Hudson = 2

It's hard to believe that this sweet little thing came into the world two years ago..... 

July 24, 2011 - just a few hours old

2 year old stats:

coming soon

A few fun facts about Hudson....

• He loves to play. His favorite toys right now are dinosaurs, trains, and Legos/blocks. 

• He is still pretty fearless, and has developed a new hobby of jumping off things (like we're talking an 18 inch ledge one time that almost gave me a heart attack).

• He has a pretty good vocabulary, and is starting to form sentences. He knows some of the alphabet and their sounds too, mainly A - H. 

• He loves animals, and knows A LOT of animal sounds. It's pretty impressive.  

• He enjoys books and can spend a good amount of time being read to. His favorite books right now: Oh, the Places You'll Go, any animal books, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, and Love You Forever. 

• He is fast. The kid can run. He may not ever be the tallest or biggest, but I'm pretty sure he can outrun most of the kids his age and probably a 3 year old too.

• He has the most infectious laugh. 

• He is such a good helper. He likes to help and be useful. He'll help make cookies, vacuum, wipe the tables, and set the table for dinner. And, when he spills his cheerios or goldfish on the floor - he will yell "mess, mom!"

• He is still very attached to his baby blankets (or "bankies" is what he calls them). He needs them to fall asleep, and not just one but two (sometimes three). 

• He loves bath time and can stay in until the water is cold. The pool is a different story; he is hesitant to go in at first, but by the time we are finished he doesn't want to leave. He can go under water while holding his breath and he'll also kick his legs - it's just not his favorite thing to do. He had one swim lesson this summer, and it was awful. He hated it. I think it was just a lot of kids around (most of them crying too) and he was just not comfortable with the teacher. We will have to try again, maybe this fall. He does love the wading pool though. 

Dear Hudson,

You are such a joy! You bring a smile to our faces every single day. You have grown up so much this past year, and even in these last few weeks (especially with how you are forming sentences). You are a sweet, smart, adventurous, and helpful boy. We love watching you share with your friends, say your prayers, point out all the animals in your books along with their sounds, and snuggle up to your "bankies" every night. We think the world of you. I hope you know that we love you and are so proud of all that you are becoming. You are such a cool kid (much cooler than we will ever be).      

Happy Birthday, Hud bear. 

Love,

Mom and Daddy

This year Hudson's birthday fell on a Wednesday (not the most convenient day), but we made it work. His grandma Lynn, Aunt Amanda, and first cousins once removed (had to look that up) came down to celebrate with us.

Before dad headed off to school, we let Hudson open up one present to start the day! He was so happy. 

Video: opening up Thomas the Train

He is obsessed with trains right now. 

We went swimming at Millbrook. It's the perfect place for toddlers - splash pad, wading pool, and covered big pool. After that, we headed to lunch at Hud's favorite lunch place - Chik Fil A. :)  

 with Amber, Amanda, and Kaitlyn at the splash pad

 looking so hip swimming on his birthday

Later that night, grandma Lynn cooked him a delicious Asian dinner - complete with egg rolls, wonton soup, and chicken satay. It was so tasty! We got as much family as we could on Facetime and Google + for birthday singing, cupcakes, and present opening. 

Video: Singing "Happy Birthday" 

waiting patiently for his birthday cupcake while we got everyone on Facetime and Google+

our family of three (soon to be four)

 chocolate mess

Another post on his dinosaur birthday party is coming soon.

Summer time (June)

Summer is in full swing here in our home. We have been going to the pool, eating lots of ice cream/smoothies/otter pops, playing with friends and Carson (Logan's brother), and just enjoying the sunny days. Here's what we have been up to:

Logan is officially in graduate school now. He started last week and it's only going to get busier from here. Good thing there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully not just lights of a train coming straight on. ;) He will be done in 10 months time! He's also got a job offer on the table (even before starting the program - yep, that's how awesome he is). He is also working a few hours a week doing data mining for his previous employer. Did I mention how busy he is going to be? Goodbye Logan!! :( But, we know that this time is important and it will be well worth it in the end. We are so excited about the many opportunities for our little family, especially for Logan. He is working hard and it makes us so proud of him!

