Lucy, Month 11

Lucy,

We are heading dangerously close to your first birthday! We have been having so much fun planning your birthday party. This will probably be the biggest party you will every have and you will only remember it through pictures.

You started saying actual words this month! Besides mama and dada you are now saying "dog", "cat", "that" and you are also making animal sounds for dog, cat, pig and cow. It is amazing watching you learn. Some days your brain is like a little sponge. We walk around together with you pointing and saying "that" and waiting for me to explain to you what "that" is.

You are enjoying the warmer weather. We spend a lot of time outside. You love taking walks or jogs in your jogging stroller with Ellie running along next to us. You also like being in your Ergo and going for walks in the neighborhood or hikes in the park. Your dad and I are both so happy that you like the outdoors because we spend a lot of time out there in the summer!

We are still waiting patiently for that first tooth. It looks like you might not have one by the time you turn one although you have had a spot that looks like something is trying to poke through on your gums. I took you to the doctor last week to have him check something out that was worrying me (it ended up just being a dimple). You weigh a whopping 17 pounds 14 ounces. You are still little but it seems to me that you are growing so fast.

You are quickly becoming an expert at stair climbing. One of your favorite things to do when I turn away for a minute is head to the stairs, dart halfway up and watch me through the railing running in a panic to rescue you. You refuse to learn to go down the stairs, though. I've tried to work with you on that but you don't even seem to notice that they go down and would take a big tumble if I wasn't right there to catch you.

The morning is when you are at your best. You are so happy, talkative and cuddly. Plus we are much more rested in the morning as you are now officially sleeping all night long. Woohoo!! You have started having a close attachment to your blanket and want to keep it with you for part of the morning. You are also so happy to see it when it is time to take your nap or go to sleep at night.

This month your shyness in group situations seems to have faded completely. On several occasions when we were at parties you preferred to be the center of attention than to have your mom holding you. It is fun to see your personality change. And wow, do you have a big personality! You love to make people laugh. At one point it was me trying everything I could to get a smile from you and now you have turned the tables.

Lucy, again I find myself thinking about how fast the time is going. I feel so blessed to have you in my life. I am enjoying our days together more that I can express.

Love,
Mommy