Liberation for All

Well, a small step towards independence anyway
He likes to turn over while drinking his bottle on his own so we are constantly having to turn him back onto his back. But still, we are pretty stoked that he can consistently hold the bottle on his own.

Santa Visit

We went to see Santa this weekend. The first of many visits. Santa didn't ask Holden what he wanted or if he was a good boy this year. Guess he figured he wasn't going to get an answer. Come to think of it Santa didn't even say "Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas". I guess at least he wasn't as scary as the Santa in "The Christmas Story".

Waiting in Line Best photo with SantaHolden's not sure about this guyThe elves made me step away so they could get Holden to look towards the camera. Not a good idea. That was the end of sitting on Santa's lap.

Cupcakes!

I have ventured in the baking world in the hopes that when my kids start having birthday parties I am the "cool mom" that makes neat cakes and cupcakes. I know silly but still. And its not the only reason, I just really want to be good at making cakes.

So, my mom got me this great cupcake book for my birthday.We hosted a birthday bash Saturday for a close friend. I tried my hand at one of the cupcake designs in my new book. The cake was devil's food cake, and I made 6 of the slumber party cupcakes and the rest with chocolate ganache. Everything was delicious. Holden probably still won't think I'm the "cool mom" but maybe his childhood friends will.

Slumber Party Cupcakes from Hello Cupcake

Chocolate Ganache Cupcake with Ice Cream
Holden enjoying his first cupcake

What Little Boys are Made of...

Holden turned 9 months old earlier this week. His 9 month check-up was great. He is 18 lb 7 oz and 27 inches long, which puts him in the 10% percentile. We were given the all clear by the doctor to start giving him table food, which is great in theory. Less pureeing for me possibly in the future. However, Holden gags at any little bit of chunkiness so I think it will be a while before he is eating lasagna with the rest of us.

Holden's personality is developing quickly. He is a pretty laid back kid most of the time, but when he is fed up or wants something his lack of patience is apparent. He doesn't get that from his father or anything.

Holden has had some new experiences in the last month. He celebrated his first Thanksgiving, and is officially not a vegetarian anymore, with his first turkey dinner. He has started becoming a bit more mobile, not crawling per say, but with his scooting and rolling he gets around. We have started slowly baby proofing since everyone keeps telling us that once he figures out how to crawl it will be a race to finish the baby proofing.

He has started splashing at bath time, makes things fun for Holden, messy for Dad. He has been babbling up a storm, and screeches in delight whenever Malachi or the cats are close to him. The animals don't share that sentiment quite yet.

Moving around the living room

Holden charming the ladies at Thanksgiving

Playing with Cameron

Traditions

We had a tradition as little girls every Christmas. Our mom gave us a Christmas ornament every year when we decorated the tree. Well, she still gives us an ornament every year, dated with our initial so we could keep track. I carried on the tradition when Jeremy and I became serious, and he gets an ornament from me every year. This is such a cherished tradition for me because as I started my own life I have always had cherished ornaments to decorate my Christmas tree. Its great to have memories of childhood attached to certain ornaments.

I've know for a long time, well before I knew if I'd have children, that I wanted to carry on this tradition with my family. So, this year, Holden got his first of many ornaments from his mom.Holden exploring the treeFirst OrnamentFrom Grandma

Now for a little video of Holden exploring the tree for the first time. He's not so sure about it.