Happy Eleven Month Birthday!

Oh my...where has the time gone? I cannot believe that my baby is 11 months old. Do you know what that means? It means he will be turning 1 next month! Nope, that cannot be right. There is just no way that my sweet tiny baby is already very rapidly approaching his one year birthday. No way at all.

He is just the sweetest thing ever. He is very loving and cuddly. Although, now that he is mobile, he loves then leaves. Up, down, up, down, up, down...that is how we spend our time. Well, that and chasing him out of the dog's food and water. When he gets down, he makes a bee line for the kitchen, he knows exactly where the food dish is. If he sees you pick it up, he has a fit.

He is Mr. (partly, when I want to be) Independent. You know, doing the things he wants to do, on his own terms. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had that option? He is still not a great sleeper. Let's rephrase that, he is a horrible sleeper most of the time. I have not figured out what that is all about. I just keep on telling him that he had better be glad he is so cute. Although, I have resorted to falling asleep while nursing him (yes again) and letting him sleep beside me, or between my legs. Actually, it is more like letting him sleep wherever it is that he falls asleep because I am usually already asleep.

He is getting quite the personality too. I think he just knows that he is cute. He loves to play with his older brothers and sister, AND the dog. I do not think the dog is very pleased with his new found mobility though. That means there are not many safe places to hide, except for the back of the couch and I only give that a few more months. He has been such a joy in our lives. He loves to laugh and likes to be the center of attention. If you are in a room with other people talking, he will be heard. He "talks" along with the crowd.

I think he is as much Daddy's boy as he is Mommy's boy. It is an equal kind of thing. He wants Mommy when he wants Mommy and he wants Daddy when he wants Daddy. No more, no less.

Yep, I just cannot believe it is approaching time for his very first birthday. It makes me sad, yet happy at the same time. I am ready, yet not ready for him to move on to larger, more exciting things.

He is full of curiosity and wonder. He is very observant. He loves to watch people.

And his hands...well, he could not do without them. They are his new best friends. He explores everything he can get his hands, then mouth on. You can see the determination on his face trying to pick up little pebbles from the rock he is sitting on.

The water was another source of entertainment. For him, as well as us, but in different ways of course. To be a fly on the wall during these pictures might have been worth it. The entire time, you could hear me saying, "Do not take your eyes off of him. Do not look away. Keep your eyes on him. Stay close. I can cut you out of the picture." I was so afraid one false move and he would have ended up head first onto another rock or into the water. Wheew, it was a successful day in the end. No injuries.

He found a small pine needle. It was a great source of entertainment.

I just love those feet and legs.

My sweet baby. He will be one soon. Sigh.