Erin Loves Brad: Letter to my Little Lily: 11 Months

My sweet, sweet Lily,

You only have one more month before your first birthday, and I can hardly handle it. This year with you as a part of our family has been such an overwhelming blessing to us (especially me), and I find myself grieving that it's almost over. But then I think...it's just the beginning! No need to grieve! And that is such a happy, happy thought.

This month you've actually been crawling (a normal crawl, not just your army crawl) a little bit, and it's so cute. What's not as cute is that you are into everything. And you're really stealthy and fast, so we have to watch you all the time. You are always trying to get into the coffee bar, which you know is off-limits, and we are always having to drag you out, you stinker.

You not only pull up now (on anything and everything), but you also cruise. You cruise all around the house. Oh, and another super fun little trick you've developed is pulling up and cruising around your crib. We've had to lower it twice in the past month because of this. The funniest part is that you can both sit and stand up in a mostly-asleep sleep state...but you can't lay back down in the same state. Sometimes, we'll come up to see why you're crying, and alas, it's because you've gotten yourself up and can't reverse that process. And you're crying because you just want to sleep and can't understand why that isn't happening anymore. It's sad and funny all at the same time. Also, a personal sleepy time favorite of mine is that you sleep on your tummy with your booty up in the air. It's the best.

Pulling up everywhere. Even when I corral you in my tub.

Cruising around your room. Forced into queendom by your sister. You weren't quite sure how you felt about it.

Cruising.

Bottoms up.

Oh. You've also learned to pull up and CRAWL ONTO the bottom step. We had to break down and put up the baby gate. We really hate using the baby gate, and yet here we are. We also had to start using the cabinet locks again, as you have discovered those suckers open and have such interesting things inside. You are a curious little learner and want to know what cleaning supplies taste like and how plastic containers work.

Some fun little developments (actually fun) are that you can now drink from a straw! And hold a bottle! And suck from our reusable fruit/veggie/yogurt pouches! This has revolutionized snacks and meals for us. The best part is watching how proud of yourself you are. Daddy also got you interested is getting your own Cheerios out of the little Munchkin snack cups. You still make a massive mess with them, but you at least have some autonomy over your snacks, which makes us all happy.

Eating your yogurt like a champ!

Using the snack cup! And wearing Claire's chosen accessory for you.

Unfortunately, you've had several colds this winter. Fortunately for us, though, you LEARNED TO BLOW YOUR NOSE. It's awesome. You don't do it every time we hold a tissue to your nose, but you do it regularly enough that we know it's not a fluke. Praise hands!

This month, you've also learned to clap, cross your fingers, make a fish face (although I think this one just happens to you- I'm not sure you know how you do it), and you've started trying to give us (open-mouthed, very slobbery, not-really-well-aimed) kisses. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. You usually go for my chin. It's precious. You are also a Master Mess Maker. You can make a massive mess in such a short amount of time; it's disheartening how quick you are in destroying the living room. Bless us. On a cuter note, you still try to mimic sounds or silly faces that we make (so, obviously, this is how we spend a lot of our time). This is something you and Daddy do a lot. And...drum roll...your first word was "hi!" You say it often when you wave. It's not always very distinct, but you're pretty consistent with it, so we're recording it as the first.

Mess-making in progress.

A favorite story of mine from this past month: I came in to get you up from a nap one day, and when I walked in the room, you were laying on your side, waving at your little bunny Wubbanub. Maybe the bunny is your first pretend friend. I kind of hope so.

The Wubbanub in question.

We love our life with you. You are such a funny, darling little cuddle buddy. Or a dragon-muffin (ragamuffin?), which your sister called you the other day.

XOXO,
Mommy