11 months

Oh buddy,

where has this month gone? Is it possible that your FIRST BIRTHDAY is staring us right in the face? I am going to cherish these last few weeks while I can still refer to your age in months, rather than years. My baby is growing up.

Your little personality delights us every single day. You are just so sweet! And opinionated. And animated. And loud. And funny. And all boy.

You've become much more verbal lately, often speaking entire sentences of gibberish! When you're eating something you like, you say "mmhmmm"and when you see something you like - the iPad, your blankie, the vacuum cleaner, one of your beloved balls - you do the most adorable little close-mouthed giggle. It seems that you're also recognizing more words we speak - some you consistently respond to: mama, dada, boone, no, drink, blow, stryder, annabelle, blankie. Tonight I think I just might have heard you say bye as you gave a little wave to Gramma Beanie and Chip as they headed out the door...

You also absolutely search for things to laugh at. Sometimes you look at me and start fake laughing, like you want me to do something funny. So I'll start tickling you, or doing something silly, making you genuinely laugh. You make my heart swell. You've also started clapping on occasion, and you're simply delighted at yourself when you do it.

Although you pull to a stand on everything taller than you and often walk along an object or with us as we hold your hands above your head, you have yet to show a desire to step out on your own and walk. We're totally ok with that, knowing that life will be even more crazy once you start running around the house at will. :)

A few weeks ago at your buddy Raef's first birthday party, I sat you down to play in the middle of a bunch of kids and toys. I settled down on the floor across the room to eat - I could still see you but you weren't watching me. You did great for quite a while but then I saw you look up and around, a little distressed. As soon as you spotted me, you smiled and crawled straight for me and up into my lap, where you contentedly stayed for several minutes. Later your dad told me that you did the same thing with him. It's a very rare thing for you to sit still anywhere, especially on our laps, so this behavior totally made our nights.

Speaking of lap-sitting, incredibly, you seem to be growing more snugglier than you have ever been before! In the mornings or after naps when you wake up, you are pretty content for minutes at a time to sit with paci in mouth and blankie clutched tight. This is monumental and your dad and I are soaking. it. up.

Meals are hit and miss. You still don't love to eat, but at least you've stopped crying when I feed you. :) I give you your beloved finger foods at all three meals, and in between the bites you feed yourself, I sneak in nutritious purees on a spoon. You go crazy for scrambled eggs, pancakes, diced peaches and your rice mum-mums. That stubborn second tooth finally broke through a few days ago, which has to help as you're chowing down. I think you're growing tired of your bottle, but we're at an in-between phase where I don't trust you enough with your sippy cup to completely let the bottle go.

You are a treasure, sweetheart. Tonight as I gave you your bottle, I looked at you and with tears of gratitude thanked God for the gift of you. He tells us that every good thing we have comes from Him, and you are one of the best things in our lives. I wonder every day how I can be so blessed. 

Our Father is gracious, indeed! You are a miracle.