Celebrating 12 Years of Hudson

Then there were the times he wanted me to record him in slow motion while a leaf blower blasted air into his face. Safety glasses on, hair flying everywhere, making the most ridiculous expressions.

Or the time he thought it would be hilarious to use a water balloon to pretend he was peeing.

Yep. That's my boy.

When Hudson was little, he was quite the entertainer.

Always smiling. Always doing something silly. Always finding a way to make people laugh.

And as someone who loves photography, I couldn't have asked for a better little subject.

Half the time, I didn't even need to come up with ideas. He had plenty of his own.

I just needed to have my camera ready.

That's Hudson being Hudson.

Watching You Grow

Today, Hudson turns twelve.

Twelve!

I'm not entirely sure how that happened so quickly.

Looking through photographs and videos from the past twelve years, I found myself smiling, laughing, and occasionally getting a little emotional.

Different hairstyles. Different clothes. Different expressions. And plenty of different attitudes along the way.

It's fascinating watching someone grow up through photographs.

When Hudson was little, he had no problem being the center of attention. But somewhere along the way, as he got into elementary school, things changed.

He became quieter. A little more reserved. Not quite as interested in being the goofy little kid who would do anything for a laugh.

And that's okay.

Kids grow. Their personalities evolve. They discover new interests, make friends, and start figuring out who they are.

But lately, I've noticed something interesting.

Now that he's in middle school, that outgoing personality seems to be making a comeback.

And boy, does he have stories.

Sometimes I wonder if he's ever going to stop talking.

I'm kidding.

Well, sort of.

But I love it.

I love listening to what's on his mind and watching him become more comfortable expressing himself.

It's like getting reacquainted with that little boy who used to drive around with a garbage can over his head.

Just without the garbage can.

At least for now.

Some Things Never Change

As much as Hudson has changed over the years, there's something about him that's remained remarkably consistent.

He's always willing to help.

Whether I'm working on something around the house, putting something together, or just need an extra hand, Hudson is usually right there.

He wants to be involved. He wants to contribute.

And that's something I've always appreciated about him.

It's easy to focus on accomplishments as our kids grow up. Good grades, sports, awards, and all those milestones.

But sometimes it's the smaller qualities that tell you the most about someone's character.

Being helpful. Being kind. Being willing to show up.

Those things matter.

Hudson is also incredibly creative.

Whether he's crocheting something or drawing, he has an artistic side that continues to impress me.

His artwork is phenomenal.

Seriously.

I keep telling him he needs to draw more because I genuinely believe he has a gift.

Of course, being twelve, I'm sure having Dad constantly remind him to practice drawing is exactly what he wants to hear.

But that's part of my job, right?

Recognizing something special in my kids and encouraging them to keep exploring it.

Even if they occasionally roll their eyes at me.

Brothers Will Be Brothers

Of course, I can't talk about Hudson without talking about Bennett.

These two have their own dynamic.

Bennett's getting older, and like most older brothers, there are times when his little brother gets on his nerves.

And Hudson?

Well, he likes to poke the bear.

I've lost count of how many times I've told him that.

He knows exactly which questions to ask and what buttons to push.

Typical brother stuff.

But lately, I've noticed something else.

This summer, while taking photographs, when I'd ask them to walk together or try different poses, Hudson would sometimes reach over and give Bennett a hug.

I don't ask him to.

He just does it.

It's little moments like these that I love capturing.

I've also caught a few photographs where Hudson is looking over at Bennett with this enormous smile on his face.

Almost like he's looking at someone he really admires.

Like he's just happy to be walking alongside his big brother.

I love that.

Underneath all the teasing, annoying questions, and occasional brotherly frustration, there's a little brother who genuinely loves his big brother.

And while Bennett might not always appreciate those hugs right now, I hope someday he'll look back at these photographs and realize just how much his little brother has always looked up to him.

I tell both boys something pretty regularly.

You're brothers. No matter what happens in life, you'll always have each other.

