Do You Swim in a Pool to Keep Yourself Cool...

Tonight at bedtime Cooper and I sang Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?  When we got to the verse about "Do you swim in a pool to keep yourself cool..." Cooper stopped and said, "Hey! We did that!" Yes, yes we did.  We didn't make it to the water park as much this summer as last, due in part to our addition of little Hudson this year, and also in part to the cool/rainy weather we have had quite a bit of, but we did get to go quite often.  Yesterday afternoon was the first time I tried to put Hudson in the water.  Before that I just felt he was too little still to be dipped in a public swimming pool.  But it was too cold for him, since it's been cooler here lately, and the pool isn't heated.  So next year Hudson can enjoy the water with us.  This year he spent his pool time hanging out in the baby carrier on the front of me as I waded, usually with a light blanket covering him to protect him from the sun.

Cooper, on the other hand, was a little fish, and spent every possible second in the water.  It was rare to see him with a floatie, but I happened to get the camera out yesterday as he was playing with one of his friend's.    The water park is closing after Labor Day, and having other plans, yesterday and today were our last days at the water park for the summer.  We met up with our friends Stephanie, Ethan, Adison, Natalie, Julia, and Amelia both days.  They have been our swimming buddies all summer.  I'm sad the water park is closing--I'm not ready for that part of summer to end yet.  However, Cooper was quick to remind me that the indoor pool will still be open for our swimming pleasure.  The boy loves to swim.  The kids wouldn't really stop for pictures, but I still managed to get a few.

Cooper

Amelia

 Ethan and Cooper

 Ethan and Amelia 

 Cooper, Julia, Ethan, Adison

 Adison

 Hudson and Mommy

 Ethan, Cooper, Adison, Amelia (Julia chose not to be in the picture)

I'm so glad we have friends to share these fun summer memories with.  Looking forward to it again next summer!

The Boys: Milestones

The boys have both had milestones in the last few days.  Well, maybe Hudson's is not so much a "milestone," but it's the longest amount of time I've ever heard him talk, and I'm pretty sure he tried to say "I love you."  The other day I had laid him in his crib for a few minutes to grab a few things in the boys' room, and he started talking to his butterfly mobile.  Since he was perfectly happy, I left him there for a few minutes while I did a few other things.  I came back to check on him a few minutes later, and he was still babbling away.  He babbled and coo-ed for 25 minutes!  He must really like his butterfly mobile, or maybe it was talking back while I was away.  I was shocked to be able to get it on video, since the last few times I've tried to record him, he gets quiet and intently stares at the design on the back of the phone.  Apparently the phone was no match for his beloved butterfly.
It's a long 4 minute video, but I thought at least the grandparents might enjoy it.  If nothing, skip about 20 seconds from the end, where I tell him I love him, and I swear he tries to say it back; at least he gets the general sounds and cadence right.  Crazy!  He's such a verbal little guy, and I LOVE it.
If the embedded video doesn't work, here is the link:  http://youtu.be/hBVBbUiQbl0



Cooper, on the other hand, had a MAJOR milestone last Saturday.  He begged Nate to take the training wheels off his bike, because according to him he has "great bounce" [balance].  Nate took them off just to prove a point, but then Cooper surprised us both when he was able to actually ride the bike a bit.  Nate has been helping him a little every day ever since.  The learning hasn't been without a scraped knee or two (although he still refuses to wear his elbow/knee pads for more than a minute), but he begs every day for one of us to go out and help him.  It's a bit challenging for him since our driveway and our street are both sloped, and the bike without the training wheels has some problem with the pedals getting stuck, but he is doing amazingly well, especially considering he's a month shy of 4 years old still.  It may be time to take the training wheels off his other bike so he can pedal better, and really take off.  Our little guy is growing up!



Here is the link in case the embed doesn't work.  http://youtu.be/oX3OMSmVcXg

Lastly, I took this picture today of the boys playing together while I was making dinner.  Cooper had asked if I could get out the activity mat/toy hanger with the lights and music.  He was excited to make the lights and music go for Hudson.  It still kinda freaks Huddy out, but he tries to be brave with his big brother showing him.  It's pretty cute.

