I guess it has been another routine couple of months since my last blog. Sorry! But Hudson just had his 1st birthday (June 17th) so it is time for me to write.

(Oh, by the way, Amy is in Europe travelling this summer before she starts her PhD at Georgia Tech in biomedical engineering. Her blog is http://chengamyy.blogspot.com.

I can't believe its already been a year since Hudson was born! What an adventure! I never knew how much I could love your own child. In fact, I didn't really like kids that much. I think I started turning the corner when Tyler and Kaelyn were born. Totally cute, and really good kids. But still, they made messes and had food on their faces and had smelly diapers and I wasn't really crazy about it all. But there must be some switch that happens when you see your child born and grow. I think the switch didn't even happen at birth...yes I loved Hudson, but I REALLY loved Hudson once he started looking at us, making cooing noises, grabbing things and studing them in his hands, and that sweet sweet smile that just makes you melt. He gives the special "look of love" when you read books to him (Hi Baba!).

Hudson is now cruising along furniture, stands up easily holding on to things. On his birthday, he stood for the first time on his own, for 30 seconds! He says "bababa" and "mamama" and "mmmmm" and "ga-ga" (for da-da) and "gog" (for dog) and "bopbopbop" for everything else, and "shhh" for fish. He has the cutest giggly laugh espcially to "tinky toes!" where you smell his stinky feet, and when you tickle his armpits or swing him upside down. He is analytical - likes to hold things in his hand and study them...I think he'll be an engineer...or an interior designer, as he likes to touch fabrics.

We had Hudson's first first birthday party in Long Island, New York, where the pictures are from. Barbara threw an extra special party with all the good luck charms of a Chinese birthday! A cake with an Ox on it (Hudson is an Ox), everyone wore red (for good luck), he ate long noodles (for long life), and many of Nicole and Barb's and Robert's friends and family came to celebrate. A second first birthday party will take place here in Atlanta in July. More on that later...

I also can't believe that we have made our move back to Atlanta! Our life in NC has come to a close. We have had a wonderful 4 years there and made many friends and really had a home there. We will miss our 2 closest couples there - Dave and Karen, and Andi and Mark - who we have shared lots of time in and out of work, and with our kids. We also have so many other close friends that are like family to us - Chris Barger, Amy Hird and family, the Parkwood softball team, the Residents (and champion resident softball team) and my co-chiefs, Dr. Greganti, Paris (and Zemaya) and Melissa (and Braden), and our nanny Sherri...and others (sorry if I forgot you!)

And now we are moving to Atlanta, where we used to live 4 years ago, and are so fortunate to have wonderful friends and family here. Amy and Nate, Ben and Jen, Stephanie, Andre, Carrie and kids, Jay and Cynthia (our old neighbors in Durham)...and Barb to move in soon! We also have a great nany share set up - we met Kelly and Jon and their son Ethan, who has Hudson's exact same birthday! And a nanny, Guisella, who speaks Spanish and will hopefully teach Hudson to use his right brain well.

There's so much other stuff to talk about, but it will have to wait because I'm running a 5k tomorrow. To remind myself...

- San Fran

- Sold our old house and bought a new house on same day

- New house with pictures

- Finishing chief residency

- Starting cardiology fellowship

- Having a month off

- Father's Day and being a dad

- Post more pictures

Talk more later,

Alan

Hudson's 1st birthday

Avery and Hudson, loving their wagon rides. Auntie Andi blowing bubbles.

On a bench in Long Island.

With daddy.

"The look of love"....for Baba.

He loved the gusty wind blowing in from the Atlantic!

The birthday crowd!

The cake was sooooo good...Hudson picked up the plate and licked it (never did it before!)

What is this delicious morsel you've given me?

Who me? My birthday?!

Happy birthday Hudson (in Chinese) with his zodiac sign, an Ox...designed by Baba.

We had a pretty heavy snow (about 7") last month.

Hiking in Winston-Salem, NC with Amy and Nate and Sydney and the dogs!

Hudson and his girlfriend Sydney

Updates

Well, I officially stink at keeping this blog updated. Therefore, I’ll update it.

Hudson is almost 9 months old!!!! He is so cute, I can’t get over it. Over the past month, he has learned to pull up and stand up! He eats like crazy and babbles “babababababa”. He’s had a couple of ear infections, unfortunately. But otherwise, he’s doing great, and now I can’t imagine life without him!

We sold our house! Only 3 days on the market…crazy! So now we will really in the hunt for a house in Atlanta…Nicole is also looking for a job in Atlanta.

It’s nearing the end of my career here in Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. This has been a great 4 years. I’ve worked harder than I could really ever imagine, but had the opportunity to have some great experiences and meet wonderful friends. I’ve become a doctor, and I guess a leader too. For the most part, I love what I do and am excited about my career. And we started our family here. I will really miss it here!

