with her! I make her baby food, and think its hilarious seeing which reaction I'll get to new foods.

Anyways, just a quick little update and some new pictures... of her crawling and a Halloween preview! =)

7 1/2 months old.

2009-09-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, its been THAT long since I've blogged. Time just gets away from you when you have a baby. I can't believe Savannah is going to be 8 months old on the 24th. She's getting so much personality, and she's quite serious. It takes alot to get her to laugh, but when she does it just melts your heart. She is my whole entire world.... I thought I loved her in the beginning, but I never even knew this much love existed. She is amazing, in every sense! She's still just a bitty thing (not even 13 pounds yet), so she isn't quite sitting up on her own yet. But then again, why would she want to when all she wants is mommy to hold her all day long?? I'm making her baby food, which is so much fun... and so fun to see her reactions to different foods. Squash is by FAR her favorite, she kicks and screams in between bites if you don't feed it to her fast enough. And her least favorite is probably her carrots and avocado. She's becoming well traveled already, and has been on a plane twice now this summer... both times to Southern California, and then also on her first family vacation to the Russian River.

As for myself, I'm back to work, part time. Thank you Jesus!! I only work 2 days/week, which works out perfectly. And we are blessed to have my mom and sister watch her while I work. I wouldn't trust anyone else to have her, and am so so beyond thankful that she doesn't have to experience childcare! So on my days off I stay home with her, or we go to the gym or out shopping. (such a hard life!) ;-) I'm already starting to plan her 1st birthday party... it amazes me how soon she'll be one. Bobby is working hard for us, allowing me to be a mostly stay-at-home mommy... which is my dream.

10 weeks old!

2009-04-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our little girl is 10 weeks already!! It has been the most amazing 10 weeks ofmy life. She is doing so good, she is smiling and coo-ing up a storm. She is the happiest baby ever when she wakes up, smiling and talking to you. My favorite time is when she wakes up at 6 in the morning (she's still sleeping in her bassinet next to our bed), I lean over to pick her up and she gets this HUGE grin on her face. Like 'Ohh its my mommy!!!'. It's the sweetest ever. We're still nursing every 2 hours, but I love that time with her. It's 'our' time together, and its beyond special. She is a whopping 8 lbs 1 oz and 22 1/2 inches now, her doctor said she is definetely on the petite side, but very healthy. She's a dainty feminine little girlie!! Everywhere we go people stop and literally just gush over how gorgeous she is. It's the same from everyone, that she looks just like a 'porcaleine doll'. She's beautiful and I couldn't be prouder! Her papa spoils her every chance he gets... he takes us to lunch and dinner while daddy is working. And about every couple weeks, he shows up with giant bags full of clothes and goodies from Sweet Baby Jane. (our favorite store!). She is 10 weeks old and already needs a closet add-on!

I've started back at the gym 3-4 days a week, and absolutely LOVE my 'me' time. Thank goodness for mimi and Auntie Cori being able to watch her so I can go. =0) I go back to work in 6 weeks, still hoping and praying that a part time position will somehow become available for me. I know its in Gods hands though, it'll work out somehow. I can't let myself stress too much about it. Work is not even close to being my biggest concern anymore, I have my beautiful little girl, and thats all that matters!!

Here are some of my fave pix....

Two Months Old

2009-03-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

Just another quick update on our little girl! She will be 7 weeks on saturday. I can't believe how fast it's going by!! She's is the sweetest little baby ever, and so beautiful! Everywhere we go she gets compliments on how gorgeous she is. =0) I am one proud mommy! We're still getting our routine down, she's mostly sleeping in her cradle next to me.... but I can't resist her at 6 in the morning, she usually snuggles up to me for another hour or so. She is such a morning baby!! (sooo unlike her mommy). She is smiling now!! And their mostly in the morning, and she's starting to coo now too... its adorable!! We spend our days hanging out at home, trying to get her two daily naps in (and hopefully sleeping somewhere OTHER than mommy's arms), we go shopping during the day, and we meet up with papa and mimi every week for either dinner, lunch or both. It's fun!! I am so dreading going back to work...

Here are some recent pix!!

Our Sweet Baby Girl

2009-02-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

So just a quick update... I don't have much time these days to really be on the computer for long stretches. Our little girl is here!! I wanted to share with everyone, and post a couple pictures of her. She is beautiful and beyond amazing. God truly blessed us with her... I couldn't ask for more. She was born 1-24-09 at 10:12 am. I was in labor for a little over 12 hours, my goal was to go as natural as possible. (although not opposed to an epidural). I made it till it was time to push, and than was given a coddle block (not sure I'm spelling that right, not even really sure what that is lol). I am so mad I didn't make it all the way.... almost. My mom keeps telling me I did all the hard part naturally... just towards the end, nobody was checking me to see how dilated I was, last I knew was 1 cm 80% effaced... then all of the sudden I had the urge to push and could seriously have like squatted and pushed her out!! I kept telling the nurses I had to push (more yelling it at them) and they kept telling me not yet.... I finally started to squat next to the bed (I hadn't laid in bed at all till actual pushing, it felt better to stand the whole time) and the nurse said to page the doctor, and she finally checked me. Guess what she told me? "It's time to have this baby!". Seriously!!! I knew it was!! lol Oh well, the nurses were amazing, one in particular.... my husband and mom were by my side the entire time and I couldn't have done it without them and their support. My sister even made it 90% of the time in the room with me to capture it all with pictures and video. I had an amazing support team.

