Getting closer to 1 year

Oh my little one, how you have grown. Though not quite in girth and stature, because let's be honest, you are off the charts small. But you are perfectly made. Even though Mommy worries about you not gaining enough weight, and taking after her in the height department...she has to keep reminding herself that those things really don't matter. You are full of life, loaded with giggles and funny faces, bursting with joy, brimming with curiosity, and packed full of love. Hopefully as you grow older Daddy and Mommy can help you add even more attributes to your character. Traits that matter: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..." (Gal 5:22-23a). These are things which always have room for more growth. My little man, as you grow taller, may your heart and your wisdom grow fuller.

See what I mean about the funny faces and joy?

You are 11 months old today. Oh my! This month you have become even more of little boy rather than a tiny baby. You are always moving, always talking, and always leaving messes in your wake that Mommy has to clean up. Here are some things you have accomplished this past month:

1. You started taking Gymboree classes, and you are learning a lot there. You are learning how to interact with other babies. You are being inspired to try new activities like crawling through fabric tunnels and pulling up onto a structure in search of bouncy balls.

2. You crawl now! Well, almost. You army crawl. Your belly stays on the floor and you push yourself forward with your big toes while you drag your chubby body along with your forearms. But you are doing it! And you are doing it quickly, oh boy.


3. You recognize more words. You know what ball, Pooh Bear, truck, bottle, yogurt, drink, nose, and book mean. Well, you know where Mommy and Daddy's noses are, but not your own yet.

4. You cruise along furniture now. And you are moving BOTH directions, not just to your left like you were last week.


5. You walk all around the apartment holding on to Mommy or Daddy's fingers. Your steps are getting more direct, and you definitely know where you want to go investigate. All you want to do is walk around. When Mommy stops helping you, it isn't because she is trying to be mean. Her back hurts, little man. She can only bend down for so long.

6. You are still babbling "dada" and "baba". You are starting to throw in "lala" and "mama". But for some reason, "mama" only comes out when you are getting upset.

7. You are pointing with your cute little index fingers and not just your whole hand. This started a few days ago, and it is adorable. You even touch your texture books with your index finger too.

8. You point at everything you see. It is usually accompanied by a little noise that has been interpreted as, "Look over there! I want that, go now!".

9. You follow Mommy wherever she goes. When she puts you down in your room to play you will sit for maybe two minutes. Then you realize that Mommy isn't coming RIGHT back so you go find her. When you do find her, she smiles and says, "Hi there! Did you find Mommy?". This makes you very happy.

10. You are obsessed with opening and closing doors. You close the door so that you can go play with the door stop that makes fun noises, then you go open the door again just because you can. This will entertain you for a while. You also love the bathroom and the kitchen because of the many doors and drawers to open.

11. You take baths in the big boy tub now! They are super fun. There are lots of toys and rags to play with. Slapping the water to make it splash is the best thing ever. Trying to army crawl to find out what is on the other side of the tub is not the best thing ever. Choking on water is no fun.

Wrinkly toes!

Only one more month until my baby has a whole year under his belt. This baby can't be that old yet, can he?

sigh
I guess he can be.