Friends will come and go. Relationships will change. Life will take you in different directions.

But the bond you share as brothers is something special.

Something worth protecting.

And Hudson, maybe give Bennett an occasional break from all that bear-poking.

Just a thought.

But keep showing him how much he means to you.

Keep laughing together. Keep finding those little ways to care.

Twenty years from now, I doubt either of you will remember most of the arguments you're having today.

But I hope you'll remember the adventures, the laughter, and the love you've always had for one another.

Why I Take So Many Pictures

I've taken thousands of photographs of my boys over the years.

And there's a reason for that.

I'm afraid of forgetting.

Not necessarily the big milestones.

It's the little moments that worry me.

The funny expressions. The conversations. The everyday moments. The ridiculous ideas that somehow become favorite memories.

The way their voices sounded when they were little.

The things that seemed so ordinary at the time but somehow mean so much more years later.

Like a little boy driving around the yard with a garbage can over his head.

Without that video, would I remember it twenty years from now?

Maybe.

But now I don't have to wonder.

I can watch it again and laugh just as hard as I did the first time.

That's also one of the reasons I started writing these stories.

Someday, when Bennett and Hudson are older, I want them to have more than just photographs.

I want them to have the stories behind them.

What we were doing. What made us laugh. What life was like.

And how their dad saw the world while they were growing up.

Because as much as these stories are about our experiences together, they're also little pieces of my life that I want to leave behind for them.

My Wish for You

Hudson, if there's one thing I wish for you as you keep growing, it's that you never lose the courage to be yourself.

Follow your passions. Chase your dreams. Try new things, even when you're not sure you'll be good at them.

Make mistakes.

Lots of them.

Because that's how you learn. That's how you grow. And sometimes those mistakes lead you somewhere you never expected.

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

Not everyone will understand you. Not everyone will like the same things you do.

And that's perfectly okay.

Life is too short to spend it worrying about what everyone else thinks.

There's an old saying about dancing like nobody's watching and singing like nobody's listening.

I think about that when I watch those old videos of you.

That little boy with a garbage can over his head didn't care what anyone thought.

Neither did the kid making ridiculous faces with a leaf blower blowing in his face.

You were just having fun.

Being silly.

Being you.

And I hope you never lose that.

As you get older, life will throw challenges your way. Some things will work out, and others won't.

When you fall, get back up.

When something scares you, don't automatically turn away from it.

And when you discover something you love, pursue it. Not because someone else thinks you should, but because it makes you happy.

Be kind to people. Help others when you can. And remember that everyone is figuring out life as they go.

Including your dad.

You don't have to have everything figured out.

Just keep showing up, keep learning, and keep being yourself.

Never forget the people who've been there with you along the way, especially your brother.

And whatever direction life takes you, I'll always be cheering you on.

Happy Birthday, Little Man

Hudson,

Today you turn twelve years old.

And while I could probably write a hundred more stories about you, there's something I want you to know.

I love watching you grow up.

I love your creativity, your imagination, your sense of humor, and your willingness to help others.

I love that you're finding your voice and becoming more comfortable expressing yourself.

And I love that underneath all those different hairstyles, clothing choices, and stages of growing up, I can still see that same little boy who used to make me laugh until my stomach hurt.

You have so much ahead of you, and I can't wait to see the person you become.

But there's something I want you to understand.

You don't have to become anything extraordinary to make me proud.

I'm already proud of you.

Not because of what you've accomplished or what you might accomplish someday.

But because of who you are.

I'm incredibly lucky to be your dad.

And while I know I can't slow down time, I can keep taking pictures, making memories, and writing down a few stories along the way.

Because someday, twenty years from now, I hope you'll come back and read this.

And I hope you'll smile.

Maybe even laugh at that ridiculous garbage can video.

But more than anything, I hope you'll know just how much you've always meant to me.

Happy 12th Birthday, Hudson.

Love you, little man.

❤️ Dad

The Boy Behind the Pictures