Holy Cow... It has been a while.. I can't even believe that it has been two months since I have been on here! Life is so full!!!!!!

We will start with Christmas... We started celebrating on the 17th, at Grandma and Grandpa Graham's. It has always been a tradition at our house to celebrate early.. We came home with two car loads of stuff, with the majority for the kids of course. Wyatt's favorite gifts were a battery operated scooter, a dinosaur tower, and a imaginext all-terrian vehicle. The babies got some cute riding toys, diapers, gift certificates and other toys. Rylee, Alyssa and Wyatt were excellent at waiting patiently for their time to open a gift and it was a great night.

The 18th was the daycare's annual Christmas program. This year Wyatt was Joseph and the babies were sheep. It was so cute. Wyatt did a great job of singing and doing the movements along with the songs. We were so proud of him! They had all of the hunger kids in a gated area as the animals. very creative and a good way of keeping the babies all happy. Mimi, Amy, Grandma Janice, Grandpa Ed, Grandma Bonnie and Papa Dennis were all there to watch.

We decided to take the babies to the doctor on Tuesday, the 22nd. The night before Hudson cried for an hour and a half right at bed time. I took him on a car ride and that didn't even work for long!! So, anyway, Ben picked up the kids and I met him at the doctor. Hudson ended up with a sinus infection and Hattie had a double ear infection. Hattie weighed 20 lbs 14 oz and Hudson weighed 22 lbs 12 oz. We asked for no refrigerated medicine and luckily, for once, they were both given the same thing with the same dosage. Makes life easier!!

Wednesday, the 23rd we celebrated Christmas with Ed, Janice, and the Herigons at our house. It is easiest for us to have it at our house so we can put the babies down when it is their bedtime. It was a change from years past as we usually celebrate Christmas with the Meldrum's on Christmas morning, right after we do our Christmas at our house. But, as our family has grown, we wanted to be able to actually slow down and visit and make a night of it. Wyatt's favorite gifts included light up (yes, light up and velcro, Mom and Dad's number one no-no) shoes, an mu outfit, and an imaginext boat (not ship, occording to Wyatt) that came with lots of men and little pieces. Hattie was given clothes, a pink purse with jewelry, and adorable boy and girl twins. Hudson received clothes and toys too!

Thursday was another ritual, and we had a house full on Christmas Eve. We have an open house and anyone is invited. The only problem this year was that Ben woke up feeling okay, but slowly felt worse. By the end of the night he was miserable and was in bed by 11:30, which is very early for him. He was drinking WATER!! Now, that means he was SICK! It was still a nice night and we had a great turn out and lots of good visiting. Thank God mom stayed and helped clean up the basement and Mimi Patti helped me make the breakfast cassaroles for the next morning and helped me wrap the rest of my gifts... We also made the last minute decision to put together Wyatt's 3 wheeler, so it would be sitting in front of the tree. What a mistake! This thing came with the worst directions!!!! We laughed so hard. It was after 1:00 when we finally called it a night... Then Ben got up sick two more times before 7:00, so it was a rough night of sleep.

The cutest thing was Wyatt. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT he falls asleep to the tv on, and has a melt down if I try to turn it off. Christmas Eve he was up at 11:00 and Mimi Patti reminded him that Santa would not come if he was not asleep. Wyatt quickly went to his room and called me in there. He said "Please turn off the light, I am going straight to sleep and not watching any tv, b/c I want Santa to come as soon as he can". And that was it! Too bad I can't use that every night!

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. As usual, Hattie was the first to rise and was up at 7:30. At around 8:00, Wyatt woke up. It took him a while to get going, but he eventually started tearing into the presents. He must have been good this year, because he unwrapped the Batman Cave (his main request this year), a Diego train (from us, as he found it under our bed a few months ago and I had to lie about it), a Diego rescue vehicle, ds games, a Guess Who game, little monsters that he LOVES - can't even remember what they are called, but they were just a little stocking stuffer, and Star Wars men and Star Wars legos. He said he didn't know what to play with first because he liked all of it.

Hattie opened a few gifts as Wyatt opened and finally they finished when Hudson got out of bed. He is definitely the later sleeper in the family! They opened some puzzles, books, a little people carnival, and some shampoo/soaps. Santa knew they didn't need much this year, just enough for Wyatt to not ask questions.

