The Chain

I began a tradition towards the end of the summer before Kyndal's 1st year of school. In the last few weeks leading up to the 1st day of school we create a "back to school chain." The kids decorate the links and then I write an activity on the inside of each one and staple the links together.We got started a little late this year, I wanted to wait until we were home from the hospital so we didn't have an interruption in our activities. They have almost as much fun making the chain as they do with the activities!

The kids will open up one link each day leading up to the 1st day of school. So far we have gone to the fair, swimming at Star City Shores, and shopping for new shoes, backpacks and lunch boxes. Tonight they are getting haircuts and later this week we will be going on a bike ride, going to kindergarten open house, and grilling hot dogs and making s'mores in our backyard.

10 Things I Love About Chase

Our sweet baby "Chay" is one week old today.....where did the days go???? This week has been amazing, I can't imagine our family without this special little guy! Some of the things that make him so special:

1. Those unconscious smiles that I believe are from a "milk coma" but still melt my heart.

2. How he curls up like a ball when he's sleeping on my chest and turns his face up to me. I could hold him like that for hours.

3. When he nurses his hand rests on his chest, clasping his shirt displaying contentment.

4. His sweet disposition...he sleeps 2-3 hours very soundly, eats/awake time for 30-60 minutes and is then out again. He rarely cries (will this last?!) He is super calm and content so far.

5. His head full of hair, his Daddy's dimples, that Hudson nose, little toes, 10 long fingers, lips just like Kennedy, dark blue eyes and big squeezable cheeks.

6. His "portability"....we've been busy this week, and he's already had several outings. He's been quite the trooper: riding along for carpool in the mornings and afternoons, grocery shopping, back-to-school shopping and to the County Fair.

Here he is on our trip to the fair. We took two cars; Chase and I stayed a little over an hour.

7. He is proof of God's unending love...

8. He has Kyndal, Corbin and Kennedy wrapped around his tiny finger. They absolutely adore their little brother and they have ALL been the BEST little helpers ever this week. Just what a tired Mommy needs! I have been amazed at their gentleness with him, eagerness to show him off to their friends and caretakers and their delight in holding him every chance they get.
9. The complete dependency he has on me to care for and nourish him....and also the strength he already displays during his tummy time; how he lifts his head and turns side to side and his grunts and "push-ups" (what the kids call them).

Tummy time!

10. How he completes our family. Not just that he "evens" the score, two boys and two girls. But how he fits in so perfectly. He brings a calmness to our home, more love and compassion. It just amazes me how with each child I feel like my heart has grown bigger and bigger...I feel like it could burst. God is so good.

Chase Earl Hudson is born!

Our sweet "baby C" has arrived! Chase Earl was born Saturday, July 31, 7:00 am. He weighed 9 lbs 6 oz and is 20 1/4" long.

I had regular contractions off and on for the past several days and Friday evening they didn't stop, even after sleeping from 11pm-12am. When I woke up at that point I had a feeling the time was nearing to head to the hospital. We called in Grandma and arrived at the hospital at 2:30 am. Everything progressed really smoothly, my Doctor broke my water at 6 am and a short hour later we were blessed to find out we had a boy!

God has blessed our family so immensely, Chase is the sweetest "big" boy.....I am already head over heels for him. The kids have spent a few hours both Saturday and today with us at the hospital and we're checking out in the morning. Kennedy will barely leave my side, she's got to be right by that baby! I have some really good helpers with this one! We have enjoyed the relaxing time in the hospital resting, recovering and getting to know each other, but I'm looking forward to getting settled in at home. Breastfeeding is going really well so far.

Thanks to all of our visitors, calls and well wishes, and to the many friends and family members who helped us out with Kyndal, Corbin and Kennedy while we were in the hospital!

Here are some fresh photos of our sweet big boy:

Casey was beaming when he heard "it's a boy!"

So happy to finally have you in my arms!

Kennedy set up shop right next to me and baby-cakes!

"the baby isn't in my Mommy's tummy anymore!"

The Hudson clan!

The kids' hands

They all helped give Chase his 1st bath; Kennedy cleaned one foot

Corbin washed the other foot

Kyndal washed his arms

I love his cheeks!

Capturing his footprints

We love Grandma!

