Holton at a YEAR!

What a day we have had loving on this little guy!  It's almost as if he knew it was his birthday (he totally did).  He's been extra cute and extra happy---just like everyone is on their birthday.  We woke him up after 7:30 (Huddy had already gone to school--so sad)...Matt had the camcorder & I had my camera and off we were to go upstairs to wake up our birthday boy before daddy had to go to work.  Harper was hilarious.  She grabbed her leappad and joined us in documenting Holton, taking his picture with her leappad.  It was funny.  He was all smiles and just happy to be alive.

Holton and Harper had a Krispy Kreme doughnut for breakfast---you gotta splurge on your birthday right???  Holton was in HEAVEN (Harper-girl too).  HA!  We spent our morning playing and loving on little H-man and having the best time with him.   It was the perfect day celebrating Holty and loving on him!

At 1 year Holton:

• Babbles---he is constantly talking and pointing.  He talks in conversation as if we know what he is saying.  :)  He can say mama, dada, BA (ball), baba (milk or bottle), uh oh, and cute animal "squeaks"
• when we say 'where did it go?'  he will shrug out his hands like "i don't know"....probably my favorite little trick right now.
• is on whole milk.  I'm working on the sippy cup...he's not quite a fan of them yet.
• sleeps at least 10 straight hours (when he's not teething or dealing with an ear infection).  He is working on 4 molars right now---ouch!!
• takes 2 good naps (when we are home to give him a nap)
• sleeps SO good in the car.  He almost instantly falls asleep once we get in the car and get moving.
• He can stand by himself & effortlessly cruises the furniture.  Will let go occasionally.  Has not taken any steps yet.  He doesn't seem too interested in walking.  Huddy walked at 14 months.  Harper walked at 1.  No idea when Mr. Holty will care to join in the walking world.

stading UP in the chair---real smart Holt.

• Holton is BUSY.  He is on the go, into EVERYTHING.  We have had to baby-proof more with him than we ever had to with Hudson or Harper put together.  We had to buy this baby gate for our den just to keep him from going to the stairs.  We tried everything to keep him from the stairs, but he could climb through, push over, crawl under---do whatever he could to get-to-those-stairs!  Dealing with Holton made Matt and I realize how EASY Harper was.  We moved here to this house when Harper was 7 months old.  She learned to crawl here---she just did not get into stuff.  She did not dare to climb or open stuff or pull things down.  She has always been the type of child that we can say 'no no' to and she obeys.  Holty just grins, shakes his head no-no, and GOES on his merry way.  My goodness have we had to put stuff away and rearrange and lock and hide the key to things.  HA!  The saying "he is so boy or she is so girl" can be so cliche', but Holton Mullins is ALL BOY.

These two pictures were me TRYING to get him to sit still to get a picture today.  The only one I got was the one above that is large.  He had a toy in his hand and he was still for that 1 second.  The rest of the time he was trying to climb out of that chair. 

•  We are scheduled for Holty to have tubes put in his ear on this coming Thursday morning.  We have had 2 different doctors tell us that they highly recommend our doing it.  Holton has small ear tubes---I know there is another name for that, but I can't think of it.  Anyways it's just the way he was born and he'll never be able to properly drain fluid.  I'll be glad when this is behind him--and us.  I know it would be a long cold and flu season if his ears were in so much pain all of the time.  Bless his heart.  

This last year has flown by in a HURRY!!  What fun we have had!  Probably what made Holty such an added delight in my heart would be watching the way Hudson and Harper love and adore him...and this would go back to even during my pregnancy.  Their excitement and joy throughout my pregnancy was such an added bonus too.  Not once have we dealt with jealousy issues with Holton---they have loved their brother from day one.  I am so thankful for that.  It has been so wonderful watching Harper be a big sister and Hudson a bigger brother to Holton. 

We have a lot of fun things planned for 2012 and watching new things through his eyes as he gets older will be so much fun.  I am so thankful for this happy, healthy boy of ours.  God went far and beyond when he gave us Holton Matthew!!