Best/Proper way to dist-upgrade Debian Testing except the kernel?

[riveravaldez <riveravaldezmail@gmail.com>]

Because updating the kernel requires to reboot the system -AFAIK- in
many cases I would prefer to 'dist-upgrade' (all packages) except the
kernel -until a moment in which I can reboot the system-, so:

1. Is this something right/viable/acceptable to do?

2. Which would be the best/proper way to do it? (I mean, 'apt-get
update && apt-get dist-upgrade' for all packages *except* the kernel.)

3. If 'apt-mark hold package' would be the way to do it: which
'package' -exactly- should I mark for hold?

Thanks a lot!