Daniel, Eleven Months

Well this eleventh month has just flow by!  We’re actually half way through the next month as I write this.  Let’s just pretend we’re back at the beginning of the month…

We’re nearing the end summer right now, so it’s still really hot, but we try to get outside for walks in the morning.  You especially love your visits to the splash pad.  Now that you’re crawling, it’s a lot more fun to play in the water.  I do have to keep a close eye on you, since you’ll grab any toy you see laying around (yours or not) and eat any piece of grass or bark chip that you can find.

Around the first on the month you dropped your morning nap and now take one two-hour nap in the afternoon.  We’ve rearranged our schedule so that errands are run in the morning and we’re home for lunch and naptime.  I’m really enjoying this new routine.  I’ve been able to get things done around the house and still have some time to relax before you wake.

You’ve really started increasing your communication with us.  You now sign “all done” and “more,” along with “eat” and “milk.”  In addition, you recognize the signs for Daddy, Mommy, cup, play and bath.  Your words are fairly limited to dad and mom, but you’ve recently added “love,” and sometimes you’ll throw in a “hello.”  You also like to make sounds – Daddy is “grrrrr” and the dogs are “woof.”  You will moo for the cow, and we’re currently working to teach you that the duck says quack.

You understand much of what we say to you – names of food, no, yes, dog, diaper change, let’s go get dressed.  At times I can tell that you’re frustrated with trying to communicate.  We’ll ask you a question and you’ll just start going through all your signs as if you’re desperately trying to find a way to answer us.

You’re still a fantastic eater and willing to try anything at least once, sometimes twice.  I’m pretty sure you’ve eaten a few things you didn’t like just because you saw me eating it.   smile  I commented to Daddy recently that you’re eating more and more of my food.  Sharing with you has gone from just a small bite or two, to cutting off a piece for you.  You’re still trying to cut your molars.  I know once they arrive, the days of baby food will be gone!

Just before the end of the month you started pulling yourself into a standing position.  I thought you were active when you started crawling, but this is constant!  Boy, you move everywhere!  Stand, sit, crawl, grab, stand, sit, and repeat.  You’re quite controlled in your standing and you’ll lower yourself to a squatting position before falling to your bottom.  I’m rather impressed with your core control and quad muscles.  Ha!

Shortly after you started standing up, Daddy had to go on a work trip.  NeNe came to visit us while he was gone.  While she was here we made our first trip to the pool.  You absolutely loved it!  I don’t let you splash in the tub, so you thought kicking and splashing around in the pool was pretty cool!

Later that same day, we went out for pizza.  The waitress brought you a piece of dough to play with.  The picture below pretty much sums up your feelings.  You did not find it entertaining and tried to give it away.

While NeNe was here, I got really sick.  I ended up with either walking pneumonia or bronchitis, had a fever for five days and was in bed most of the time.  You and NeNe got to spend lots and lots of time together.  She played with you, took you for walks and read you lots of books.  She even taught you how turn around to get off the couch and how to pull a zipper.  Daddy was able to return home the day after NeNe left.  I was just starting to feel better by that time, so we had a long weekend of rest, relaxation and family time.

Now that I’m feeling better, I’m looking forward to getting back into our normal routine.  Cooler weather is coming soon and we’ll be spending more time outside.

Love you, baby boy.

Mommy