After we opened Santa presents we exchanged gifts with Mimi. It was great to have her there with us Christmas morning and I think she enjoyed it too. she got the kids a rocking horse that making noise and is big enough for Wyatt to ride for some time still. All three of them rode the horse for quite a while. The kids also all got clothes and games.

That afternoon we went to Missy and Brad's for the Hirschman Christmas. It was good to see everyone and to visit. The babies are really hard to keep a watch on when we go somewhere though and after a few hours I was ready to go home. Mimi Patti came with me and it was such a relief to get them back to their normal surroundings. They are happy, which makes me happy!!! Wyatt and Ben stayed and played Loaded Questions. Ben was amazed of how many things Wyatt knew during the game.

Saturday we had our last and final Christmas. It was the Graham get together at my aunt Debbie's. We did a white elephant type gift exchange as usual. We ended up with Wild Turkey and Jim Beam. Does that say something about us? Actually, I wanted a El Jimador gift card and a digital frame and had them both at one time, but they were evenutally stolen and Ben talked me in to the Wild Turkey. Wyatt loved the Jingo (Christmas Bingo) we played for most of the night. He also decided he now likes brownies. YIPPEE!!! Finally a reason to make chocolate other than for me!! I told him I would make some when we got home and of course we didn't have any. I made chocolate chip cookies and said he would like them if he liked brownies. He took one bite and said they were gross. Great... at least I have a brownie partner.

Today has been PJ day at the Meldrum household. It has been a nice enjoyable day. Besides the chaos of the toys, we were able to sit back and watch the kids play. They are all really playing alot better together, besides the occassional fight over toys. Ben is home for the next two days with the kids, as they don't go back to school until Wednesday. I have to go back to work tomorrow..... so... let's hope I am back sooner than later with the next update.

It has been as crazy as I thought it would be! The last week has been a busy one, but a good one... to recap:

Monday Ben had to go get Hattie from school after she threw up. She never did it again and seemed fine. She was congested, so we think it was her drainage that caused her to throw up.

Hattie did go to the doctor last Wednesday. She started to run fever Sunday evening and was just not her self. We saw Dr. Herrbold. She weighed 19 lbs, 110z. Dr. Herrbold said he had never seen such a big belly on a little girl! And so tight! I guess she is packing it on for the winter. She had a double ear infection. The medicine helped her quickly.

Friday was a big day for Hudson. First all the kids had their Halloween party at school and went to school in their costumes. They looked so cute! I then picked Hudson up and took him for his first haircut! He did very good and was entertained by his sucker. Then I took him with me to eat McDonalds with Grandpa Dennis and shopping for his bday. He then went to the doctor. He had been grouchy the whole week, but I kept giving it more time. Dr. Gordon said he did have some fluid in his ear, but she thought it was a sinus infection and gave us a prescription. He has really fought the medicine this go around. Usually it is Hattie that fights her medicine and Hudson loves it. This time, Hattie took her medicine easily and sucked it down. Hudson weighed 21 lbs, 2 oz.

Friday night I stayed home with the kids while Ben went for a while to Nick and Jessica's Halloween party. Saturday, Ben made the lasagna for Sunday's party and I tried to clean house. That is so impossible when everyone is up and making messes all day, and the babies cry every time they see me.

Saturday night Ben's brother Rob and girlfriend Amy came over. We dressed the kids in their costumes and loaded them up in the stroller and wagon.... plus loaded us a cooler! We walked through the neighborhood and trick or treated. The weather wasn't that bad in the beginning, but it did get pretty cold. After loading up on candy we came home. Hudson fell asleep in the stroller and Hattie was out shortly after that.

To back up a little, a few weeks ago I was on my way to town with the kids and Hattie was fussy. I wasn't really paying a ton of attention to the road and was quickly pulled over by the Cole County Sheriff in Wardsville. He said that I did not stop at the stop sign and rolled through it. I apologized, as I did not doubt it.. He ended up looking in the back seat and seeing the carload of kids and let me go on a verbal warning. Wyatt asked me if I was going to jail, and the officer told him that he tried not to take mommys and daddys to jail in front of their kids. Well, while we were trick or treating the same officer pulled up next to us and talked. Wyatt asked who that guy is, and I explained in front of everyone, how he was the officer that let mommy go and not take her to jail when she ran that stop sign. Everyone laughed and the sheriff smiled. Hopefully, if there ever is a next time, having three wild, screaming kids can get me out of another ticket!