Weekend Fun

We took advantage of the "not-quite-as-steamy" weather this past weekend and spent a little more time outdoors.

Both Kyndal and Corbin had softball/t-ball games on Saturday and I squeezed in some "M&M time" with each of the kids too...something I wanted to do before "Baby C" arrives.

Kyndal and I went on a shopping hunt to find "silly bandz" which apparently is the newest fad these days. She was so excited to buy them with her own money. I'm sure that will wear off before I know it!

While Kyndal was at a birthday party Saturday afternoon, Kennedy and I grabbed cookies from Eileen's and played at a small nearby park:





Then we picked up Kyndal and headed to Corbin's game. Since we had two cars there, Casey took the girls and Corbin and I stopped to pick up doughnuts for Sunday breakfast (that is seriously what he wanted to do for his special time!) and then he enjoyed an ice cream cone.

We met up again at home before heading to Kyndal's late game and then we all went to Applebee's.

On Sunday Casey skipped town with some friends to do some 4-wheeling, something he hasn't gotten to do much this year due to all the rain. The kids and I ate our doughnuts from Corbin and then headed off to church.

They were like angels getting ready and had a great morning so after lunch I surprised them with a quick trip to the Cooper pool. It was overcast and 80s, so totally comfortable for me and the water was perfect!

I think Kennedy went down the slide at least 100 times. I had to beg her to go into the pool with me!

We stopped by the library after our swim to turn in our summer reading program sheets and then topped the outing off with a stop at the Dairy Sweet for Billy Bars! After they polished their treats off I enjoyed watching them play tag in the grass behind them.

Nesting

Yep, I'm definitely there. I'm crossing items off my "to-do list" daily. Both at work and at home. Just hoping I get it all done in time! We are less than two weeks out from due date, it's so hard to believe. The kids are so excited, they can hardly wait to find out if it's a "he" or a "she" and they can't wait to be helpers (especially the girls.) I hope that I get to hold the baby sometimes :o)

I'm feeling pretty good for the most part. The nausea has stuck with me the whole pregnancy and I'm ready to kiss the heartburn good-bye! I'm about 5 pounds shy of the average of what I gained with the other 3 (gained 41 lbs so far!) but I feel bigger! Maybe it's the heat...

The baby's room is complete, here's a few pics. It's brown and yellow with stars:

Where we'll be changing many diapers!

Stars that line the tops of two walls.

Where Baby C will snooze...

4th of July

Yes, I am going to get caught up eventually! I have actually been reading more lately, one of my passions that I usually deny myself and lately have been splurging. So....more reading=less computer time!

We had planned to go to my hometown for my 15 year high school reunion over the 4th of July weekend and be back in time to celebrate the evening of the 4th in Lincoln. But I decided that at 8 months pregnant and having recently been on two long trips (both included some hot weather) staying home sounded much more appealing. Our good friends, the Wyatt's, were in town for the weekend and I had plenty of "nesting" to do too. (More on that in a later post if I don't get tied up in another novel!)

We enjoyed a low-key but fun weekend, lots of fireworks and food and most importantly family and friends! Even with the rain on Sunday, our fun wasn't spoiled. Instead of meeting everyone to play some sand volleyball, we decided to potluck it at our house and then head over to Craig and Erin's for fireworks. At the last minute Casey decided we should take in the parade in Seward. No planning = no camera! So I didn't get any pics of the parade but the kids are still enjoying the sack full of candy that serves as proof that we were there! And I have plenty of pics from the rest of the weekend for you to enjoy:

Max Wyatt enjoy a turkey leg!

The go-cart and 4-wheelers kept the kids entertained at our house. Corbin took Max for a little ride.

Nate takes a turn at the wheel with Max and Ellie

Kennedy struggled a little with sharing...she thought she had to be a passenger if she couldn't drive!

Ellie got stuck, Kennedy gives her a little push

Corbin and Kennedy, going FAST

Charity took the little girls for a ride. Who had more fun?

Sporting his new mohawk and flag
Very few pics of Kyndal; she spent most of the night indoors (not a fan of fireworks!)Kennedy and her sparkler

Addison

The boys, blowing things up

Hurry, get out of the way!

Jimmy and Ryder

The Wyatt's

3 expectant Mom's! Me in August, Erin in November and Erika in September!

Enjoying the big bangs