Easter Sunday 4/24/11

Well, silly me didn't get a picture of all of us on Easter! This was Hollis' first Easter Sunday because last year he was born after we celebrated Easter. I did manage to get a few pictures of him in his new clothes (thanks, Grammy)! However, the only one of him looking at me and smiling is when he was trying to crawl away. Of course. :)

1 Year Old and 1 (more) Fun Party

(Started this post back in April, but just finished it in June! Enjoy!)

Hollis- you did it! Your first lap around the sun is complete! It was an amazing year, and I am SO BLESSED to be your mommy. Your daddy and I are so proud of everything you've learned how to do now. You can pull up on just about anything- couches, walls, tables, knees, Zeus, you name it. You've started cruising too, but not brave enough to take steps away from the furniture yet. Daddy has helped you balance and stand by yourself a little bit, so everyone says walking will come soon enough. You know how to open cabinet doors, so we will need to add safety latches soon. You are doing better with your sippy cups, even when there is milk in them. It took several days before you would drink milk from a cup. Speaking of milk, you drink Organic Whole Milk (which costs a little more, but pediatrician says it is worth it). You're almost out of formula- bet you didn't know that we've been sneaking it into the whole milk here and there, just so it doesn't go to waste. You don't seem to care much for actual words yet- but I am hearing you make new consonant and combination sounds every few days. You have 6 (almost 7) teeth, and you know to smile for the camera when you see the red light come on. :)

Your party was a huge success (thanks to a lot of help from Grammy & Papa: decorations/bean bag toss; Nana & Grandpa Mike: food/balloons, Uncle Geoff & Aunt Haley: cupcakes, and "Aunt Zee Zee" & Kristy who helped take pictures)!!! We've got tons of pictures, so here are a few of my faves. XOXO Happy Birthday Buddy!

Love, Mommy

April is the month for birthdays...

Hollis (and I) have enjoyed April a bunch! First we celebrated Coy's 1st birthday, then McKenna's 1st (I didn't get a chance to snap any pics at her party), then Hunter's 1st/Austin's 3rd birthdays (they are brothers), Uncle Geoff's 26th, my 30th, and coming up this weekend, Hollis' 1st birthday! Can you believe how fast this year has gone by??? It's crazy! It's been a blast though! Here are some pictures of our recent celebrations. :)

Hollis and Coy

Daddy and Hollis at Hunter's/Austin's party

Hunter and Hollis peering over the top of the slide at each other

Mommy and Hollis having fun in the bounce house

Hollis attempting to take a step at Uncle Geoff's

Hollis was so easily entertained by the red ball, a couple of ice cubes, and this straw. And Becky's hat. :)

Bluebonnets!

This was our first year to take pictures in the bluebonnets. Last year Hollis was so little and I was still hurting so bad from labor/c-section that the bluebonnets were gone by the time I was ready to brave the trip. I finally found the "portrait" setting on my little camera, so some pictures turned out better than others. However, the portrait setting makes it take longer for the camera to actually shoot, so sometimes I missed the perfect smile by a second or two. Anyhow, here are a few of my favorites!

Hollis Lately

Yeah, I know, I have not been keeping up with this blog as well as I should! (My apologies to friends and family who use this to keep up with our growing boy!) Here are some of the things he's been UP to lately:

@ 10 months:

• Decided to get UP on hands and knees to crawl. He rarely army crawls any more.
• Volume of his voice is also UP. He found a few new squeals that will rattle your ear drum.
• Word count (although still doesn't seem to associate it with the right people/times yet) is now 3.5 things: Mama, Dada, Hi, and OH OH (sometimes loud, as if to bark like Zeus, and sometimes quiet as if to maybe say "uh-oh".)
• Started pulling UP on several toys, coffee table, then later in that month pulling up on EVERYTHING whether it wobbles or not... which has been a little dangerous.

@ 11 months:

• Waves HI and BYE, but very inconsistently.
• "Uh oh" seems to be getting a little more clear. He did it today when he dropped his bottle on the floor after breakfast. Also babbles more with other consonant sounds including the letters B, M, L, Y (which almost sounds like a yodel- hilarious) and recently N.
• # of new foods he's tried is UP and includes tilapia, salmon, (the kid LOVES fish!), white and wheat bread, cous cous, spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, french fries, and a few others I can't remember right now.
• Stands UP (no hands!) after he has pulled up on the couch or wall. Usually only for a few seconds, then plops down on his seat. In some cases he re-grabs the object and squats down slowly till he lands.
• If you crawl along with him, he speeds UP as if to race! Super cute. :)
• If you hold him near a light switch and say "Hollis, turn the lights on" he will grab the switch and flip it UP! We are still working on flipping the switch down- he doesn't like that as much for some reason. ha ha!
• # of tickle spots is UP- his giggles are quite contagious, I might add.
• # of teeth about to be UP to 6. He has two top, two bottom, and is about to get another top and another bottom one soon... just breaking the surface now...

We had such a fun spring break too- just hanging out, playing with new toys and books, and going to the park. His Papa (my dad) bought a swing for their porch, and he got to swing at the park too. :) Lots of giggles as the wind blew through his fuzzy hair. We went to see my friends Kristy and Chad at the Warrior Dash, and Hollis loved the live music and all the people cheering! He had a blast. I had a blast- so much that I am inspired to try one of these 5k/obstacle courses! I better start running soon though- gotta get in "running" shape to have a chance at finishing that.

Can't believe my little guy is almost ONE YEAR old. First lap around the sun is almost complete!

:)