Sunday morning we were able to set the clock back an hour which was perfect for our busy day. With lots of panic, we were able to get the kids dressed up and to church on time. Hudson was go good during church and baptism. Hattie was busy during church and had to spend half of mass in back. She then fell asleep and slept all the way through baptism. Heather and Nicole are their god mothers and Rob is their godfather. They looked so cute in their outfits!

We came home and changed clothes and blew up balloons and finished getting ready for the party. We had a bunch of people over and it was so nice. The weather was beautiful, so the big kids played outside all day. Ben's lasagna was great and we went through 3 big pans! The babies received a lot of nice gifts. Hudson didn't feel well and was so tired that he started to go down hill quickly. He ended up falling asleep right after he ate some cake. He woke up an hour later and had fever of right under 101. Poor guy..

of course I have to bring up the one mishap of the day. Uncle Rob spilled his glass of red wine on the carpet in the living room. It seemed to come up pretty good, but he got a lot of grief and had to drink out of a sippy cup for the rest of the afternoon... He won't live that one down for a while.

Hudson stayed home yesterday and it seemed to help. He is now fever free and can breathe a lot better. Mimi Patti stayed home with Hudson yesterday. I was in my room working yesterday morning on my laptop when Hudson came in to see me. Patti followed and we started to talk. We weren't watching Hudson until he heard a splash in the toilet. Hudson took my security token for access to my laptop and dropped it in the toilet. It died.... I had to call and request a new one to be shipped to me... so here I sit at home today waiting for the delivery...

Today is the babies' actual bday. The big ONE! They were on KRCG this morning and we are going to have cake and ice cream again tonight to celebrate. They took cupcakes to school. As I was reminicing this morning, I was dressing the kids. Once I had Hudson dressed I had to take a double look at him and realized I had put Hattie's clothes on him! That's was I get for thinking too much..

I cannot believe the year has passed... Last night Ben and I watched them and talked about big they are now, and how they are really acting more like toddlers and less like babies. It is so crazy how fast they grow up and change.

We are working on taking bottles away and working on going to milk alone and no more formula. Hattie still has a little breast milk to finish, but I stopped pumping a few weeks ago. I still have my pump, and plan on burning it for a final good bye. That is one thing I will never miss..

We have walkers!!!! Both babies are walking now, and getting very good at it. They both walk much more than they crawl. Both fall, but get up and go again. Hudson did start first, but Hattie caught up quickly and has been walking for over two weeks now.

Teeth update - Hattie's 4th on the bottom is finally visible when she smiles.. still no teeth on the top. Her teeth are very small, like mine. She eats slow, but is a good eater. She still gets in trouble for dropping food on purpose and for rubbing her hands back in forth over her food, making it fly everywhere.. Hudson has 4 on top, and 3 on bottom. He has Ben's teeth. Hudson is a great eater. He shoves food in as quick as we put it on his tray. I don't know of anything that they won't eat. They both like breads and sweets the best.

I took Hudson to the doctor the other day, thinking he had an ear infection. He didn't.. he weighed 20 lbs, 8 oz. I tried to get the babies flu shots, but they are out of the medicine. I was able to get Wyatt the flu mist. So, at least one of us is vaccinated.

Ben and I have been able to get out a copy of times over the last few weeks. First, Mimi came in town and watched the three of them and Ben and I went to Marcus and Christina's. Then, last weekend we had a wedding out of town. Janice and Ed kept them from Saturday mid morning to Sunday around 3:00. Then, this past weekend, my parents came around noon and kept them while we went to Hermann! Ben and I needed the time together and were so appreciative of everyone's help! I think the kids were good for all of them! WHEW!!

Hattie and Hudson both say UH OH all the time. Both wave bye bye from time to time. Hudson shakes his head no when you say it. Hattie raises her hands over her head when you ask how big she is. Hattie still is the bruiser. She will love and kiss you one second and the next she is slapping you in the face. It is dangerous to lay on the floor next to her... Hudson is a screamer when he doesn't get his way. If something is stuck, or Hattie steals a toy, he just looks at you and screams. He gets so mad that he makes a fist and shakes.

