These boots are made for walking....

While doing some back to school shopping last week, Nana bought Hudson his first pair of rain boots. Although we have not seen much rain during the day since they were purchased, they have been worn pretty much every hour since he has owned them. In my attempts to get him to wear sandals in this summer weather, he replies with "Maybe it is a good idea in case it rains so I can jump in puddles and my feet don't get wet.....OKAY?". So here we are at the grocery store with the boots and umbrella juse in case. Everything is "maybe a good idea" or "maybe not a good idea". He is the king of negotiating now...wonder where he gets that from?

I did not set up this picture. Either he is taking an interest in baseball or he is preparing himself for the next sibling tackle. Jack now makes a growling/screaming noise sometimes when Hudson gets a little too close to him. I am hoping to catch it on video on of these days!

We took Hudson to his first carnival this weekend. At first he wanted to check out the rides, and before long he was asking to go on the "big" ones.

We have finally had a break in the hot weather and got out to the park this week. Jack will sit in a swing as long as we let him. He loves it.

A HOT week in August

Here are a few pictures from the HOTTEST days of the year in Kansas City. It was well over 100 degrees here but we still managed to find some ways to cool off. While Jack was napping, Hudson got to experience his first popsicle from the ice cream truck and he giggled through the whole experience.
Jack loves bathtime and tries to climb in as soon as he hears the water.

The boys have started to play more together these past few weeks now that Jack is more mobile. This has been a good thing at times, and not so good at other times. I imagine this is just the beginning! Jack loves to scream though when Hudson takes a toy from him and giggles as soon as he gives it back. He sure is figuring it all out.

Jack loves to climb his new bookshelf in his room.... and remove each and every book on it.

Jack's new favorite toy of the week....a Star Wars light saber. He has been crawling around with it. I guess you never know when you might need it when you have a three year old brother.

Why not sit on the dog to read your paper?

Last week we had our good buddies, Ainsley and Max over to play. It is pretty entertaining to watch them all play together. Hudson and Ainsley we have decided act like an old married couple with their love/hate relationship. Sometimes they play great and have cute conversations together. Other times, Hudson works his magic annoying this little girl as much as possible in a short amount of time. This has been going on pretty much since birth as I remember at a very early age, Hudson crawling to her to kiss her and Ainsley putting her hands up and becoming a bit terrified. I think by the end of the day they were making plans for a lunch date though so who knows what will happen will this lovely couple....

Max and Jack, however, are pretty much all grins and giggles. Jack is happy throwing crackers on the floor and Max is happy finding them later and eat. They make a pretty good team. They are probably secretly planning a big attack on the older siblings for all of the trouble they give them.

This tent (from Uncle Evan and Aunt Lyndi) has been more than just a tent this week. It has been a cape for Hudson literally as he runs around the house with it on his back. Then the other day when I came out of the shower, it was on top of Jack's exersaucer completely and the poor kid didn't even make a peep!

Jack is warming up to some new foods. He is pretty much skipping baby food all together and going straight to table food so we are doing lots of chopping! We are just happy he is eating! He is liking avocados, peaches, bananas, peas, carrots and even goat cheese. He still won't take a bootle but is drinking a small amount of whole milk out of a sippy so we are making progress!

The Walter cousins visit KC

This past weekend, we had a great visit with Uncle Pete (John's brother), Aunt Jane, and cousins Trey, Ethan and Whitney who traveled all of the way from Colorado. The kids played, played and played some more. The kids were great entertainment and so sweet with Hudson and Jack. They played baseball outside one day and Hudson wanted a baseball glove like the boys had. He decided to wear his winter Buzz Lightyear gloves and matching hat since he doesn't have a glove yet. Needless to say with the HOT weather, he was a sweaty mess when he was done. . Saturday we made it to the Dinosaur exhibit at Union Station. The older kids loved learning about the dinosaurs and Hudson had fun making "Rex" (the dinosaur from Toy Story) sounds throughout the visit.

