Our hungry caterpillar

Hudson is reading at a 4th grade level. (Remarkable boy.)

And has got instinctively good taste in literature and, not surprisingly, for books his mom also loved.

Hoping the corners get mushed and dog-eared, the pages bent backwards and the colors stay with him always.

Love, little reader.

From C

Hudson's (birthday) Party

In honor and celebration of Hudson's first year,
and in memory and celebration of his mom, Linds,
Chad is organizing a party.

On April 14th,
From 12 - 4pm
At Tietze Park (Hudson's neihborhood)
We'll ring in Hudson's second year with cake,
things BB-Q-ed, lots of Pepsi and, I'm guessing, chips too.

Invited: All of the extended family and zillions of friends who've given so much this last year. And if you're reading this, you're a shoe-in too.

After the eating and drinking will be the dedication of the Lindsey Stephenson Brown Toddler Park at Tietze Park with all of the ribbon cutting, speech-making and slide-testing you'd envision.

There's a boy to celebrate, a mom to remember, and a toddler park swing with your name on it.

(Please come.)

Love

C

And a great-grandfather's report

My grandpop,
Hudson's great grandpop,
invited Hudson and his travel companion/best friend/keenest minder Yvonne to visit.

On Feb. 10, the pair flew to Sea Island Georgia.

Grandpop had planned, probably months in advance, the logistics of the visit: a car-seat loan (a remarkable fete in a community of retirees), rallied friends to help, and readied the pantry with applesauce and juices.

(Grandpop has always loved logistics.)

On the Friday after they'd left, Grandpop used his weekly email to share his glowing report with the family:

Hudson is a mature 10-month-old boy - took a step here; looks like Chad and Chad's father; is strong, sturdy and a happy child - really a joy to me and impressive to the friends to whom we proudly displayed him.

A few days later, this follow-up:
I doubt I have expressed adequately the pleasure of Hudson's visit and my pride in such a bright, determined, engaging great-grandson.

To a great-grandpop of 92 who hosted a 10 month old, and a 10 month old who gave a great-grandpop such great joy.

C - just reporting.