We have a busy few months ahead of us. We will take our first big vacation here with Nate and Amy, going to “wine country” – Sonoma Valley in CA! We have Amy’s graduation in FL and Neera’s wedding in TX, and we have to pack up and close on our house by the end of May! We will have Hudson’s first birthday in NY in June, and move into a new house around then (assuming we’ll have one), and I’ll start a new 3-4 years of training in Atlanta….gosh!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Christmas 2009

Strapping young man in a tuxedo...or tuxedo t-shirt...

Auntie Jeannie and Uncle Wayne
Barb with her good friends Karen and Madeline

Uncle Tyler

cute...

Hudson with his new (vintage) desk, from Pop Pop and Patrice

I think he likes it!

Hudson with his new (vintage) rocking horse!

Auntie Katie with Barb and Nic

Barb's neighbor Danette and her little girl Tesla

Santa Claus is here!

I love to eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cousin Tyler with Nic and Hudson!

Hudson and Mommy in AquaTots class!

Brrrr.....

Merry Christmas kids!!!



Hello everyone,

Yes, yes, I will use the excuse of “I’m way too busy during the holidays” and “way busy with work” for the reason why I haven’t posted on here in so long.

To summarize our life’s goings-on since then, what can I say. We had thanksgiving in Atlanta with Amy and Nate, which was yummy. Nate always smokes a mean turkey. While we were there, we began our house hunting in Atlanta! Ben Yin is our realtor and took us to see 21 houses in 2 days! I’m really just using him as our realtor so I can spend more time with him =). For Christmas, we went to Dallas to spend a week with Nicole’s mom, and we all stayed at Aunt Jeannie’s house. Man, I forgot what vacation was all about! A week of lounging around, spending time with family, and seeing more of my son than I’ve seen since he was born! It was great! Barb is doing pretty well – she has finished 6 rounds of tough chemo, and now on something that she tolerates better, so she feels “like a person again”. We had so many visitors to see Barb and Hudson…they are so loved! And for New Year’s, we were back in Durham and Jenny and Jeff and the kids came to visit us! That was a lot of fun too, and the kids all got to play together…even though we all had colds! =( Well, now its back to the grind with work. Even though I’m not wanting to go back to work, its only 1 more month of interview season for us and then finally work can slow down to a more normal pace.

We’re doing well overall! New Year’s Resolutions, you ask? I haven’t made mine yet…but there’s an interesting website that will help you keep them when you make them, and I think maybe Nicole and I will try it.

http:/www.stickk.com

At Andy’s annual Christmas Party (Dec 23), I also found out that Bryan got engaged! Congratulations Bryan and Jessica! My high school friends are all growing up…Vadin, Aarish, and Danny, you guys are next…

Finally, we have had a couple of professional photography sessions – one for maternity pictures, and one for Christmas pictures. I especially love the Christmas ones, taken at the Carolina Inn on a cold, wintery day at UNC. See the links below (one in December 2009, and one in September 2009).

http://mindysea.blogspot.com/

Love,
Alan!

Visiting Barb in Dallas

Barbara and Hudson!

Nicole with her dad and Hudson

Us with Dr. Braun and his wife Ginny, along with Tyler and Katie our cousins.

Hudson likes his toes!

The Pope's, Barbara's neighbors who are so cute and check on Barb.

Hudson laughing at life's simple pleasures!

We went to Dallas this past weekend and had a great visit with Barbara. She is holding up pretty well after 5 rounds of chemo. We stayed with Jeannie, Wayne, Tyler and Katie (Nicole’s aunt, uncle and cousins) and saw a bunch of visitors – including Dr. Braun (who delivered Nicole!), Bev (Nicole’s French teacher), Robert (Nicole’s dad), Kramer (Nicole’s high school history teacher), and Barb’s neighbors.

I feel like I am impressed upon pretty easily. I feel like my world view seems to change week to week.

Last Thursday we had Medicine Grand Rounds with Roy Williams, the coach of the UNC basketball team who won the national championship last year, and the coach with the highest active winning percentage, and a hall of fame coach. I was sitting there listening to a living legend, who was talking about how he got to where he was (hard work) and lessons about leadership. It made me want to be a great leader and make a mark in the world.

Last weekend I was spending time with Barbara, and listening to her experience as a patient. Throughout the whole experience being a cancer patient, we have had to worry about metastasis, side effects, chest pain, uncertainty, thoughts of mortality, immunosuppression. I’ve seen it before in our cancer patients we take care of. The past week she has had some throat/neck pain that was very disabling and made her feel so lousy. But with a steroid, her inflammation went away and the next 2 days she was so happy and full of energy, that she was able to spend time with us and especially with Hudson. That simple ability to enjoy life made me realize that all I want to do is make patients feel better.

And when we visited with Barb’s neighbors, the Pope’s, who are in their 80’s and the husband, James Pope, was so happy to visit with Nicole and meet Hudson, it was humbling to see such simple pleasures of life mean so much. He has battled cancer twice and is still able to enjoy life.