Jack loved Uncle Pete

Their visit wouldn't have been complete with lunch at Oklahoma Joe's!

9 months old and on the GO!

Jack turned 9 months old today! He makes us laugh more and more each day with his personality coming through. He eats up attention from anyone and is nothing but grins and giggles most of the time. He waves hi but hasn't mastered clapping yet. He is on the move with his army crawl and getting faster and faster to keep up with his big brother. He loves to climb over things like chairs and roll himself down the step into the living room. He even climbed a stair tonight. He is pulling up on everything and cruising around furniture. He has finally starting to eat some food, but prefers to feed himself and chew and is mostly skipping over baby food. Cheese and avocado seem to be the favorites so far. He has four teeth and is working on a few more.

At his nine month check up, Jack weighed 23 lbs (85th percentile) and was 28 inches (50th percentile) so he is slowing down just a bit! He smiled the whole time at the doctor during check up and didn't even react when he got a shot. Sometimes I worry if he feels pain as he hardly reacts when he bumps his head, although a few weeks ago when Hudson attempted to "pick him up" and decided he was "too heavy" and dropped him on his head on the floor, he did cry:).

Finding cords at Nana's

And more cords....

And some outlets. It looks like we have some big babyproofing to do soon!

A weekend in St Louis

While John went to a boys weekend at the lake with some friends from Law school, the boys, Nana and I headed to St Louis for the weekend. They both did great in the car, thanks to the DVD player for Hudson.

Jack attempting to chew on some cables:). He is getting faster and faster each day. If you tell him "no" he thinks it his hilarious and goes faster until you get to him. He is going to keep us busy!

Hudson walking two of his favorite things - Minnie Mouse in the stroller and Sparky. We are always quite a site walking the neighborhood.

We got to stop and see Sam in Columbia for lunch both ways which was so much fun. Hudson immediatly hi-jacked her phone to listen to a Madagascar song and had to be bribed with an orange popsicle and fruit snacks to give it back.

We got to see a sneak peek of Pa's new house. It was built in 1860 and is a perfect place for him. We can't wait to make a trip back once he gets moved in.

Hudson sure loves Pa. Before bed one night, he told me that Pa is his "best buddy". They had fun swimming, playing, watching movies, and had a trip to the mall to ride the train while I went to a bridal shower.

Jack exploring Pa's house.

Hudson had so much fun swimming and playing that he fell asleep like this on the couch! If he would only nap like this at home!

Jack went to his first bridal shower for an old neighbor and had a great time, despite the heat that night.

The boys' love Nana's new purse. Hudson loves to steal change out of it and carry it, which thrills his daddy, and Jack thinks it is the best teether ever.

Celebrating mom's 31st birthday at lunch in Columbia. Hudson was so excited for candles and birthday cake!

A HOT week

While Hudson spent the night with Nana, John and I took Jack out to dinner at a new restaurant in Park Place. We both laughed that we used to think taking one baby out to eat was a challenge! I suppose it is all relative. Although, Jack is pretty easy to dine with. He gnawed on a chunk of bread for a good 30 min. He is finally starting to eat some food! He isn't very interested in baby food or a spoon but has eaten a few noodles off my finger and picked up peas and French toast this week. Progress!


It has been one HOT week here, but I swore I would not complain about heat after the cold, icy winter we just had! Fortunately, when you are three, a balloon is good entertainment. Hudson and Jack played with this balloon for HOURS this afternoon. Jack thought it was just hilarious when Hudson would play with it around the room. Hudson loved that everything turned orange when he looked through it.
Jack was supposed to be napping, but he had pulled himself up and Hudson had joined him. Jack is very proud of his new skill and giggles each time he makes it up there.


Jack crawling under the table which I am certain is spotless:) . If I could only figure out a way to attach a mop to his belly we might actually have a clean floor around here.

A few photo of the boys in their Madras plaid outfits along with "Ironman" which Hudson has worn for about three days straight.

This cloudy picture shows how hot it has been here. My lens steamed up as soon as I walked outside.