Aunt Denise Spoils Us

Since she lives so close, Cooper has become quite close to Nathan's Aunt Denise.  She is more like a grandmother to him, as far as the time she spends with him, and how she spoils him. We try to visit Denise and Jim, or them us, at least once a month or so. It had been about a month since we'd seen them last, so we went for a visit on Saturday.

Aunt Denise bought a new game called Old MacDonald to play with Cooper.

They giggled and had a good time at it.

They also explored outside and found two golf balls, tried to catch a toad, picked up pinecones, blew bubbles, played trucks on the floor, played checkers, and laughed and laughed. 

Cooper LOVES to visit Aunt Denise, and it's obvious why: she spends so much time doing things he loves to do!

Denise made us a delicous dinner, and she let Cooper help her make biscuits. She is always very patient and teaches him things.

He got quite messy!

I love his expression.

While Aunt Denise was playing with Cooper, Hudson took a long 2-1/2 hour nap. When he woke up, Allison was ready to cuddle him. By the time I took these pictures, he was tired again. 

We always enjoy visiting Denise and Jim. So glad we have family "close by!"

Tid Bits

Have been busily enjoying what we have left of summer, although with all the rain and the low temperatures, it felt like fall more than August last week. This week we are back to sweltering humidity. The break was WELCOME! I'm ready for Fall.

Can't get enough of this kid with his lovey. Sweet baby.

Found "Don't Spill the Beans" game at a consignment sale for $2. My little brother and I used to play this a lot. Coop and I played at least 20 rounds of it one afternoon when it was chilly/rainy out. I am determined to make him a game lover like me! We giggled and had so much fun. Now he's asked to play various board games every day since. Love it!

This morning Cooper came to me and said, "Mom, I'm not gonna watch tv today becausei it's not a healthy choice. I have a great idea: let's go to the park! that's a healthy choice, isn't it, Mom?" First, I had to pause and say to myself "parenting score!!" woohoo!! guess he does listen sometimes. i'd already been contemplating the park, so I agreed to Coop's healthy activity.  We had a picnic lunch before playing. 

Cooper kept throwing grapes to this squirrel, who nibbled them up quickly about three feet from us, which made Coop excitedly giggle and squeal.

Hudson joined us this afternoon for some puzzle construction on the floor. Baby boy is growing like a weed again. Thankfully most nights he gets up only once between 4-5 am, and then sleeps until 7. 

We braved the humidity tonight and went for an evening walk with our neighbor friends, Braden and his mom Tammy. The boys insisted on wearing these toy safety goggles.

Not sure whether I posted these pics from earlier in the summer. Cooper and his neighbor friends. Amy, Jasmine, and Braden went swimming at Braden's house.

Summer is winding down, but I am ready. It's been a good one. Looking forward to Fall.

Hudson 3 Months - A Few Family Comparisons

Hudson turned three months old today.  He was wearing these dinosaur pjs this morning, and it reminded me of these same pictures of me and Cooper.  From left to right: Hudson 3 months, Cooper 4 months, Chrystal 3 months.  Huddy and Coop definitely look different in these pictures, but they have a lot of similarities and sometimes photos are hard to tell apart.  It's amazing to me how much Huddy looks like I did as a baby, even more than Cooper ever did.  Coop definitely has a little more of his dad, and Huddy a little more of me, but they're both a good mix of us both, I think.

Here are a few other fun comparisons:

Hudson and Mommy

 Hudson and Daddy (a picture of Nathan and his Great-grandfather "Pa Pa", James A. Gunning)

[It would be so fun to get this same pose of Hudson with his Great-grandfather, James Corey Gunning, in a few weeks on our trip to Boston!]

 Cooper 8 weeks, Hudson 10 weeks

Hudson Jay Smith - Birth Announcement

So I'm only about two months late on getting these out...will be mailed in the next couple of weeks.

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Hudson 11 and 12 Weeks Old

Hudson turned 12 weeks old this last Thursday.  It's interesting what a difference just a few weeks makes.  In the last few weeks he's really become quite the conversationalist, when given the chance.  This video shows a little clip of him talking, although he gets quiet when he notices the camera.

