Darling, Eleven Months

Nathan, you're eleven months old. I can't help but feel that this is definitely a betrayal on your part. Somehow, when I first held you, 11 months or so ago, in my arms, I felt you would be that small and that helpless forever. I imagined snuggling with you and I couldn't imagine a different life. You still love a good snuggle when you're tired, and when you're upset, and when you just haven't seen me in a few minutes, but sometimes you're trying to dive out of my arms. Sometimes you're attempting to dive into another person's arms, such as Daddy's or Grandma's, but other times, you just want down. You want to stand. You want to explore. You want to tear our house apart, while riding your little horsie through it.



By the way, I never showed you the awesome tiny little teeth you have! They are a bit bigger now, and very sharp, and very good for chewing into things like cookies. They hate raspberries and peaches though, which is the saddest thing ever.



You've been kind of cranky recently, which is making me sad. I'm always afraid that you're bored of me or that you want me to be more energetic. I try to be as energetic as possible, and you still appear less than thrilled. Then, other times, you're as happy as can be to spend time with me.



You definitely love other children. You want them all to be your best friend. While that is admirable, you might need to dial down your enthusiasm. It's kind of scaring off the potential playmates.



You're still not walking, but I keep thinking it is really going to be soon. You love to walk around with help or play Ring Around the Rosie. You get so enthusiastic, in fact, that you fall down while I say "We all..." and then, I join you half a second later on, "fall down." and we both clap wildly. You've also realized that you can get from one area to another if you hold on to Mommy or another solid object and cling as you slowly shuffle your feet.

Oh! We got you a swinging and playing with other playground toys for the first time this month. You loved swinging. You just sat there and enjoyed it and occasionally, you'd smile, but mostly you were thoughtful. You didn't really enjoy the slide when you rode down it on my lap, but I'm sure that'll change one day.





By the way, honey? That last picture? I sewed those clothes for you. Do you see me making anyone else clothes? No! I make them for you because I love you. And you look adorable in them.

Darn, looking through my photos of the last month, I keep seeing things I forgot we experienced. Like your first Easter! You spent most of that day getting passed from person to person, exploring things such as the Easter basket your grandmom brought to you.



We got a great family photo on that day.



I love you, Nathan. Try not to grow up too fast. I'm going to be sad when you can fill out this shirt you're wearing.



So big!

Dear Audience

Do you ever wonder what I do when I don't blog? Sometimes, for people I'm interested in, when they don't blog, I wonder why. Are they doing terribly interesting things that day/week/month/year? Are they off making successes of themselves? Have they failed? I recently read a blog post from a woman whose child reached four months, and she just gave up blogging. Couldn't do it anymore. Her job and her child took over her life and she had one free hour of life a day which she devoted to reading. I couldn't blame her. When I was working full time and driving home to Nathan, I was hectic. I didn't want to be near computers at all. On the other hand, I read the blog of a woman who stopped blogging because she had succeeded in starting a business.

This weekend was a very busy one for me. Paul, the Nate-bomb (he's a bomb of cuteness), and I drove down to Maryland. Technically, Paul drove, and Nathan and I snored. On the way back, I drove, and Nathan and Paul slept peacefully. We went down for Draftsgivings Day 2009. It is a day of delicious delicious delicious Philadelphia Sports. I believe everyone attending was in some sort of Philadelphia sports gear. Nathan busted out his Phillies outfit, Paul and I suited up in Flyers shirts. Sadly, the Flyers hate us. The day included a lot of coffee for me.

Today, we all went to Lilly's Baek-Il and Nathan had a hell of a time. It was discovered that he loved shrimp. He'd clap mightily any time he ate so much as a tidbit. He also stood, all on his own, for a few seconds. It was amazing to me. He's going to be walking so soon and I can't even deal with it. I want him to be my baby forever and he's just growing so quickly.

A note for myself, on Friday night, Talena, family, and Nathan, and I went to dinner. I gave Nathan some chocolate mousse. I've never seen Nathan so excited in my life ever. Before hand, he'd smack his lips watching the spoon come to him. As it was about to reach him, he'd break into a gorgeous laugh. After every bite, he'd clap wildly and look at the spoon, waiting for it to dip into the chocolate. I'm going to make mousse for him just so he loves me so much.

Plays Well With Others -- Month 10

Hey, month 10 came and passed, Nathan. Dude, this month you were all about discovery after discovery! You started clapping this month and it is something that thrills both of us to the bone. The first day you did it, you would only clap once, and then you'd stop. Bryan and Helen came over the next day, and we were bragging about your single clap. We made you show them it, and you decided to take off on your own by clapping full time. You'd clap, we'd clap, you'd clap, we'd clap. Helen and Bryan probably think your daddy and I are nuts, but who cares! So awesome.

Also, last Monday, April 6th, you got your first tooth. It's on the bottom of your mouth and you won't let me take a picture of it. You get very angry when I try to feel it, but it's there. I can see it occasionally. And you like to bite on things now such as spoons, fingers, teething rings, and green beans.

You're still not crawling, but you get around by doing a combination of worm/peddle action. And you will also bounce along on your butt when you're sitting down. That is hilarious.

We started to go to the library for their baby story telling time. We haven't made any friends yet, but today you made a grab for another baby, and she waved at you. I think it's progress. Hopefully we can start going to more baby/children meetings so you can make some firm friends in our area.

Outside of our area? Wow, you are making a ton of friends. Check this out!







You so clearly think that your cousins are awesome, which is great! I can't wait to have this next month with you, Nathan. I think you're wrapping me a little more around each finger every day.

BTW, don't be fooled too much by your friendliness. Sometimes you're kind of mean.

Clapperama

Do you know what this is?



That is the face of a baby who has totally mastered clapping. Go Nathan. It's also the face of a baby who will follow me with his eyes as I walk around the room no matter who is in it. I know I should be a big person in spirit and try to get him to love everyone and not cling to me, but it still kind of makes me feel good.

Tomorrow, Nathan, we go back to the library story hour!

Kisses and Kisses and More Kisses

Paul and I are always kissing Nathan. Always. We kiss him when he wakes up, when he goes to sleep, when he is being cute, when he is being good, when he's just kissable. I'm the worst offender, firing off kisses over each of his cheeks and on his nose whenever I damn well feel like it. But Paul gets his share of kisses in.



About two weeks ago, we think he started to catch on. He started to lean in to me when my mouth was near him, and open his own mouth, and stick out his tongue, often licking my lips rather hilariously (or disgustingly if you're not a parent yourself). Paul and my mom tried to get 'kisses' out of him, but he would only do it with me. And, he would only kiss about 5% of the time. Then, last week, he tried to 'kiss' his cousin. I was well chuffed about it. (And oddly, the phrase 'well chuffed' just came to me. I had to look it up to make sure I hadn't made up a new word in my head.)

Well, today, he was all about the kissing at the grocery store. I would lean down, he'd open his mouth, a little like this, only less sideways.



Then, we'd kiss, and I'd laugh and giggle and clap like a moron in the middle of whatever aisle we were in. Do all parents appear idiotic when with their children or is it just me?

When we got home, Paul came in and he gave his daddy a few kisses. I think as soon as he learns to close his mouth and pucker, we can call the kiss mastered!

Not mastered: crawling. He still drags himself. He manages forward motion, especially when toys are out of reach, and he gets onto his knees, but he doesn't get up. He just drags. I'm a little upset about this. Is this a failing on my part?

Lastly, he now like to share his paccy.



Yesterday, I was sleeping next to him during a nap. We both awoke, and I yawned, and he shoved his pacifier backwards into my mouth.