Holton is 11 months old!

I have to hurry up and get this post posted before another month has passed and Holton turns ONE (January 26)!!!

He has made huge strides in becoming mobile this month, and frequently gets himself into slightly awkward situations - like feet stuck in between the crib slats.

Who can resist that dimple?

Here is a series of photos that I think really capture what a happy baby he is!

He loves to clap!

He has learned to wave hello and goodbye.

Playing in the colorful balls given to the kids by Aunt Beth and Uncle Jarod for Christmas...

I love his new overalls!

It's hard to capture him crawling in a still picture.  He is so fast now and can get almost anywhere he wants to.  He is pulling up on everything and "cruising" between furniture.  Wow, it's amazing how fast he has become mobile!

He figured out how to stand up in his crib (which he was very proud of, by the way), but it took a few days and a few lessons from Daddy to learn to sit back down (which he was also very proud of and wanted you to applaud when he did the whole stand up, sit down routine over and over!).  Until he figured out the sitting down thing, naps were tough because he would stand up, get frustrated, and then just start screaming!

This is my favorite video of Holton so far... I keep it on my phone and listen to it any time I need a smile! Who knew that pulling off socks could be so funny?

We love you Holton!

The Rest of Our October...and November too!

I am finally getting caught up from the past month...  What a crazy month November was!  We all had the GI bug (at one point, basically at the same time, which I don't recommend!), it has been super busy at work for me, I took a quick trip to Orlando for a course, and then there was Thanksgiving!

A few more pictures from our CA trip...This is my American College of Surgeons induction ... the kiddos were so tired and did such a great job during the LONG ceremony!

Oh how I would love to have this view every day... the South Beach of Point Reyes - this is one of my "happy places"!

And this too - the Point Reyes lighthouse.  An exhilirating climb!

Love this one of me and Holton at the Golden Gate Bridge... unfortunately after all that week of carrying him in the Bjorn, my low back paid the price and I could barely walk for two weeks!  Thank goodness, it has now healed!  Only when you have back pain do you appreciate your back!

And a few more of the little man - sporting his first tooth...

He has been growing and learning new things on almost a daily basis.  On the CA trip, he really got the hang of army crawling!

One of his first times to swing - loved it of course.

I know I am really behind posting Halloween photos in December, but these photos were lost in the computer drama we had and now have been recovered.

Holton was a pumpkin and Adelyn was a candy corn.  We went trick-or-treating at the Halloween Festival at Methodist Richardson Med Center.

The girl never eats candy, so it was all a bit overwhelming and eventually she just had to sit down right in the middle of the hospital floor so she could focus on some of the treats.  She ended up eating one piece the whole day. 

This was not a Halloween costume, but just Holton hanging out in his scrubs pondering his future career as he learns to "cruise" holding on to the coffee table.

I have always loved the moments both my children discovered themselves in the mirror!

How can anyone resist that dimple?

The dark side of November... the GI bug strikes the Hughes household.  I almost thought we would have to call in outside help when Brian and I went down at the same time!  Addy was pathetic curled up on the kitchen floor!

And now recovered, Holton turned 10 months old on November 26.  Thanks Uncle Brent for taking some adorable photos!

Holton figured out how to sit up from lying down, and in a matter of a few weeks, pulled up to a standing position.  He also now has three teeth.  And he learned "wiggle wiggle"!  He's had a busy month!

We got our Christmas decorations up early this year and have been enjoying them.  So fun to watch Addy take it all in and to see how much she has grown and changed compared to last year!

Finally, Addy and I had our first Grandma's sugar cookie decorating experience - we made Thanksgiving turkey, pilgrim hat, and apple pie shaped cookies.  She just wanted to eat the icing... who could blame her!

California Trip, Part 4 - Point Reyes and more Dillon Beach

Finally, I am posting the rest of our California trip photos... It's taken me forever because we have had lots of computer "issues" (just ask Brian)!

We loved the local beach about 5 minutes from our house - really wide and great soft sand, and we pretty much had it to ourselves!

Holton always loves the breeze!

Miss priss was a little shy around the water - so this trip to the beach we tried her water shoes, and she was much more comfortable!

We had fun drawing letters in the sand...

Gorgeous view...

Looking at tide pools

Just being a kid - throwing sand into the water and watching it splash!

Notice the wet sleeves... it was cold!

Holton's first dip in the ocean - cold!  His face looked shocked that we would do such a thing!

Walking on the beach and exploring

We also spent a day at Point Reyes National Seashore.  We drove out to the lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula and hiked down the 30 flights of stairs (that's the lighthouse you see at the bottom of the stairs by the water in the photo below).  I carried Holton and Brian carried Addy...

For lunch, we picnicked on at South Beach (not the same as the South Beach on Maui!) while Holton took a nap.  I will argue that there is not a better place to take a nap than on this wild and gorgeous stretch of beach!