My Water Baby!

Angela here!  We have an official water-summer baby on our hands now.  Hudson LOVES water!  All water.  You can splash it, throw it up in the air, dunk his head (gently) in it or spray him with a hose.  He will laugh and stick his tongue out the entire time.  And he's almost at a running-stage as far as his walking status.  The boy is fast!  You blink and he's already on the other side of the yard. 

Love this pic!

Penny Lane even got in on some action and let Huddy splash her!  Such a sweet dog.

      

Sporting his cool trunks from Uncle Matt and Uncle Beej.  He felt so cool he had to stick out his tongue AND give me the "peace" sign.  Genius baby!

Dare I say father-of-the-year award?  I snapped this pic and it made me laugh.  I could lie and say this is Chris' version of being "hands-on."  But he was so good with Hudson.  He got right in the water, splashed his face and dunked my boy!  And Huddy loved every moment of it.

MOVING DAY IS COMING UP!  We are so excited to finally get settled in our new home.  This weekend we will be packing up boxes and hopefully start moving things over sometime Sunday.  Our official move-in day is Monday.  Hudson got in on some action with packing this week.  He thinks boxes are really funny.  He would crawl into a box, tip it over, then stand up in it.  Then Chris would hide and peek around to scare him.  Hilarious stuff.  I should probably take back some toys and just let him play with boxes....

Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and weekend too!  Our next post will be from our new home, woohoo!!

Balls Balls Balls!

Angela here!  I feel like I say it every week, but this has been another crazy couple days for the Kemp's.  It started on Thursday when we closed on our NEW HOUSE!!  Woohoo!  We officially live in Ohio.  But we don't officially get to move in till June 9th (the sellers are renovating their new house, so they are renting back to us).  Chris and I could not be more thrilled; as I'm sure Lolly and Pop are too.  We sort of (and by sort of, I mean completely) took over and invaded their home and turned their life upside down.  I don't think they thought things through after they decided to let two adults, a baby, a cat and a dog move in.  It's safe to say they will forever be in the "saint" category.  They even stored all our condo belongings in their garage!  THANKS Lolly and Pop!!

On Friday, the boys came home to an awesome blow up ball pin.  It's really a pool and if it ever stays warm enough, we will turn it into one.  Hudson is still on the move and loved the balls.  He would walk up to the pit and then fling himself in head first.  That child is fearless.

           

Saturday we got to celebrate Miss Stella Mae's first birthday.  Abby is a sorority sister from UK and she threw a fabulous party.  Backyard bbq fun with lots of babies and good friends.  Abby and I were able to experience all the pregnancy joys (and low back pain) together and even had a joint baby shower.  It's crazy how time flies once you have little rug-rats to keep you busy. 

Jenny (another sorority sister) is expecting a baby girl in October!  So excited that our clan keeps getting bigger with more and more little people.  

More balls!!!  What is it with kids and balls and blow-up pools?  Endless fun.....

I like to think Stella is trying to kiss Hudson in this picture.  But it looks more like a choke-hold.  That girl is one smart cookie.  And good lesson for Huddy too - girls always win.

Tuckered out, he was a trooper through all the chaos.

More firsts this weekend.  Hudson graduated to the big-boy highchair.  He was in a booster chair that strapped onto a table chair.  But he recently discovered his own strength and could push off the chair to lift it up.  Definitely looked like a safety hazard.  The big boy chair even comes with a detachable toy tray to keep him occupied when he's not stuffing his face....

And another first.  No more infant car seat!!  My back could not be happier.  After Huddy hit the 20 lb mark, carrying him and a car seat to and from daycare was exhausting and painful.  And he hated to have to lie down in the baby seat.  Once he started walking, he realized being upright was a whole new exciting world.  So my boy got another upgrade.

Not sure when he'll be able to use the cup holder, so I'm storing toys there for now.

Hope everyone has a fun-filled week!!

We Have a Walker!

