Little Hank:
Today you are 11 months old. 11 months. As in — almost one. My baby is on the brink of toddlerhood, and I am an emotional mama. I'm thrilled to see you changing so fast everyday, and also a teensy weensy bit sad that my once tiny baby is becoming a little boy. Don't worry though — your mama wouldn't hold you back for anything.
You are officially a boy in motion. You are still doing somewhat of an "army crawl," but you can move across the room that way faster than lightning. I don't know if you will get up on your hands and knees eventually, or if you will just keep doing the worm and move on to walking. You move from sitting to crawling and crawling to sitting with ease, and you can even pull yourself up on things and cruise for a few steps on your feet.
You love anything with wheels on it — cars, trucks, construction vehicles, even boats and planes. And you know how to play with them, using your hands to make them zip across the floor (instead of just putting them into your mouth like you used to do). The Fisher-Price® Little People® are also a favorite of yours. We make up stories with them and pretend they are your friends and family who we don't get to see very often. It helps us feel close to them.
You waving in the Lawrence Park Fourth of July parade.
More than anything though, you love being around people. We take you out to restaurants, playdates, story-times, sing-alongs, and all kinds of places so you can watch people. You even rode in a parade with your daddy and his boss on July 4. You smiled and waved at everyone the whole time. Mommy was afraid you might be afraid of all of the loud noises and people, but you were as cool as a cucumber. I am always saying you have a legion of devoted minions, but now it's becoming clear that you really do!
This month was full of many other firsts for you. You had your first trip to the beach at Presque Isle with Nana and Papa AND Grandma and Opa. You had your first frozen yogurt (blueberry with no added sugar) which you couldn't get enough of. We also went out on Opa's boat for your first boat ride. We zoomed across Edinboro Lake and you loved it. You enjoyed chewing on your life jacket, too.
Food-wise, we've been enjoying the fresh fruits of summer. You LOVE the fresh-picked cherries that Grandma and Opa brought home. You are also a big fan of blueberries and watermelon. You've still only got two teeth, but you manage to chew a lot of finger foods with those toofers. I still grind up a few things to spoon feed you, but lately you prefer to feed yourself most of the time. I know right away if you don't like something because you throw it down to your (anxiously waiting) doggie.
We have a lot more memories to make before your first birthday. You make the world a more exciting, more joyous place where ever you go. And I couldn't be more proud to be your mama.
A dozen cheek kisses,
Mommy