11 months old

You were 11 months old a few days ago and you are growing up so fast. It is hard to imagine that in a few short weeks we will be celebrating your 1^st birthday. This has been a very busy month and you are as busy as a little bee. This month the best words to describe you are determined and a girl who know what she wants. We have had so much fun watching you change more and more from a baby into a little girl. You love to giggle, hug, pat, goober, move, stuff things places, carry bags around, discover and adventure.

Mama and you were able to go visit your new baby cousin Eric in Maryland and see your Uncle Chad and Aunt Christie. We had a great time hanging out, you loved looking and trying to touch and pat baby Eric, climbing up and down their stairs and giggling with Uncle Chad. We all went to Washington DC to see the animals at the National Zoo and to a fun little English Pub in downtown. You did not have a great interest in the slow moving animals but did watch the monkeys a bit. Our plane was delayed on our way home and you were an angel the entire 9 hours it took to get home, landing in St. Louis, Kanasas City and then finally Denver.

This month you did your first overnights away from Mama. One night with Dada while Mama went backpacking and another with Dada, Nana and Granddad while Mama worked in Loveland, and one with just Nana and Granddad while Mama and Dada went to Mama’s high school reunion. You did very well without Mama, and probably slept better without the temptation of nice warm milk and mama cuddles close at hand.

Your accomplishments have been mastering the stairs up and down, getting off the couch by your self, being able to walk on pretty much any surface – grass, small hills, through small rocks…, pretty consistantly waving hi and bye, waving as we walk out the door before we say good bye, consistantly calling us mama and da, minding us sometimes when we say no, saying Ahhhh?.?. to see where we are in the house, giving us goobers regularly, hugging your baby doll and giving her kisses, and feeding your self pretty much all your finger food.

Your Nana used to tell Mama that she hopes Mama gets a girl just like her and I think she may have gotten her wish! Your Mama was very much like you at your age – busy, opinionated, happy when doing what she wanted to do. These can all be good things, but it means we are going butt heads from time to time when our agendas differ. Just know that I love you and want the best for you, even when our ideas are different!

Well, here's to 11 wonderful months. Thank you for all the love, joy, and smiles you have brought to our lives. We love you so much and look forward to this last month of infanthood with you!

Mama and Dada