Angela here!  Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day weekend!  My little boy decided he wanted to give me the gift of walking.  Not sure if this is the best gift ever or not.  I think so, right?!?  I keep forgetting how my life is about to get rocked with a walking baby.  Hudson will be 10 months old this week and there is no stopping this little man.  Last week he was only taking 2-3 steps.  This week, I think he finally realized what his feet and legs were doing.  And then he noticed that mom and dad got super excited every time he did it.  It's really cute to watch because after he does his little walk, he will look around the room searching for praises and smiles....which we give him every time.

http://youtu.be/Aatu7CHuaCc

http://youtu.be/GVhvb8Kvsog

Sunday we headed to church then over to Aunt Shannon's for brunch.  All the momma's got pampered and had a good relaxing afternoon.  No cooking for these ladies!  

Love all these little people...even when Anderson photo-bombs :)

Below are pics of Anderson tickling Hudson.  Anderson thought it was soooo funny to tickle him, then run away and then watch Hudson belly-laugh and try to chase after him.  There is definitely hope for these boys to be best friends.  

 

Hope everyone has a week full of smiles and belly-laughs :)

My Little Boy is not so Little Anymore...

Angela here!  Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Hudson is still on the move and trying to keep up with the big boys.  Last weekend he got to spend the day with his cousins and he just loved to stare at Anderson and all the cool stuff he could do.  I would say they were inseparable, but it is more like Huddy chasing after Anderson.  He never wanted to leave his side.

Poor baby Claire was such a trooper in this pic.  And Anderson did a great job trying to keep her propped up for the family photo.

No baby chairs needed.  My little man can sit at the big kid table!

There are lots of fun outdoor toys at Lolly and Pop's house.  Now if it could only stay warm enough for them to play outside.

Baby Claire loves her Uncle Chris.  Look at that smile!

Hudson loves to play with his big cousin Anderson, and Anderson loves to play with his Uncle Chris.

On a not-so-happy note, Hudson has been to the pediatrician at least once weekly for the past couple weeks.  He has been battling a fever that comes and goes every couple days.  And he has a productive cough that sounds like COPD.  It's sooo confusing.  The doctor gave him an inhaler, but it doesn't seem to be helping.  And he's usually happy and still plays and eats, even though the thermometer will read 102 or 101.  And to top it off, he has a 3rd tooth starting to poke through.  Below was his well-visit checkup stats.  He's 90th percentile height and 50th percentile weight.  Lean and mean...maybe he can play pro basketball!!

Notice the "3 Steps" stat.  Huddy is starting to take a couple steps before he plops to the ground.  He continues to be fearless and adventurous, just what little boys should do.

Below are pics I took during one of his "sick days."  Happy and loud as ever, and always putting a smile on our faces.  You will rarely see this child upset.  So do you see why I'm so confused?!  He has been a trooper with his ailments.  Fingers crossed he grows out of them sooner than later.

           

 

Hope everyone has a good week!

Rabbits, Rompers and Radio Flyers

Angela here!  Hope everyone had a fabulous Easter weekend!  Hudson and I were recovering from a week-long illness that included antibiotics, sleepless nights and no appetite.  While I am still on the mend, my little man was back in full-force this weekend, just in time for the Easter bunny.  He got lots of cool goodies and clothes.....

Hudson needs a lot of 'distractors' when changing his diaper.  The poor guy just can't sit still....ever.  Chris quickly corrected me after I called this toy a glow wand.  "Angela, it's a Star Wars light saber, duh."  Oops.

           

This is Hudson's "Prince George" romper.  It was actually Chris' outfit as a baby, so it was really special to see my son drool all over it.  

No bunny suits or fluffy onesies this year, just ears.  He DID NOT like the ears.... 

But he did like the ears on Penny Lane.

The nice weather allowed us to visit the park on Sunday.  Finally, some sun!  Hudson is warming up to grass and dirt.  I'm nervous he's going to be a fearless child as he gets older.  And he apparently likes to eat dirt too.  He would put it in his mouth, spit it out, then repeat.  Great Grandma DeeDee got him cute overalls to wear, which were not-so-cute and clean by the end of the park visit.  Boys will be boys, and he was happy, which equals a successful trip.  Thanks DeeDee!  