So our little Savannah McKenzie is here, 6 lbs 0.5 ounces. 18 1/2 inches. Perfect. The first week was a long one, she has jaundice, so we were back and forth between doctor appointments and labwork, and the lactation consultant for me daily. Thank goodness my parents stayed almost that whole first week with us, couldn't have done it without them!! She is 15 days old, and we still have so much to learn. It's hard and sooo exhausting, but she is definetely worth every minute. She makes my heart full.... even when she won't sleep in her cradle at night and forces mommy to sleep with her.... waking up with her snuggled up next to me is the best feeling in the world. It's incredible how much you can fall in love with someone so fast. She is my whole entire world....

Here are some pictures of her....

p.s

My great-grandma died about 9 hours before Savannah came into our lives. My gramma swears that she got to hold Savannah in Heaven and brought her down with the angels to us......

The way God works..

2009-01-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

Just a thought on one of the mysterious ways God works. Our little girl is due to arrive any day now... while we were told today that they don't think my great grandma will make it through the day. At tops this weekend. It seems like God often takes one of His out of this world, while at the same time gracing us with another. As a replacement? I don't know... Just kinda funny how it works. Maybe it will help ease the pain for my grandma, losing her mother of 93 years but gaining a grand-child. My great-gramma has had a very rough year... she's been in and out of the hospital almost all last year, just old age got the best of her. She's lived a very long, very blessed life. And there is no doubt where she is going. She is the kind of woman that, for as long as I can remember, wore her 'Jesus' pin and would ask random strangers if they knew Jesus and had Him in their lives, and continue to witness to them. The kind of woman that when horrible things would happen, or scary things have happened to her.... she would just tell you when you asked how she got through it. 'I just prayed... and I knew I was safe' is what she would tell you. I could never explain her 150% committment and love for her God, she is probably the only woman I've met in my entire life that you just feel God's love through. She radiates Him! So I have a peace with her dying.... it's been a long year for her, and she gets to go Home now. I just want my grandma to be ok and be able to let her go...
My sister got to talk to her for a minute today and said that she thinks God is taking her mom and blessing our family with Savannah at the same time for a reason..... God always has a reason.
I'm curious to see when Savannah will be born and my great-grandma will be taken home....

One week till D-Day

2009-01-20T14:34:00.001-08:00

So I had a doctors appointment this morning, and I'm totally bummed. I am exactly one week from our due date, but for some reason I had it in my head that she would arrive this week. Just the way I've been feeling emotionally and physically. Well the doctor said there aren't any changes, that I'm still barely dilated a 1, that my cervix is only partially open, that my cervix just started to soften and thin.... he could've made that clearer to me last week. I had my hopes up that at this weeks check up, we would have made some serious progress! He was only able to partially strip my membranes today, and now I've got some serious cramping and bleeding going on. Just another fun thing to add to the way I've been feeling the past week. Ohh... and to top it off... he thinks she very well could be up to a week late. :0) Think she's going to maybe have just a streak of her momma's stubborness in her??? We tried for 5, yes FIVE, weeks to do a 3D ultrasound, and she never wanted to behave. Now she wants to be late... little turd. She just wants to make a grand appearance, that's all.

Well, my little Savannah-girl, mommy and daddy are anxiously awaiting your arrival.... so anytime the princess would like to show her cute little face is fine by me. You'll be worth the wait.....

Me at 39 weeks

Help fellow bloggers?

2009-01-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

So I tried adding some pictures to my previous blog by going to edit. I got the pictures on there, but they posted at the top of all my writing, I wanted them posted at the bottom. And it won't let me copy and paste the writing above the pictures. Help??

My Very First Blog

2009-01-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

Hello!
So I have a few friends that have blogs, and I absolutely love reading them. It's a great way to stay connected and see what's going on in their lives. I thought, what the heck? Why not start my own blog? So here I am. Starting my own blog before my life gets too chaotic to sit at the computer and figure out how.
A little about me... I am 27 years old and have been married to the man of my dreams for a little over 2 years now. I am a Registered Nurse at Mercy Medical, and have worked on the surgical floor for a little over a year. My husband is a CSM for Schwans, and has been there for... geez, it'll be 3 years this summer. Our life is pretty wonderful actually. =) We've lived in our home for a couple years now with our chihuahua Max (who secretly is the main man in my life) and our cat Chester (whom I just HAD to rescue from Haven Humane, and who loves Bobby 10x more than he loves me). We are also expecting our first addition to our family in, ohhh about 2 weeks!! A little girl. A little princess to be exact. She isn't even here and she already needs an addition to her room! (she'll have to talk to papa about that one... him and mimi are the ones doing all the spoiling) Her room is so pink, and so girlie, and so perfect. We go in there at night and just go through all her little things, like we haven't gone through them 1,000 times already. Our bags are packed, her bag is packed, the carseat is in the car... we're just waiting now! I can't wait to see and hold and kiss this beautiful little girl that God created, and chose Bobby and myself to be her parents. Such an awesome responsibility...

Well thats my life in a nutshell. I think that might be considered too long to be a blog? I'm not sure about the whole blog etiquette just yet... but I'll get there.

Some pictures of our little girls room:

Random Pictures:

On one of our bike rides:

Bobby prepping for duck season

My favorite little man: