Olympic training

I've completed my second week of swimming lessons. It's not the water that's been the problem. I like swimming pools and baths, and I don't mind shoving my face under water or blowing bubbles (the first task we did in swim lessons). But the instructor has taken some time for me to become friendly with.

Mr. John is a cool guy. Don't get me wrong. But I'm supposed to trust my life in his hands after meeting him three minutes ago? Well, I've accepted the fact that when I go to swimming lessons, Mr. John is going to be there. It's a given. And after two weeks, I've grown to like the guy -- just don't let him know that.

Mommy is doing a great job helping me out. We blow bubbles, kick our feet, grab the water and then grab the wall and hold on. Then we swim across the pool and ride around in our floats -- I always get the yellow hippo.

The last exercise that we do is the best. Mr. John makes me swim to Mommy and gives me a boost along the way. I always go under water just before Mommy swoops in to grab me. I love it -- especially since we get suckers after the lesson is over.

I've met some friends during swimming lessons, too. The first week I met Mattie and her mommy. She's really little, only 8 months old. But I like her. She wasn't there this past week, so I wonder if she dropped out. Not me. I've got two more weeks of lessons and then on to something else!

Hudson W. Pate

Splish, splash ...

Let me just say something right now: It's hot. It's been like 95 degrees every day for the past week, and man, when we go outside at school, I sweat. I hope I don't stink it up afterward. So what's the answer? Get in the water!

While Mommy was gone to San Francisco (and escaped from Alcatraz), I got a small swimming pool. And boy, does it keep a person cool in these hot summer months (global warming, anyone?). I got to splash around and have a good time. Then came the big news: I'm going to begin swimming lessons next week! Can't wait for that. They're Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and last four weeks. I'll provide an update for sure.

I had a good time with Grammy and Memaw and Paw while Mommy was gone. We went to Acworth Beach one day and I got to play in the sand a little and me and Grammy walked in the shallow end of the lake. Problem was, I didn't pack any extra clothes. So when I sat down in the water, I was soaked. I did what anybody would do -- took my clothes off and ran around in my diaper at the park for about an hour. Great time. I just hope I didn't offend anyone there.

It's been a really fun couple of weeks recently. Went to Nashville and hung out with Nana for a few days. Had a picnic in the backyard on my new picnic table (McDonald's hamburgers are good!). And I'm putting my slide to good use.

Ah, summertime. Does it get any better? Really, does it?

Hudson W. Pate

I'm still here ...

OK, so it's been a while. Back off, OK. I've been busy.

Busy learning new words like yellow, cookie and see-ya. Busy hanging out with Mommy (whom I call by name now) while Papa went on his two trips last month. Busy learning what "Do you want to go to timeout?" means. I never want to go to timeout, but I do indeed know what it means -- at school and at home.

Mommy and Papa seemed surprised the first time they told me to go to timeout. I sat there quietly in the same place like I'm supposed to, and they just stared with their jaw to the floor. I mean, that wasn't my first rodeo -- I've been in timeout before at school.

I'm getting ready to make my first trip to Nashville. I'm looking forward to another big city. Me and Nana will hang out while Mommy and Papa go to a wedding. Quick trip, but it should be fun. I like road trips.

I promise I'll do better at blogging more, and taking more pictures. It's been a busy month, as you can see. But I promise it won't be another month before I blog again. Until then ...

Hudson W. Pate

What happens in Panama ...

Summer means one thing: It's beach time!

Mommy, Papa and I (and Mace Dogg, too) went to Panama City Beach for a quick little vacation, and it was so much fun. It took me about 3 seconds to get used to the sand. That stuff is really weird. But once we got settled in, it was totally worth it. Papa and I moved a whole lot of sand around while Mommy basked in the sun. And the ocean was really nice. First time I've seen that thing. Man, it's big. And loud, too.

This is another situation where the pictures tell the story. We had a blast. Ate at a lot of really good places -- including Boon Docks, where I danced on the hardwood once everybody left. And we met up with about seven ladies who go to our church and happened to be in PCB while we were there. Great bunch of ladies, and they certainly know how to have a good time. Let's just say this: What happens in Panama, stays in Panama!

Hudson W. Pate

Easter seems so long ago

I've been really bad, I know. It's been so long since I've blogged. So I'm going to try to catch up on this May Day.

I never told everyone about Easter, but it was really fun. I'll keep it short and let the pictures do the talking.

We went to Elizabethton, where Memaw Pate got me a cool table to use for picnics and drawing and ... stacking blocks. We fought eggs (if you don't know what that is, just ask me and we can fight next year). We had a big ol' meal and then went to see Memaw and Paw's cows. I really like cows, but these didn't care too much for me. So, I hung out on the bulldozer and tractor for a while. Later that night, we went to visit my friend, Julian. We played for a little while, and he has a really cool playhouse. It took me a bit before I got in (didn't want to just walk in and take over the place), but we eventually hung out in there. Sunday it was off to church on Easter (don't tell Pastor Dennis, but I slept the whole time!). As always, it was great times.

Sunday afternoon, we went to Nana's and ate another big ol' meal (carrots, ketchup and celery for me ... mmm!). Then we went outside, where Uncle Matt and Uncle Mark hid eggs and I found them. Funny thing was, they kept multiplying. I'd get my basket full and BOOM -- they'd be gone again. Weird. So Kensie and I played with the bubbles and then Uncle Mark and I played with a cool balloon Nana had. Later on, we visited Uncle Mark's new apartment, where I got to see a nice horse. Forgot the camera!

On Monday before we hit the road, Papa, Mommy, Nana, Papaw and I went to the Duck Pond for a picnic. KFC was good stuff. So were the ducks. But the real fun was just hanging out with everyone at the park.

Hudson W. Pate