Leland: 11 months

Leland,

Walking!  You have been diligently practicing your standing and are so stable upright all by yourself.  Then, one day--you decided to take a few shuffle-like steps.  No hesitation really, no fear.  You'd do this, and then bend down to crawl, because it gets you where you want to go.  Then, the weekend you turned 11 months, I could just tell.  This was the weekend you'd really start walking.  You just seemed more adamant to stand, more driven to walk.  And so, you did!  And I was right.  You take 3 to 5 steps in a row now, and then will either crawl or hunch down into a squat.  You have such a little independent personality that is so very hard for me to put into words.  You walk and you are smiley and proud, but you don't need to walk to our open arms.  You walk to your desired toy or object.  It's like you just get the job done, and know you can do it.  And that's that.

When you crawl you like to tip your head back alllll the way and jut our your little chin.  When you cry, your like to tip your head back alll the way back.  When you take a drink, you like to tip your head all the way back.

 

Pictures are hard.  You are a blur of activity.

You and Jude have developed a little game where you shriek, and then he shrieks, and then you do it, and then he does it, again and again.  You think it is so silly.

When I call out for Jude, you'll look around and say "Juuuuude."  You say his name without moving your mouth much, but I know that's what you are saying.  One time I think you turned away from me and said "bah-bah" as you did it.  It was so perfectly timed that I really think you said bye-bye, but not repeated since.

You love to stand in the bath tub and sheesh, teaching you that we sit while we are in the bath is a little rough.  You know what this means, and you'll follow my directions, but then you'll pop right back up.  It's a game to you.  But I'm trying to bath Jude at the same time and keep you from knocking out all your teeth.  Many times I just pick you up out of the bath before you are ready, and boy--do you not like this tactic.

Favorite toys right now are the little green anywhere chair, scooty bus, play kitchen + plastic spoons/knives that go with it, and basically anything Jude has.  You love to walk and crawl holding those little play plastic spoons and forks in your mouth.

Finally, a little brotherly love.

A favorite pastime.

Definitely not digging the shoe thing at first.

Favorite foods?  Anything, really.  I feel lucky you are such an easy eater and I hope you stay that way!

 

We've pretty much given up the binky--only reserved for times when you just can't quite take that nap.  Right now, you seem to love your little ducky, and chewing on it while you fall asleep.

We've started to wean.  And I really mean we, because it's mostly driven by little independent you.  You just aren't that interested, and I have to really try to get you to focus.  Sometimes, I put you down without you really drinking much.  I always think that when I set you down in your crib, you'll cry and change your mind.  But you just curl on your side, grab your ducky, and fall asleep.  To be honest, I struggle with this a little bit.  You are my baby-baby, and sometimes I feel like you don't need me.  Isn't that silly??  But then, other times, I feel like I'm ready to be done nursing, and just read you a book at night instead.  It's just hard to transition, I guess.  You are growing up, whether I like it or not, and I just have to follow your lead.  So that is what I'm trying to do...