Ben asked Wyatt the other day, "Isn't Hattie a pretty girl?" "Wyatt said "no, not really.". Ben said "Wyatt, that is not nice, that will hurt your sister's feelings!" Wyatt said, "she doesn't know that I am saying that". Ben explained that she would some day know and that would upset her. Wyatt said"Fine, she is pretty."

Ben told Wyatt the other day on the way to school that they would be home by themselves that night b/c I was going to dinner with the girls. Wyatt said "I want Mommy. She is the best Mommy in the whole wide world." Ben asked Wyatt "who is the best daddy?" Wyatt replied "I really don't know who the best daddy is." After a lot of coaxing from both Ben and I, Wyatt finally gave in and said "okay, then.. you are the best Dad"... poor Daddy..

We have a big week this week. I am preparing for a double "1st Birthday party" and a double baptism. I know.. I can't believe I put it off so long. Both activities are planned for Sunday. It is going to be crazy!

I made it back from Madison in one piece and no further injuries. I also came home with a repaired, primed and painted fender that I am so proud of! I never thought that would be something I would do... I was so excited to get home to see everyone. The day I was coming home I talked to all of the kids. I asked Wyatt if he missed me, and he said, "UH HUH, BAD!". When I talked to Hattie, she said "MaMa". Ben said Hudson smiled. I picked up El Jimador on the way home to celebrate, but the celebration was short when I got home b/c they forgot to include the cheese dip and Wyatt was devastated! Ben had been great at keeping up the routine and it was like I was never gone around the house.


I knew it would happen, and it did... Hattie fell down the first flight of our stairs. I didn't see it happen, but I heard her crying afterwards and came running. Wyatt was on the couch watching TV and told me he wasn't watching her b/c he was watching his show! The stairs are carpeted, there aren't that many of them and it didn't seem to hurt her any. I really think she was just mad that it happened and she couldn't see anyone. I am sure it won't be the last time that they fall down them. The gate goes up, but somehow it always gets taken down. I think Wyatt fell down them twice. GREAT PARENTS AREN'T WE???


I came in to the living room to the sweetest site the other day. I was in the babies' room with them and went to put a load of laundry in. When I came back, they had both made their way into the living room. Hudson was on his back and Hattie was sitting next to him. She would leap on him and scream and Hudson would crack up. This repeated about 5 times. I tried to get my camera, but I made a noise and they both spotted me. This was the first time I witnessed them playing together. They always stare/smile at each other and have stolen many of toys from each other, but this was actually playing.. I loved it!


Wyatt recently was staying home with Ben and Hudson while Hattie went to Aunt Heather's for a little bit when I was gone. Wyatt was upset that Hattie was leaving. I explained to him that he still had Hudson to play with and it would be fine. He said "Well, I won't have anyone to play with when Hudson is mean to me!" He has it rough..


Wyatt did really good this week at soccer practice and we were so proud. We had a game Tuesday night, and he did run, but it was just following the other kids, not chasing the ball. So, we are improving! He had quite the fan club. Hattie, Hudson, me, Heather, Mitch, Hunter, Zach, Grandma Janice, Grandma Bonnie and Papa Dennis.


Hudson is working on forming words, but nothing is coming together yet. He talks non stop and it sounds like he is really telling a story. Hattie says ut oh all the time, especially as she throws objects/food. I swear they both say bubba and I really think Hattie says "hereyougo" when she gives you something. They both do say mama and dada some.


The babies are getting on their feet alot and are getting fast with their walker cart things they push around. Hattie is quick at walking around the furniture. Hudson has taken one step several times now, and then falls.. so we are making progress!


Hattie is getting her fourth tooth on the bottom.. still none on the top. Hudson is working on getting his fifth and sixth tooth, on each side of his front top teeth. They have been grouchy this week and I am blaming teething. We have been laying Hattie down awake. She cries and usually wakes up Hudson, but we just let them go and they finally both go asleep..


I found out yesterday that I have more change ahead of me at work. I work at a vendor's building assessing total losses. We were informed that we will no longer be working with this vendor. I am hoping and have been told that I will have a job..... It looks like I will be working from my house and driving to see my assignments now instead of them being delivered to me. I should know more this month. I just want a stable, secure job. If that exists.