On July 25th we went to the park with some friends, and Hudson went on the swings for the first time.  Even though his face doesn't show it here, he really loved it.

 Cute brothers one random morning.  I love Cooper's expression, and the definition of Hudson's CHUBBY cheeks in this one.

 The only shot that wasn't blurry, where they were both looking in the direction of the camera.

 Huddy chillin' in his stroller at the pool.

 Super smiley baby.  Every time he smiled, he moved so much that all the cute smile shots are blurry.  Still cute though.

 In the last week Hudson has really discovered his hands.  He is now grabbing for things, although hasn't quite figured out how to grasp entirely on his own every time he wants to.

 He also has enough core strength to sit in the bouncer to play.

Tell us how you really feel about it, Huddy. 

 He does like to sit in this for short periods of time and play.  He always tucks his right arm down to his side, and swats/grasps with his left hand.  I have tried repeatedly to pull his right arm out so he can play with both hands, but he always tucks it back down.

 Precious moment in my arms.

Hudson likes to sit upright, not recline in his swing or bouncy chair.  He's really good about sitting in place with support behind him, and much prefers this position to any other.

 Alas, I am losing the thumb vs. pacifier battle.  He does prefer to have a paci to fall asleep, but when awake absolutely refuses it, and is often found like this.  Sweet baby.

Cooper's Summer Fun (so far)

We have been having a busy, but fun, summer.  Here's some of what we've been up to lately:

One of our friends told us about a lady who teaches private swim lessons in her backyard pool for a very reasonable price.  I was so excited for Cooper to be able to advance the swimming skills he'd learned at our town recreation center swim lessons.  Since he hasn't played sports or anything yet, I haven't had the chance to see him really excel at anything.  This was a first for Nathan and I, and Coop!  He is quite the little fish, a natural swimmer, who loves the water.  He took right to the lessons and this was the result in just 5 days of 45-minute lessons. (See video below).  If it doesn't work, here is the link Cooper Learns to Swim.

He learned the arms and legs for free-style, breast stroke (with pop-ups for breaths), back stroke, back float, front float, how to swim down to bottom of the pool to retrieve items, and jumping/diving from side.  He really enjoyed it, and I look forward to taking him back to Ms. Doris again next year.

Yesterday I dropped everything in the morning, put off all the things on my to-do list, and took the boys to the park because it felt a little cooler than usual, great park weather.  A few minutes after we got there, the sun came out, and it got HOT in addition to being already crazy humid.  We'd gone to this park twice this year, with the intention of playing on the splash pad, but it was turned off both times.  This time I thought it would still not be open, but I was wrong.  Coop was a good sport, and played on the playground for awhile (his favorite thing lately is the big fire pole that is so high it scares me to watch him do it, even though he totally can).  After a bit he was unbearably hot, and asked whether we could go play in the water to cool off.  I was hot too, and knew after running and playing he must be miserable.  I looked at the inviting water, and said, "Yes.  If we still have that spare towel in the trunk of the car, and sunscreen in the diaper bag, you can play in the water."  His response made my day: "Really?!  Wow, THANKS MOM!!" (with a big grin and a little skip-hop all the way to the car).  Thank goodness I keep that ratty old towel in the car for wiping off wet slides at the park when it has rained, and keep sunscreen in the diaper bag.  I stripped him down to his shorts, and let him play in the water for over an hour.  I love the joy on his face in these pictures.

 Another day we took advantage of the inexpensive in-season zucchini at the farmers stand, and made zucchini bread.  We took one loaf to our neighbors, Coop's friend Braden, since they've done so many nice things for us lately.  Coop and I had a great time baking together on that hot afternoon while Hudson took a nap.

We often go to the pool/ water park with friends who have memberships there as well.  Last Saturday we invited our neighbors to go as our guests.  Cooper and Braden had a great time swimming together (since they both took swim lessons from Ms. Doris, and have the same swimming skills).  Braden wouldn't smile for the picture, but they had a really great time together.  (Nate, Hudson and I were there too, along with Braden's mom, Tammy.)

With all the rain this summer, there's been lots of lawn mowing going on in our yard, much to Nathan's lament.  Cooper loves when Daddy mows the lawn.  He is sure to get out his own mower and help.