ringing in the new year

well, here we are - it's january 2nd. amazing.
4 days until my sister's birthday.
21 days until mine.
26 days until my mom's.
yep, we're all january babies - isn't that funny?

i always feel unprepared for january - it seems to sneak in so quickly, right after the holidays! boom - it's a new year. wow.

and this new year promises new changes for us as we anxiously await the birth of #2. can't believe it really! and hudson turns 3 in this new year - wow! it's true, time does fly...

we rang in this new year as we have for the past 3 years with our good friends patrick & jen. alot of eating, alot of lounging, football watching & reading, oh & a little shopping - a perfect way to celebrate :)
here are our only pictures (too busy lounging to take any more pics, i guess.)

this is hudson "helping" make a caramel cake - mmmmmm.

we're also ringing in the new year with a little change for the little guy. right now, hudson is "helping" daddy transform his crib to a toddler bed. exciting stuff! we're a little leary of this whole no crib thing, as hudson has become quite the night owl - staying up until 11pm & even later lately! he's been happy in the crib, reading (by moonlight), talking, or singing (angels we have heard in high is his favorite lately. you know, "gloooooooooria...") but i'm a little concerned about what's going to happen when he realizes he can get out of the toddler bed. we shall see... for now i'm enjoying the sounds of his excitement as he helps daddy with the tools :) it's amazing how much they want to "help" @ this age. getting to help do just about anything is a major thrill to him - so cute.

and so i better get back to my grocery list. i'm looking to stock up on some good/easy (slow cooker, possibly) recipes that will be good for when the babe comes, too. i'll share my findings.

right now, i'm checking out this one.