oops, how did you get so big?

so, here i am, apologizing again. i blinked and my daughter turned 11 months old weeks ago.

now part of me is glad that i was somewhere having fun with her and didn't have the time to fill everyone else in on her growth and changes. so i am taking the time while i have it, to tell anyone who cares that this lady is awesome.

Things addie can do :

1. SLEEP : how did i get so very lucky? she sleeps so well that shes even been known to add a pre-dinner nap to her own schedule when needed. addie goes to bed depending on that self-ordered nap at around 7:30-8:30 pm and not get up completely until 7:30. She may wake up and talk or cry a bit, but she is a fantastic self-soother and we have found that going in after her only brings on the drama.

2. EAT : She is almost down to four bottles - that fifth one at night just seems to be the bedtime clincher and i think we are holding onto it too... She has tried a lot of foods, and even had her first meal off of a kid menu! So far anything that has to do with cheese - is her ultimate favorite. Strawberries, raspberries, spaghetti, peaches, real bananas, daddy's oatmeal, pancakes, pizza, macaroni, grilled cheese, strawberry applesauce from MOTTs (which mommy and daddy sneak too), yogurt, etc...the worst part is she fake gags on anything until you notice and then she smiles at you.

3. WALK : