11 Months Old

Woot woot...11 months old already!

11 months: got some sweet ones...

and then she was off to explore...

Dear Camilla,

What a big month for you...you have officially mastered walking!  I've even seen you try to run a little, like when playing chase or strolling the sidewalks in the afternoon.

You have conquered the stairs, which is actually quite scary.  A baby gate has been installed at the top of the stairs, but we now need to install one at the bottom as well.  You are such a quick learner!

You are still such a good eater; I think breakfast, lunch and dinner are your favorite times of the day.  You are so good at feeding yourself anything bite-sized that we put on your tray.  And you've also finally figured out the no-spill puff cup...although you usually leave a trail of puffs behind you as you go along (much to Beansie's delight).

I'm fairly sure you understand most of what we ask of you these days...we know you understand who momma and dada are, as well as Buddy (not sure about Beansie yet).  We've begun using some simple sign language: milk, eat or food, more, momma, dada.  You smile when we make the sign for food or milk, but the only sign we've seen you attempt is the "more" sign while eating.  (here's some video of the more sign: http://youtu.be/-7F7zod8Q9g)  You jabber and say momma and dada a lot, although you haven't started calling us by our names yet.  And there is a good deal of screaming and squealing coming from you many times throughout the day, especially when Buddy walks into the room. (here's what that sounds like: http://youtu.be/-u0fMNG8M2k)

Your favorite things this month include: walking everywhere, opening cabinets and pulling out the contents, bananas, whole wheat bagels, puffs, mostly chewed veggie chips from mom's mouth (just call me Alicia Silverstone), any other solid foods we are willing to feed you, walking up and down the sidewalks, finding leaves in the yard, tasting leaves from the yard, patting Buddy, patting people, playing patty cake and peek-a-boo, playing chase around the jail chair, playing in the dog water bowl, climbing the stairs, streaking (with or without diaper).

Your not-so-favorite things this month include: having your face wiped off after dinner, diaper changes, being left in jail alone, walks in the stroller if it is too hot out, wearing sunglasses, riding in the car seat, formula in a sippy cup instead of a bottle, having things taken away from you, kiddie pool time when you're cold, being forced to stop licking the kitchen trashcan.

Oh, Millie Bear...thank you for being your silly self.  We get so much enjoyment watching you grow a little more each day into such a sweet little girl.  In some ways, it's so hard to believe you'll be one year old in less than a month!  But in reality, it isn't hard to believe at all as we watch you move closer and closer to becoming a toddler.  We love you to the moon and back, sweet girl...and we're so so glad you're ours!