In June 2003, Kate and Chris announced they were expecting their first child. During the pregnancy there was much expectation of the baby being a girl, after guests were seen leaving a baby shower carrying pink things. However, on January 7th 2004, Kate gave birth to a baby boy, and she and Chris named him Ryder Russell Robinson. Born in Los Angeles, little Ryder weighed in at 8 pounds, 11 ounces.


The name Russell comes from Kate's stepfather, Kurt Russell- leaving her birth father, Bill Hudson, "heartbroken" according to one news source. Kurt was surprised by Kate giving her son his name, but added "We've already taken to calling him 'Triple Trip'. He's already got a name to live up to". Kate says about the name Ryder - "I was on the road with my husband Chris my third trimester (and my doctor was wondering if I was coming home). I was eight months pregnant and every night he ended his show with a song called Ryder. Ryder would go insane in my stomach every time and it had to be the base line. It's kind of a funk song. I made a joke and said, 'wouldn't it be funny if we called him Ride.' We're Dead (Grateful Dead) fans and I Know You Rider is one of our favorite songs. I just went, 'Ryder,' that sounds great and it feels like him. He was so active in my stomach. He never stopped moving. It kind of fit perfectly."


Whilst promoting The Skeleton Key in August 2005, Kate talked proudly about Ryder. On The Early Show she revealed that his first word was 'more', and that he liked the words 'pimple' and 'tattoo', and would even point out a pimple when he saw one! On Conan O Brien she said she and Chris sing old blues ballads (George Jones in particular) to him as lullabies, mostly due to Chris' upbringing in the South. She also spoke about some of Ryder's favourite things, which include the Australian TV show 'The Wiggles' - "He likes Dora the Explorer and Barney, but the Wiggles he just loves."


Ryder has spent much of his life on the road with his parents as Chris tours the USA with The Black Crowes. Kate said she was worried Ryder wouldn't like that life, but found that he took to it straight away and now loves it. He also seems to have inherited his parents love of music - Kate says "At his [Chris'] concerts, he cries because he wants to be onstage and he really wants to be a part of it. I'm terrified." He even has special earphones for Chris' concerts - "Ryder has specially made earphones so the sounds aren't too loud." "Ryder knows what Daddy does and he's all into the music. He wants to be on that stage and dance around. We let him hold the guitar and he strums it. He's very, very serious about it. He sits at the drums and his little brow furrows. It's just the most adorable thing in the world."


Since getting divorced in 2006, Kate and Chris have always made Ryder their priority. Kate says she always makes sure Ryder hears her say good things about Chris, and how much she still loves him. Ryder seems to split his time between both parents, and is regularly seen out with Kate wherever she may be!


Kate says her philosophy on parenting comes from the way her own parents bought her up - she says her mother taught her that as soon as the child comes out they no longer belong to you, so "you have to prepare them for independence". Kate says that Ryder is independent, very funny and witty, and into sports.

Kate on motherhood
"When we're apart, it's hard, I can't begin to describe what it means for us as a couple. All of a sudden you have these emotions where you think you have to be the perfect mother, you'd better breast-feed the right way or people will think you're weird. And then you think, 'Well, wait a minute. This child is in our life and what we can do is show him who we are, be honest with him, and give him as much love as possible.'"

"I'm not going to lie - those first few weeks were really intense. I thought I'd be, like, Earth Mama, breast-feeding while I walked around the pool. But I was a mess. I cried every day for two weeks. I must say, though - it's because I'm dramatic."

"Every day is a different day. Every day he discovers something new and different and beautiful. It's infectious."

"He is my love and my life. My son is my man."

"When he climbs into bed with me, wraps his arms around me and says, "Mommy, the sun's up! It's a beautiful morning!" I'm sorry, do I really want to go to work then? No!"