 He loves his parents...he really does, promise.

Pure and utter happiness. This picture is definitely going in a frame :)

Clearly his appetite is back.  

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Sunny Days, Easter and UK

Angela here!  Hope everyone had a good weekend.  We finally had some decent weather and was able to enjoy the outdoors.  We celebrated an early Easter at Aunt Shannon and Uncle Drew's house.  Cousin Anderson has this cool roller coaster and he was gracious enough to not only show Huddy how to do it, but also let him tag along for some rides. Below are two cute videos of the boys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO-Lny4h6EU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m6nVdojJ38

Hudson also got to experience walking on grass for the first time and was just shell-shocked.  He wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry or be nervous.  So he just froze...and stared at me...waiting for me to signal a feeling he should have.  And as any good mother would have, I simply laughed at him.  And after a little reassurance, I got a smile from my boy.  I think he's going to have a fun summer!

Hudson is going strong in Suite 150 at daycare.  Still eating everything in sight!  At home, he has found a new footstool.  I would say "Poor Penny Lane" but I think she enjoys being kicked by those little feet.  And if not, at least she gets all the food that's thrown on the floor.

And I hate to rehash a bad memory of Kentucky's loss last week, but these pics made me laugh.  I call them "Before and After"....

Before 

After

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

Movin' On Up!

Hello gang!  It is Dad this time around after a long hiatus.  Hudson has had my hands full - just getting him ready in the morning (which is our routine....Daddy does mornings, Mommy does night time) can be quite the test on one's patience....and we are almost nine months in, people!!!  (Which, by the way, can you believe...NINE MONTHS?!?!!  I am jaw-dropped thinking back on how quickly it has all just whizzed past!)  Honestly, I do not know how Angela makes it all seem so easy!    

Hudson meanwhile, is growing up like a BOSS!  We got the word last week that they are moving Huddy up to the next room in daycare.  He is a little young for moving to the next room, but the boy is everywhere these days.  My gut tells me the teachers were afraid he'd just barrel over his infant-classmates, as he certainly does not seem to mind getting all up in anyone's personal space!  So Hudson had to say goodbye to his new classmate cousin Claire and move to the big boy's room!!!  He paused long enough to have his teachers snap a photo of them together.  Notice the level of excitement on my baby boy...

And after the first week in Suite 150, Huddy is like a brand new baby!  He is on a totally different schedule, only takes one nap, and is being introduced to all sorts of new foods.    I come home from work after Hudson's first two days and Angela tells me "...oh yeah, and they have fed Hudson bagels w/ cream cheese, spaghetti, chicken, pizza, pork, any fruit or veggie you can think of"!!!   The boy has but two bottom teeth!   What a heffer!  A cute heffer that is, but still....I couldn't believe how much he can already wolf down!   

Now, that's not to say that he's an efficient eater - it's more of the exact opposite.  He grabs an absurd amount of whatever is on the table and shoves the entire hand into his mouth, only a morsel or two of which actually enters his mouth!  And there are those times when he can't quite find his mouth and his handful of food instead hits his nose and ends up scattered on the floor.  It's extremely messy, but quite amusing to watch!  

The best thing about daycare is that it really does wipe him out.   But it doesn't matter how cranky Huddy is, he still always puts on a show at bath time.   He is starting to be much braver...the mechanical turtle doesn't startle him as it once did (now he sees it as food), and he's wanting to crawl in the tub.  He'll slip and fall into the water, face plant, get surprised for a second, make a "whoa" face, look around frantically, and then keep on going with a huge grin.  

           

 

Finally, as quickly as the crawling phase started, it looks like the countdown has already begun for walking. Here is video of Hudson with his walker.  

http://youtu.be/24lDUZqkEtU

How much harder can it be to parent a walking baby, right?   Gulp.....have a great week everyone!