"When you can't do anything else to a boy, you can make him wash his face." - Ed Howe

This was really all my own fault.

I sat him on the counter for a second to grab something, and he found the nectarine.

He started playing with it and liked it.

So I put him in his high chair and let him play with/eat it.

Sticky.

That would probably be the best way to describe what happened next.

he's a sticky disaster. but he still steals my heart.

using those new teeth :)

Uh huh. Where's your fruit, Holden?

Hooray!
(showing Mommy "so big" - our favorite thing to do in our high chair)

starting to get bored with the nectarine....

yep. turned around. standing up.
our second favorite thing to do in the high chair.
whenever we're not strapped in.

R.O.T.T.E.N.♥
and adorable.

"We have not inherited the earth from our parents; we have borrowed it from our children."...L. Brown, 1981

Lazy, cotton clouds drifted through the wide sky.

It was almost autumn, and the breeze was cool, but the sunshine was still warm on our faces as it filtered through the glowing green leaves.

And Mommy and Holden couldn't resist playing outside.

Busy Little Bee...

Every day Holden gets a little bigger. And a little smarter and a little quicker.

And, at times, I am having a little trouble keeping up. Or at least keeping things cleaned up.

Opening drawers - and taking out everything in them - is one of his new favorite games.

He's also in love with the dog's bowls.

Holden has a basket of toys. An overflowing basket of toys. But unless Mommy or Daddy is playing, too, they're much too boring.

Plastic bread bags and dog bowls, though. Now that's entertainment.

Stinker.

Alone for 5 minutes and it looks like a tornado went through the kitchen. Stinker.

Opening drawers like a pro now

Something new to play with!

Sweet as honey. Cute as a button.
And just as ornery as he possibly can be♥

My heart belongs to him♥

Sorry, Jared. I definitely have a new main man.

But I'm pretty sure you already knew that :)

"Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either...." - Martin Amis

We just had Holden's 9-month check up the other day and according to the doctor's scale, he officially weighs 22 pounds. He's also still in the 90th percentile for height. And according to her "perfect." - sweeter words were never spoken to a mother :)

But this means, sadly, that it's really, truly time for a new car seat.

My aunt generously gave us one of hers that she was no longer using, and it's just perfect. But I can't get over how unbelievably grown up he looks now.

Now when I glance in the rear view mirror to check on him, he smiles back at me - facing forward, swinging his chubby little leg, watching out the windows, and chewing on any number of snacks I've handed back to him.

Nearly every parent I have ever spoken to about stages or growing up, has always told me it will go fast. And I've tried to take our time, play, and really focus on him. And I know that I'm profoundly fortunate to be able to stay home with him and see him grow every single day of his life. But in the end, I don't think it really matters. No matter what, they grow up and change way too fast.

I blinked.

I blinked and he was smiling.

I blinked again and he was holding his head up and "singing" This is the Day with Mommy.

Once more and he was sitting up and playing all by himself.

And then one day, I turned around and he was crawling after me.

And now.

Now he has 6 teeth through. He does laps around the coffee table, practicing his "walking." He says "mmm" when he wants to eat and can feed himself Cheerios. He opens drawers. He waves "hi." He gives Mommy kisses and fives. And he absolutely flirts with anyone who will look at him.




And it's going too fast.

Mommy giving Holden a kiss in the Hospital

Holden giving (open mouth) kisses to Mom

Ready to go home from the hospital

In his new big boy car seat

Me and my Baby (1 week)






Me and my Buddy (9 months)

O-H!

The first official Ohio State football game of the 2009 season was a victory! And we all went over to Mom's to watch it and cheer them on together. And, of course, Holden arrived in style :)

He's all ready to be the "O" !

Watching the game with Daddy

Taking a break to check out Baby Felix

Looking at Aunt Megan to see if she cares that he's about to grab her baby....

...yep, she cares! haha....

Our Little Buckeye :)

"For thousands of years, father and son have stretched wistful hands across the canyon of time." - Alan Valentine

We were looking through Jared's old scrap book/photo album the other night and came across some of his baby pictures. I hear all the time that Holden looks like his Daddy but, honestly, it was hard for me to see it until now. I just always thought he looked like Holden. But while these photos are not the best quality, I think there's still no denying that Holden is absolutely a handsome little Jared :)

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." - Franklin P. Adams

♥♥♥ Aunt Shanti & Uncle Tyler ♥♥♥

The day after Holden got a new cousin, he also got a new aunt! Such a lucky boy :)


On August 28, Tyler and Shanti Himes were married outside at Mom and Dad Himes' house. Jared's cousins came all the way from Georgia and we all had such a great time just hanging out and sharing in fellowship with family.


The flowers and garden were beautiful and the ceremony was thoughtful and personal. It was performed by Jared's other brother Kevin - who also married us ♥ And even though it did rain, we were all very fortunate that it held off until after the ceremony. And that they had such big, lovely tents!


The colors were watermelon and bright light green. And Holden got a tie to coordinate with the tie Daddy wore :) Uncle Tyler looked very happy and handsome all day and Aunt Shanti was completely beautiful. And we're so glad she is part of our family now and we can "officially" call her "Aunt" :)

Playing with Uncle Tyler earlier in the day before he got all ready.






our handsome little man in his handsome little-man tie♥

Mommy, Holden, and Daddy

Grandma and Grandpa Himes with their grandchildren

(and their adorable and silly great nephew, Carson - who traveled all the way from Georgia to show us all his wonderful round belly :) teehee)






"walking" around with Daddy before the ceremony

The Wedding Party♥






The Groom and his Men
Who says wedding pictures all have to be lovey, romantic photos? hehe :)






The pretty (and delicious) Treat Table

Hanging out with Uncle Tyler and Aunt Shanti.... pretty special

treatment for such a stinker little boy :)

gettin' sleepy after all the wedding fun. such a sweetheart♥

Baby Felix!!♥

On Thursday August 27th, Holden got a new little cousin!

Felix Griffin Reynolds was born around 12:15 pm. He was 8 lbs 6 oz! Uncle Corey was able to be there for everything - which is amazing since he was in the middle of moving from Texas to Maryland for PT school - military life, pffft.... Aunt Megan did a beautiful job (pitocin induced labor and no epidural. she's a total *rockstar*). And although Felix fractured his clavicle - such a big baby! - he is just as content as he can be and doesn't even seem to mind. His big sister, Josslyn, even seems to be adjusting pretty well to having this new little boy take away some attention from her. (heehee) Overall, everyone is doing just great ♥

It's a tiny bit bittersweet, though... Having such a brand new little baby around sure makes it impossible not to realize just how big Holden is getting. He's definitely not a little baby anymore... We only have three months until his first birthday. I can hardly believe just how fast he changes every day.

♥ Baby Felix ♥

Felix and Josslyn
How lucky he is to have such a beautiful big sister!
Nevermind her (loving) nickname, Joss the Boss.... he'll figure that one out soon enough.... :)

Cheeeeese :) blue lollipop lips!

Holden and Felix. Checking out that new little boy ♥

Holden, Me, and Felix
And Aunt Megan's hand helping hold Holden up/back from grabbing that new baby :)





Meeting his future best buddy :)