One-Year-Old Already!

Yes, yes, yes, I know...it has been far too long. Jonathan suggested I just pick up from recently and attempt to catch back up later. But really, who thinks that will happen? He also wanted me to change my caption format to below the picture. Who thinks I should put him in charge, since he has so many suggestions for improvement?

Anyhow, we just celebrated a great day here! H, J and I survived the first year! It is so hard to believe it has been over a year! H has grown so much physically, emotionally, and mentally. I know I'm biased, but he is so smart and absolutely handsome! I'm amazed every day by the things he can do, understand and figure out. What an outstanding one-year-old we have to spend every day with! Here are a few pictures from his first birthday.

First of all, we started a tradition of 1 pancake for each year old he is. Of course, they will get smaller as he grows older. He thought the pancake was wonderful, with bananas on top.

I wanted to include the next two pictures, not because of their content, but to make a point. I want to prove that it was sunny and beautiful all day, up until 10 minutes after the start time of his OUTDOOR party, at which time the sky opened up with a 3 hour, nasty thunderstorm.
The following are pictures from the party itself.

His awesome cakes that my girlfriend Elzabe made!

Cakes and gifts

Great Mutt and Grammy Grammy

Monty and Ping (and baby Caroline set to arrive Dec)

Alan, Sarah, Addysen, and Kristina

Emily and Karen

Elzabe (the fantastic cake maker!), Anya, and Bianca

Haylea and Anya

Brandon and Amy

Isabella, Chloe and India decorating party favor buckets

AE and Whitney helping Bianca, India, Chloe and Isabella decorate buckets

Lily and Allison

Darlene and GiGi

Tallulah, Noel and Wayne

Mike and Jo

Uncle Marky and Aunt Whit

Time, Julia and Katie (and baby Cora set to debut in Nov/Dec)

Aunt Whit, Pop and Mommy

Uncle Marky and AE with those buckets again!

Grandchop and Pop

SO thrilled about his pretzel

Upset because Mommy took the pretzel away...to give him cake!!

Still upset about the pretzel

"Hmmm...maybe this isn't so bad..."

Yummy

What an orange mess!

Aunt Whit with the kiddies

EASTER

Hudson celebrated his first Easter and loved the eggs! They are similar in shape to balls...which he loves to chase around. He had a cute duckie basket that did not lend itself to much in size. However, for his first Easter, it was perfect. He wasn't really sure what it was all about, but pulled out each item and examined/played with it. Here are a few snapshots...

When he first got the basket...he wasn't sure what to do. We had to start to pull the things out for him to understand that he could do that too. He was happy for some new toys.

He got a new bath book for bath time. He liked his cloth book...great to chew on. As you can see the eggs were his favorite. I think he would have been just as happy with a basket filled with empty Easter eggs.

Some keys that has since been a favorite noise maker! Passed out after lunch. Playing with more Easter eggs...girly colored ones.

Poor guy...I thought the ears were SO CUTE on him...so he put up with them quite often. Trying hard to see what is on his head. Shaking them off...he was successful!

He got them off...and there was much rejoicing! Smiling with Aunt Whit.