Some days I want to save the world, and others I just want to make someone feel better, or help a nice elderly couple enjoy life a little more. Some days I want to live a life of adventure and exotic travel, and others I just want to see Hudson and Nicole roll around on the floor. My mind seems to change and wander.

Being a parent

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

On our first hayride ever!

At the pumpkin patch!

Hudson loves nature and his walks at the Washington-Duke trail!

Hudson as a glowworm and Avery as a puppy dog!

Hudson is a glowworm, Mom is a butterfly, and Dad is a butterfly catcher!

See some more pics on our latest album here.

I love having a family. Nicole is such a wonderful wife and friend, and I have to admit she takes care of more than I do. There’s something about being a mom that puts a lion’s share of responsibility on them when it comes to raising a child and a family Maybe it all starts with the unequal responsibility of pregnancy! Even with full time work, she does so much at home too, and I want her to know that I love and appreciate all she does for Hudson, for me, and for us as a family.

From the dad perspective, life has been great and we are definitely blessed, but man it is different! Of course we love Hudson to death and couldn’t imagine life without him. But frankly, we find ourselves tired a lot! Thank god that Hudson sleeps through the night now, else we may start to crack! I don’t know how everyone else feels about it, but I do wish we had more time for…variety.

After a hard day’s work, one of us picks up Hudson from Mark and Andi’s house where our nanny is. We come home around 6pm, play, feed, bathe, read a story, and put Hudson to bed by 8pm. From 8pm on, its time for “us”. But after dinner (either cooking, or leftovers, or takeout, or just cereal or snacks cuz we’re so tired), we discover that we’re both so tired that we’re ready for bed at 9. The night could have been our oyster – time for us to hang out, decompress, enjoy some wine and conversation, watch a movie. But usually the tv is on the background, and we both get real drowsy, eyelids heavy, and we both agree…we’re pooped. Now, I realize that we’re still pretty lucky – we are fortunate to have a reliable nanny, interesting careers, and a infant who sleeps well and other parents have it harder. However, I do wonder, how do other parents keep the energy level up? Are they hanging out at night, accomplishing projects on weeknights? Exercising? Doing fun things like ballroom dance lesions? Keeping in touch with friends near and far? Taking their baby out at night? Having friends over? Or are they tired like us, and end up not doing all that much besides the daily grind?

Anyways, here are some more pictures of our few recent adventures. We did go to a local farm that had a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and some farm animals which was fun! Also, I’m writing this on Halloween night (yes, its Saturday night and I’m home, Nicole and Hudson is asleep, and there is no crazy partying here). We hung out at Mark and Andi’s neighborhood Halloween party, which was fun.

Love,
Alan

Here's more!

Hudson with his friend (and nanny-mate) Avery.

Us with Sue and Chris Barger

Tyler - grip it and rip it!

Danielle and Mike with their daughter Addison, and Kristen and Colin with their daughter Paige!

The boys! Vadin, Bryan, Aarish, Andy (the man of the hour), Alan, and Danny at Andy's wedding in Clearwater Beach, FL.

Grandma and Grandpa with Hudson!

One of my favorite pictures!

Hey everyone,

Sorry its taken me so long to post to the blog. I have heard from several of you, wondering when the next set of pictures would be posted. Finally...here they are!

Hudson is doing great. He is 16 weeks old tomorrow, and finally has solved our fears of sleeping through the night. He's really learned to do this now! He only wakes up once or twice a night, but usually goes back to sleep in seconds (as long as he has his pacifier). We'll need to "Furberize" him later - get him used to sleeping without his pacifer. He is a big boy, smiles a ton, seems to talk gibberish a lot, and getting good at reaching for things. He rolls over all on his own, and now likes to sleep on his belly! (Its scary leaving him like that, but he seems to do fine).

We're doing well also. Staying busy. We just got back from Andy and Missy's beautiful wedding at Clearwater Beach. Andy was my best man in my wedding, and he married a hometown sweetheart from Galion, Ohio! The wedding was a reunion of our close friends from high school, and a great chance to see the family in Tampa! Amy taught Jenny, Jeff, Nicole and I how to boulder, which was fun.

Nicole and Hudson went to Dallas to visit Barbara, who is doing as well as can be expected. Back in May she had a renal cancer resected, and we were hoping for cure. Unfortunately, her cancer recurred, and because of her rare type, there isn't a lot of established evidence for treatment. Fortunately, she was referred to a doctor in Dallas, just down the street from her house, who happens to be a national expert in the field of renal cancer. He has the second largest practice of kidney cancer in the nation! She is undergoing chemotherapy now, having finished 3 of 6-8 rounds. She is full of courage and love, and we are hoping for the absolute best for her. Hudson is her biggest cheerleader, and has special healing powers that will help her!

We want you to see some of our latest pictures, so click this link to see some more pictures. We wish everyone all the best!

Love,
Alan and Nicole