11 months

 

and can you believe...he's now 11 months!!

 

 

the official stats are: (unfortunately we know this due to an unofficial doctor's office visit this morning where we were informed that in fact he does have an ear infection.  whomp whomp.)

 

Height:  30.5 inches

 

Weight:  25 pounds 4 ounces

 

Loving:  pear, bananas, his race car track, pacifiers, his curly hair, music class, coming to the Zoo, and giving hugs

 

Barely tolerating:  his sunglasses, sitting still in the bath, getting his diaper changed, drinking bottles, and his weekly photos

 

Developing

 

Max can crawl super fast - sit up very well - and pull up like a champ! 

We have started to see a bit of side stepping down the couch...but not much walking (unless you sit the walker right in front of him).  Also worth mentioning, he sometimes pulls himself up on things and then lets go.  So, essentially he stands on his own for like two seconds before plopping down. 

 

We are working on passing the ball (he would much rather kick it).  He likes to pull the toy phone off his music table and put it right to his ear.  It's pretty cute.  I imagine he sees us doing this so he has started copying it.  Mostly, he is just very busy - moving from toy to the next.  We had to keep him home for a couple days in the middle of the month and we ended up getting out a "race track" toy.  I'm amazed because it seems every day he learns a little more about how it works (what to push, what to pull, the buttons that make noise, how to put the car on the ramp etc.)  Another new favorite is the "Elephant Ball Drop"...he loves to sit in front of it, turn it on, and push the ball down the trunk (which is actually not where it goes).  He will pull all the books off the shelf but we can only get him to sit for a few minutes to listen...though he loves to turn the pages.  His favorites right now are the Eric Carle farm book, and Peter Rabbit pop up book. 

 

The thing that blows my mind though is that I'm pretty sure he understands a lot of what we are saying.  You can ask him "where's daddy?" and he usually looks right at Rob.  Same result when you ask him "where's the cat?" - looks or points right at Pecan Sandy.  And, sometimes you can ask him things like "bring me the ball" and HE DOES! 

 

He also loves putting toys inside other toys (i.e. putting the shapes from the shape sorter ball into the stacking cups) and pulling things out of boxes, bowls etc.  The nesting bowls in our kitchen are probably one of his favorite toys.  We are forever chasing him out of the bathroom and kitchen because he likes to open up the cabinets and take things out.  Believe it or not, we finally did some babyproofing too!  We have a gate at the top of our stairs, locks for the kitchen cabinet, and a "custom" gate for downstairs that actually contains him to just the family room. Whew!

 

This past month has also brought a lot of "jabbering"!  Most morning we hear him "talking" to himself in his crab (a lot of da da da da) - but we've also heard "ba ba, ma ma, and recently...a lot of no no no.  He's starting to combine consonant sounds and our babysitter said she thought him say "yellow" and "too".  My parents said it sounded like he said "hi" when he picked up the phone the other day too! I admit, I'm a little jealous that othersget to hear a lot of the first words and I unfortunately hear it second hand.  But the talking is exciting none the less! 

 

Eating

 

We are feeding three meals and two snacks most days now.  Breakfast is still at home with mama.  And he eats breakfast really well....toast, bagels, waffles, pancakes, fruit bars, banana bread and even DONUTS.  I try to usually serve a protein (most often scrambled eggs) and a side of fruit (banana). 

 

He gets a morning snack (if he's awake) at school.  And always lunch.  The lunch thing has actually been great because he gets to try a lot of new foods...pizza, tortellini, broccoli, fish sticks, chicken nuggets/strips, grahm crackers, melon, pears, yogurt etc.  The other day, we were told he ate more chicken than anyone else! Growing boy :)

 

We do dinner at home and have also tried lots of things...chicken, tuna, meatballs, ravioli, pizza, noodles, cottage cheese, cheese crumbles, avacado, black bean burgers, garden burgers, meatloaf, asparagus, sweet potatos, butternut squash, mashed potato, pears, kiwi, mango, and even papaya (which I accidentally bought thinking it was a mango). Basically we try to give him everything we are eating and if we feel he eats enough - we don't give any baby food.  Most nights he does great!  The challenge is going out to eat...turns out its not much fun with an 11 month old. He only tolerates the high chair for so long...and then eventually drops all the toys on the floor and sippy cup. 

 

As for bottles - we still try to give him four bottles...but it is a STRUGGLE.  He does not like to sit for very long.  Most times he drinks between four and five ounces except for his bedtime bottle which he reliably drinks all of.  Overall we aim for between 18 and 24 ounces a day.  I thought it would be hard to break him of the bottles...but I'm thinking it might not be too bad.  I also hope the transition to whole milk is easy (as it's looming in the very near future). 

 

Sleeping:

 

At the beginning of the month - it was going great.  Then he got a cold - which he has been fighting for almost three weeks.  Blah. It has wreaked our sleeping schedule (and his). He has gotten all too comfortable with us going in there any time he coughs or sniffles.  The past four days have been pretty terrible as the cough and runny nose have gotten worse.  I'm hoping the antibiotics dry everything up. He doesn't nap great at daycare. And, his morning nap is getting shorter and shorter (maybe he will be dropping it soon?)  If we are home (and he's not sick) - he naps for us.  Still takes a pacifier at nap and bedtime. 

 

Always Fun..

 

We have resumed music class...which Max still really likes!  And the warmer weather has brought some fun outings to the Zoo (thanks Grandmim and Grandpa Tim), walks around the neighborhood, and swings at the park.  Lots of art projects are coming home too...perhaps the most creative entitled "rainbow sky" made with fruit loops :)  We've had several overnights to Dayton...which have gone so much better thanks to the thicker pack and play mattress.  During those trips we managed to see the Easter Bunny - not once but twice!  We are still pro's at Facetiming (though Max very rarely sits for long)...and we are getting really good at high fives and dancing!  This child loves a good beat :)

 

Oh Max....the time is surely flying.  I can't even look at you without turning into a big, sappy mess of happiness :)  I also can't believe we are already planning the details of your first birthday!  You are a true blessing to us...and we can't believe how lucky we are to be your parents.

XOxo