11 months

Yesterday Lillian turned 11 months old. It is hard to believe that a year ago I was walking on the treadmill in unlaced shoes trying to speed the pregnancy up.

Of all the changes we've seen you have, Lil, this month seems like you've become a little girl. Not a baby anymore! You walk everywhere. Even in stores, you'd rather get down and walk with me than ride in the cart or stroller. Which is fine -- but I haven't gotten used to putting shoes on you (& I refuse to let you walk barefoot) & you aren't used to walking in shoes when I do remember them.

You will respond when we say, "Say 'bye-bye'!" by waving like a maniac. You still get shy when it is to people you don't know and will wait until they turn away to wave.

A couple days ago you started to clap! I was so excited to see you do this! It was the cutest thing I think I've ever seen. You looked at your hands like, "What?! They can make sounds?!?" You do it when you do something bad, too, because you know I can't help but clap along and say, "Yay!" Smarty.

You totally enjoy a challenge. You have started to figure out where things go (like blocks in certain holes). The face you make when you are concentrating is super cute. You pout out your lips and make a snorting sound. You have started to even help pick up your toys. Although, you'd much rather them just stay out in a huge mess on the floor.

These past few nights you've been running a temperature from teething, I'm guessing. So, hopefully soon you'll have more than 2 teeth!

We're busy planning your birthday party now. You've got 130 people on the guest list!! Everyone is so proud of what a sociable, amazing, smart, and super cute girl you are. They all want to celebrate with us!

We love you very much, Lil. You're an amazing girl & we are so lucky to have you.

Love,
Mommy

Walking!

We've got a walker!

She's been taking a few steps here and there, but only like 3 or 4 at a time. The other day she took 10 at once and was super proud of herself -- so proud she promptly fell flat on her butt.

But she's done really well lately. I've noticed her taking the long way to get somewhere just so she has something to grab onto to walk. Then I noticed her letting go and walking on her own close to something to grab. Now she's walking completely by herself and away from everything! She prefers to walk, which is a change from a few days ago.

She walked really well when we'd hold her hand, but never really wanted to by herself. But we went to small group a couple of weeks ago and she saw her friend there, who is only a day older than her, walking. Ever since then she's been experimenting!

So now we have an even more busy little girl on our hands! Yay, Lillian!!