The kids and I are home by ourself tonight, like most Thursdays. This cool weather makes me anxious to put away all their summer clothes and spread out the fall/winter clothes, so that is our plans for tonight. Wyatt always wants crescent rolls for dinner when it is just us at home. Last Thursday I asked what he wanted if we didn't have any crescent rolls.. he said "uh, how about my favorite.... not eat.." He always has a comment..

Ben called and said Wyatt did actually participate a little in soccer tonight.. Still didn't really play, but at least ran around! It is a start! He also said that Hattie said dada all night long and that neither of them have no idea who I am.. WHAT A TERD!

I had to take Hattie back to the doctor on Sept 2 and she had another ear infection. Dr. Herrbold said it wasn't very bad, but it seems that Hattie has pretty low pain tolerance with them.. She was a bear and was running a fever. She weighed 18 lbs 7 oz.

A little over a week ago Ben and I had enough and decided it was time to split up the babies at night... Both of them were getting up several times a night for some reason and we were exhausted! They would wake each other up with any little movement/noise. We left Hudson in their room, moved Hattie to Wyatt's room, and moved poor Wyatt to a cot in our room. The first night I heard the babies crying some, but we stayed out and eventually they stopped. Since then, I haven't heard them cry! Either I am sleeping deep, or they aren't crying.. Wyatt has slept restless and always asks me to sleep on the cot WITH HIM.. just a tiny bit uncomfortable.. but, it is just while we get things straightetened out. I am trying to convince Ben that we just need to sell and get a bigger house..

Both babies are completely on table food and we have given all the baby food away. They are really good eaters. Hattie shows her attitude alot and slings her food everywhere, on purpose as she says "ut oh". Once we stearnly say "no no" she will eat a bite and then start slinging all over again. Hudson eats as quick as he can and half of it ends up in his lap, which we have to put back on his tray a couple of times each meal..

They both crawl every where and pull up to every thing. We have had several falls and several bruises. When you tell Hattie to get you, she will crawl up to you, stand up, and fall right on your chest while smiling and laughing.. she loves it. She also loves to pull hair, slap, and scratch. Hudson is the snuggler and smiles shyly while putting his chin in his chest. He has really started clinging to his Daddy while Hattie is turning in to a complete momma's girl.

I don't know if I have said before that we enrolled Wyatt in soccer this fall through the YMCA. Ben also volunteered to coach his team, something he said years ago he would do when Wyatt played... little did we know that Wyatt won't play!! He said it is boring to run and boring to kick the ball and that he isn't good.. I brought the babies to his first game and tried my best to encourage him to play.. nothing worked! He sat on the sidelines and talked to the babies. Once, I shamed him in to running and even kicking the ball ONE TIME, but then I and the lady next to me made the mistake of cheering and he started bawling his eyes out. Ben gets so frustrated with him at practice.... We have learned that Wyatt and Soccer are not meant to be.. He has another game tonight, so I am praying that he is playing.... I bribed him with a Monster Buster Club toy..

He says he wants to play baseball, but I can almost put money on that fact that he will cry with that too... let's hope I am wrong..

Wyatt has just started being a little onery with the babies.. He always wants them in the room with him, but has a terrible habit of taking the toys they grab and says he was playing with it. He does try to give them a toy in exchange, but we are trying to explain to him that it isn't right to take the toy they have.. We have threatened no new toys until he learns to share... He loves the computer right now and gets very upset when we tell him it is time to get off for the night. He asked me the other day if he ate alot if it would make his birthday come quicker and told me he ran so fast b/c he had 100 foods in his belly. He likes to pretend fight with swords and told me he was going to defeat me.

I am writing tonight from Madison, Wisconsin - here for training since Sunday. I left home at 9:30 on Sunday morning and won't be home til midnight on Friday night - A LONG TIME. I was nervous leaving, not that I don't trust the kids in Ben's care.. just nervous that the babies will forget me and Wyatt will miss me too much... so far, all is going okay. Ben says Wyatt has been good and the babies have slept well.. I am learning a lot and eating way too much. Only one incident.. today I was looking at different bumper covers on the creeper (rolling thing, as I like to call it) and I ran over my hair, which then became locked in the wheel.. I freaked out and two guys were trying to help me.. I eventually rolled off in panic and a huge section of my hair was pulled out!! I would guess like 200 strands was pulled out.. It HURT! I can see the tender spot where a lot of it came from. The instructor was looking at me like I was a freak! anyway, I am fine and luckily, I am not going bald any time soon..