Numero Uno

Henrietta June Holt turned ONE on friday March 21st, 2014. I don't know about you all, but it just seems like last month that I birthed that dear girl (fast and furiously, might I add).

I don't even know what to say. What can you say? This little person has been living for just one short year, and already we say "what was life like without her?" I can't remember. I think everyone who knows her can say that life is a little brighter with Hattie June in it.

She's living up her one year old status, by becoming a little vocal tyrant. She knows a few words, but apparently just shouting and pointing in an aggressive way is MUCH more effective for her. She is like a baby Mussolini. Except that we love her.

Some highlights of Hattie turning one:
*Taking her first steps the week before
*Saying "pop", "dog", "baba", "mama", "dada", "ah-ah-ah" (monkey sounds), "hah-hah-hah" (dog panting sounds), "A-lella" (Noella), signing "more", "all done", and "light".
*Loves to eat fruit, cheese, peanut butter, pancakes, eggs, avocado (does not like - vegetables or meat. It's weird going from one child who will eat absolutely anything to another who simply refuses to have something even in her sight).
*Just one real milk bottle now at night (we had to cut down from 3 formula bottles to 1 real milk bottle rather quickly. Girl likes her "baba")
*Loves being outside. Cries when taken inside or not allowed outside when someone else goes there
*Loves stuffed animals (Booger Lamby to be exact)
*Loves seeing people and will wave hi to whomever she sees (that, or she will just point rudely at them)

Here are some fun pictures!

Living up to being a one year old: Into EVERYTHING!

Standing up like a big girl.

This has become an evening ritual: Noella makes  "setting" and they crawl and bounce all over the couch and it's cushions on the floor. It started as a way to let Hattie crawl on the couch and not get hurt if she fell.... well, Noella quickly found a way to turn it to her advantage!

On her birthday morning. Okay, I get it now. She totally looks like Uncle Alex here...

Birthday present from mom and dad. Giant stuffed dog (named Felipe).

Birthday breakfast!

Noella never misses a chance to dress fancy. She's been begging to wear this dress for weeks. I told her she had to wait until Hattie's birthday. 

Outside, getting ready to ride her bike. I told her she needed shorts over her tights.

All business.

Same monkey cake that Noella had on her first birthday....

Cake time!

Before she even licked the frosting, a huge clump went straight into her hair.

She likes it! Birthdays aren't half bad!

 Whew! That's a lot of pictures. Thanks to the Millers for helping us celebrate this little lady (and for taking such stellar cake pictures :)

The Holts Lately

Time rolls on! I must say, we've had a rough month: yucky illnesses, Daddy traveling a ton.... but the light is starting to shine back through. The girls are growing like weeds. Hattie is especially changing by the minute. Doing all kinds of new tricks!

Really excited practice walking

Bath time is a favorite for everyone

Oh this one! I caught her eating one of Noella's pretend cupcakes that you decorate with marker. Busted!

Did you all hear about the epic snow? I know it's nationwide, but I've never witnessed this much snow in one storm before! Like two feet or something!

Got to try out my new XC skis that I got for Christmas this year. It was a bit deep, but you can't pass up an opportunity to ski from your front door. 

Friday night pizza floor picnics + movie

One of my little Valentine's this year. 

That kid cut out all her hearts this year and signed all 24 Valentines!  She started by drawing and cutting out all the hearts, but that was a bit much...

Still life art inspirations..... She wanted to draw and cut out (cutting is a favorite skill these days) my beer bottle. Responsible parenting at it's finest. 

One last thing to share: Along with Hattie's latest achievements, we can add clapping/signing "more". Who knows if she means "more", "all done", or just "yay", but she thinks it's pretty dang cool and is so proud of herself. See Hattie in all her glory (click on the link).  Also in latest developments, saying "baba", "pop", "dah" for dog and of course "mama" and "dada".

Cannon Beach: Hattie's First View of the Ocean

It comes every year, roughly the third week of January. Adam has work in Cannon Beach and we tag along. It's a vacation for us girls, not as much for Adam, but oh do I love it! It's the perfect timing, right as the highs from the holidays are wearing off and the doldrums of winter are setting in. This year was no exception. In fact, I'd call it the best year yet! The weather was out of this world - mid to upper 60's and sun for most of the week. Noella is at such a fun age - the beach was a fantastic playground for her. And Hattie, oh sweet little Hattie, she just crawled around the beach not knowing which way to go or whether to eat the sand or destroy Noella's castles or WHAT! We went to the pool and the beach several times each day. Ate cookies and fish and chips and watched movies and ate popcorn and drank beer (just Adam and I) and went on long beach walks and runs, explored amazing tide pools with sea stars, hermit crabs, urchins, mussels and fish, found sand dollars and seashells.... really I could go on. We were all a bit sad to leave. Noella keeps asking me "why do we only go to the coast just one time a year? why don't we live at the coast?". I keep telling her that's what makes it so special: that we don't live there and come every so often. And, I don't think I could live there (too wet and windy).

A few things I've noticed have changed since we began taking this yearly pilgrimage 5 years ago (7 for Adam): we no longer bring our "nice" SLR camera anywhere, especially where there's sand. We have two dependents (3 if you count the dog) and the camera really only acts as a way less important dependent these days. Hence, the lack of photos (or lack of quality ones). Second, sand doesn't bother me in the least when we're staying at a hotel. I don't care if Noella is rolling around in it and Hattie is getting it down her pants - whatever sand makes it back to our living quarters is not mine to clean. And last, I hope we always get to do this. This place is so special - with everything right outside our door - including a very charming little seaside town that boasts Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park, wide open beaches, rich tidepools..... we are always very relaxed and busy at the same time. I love this little tradition we have begun.

A few pictures to document our holiday:

This is the "Super Secret" route to the beach. A cool, mossy, ferny path down through the dunes.

Noella, in the awesomely large stretch of beach at low tide.

This girl loves the sand and water.

Hattie, always very curious of what Noella's got.

See the fat, squishy sea star?

Sea gull in a tide pool at low tide. This is right on Haystack Rock.

Urchins.

Beach nap.

The girls and I would spend hours in the sand while daddy worked.

What does this taste like?

Carhartt sales assistant. Who wouldn't buy from her?

A blurry shot from the pool. Noella has become quite the fish! She has taken off with swimming. Can totally do it!

Sand castles with dad. He definitely makes better ones than mom. 

Just one of the fabulous sunsets. 

Haha. Could've used an extra hand here. 

We had a little extra time to stop in Portland at the Japanese Gardens and to have dinner with some great friends. Truly a fantastic trip!