As for me, I am 26 weeks along and growing this baby girl who still has no name. We have a few we really love, but we're not 100% sure yet. I am feeling pretty good these days too, other than the fact my back is starting to hurt a lot sooner this time around. I also feel bigger than I was with Hudson, but my weight gain has been pretty similar to how I was with the first pregnancy (about 12 pounds so far). I've been de-junking and organizing Hudson's room in preparation for the new baby - it looks awesome (pics to come)! They will be sharing a room once the new baby is sleeping through the night. Any tips for a toddler and baby sharing a room? I have no idea what that will be like, but crossing my fingers it will all work out.

Hudson is growing like a weed! He is so talkative and a ball of energy these days. He's so fun and still very sweet. He will be 2 the end of this month - crazy!!! We are doing a little birthday party for him and his friends. It should be a fun time.

Here is what the past few weeks have been like. I know you all just love the pictures, right? Again, follow me on Instagram for more @abbycorbett.

popsicles with friends from Locopops 

popsicle mess

Pullen Park's carousel or as Hud likes to call the "neigh" 

I went to a baby shower last weekend and came home to this. 

Logan got carried away making an airplane for Hud instead of putting him down for a nap.

Typical. 

getting our sillies out 

goofy kid

I love that smile of his - so handsome!

this is how Hud does poolside tanning

LOVE this picture of my boys at the Carolina Railhawks soccer game

at the soccer game - what a fun night out with my darling family!

hoping my brother will come down and play for this team after college ;) 

otter pops with his crush, Asha

Hud's favorite lunch place with his buddies 

 first day of graduate school 

so cute

I just love him!

25 weeks here

Video: telling dad about his day

Video: Hudson and Carson playing

Carson is living in Raleigh for the summer doing pest control. He had a day off and spent a few hours swimming and playing with Hud. He's such a good uncle! We love having him close by!

VA Vacation

Hudson and I went up for a week to Northern Virginia to be with family. Logan was able to join us for the next week, so Hudson and I were there for almost two whole weeks. It was super fun and we did a lot while we were there including getting to spend time with both sets of Hudson's grandparents and aunts/uncles. He is such a spoiled kid when we go visit, making it hard to leave sometimes.


Highlights from the trip include (get ready for picture/video overload):


My cousin Marisa's high school graduation....

Celebrating my mom's 50th birthday...

Air & Space Museum with my cousin Dallin (who came to visit from AZ)...

Hiking at Great Falls...

Eating at Cafe Rio (twice)...

Getting ice cream at Nathan's (twice)...

D.C. Zoo...

Georgetown cupcakes...

Day date/belated anniversary date with Logan - DC temple, lunch at Brio, and couples massage...

Water fun...

Swimming at my parents' community pool

Getting my hair dyed...

Went lighter for the summer months

Being with family and friends and the dogs...

 My cousin Ethan and Hud

Hudson and Matthew meeting for the first time

(Matthew is the son of a great family friend)

Making silly faces with Aunt Manda

H loves Grandpa Sam

Hud walking the dogs

Playing with trains at Grammy's...

Hud would wake up every morning and say "choo choo!"

And, eating all of Grandma Lynn's food...

Hud's mouth is full here. Every time we would pull up to my parent's house he would yell, "EAT!!"

Memorial Weekend

For Memorial weekend, Logan was able to get Saturday off and we went on a camping trip to Pilot Mountain (about two hours from us). It was so fun and the weather was perfect.

What made it an exceptionally good trip was having so much extended family join us. It was a little Korth (Logan's mom side) reunion, but on the east coast. There were six couples there, and nine kids running around between 4 campsites. We just played games, ate tons of food, did some hiking, and the men played frisbee golf.

I think we will have to make it a yearly thing because it was so fun! Hudson loved being outside playing with his second cousins, collecting rocks and sticks, and plus he slept amazing at night.

Sadly, I only got two pictures from the entire camping trip (phone died).

 wilderness boy

definitely a trait he inherited from his dad, not mom

early morning in the tent

they are SO cute - love them!

We got home late Sunday evening. Logan decided to work on Monday (his day off) for the over-time plus a nice little bonus for working on the holiday - score! We were able to attend a small BBQ with a few friends later that evening which was really nice and yummy.

Ethan, Hudson, and Leilani at the BBQ