Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Dear Elodie (11 months)

(my beautiful lovebug - she is the sweetest)

Dear Elodie,

Well little miss crazy-pants... you can be a total lunatic these days... always on the move!  Usually when you get tired you get more hyper and act totally crazy.  It is pretty cute but also leads to more falls and more tears.  Every day you get closer and closer to walking on your own.  You have taken your first independent steps but still prefer to walk while holding onto someone's hand.  I think your dad and I are ready for you to be walking on your own so we can give our aching backs a rest :-)  

(always moving full steam ahead)
(she is so proud of her walking skills)

Over the past few months we have seen your sense of humor emerging.  These days you are the goofiest goof.  It is safe to say that daddy and I will do just about anything to get you to laugh because oh man your laugh is the best.  I can't wait for you to start doing funny things on purpose to make your dad and I laugh!        

(always moving those arms)

This past month we have started two new classes.  On Tuesdays we go to our Little Explorers class at the 92nd Street Y.  It is the next step after the Babies Together class we did over the summer.  For an hour you get to roam around a room filled with toys and babies.  The best thing about this class is that we have a guaranteed hour a week where you get to interact with other babies and play with new toys.  At this age each baby pretty much plays independently or tries to steal another baby's toy.  When other babies crawl up to you/over you or take something you have you usually just sit back and let it happen with a confused look on your face.  I usually just sit back and let you handle it on your own, though I will admit the mama bear in me totally wants to stand up for you. 

(the sweetest face in the whole wide world)
(she's comin' for ya)

On Wednesdays we have swim class and you absolutely love being in the water.  You spend pretty much the whole class in my arms but the instructor does take you for one little dunk in the water, and you do not like that at all.  You don't object to the going under water part, it is the leaving my arms part that you hate.  Though I want you to be brave and independent, I really love that you are my snugglebug.  You are rocking your swim class my love.  You do really well going under water and climb out of the pool like a pro.  I am so proud! 


(big steps for my big girl)

At 11 months old you...
... have taken your first independent steps!!!
... love to clap
... know how to wave and high-five
... stick out your tongue when I ask you where it is
... like to communicate by screeching

(her hair is getting so long)

We have been hanging out with some moms and babies in the park lately and let me tell you it has been life changing.  Being a stay-at-home mom can be kinda lonely and it really makes such a difference to be able to chat with some other moms doing just what we are doing.  It is also so important to me that you get to spend time with other babies.  We love going to the park and hanging out with friends, don't we?

(standing all on her own)
(crocs... her favorite teether)

Eating is getting better and better.  We offer you food 3 times a day and let you eat as much as you want.  Some days are definitely more successful than others.  Your current favorites are smoothies, turkey, bananas, tuna and apples.  I try to structure eating with you at least sitting in my lap but inevitably you end up playing around and I just offer you bites every so often.  Next step is working on the highchair.

(she certainly tries to tell us lots of stuff these days)

Discipline... well I feel like Kevin and I are gonna suck at this.  I know we will probably do a good job when it counts but right now we can't help but laugh when you do something you shouldn't because you look so darn cute doing it.  You definitely know when you are doing something you aren't supposed to... like eating books... because you usually look us right in the eye as you do it.  You sometimes even shake your head "no" at us.  I know we have to be consistent with our discipline so that you learn to listen to us, but man it is hard.

(the tongue is always out these days)

It is almost your first birthday and while I am so excited for this milestone I am also a little sad because it means you are growing up.  Part of me just wants you to stay my little baby forever though I know that we have so many fun firsts to look forward to as you grow.  Keep growing my love and never forget that you are always my baby no matter how big you get.       

Love,
Mom

(looks like a yawn but she is actually mid-sentence)