11 Months

This peanut is 11 months old!

How this is possible, I do not know. I can't believe we are closing in on 1 year already.  This month was a big one, she had a huge development leap and gained so many new skills. She is able to communicate with us very clearly in a variety of ways now, whether speaking, signing or just in her own little ways. She has clear preferences and opinions and makes them known! Her personality is shining through, and she is turning out to be a goofy and strong-willed little lady.  She has been very mommy-centric and pretty much needs to be attached to mama at almost all times to be happy.  While this is tiring for mama, I am trying to soak it in and appreciate it as much as I can knowing it won't be long before she wants nothing to do with me! Poor peanut got her first ear infection this month, too, after battling a head cold that swept through the family.  As always, she just continues to delight and we fall more and more in love with her everyday! 

Milestones

Climbing stairs

Eating more non-baby food solids (bananas, avocados, cottage cheese, etc)

Feeding herself

Pointing

Shaking head "no"

Likes

Being outside

Playing in sand (actual or kinetic)

All things Ember

All things Mama

Trying to eat solid foods she's not ready for

Climbing the stairs

Assisted walking

Dislikes

Everyone but Mama

Baths

Playing independently 

Riding in the car

Favorites

Foods: yogurt, peanut butter and "Creamies"

Books: Pout-Pout Fish, Baking Day at Grandmas

Activities: being outside, clinging to mama

Number of Teeth

4 (two top, two bottom)

Words Spoken

Mama

Piper

Bubba (aka brother)

Uh-oh

Words Signed

"All done"

Bottle

Munching on an apple "pouch"

Creamie Love

Beautiful January day at the park! 

She LOVES to swing! 

Fort time!

Trying to eat a large chunk of cheese. She is definitely her mama's daughter! 

Big enough to stand in the tower! (With very close supervision, of course)

Going for a stroll!

Holding on to brother for dear life

Having a front yard picnic while Dada takes down the Christmas lights.

First New Years

Autumn's first New Years was quite unremarkable (which is just the way we like it). We've never been huge fans of New Years, and are happy to have a quiet night in rather than brave crowds to be out on the town.  Since we were in Florida for New Years this year, we just hung out at Nana and Papa's house, ordered takeout, and watched movies. Autumn was in bed long before midnight, and the New Year rang in without much fanfare. I don't even have any pictures to commemorate the occasion! Oh well. We'll save the fun for when the kiddos are older and can appreciate it.

Solid Foods

Autumn has been slow to show interest in eating solid foods. When we have tried to give her small pieces of puffs, bananas or avocados, she generally spits them out or gags on them. Well, recently she has started showing interest, and clearly prefers chewing on larger pieces of food, rather than picking up and eating smaller pieces.  While this is great to see, it's also incredibly stressful, as we have to watch her like a hawk to make sure she doesn't bite off a chunk that is too big and choke-able. The best option as of now is carrots, as they are hard enough she hasn't been able to bite off large chunks. Bananas and apples, as much as she loves them, still feel quite dangerous as she has bitten off quite large pieces. Luckily, the wonderful people in charge of creating baby products created the perfect solution, in the form of a mess bag that we can put food in for her to chew on freely.  She has started to be more willing to eat small chunks of food like bananas and avocados, but still prefers to be spoon-fed, and so far has shown no interest in picking up food and feeding herself. But, we are on the right track! 

Nomming on pizza crust... probably not the best choice, ha! 

10 Months

We are officially rounding the corner towards the big 1 year, as Autumn is now 10 months old! How is this even possible??

This past month was a big one, with Autumn's first Christmas, first New Years, and a big family trip to Florida. It was also a huge month developmentally, with Autumn getting better and better at standing without assistance, walking with assistance and communicating to us in various ways. Her personality has started showing more and more, and we are learning that she is a super silly and goofy baby who loves to laugh.  She went through (and is still going through) a major Mama phase, where she was basically attached to my hip (literally and figuratively) and was not so keen on anyone else. She loves to be held and is most often happiest to be on someone's lap or in someone's arms rather than be on her own. Seeing as how she's growing up so fast, we are mostly okay with this and are trying to cherish these moments of her wanting to be with us 24/7, knowing these days are numbered! We are falling more and more in love with her everyday, if that's even possible!

Milestones

Waving

Saying "hi"

Shaking head "no"

Signing "all done" and "bottle"

Standing on own for longer periods of time (still only a few seconds though)

Walking very competently with assistance

Started munching on certain solid foods

Favorites

Favorite books: Don't Push the Button, Are You a Cow, Welcome, Baking Day at Grandma's, and any book with flaps or things she can touch! 

Favorite foods: Anything fruity (she has a sweet tooth), and carrots and apples

Favorite activities: Walking with assistance, playing with balloons, wrestling with Ember, splashing in Piper's water bowl. 

Dislikes

Being away from Mama

Savory foods

Feeding herself 

Being in the car/car seat

Playing in the ball pit at Harper's birthday party

Playing with her pal, Riley

Tickling the ivories

Playing in her crib with big brother

**Most pictures from Month 10 are included in Christmas and Florida posts!**