11 Months

11 Months? Where has the year gone? It is so hard to believe that my 6lb. 10oz. baby boy has grown in to a mean crawlin' machine, who is just on the verge of walking. Look out world! Here he comes! Mills, this is what you're up to:

1) Buh-bye baby food! You are now eating table food only, but still enjoy rice cereal with fruit for breakfast. So far, you've had just about everything, and have made it clear that you are not a fan of tomato-based foods and mandarin oranges. Other than that, you love everything. You're favorites seem to be, ravioli, green peas, and pears.

2) You are drinking from a sippy most of the time, except for early morning and bedtime, but that's your mommy's fault, because she is having a hard time giving up the night time "bonding bottle." She is going to have to get over that soon!


3) At bedtime, you no longer go to sleep before I put you in your crib. Now, I lay you down,

watch you happily play in your crib on the video monitor, and then, after a few minutes, you're out until 6:30am. You sleep longer on the weekends, but that is because your mommy doesn't have to WAKE YOU to take you to Mimi June's.

4) You are now in size 4 diapers, wearing 12-18m clothes, and wear a size 2 or 3 in shoes.

5) You know you're dog's name. When I ask you "where's Joey?" You immediately look at him, or go and find him if he's not in the room.

6) You are saying, Da-da, Daddy, Mama (every now and then, but not near enough!), dog ("daw"), Hey!, baba, other than these words, you could care less about talking, waving, clapping, or playing patty-cake. You seem to think it's funny when every one else does it, but will only do it on your own will. My favorite is when you say, "Hey Daddy!" which sounds more like, "Haaaaaaaaay Daaa-dy!" You even say it to me in the mornings when I get you out of your crib...thanks a lot.

7) You are on the verge of walking and just this week, you stood up on your own in the middle of the floor with out the assistance of the coffee table, couch, etc. This was just before you realized what you had done and immediately sat down. You're just not sure about it yet, but are well on your way to making your mommy burn more calories.

8)We are not sure of your exact weight, because luckily, you haven't been to the Dr. in two months...it's a record! (knock on wood) What we do know, is that you are solid as a rock! I have come to realize that my small frame and petite stature are no match for your growing body. Thank goodness for strollers!

9) In the last week or so, you have learned how to place the rings on your star stacker toy. You can take them off and put them back on, and you know how to make it light up and sing! .

10) Lastly, you have started what we like to call, "showing your muscles." Unsure of where this came from, you will put one or both of your fists in the air, grit your teeth, and grunt like a strong man. At first, you were doing it when you would get mad. Now you do it on command when we say, "show us your muscles," and you smile really big. You also give the best hugs and kisses ever!