hahahahaha

As previously stated, Kolton has mastered both up and downstairs.  Unfortunately, he has also mastered getting into toilets, pulling all things off shelves, and emptying drawers.  As a result, he has been blocked from the upstairs... hahahahahahah.  We put it at the half way point so that he can still play on the stairs, but he was pulling movies/shoes/anything he could get his hands on and chucking them down the stairs.  His throws were followed by absolutely thrilling laughter.  This, you see, was one of his favorite games.  But, in the end the parents won... at least this battle. 

• This little boy continues to be one of the most active babies I have ever seen.  At 11 months he runs everywhere he goes and scarcely bothers to see if anyone is following him.  While the chase is often the most exciting part... this baby will run regardless.
• He is sooooo social!  He talks non-stop all day to anyone and everyone who will look in his direction.  I've heard more than one person comment on what a charming personality he has, which, of course I cannot disagree with!  He jabbers and says about 10 words.  When he's finished eating he signs, "all done" and says, "ah duh."  It's awfully sweet... excpet that it's generally long before he's eaten a sufficient amount.
• His favorite foods so far seem to be spaghetti, terriaki chicken, and pears.
• Okay fine, his favorite foods so far seem to be cake, chocolate, and CANDY!!  This baby can spot it from a mile away and he has a wicked sweet tooth. 
• He figured out how to talk on phones and often has a cell phone pressed up to his ears as he babbles.  (although cell phones just as often turn into cars).
• He now has 8 teeth with many more on their way.
• He loves to hit things with anything he can get his hands on (preferably sticks) so we taught him to say "bam bam" which is quite hilarious.  
• He lvoes the wood pile and continuously pulls giant logs off from the stack and drags them to the woodburning stove.
• His favorite place to be is outside and if daddy dares to walk out the back door without him... he completely and utterly loses it!  He gets mad.
• He eats his weight in dirt.
• He has learned (through a bit of trial and error) how to walk in shoes!  Yay!  For a while we couldn't get him to do it, but I found a pair of thin soled well fitiing shoes that seem to have done the trick.
• He's very generous with his kisses and, unfortunatley just as generous with his head for you to kiss... in the form of head butts. 
• He loves to climb up things and launch himself off of them encouraging his mommmy and daddy to offer little solace when he hurts himself.
• He loves to unfold laundry... little turkey.
• He is the sweetest, most alive, most wonderful little guy.  I can't believe he's almost been here a year... it feels like an instant.