Happy 11 Monthday, Holden!

Nicknames: mover'n'groover
Temperament: You are ALWAYS on the go. We have joined the elite group of "hall people" at church. If we are somewhere where you have to sit with us, you will go back and forth between your dad & I just so you can MOVE. 
Things I Could Do Without: If I would have written this a week ago on your actual "monthday" I would have said absolutely nothing! This week you have been ultra whiney either because you got messed up when we stayed at GiGi's for a few days [AC out] or because you are getting another tooth in [FYI as of yesterday, his top tooth popped through a bit. I knew there had to be something!] Besides that, you are perfect! 
Item/Toy We Love The Most: I love your sensory blanket...now only if you did!
Item/Toy You Love The Most: your ladybug
Things I'm Loving Most Right Now: everything! you are happy, independent, playful, funny, smiley, sleep well [for the most part], etc etc. I love tickling you in the morning and hearing your baby laugh. It's the best sound. I love hearing your hands clap against the floor when you're crawling to me, it's the best when you reach super speed *clapclapclapclap!* I love that when you hear music you stop whatever you are doing and dance. 
Things You're Loving Most Right Now: Practicing walking with your chair, cords hanging from the computer desk, CDs, standing up on everything, still anything with water, playing with your tongue, and of course--anything you should not be playing with. 
Milestones: You pull up on everything! 


Oh my goodness, Holden, I love you more and more each day. Your dad & I are a little obsessed with you. We have people willing to watch you but we just love to take you with us! You make everything--ok most things--more fun and joyful. You are a ladies man! Everywhere we go, ladies are around my cart oohing and aahing over your eyelashes, hair, and toothy smile. I so enjoy motherhood and you make it easy. Every month is my new favorite age and this month is no different. We love you so much, our little guy.


-Mom

my very own little mess maker

Holden is going to be 10 months old on Friday and boy has he changed a lot in the last few weeks! His personality shows more every day and he is so mobile. He is even doing some baby Yoga [downward facing dog]! He's trying to stand up more and more. It's so stinkin' cute. 

Something else that's new? Destructo Holden. He is into everything and tears up everything and then yells at me if I take something away that he shouldn't be playing with. Terrible twos? Talk about terrible 10 months! I know, I know...it will only get worse. If you can believe it, that is no comfort to me! None the less, he is still the fun loving, temperamental, smiley, talkative, huggable boy I've come to know and love. 

Yesterday I mashed up a banana and gave it to him in his highchair so I could do some dishes. I was surprised to turn around and find him doing art on his tray! He was rubbing it around with such purpose. Then he would shove it in his mouth. He's following in his cousin, Asher's, footsteps. They sure are messy footsteps! Check out The Breakfast Artist [aka Asher] in action here and you'll see what I'm talking about!

I love learning more about his personality. Can you believe that it's already time to work on his 1st birthday party details? It has snuck up on me too quickly. Put it on your calendars - July 16th! :)

Quick sidenote...Has this week been great for anyone else? I'm loving it so far. The best thing is that Allan and I get to go on a date to the temple tomorrow evening while Aunt Jaimie watching baby H! 

Happy Wednesday! 

-Little Wife Power House

a few cute stories about holden:

koda [our little chihuahua] is obsessed with footie socks. OBSESSED. We don't even have to buy chew toys for her because she prefers carrying around footie socks. We're fine with it because she doesn't chew them up or ruin them, just gently carries them around! It's hilarious. We think it's because when she was a little 1.5 pound puppy I cut holes in a footie [for her legs] and used it to keep her warm. Well, holden has taken up his sister's fascination. Look what I found him doing the other day when I was working...

we always say holden is a super baby genius. and yesterday he proved it! we were playing on the floor in his room with mr. fat hamster [don't know his name...I think he's from Bolt], a car, and a rattle. He was over the rattle & car. Mr. fat hamster was out of his reach down by his feet. That wasn't going to stop H from getting it! He used his feet to grab it and bring it to his hands then his hands to his mouth. It was amazing! Already a problem solving, little baby genius. Here is mr. fat hamster. It was the perfect size for him to grab with his feet.

 

Holden also has learned how to turn off the lights. I show him how to do it a few times then after a few tries...wabam! Aunt Lori, I think he might be ready for some Montessori lessons :)

Here is the H man playing with one of his rattles. I constantly find it interesting that he will hate playing with something one month and the next month it will be his favorite. He hasn't been into rattles up until this point but they are just the best now, apparently. he can't get enough of them. 

 [i'm gonna get this whole thing in my mouth...]

 ["i'm no show pony!" he threw his rattle down as soon as he saw the camera pointed at him.]

[okay fine. my desire to shove this in my mouth has overshadowed my desire to not be your show pony.]

Happy weekend! So glad it's finally here. What are your plans for the weekend?

-Little Wife Power House

rollin' Holden

Holden rolled from his belly to back for the first time at two weeks old - it was more of a fluke, really. Gravity did most of the work and he hadn't done it again until 3 nights ago. I heard him crying and when I went in to check on him, he was on his back! I was a proud, proud momma. I was clapping and smiling and saying good job and he was proud of himself too, you could tell. He had a huge grin on his face and was just so happy. He's been doing it pretty much non-stop since then. Every time I go in to check on him, he's rolled onto his back. He won't sleep on his back, mind you. It's actually becoming kind of a problem because where he used to just cry for 5 minutes and go to sleep, he's now rolling over. I have to go in and turn him back over so the whole process starts over. I've had to nurse him to sleep a lot lately which I don't want him to get into the habit of needing that to sleep. Hmmmmm....what to do? 

I wanted to actually see the rolling, not just the end product so Allan and I put him on his stomach in his crib last night and BAM! He showed off for us! It was great to see how hard he was working and how strong he is. It's the best seeing him do new things and make progress. 

-Little Wife Power House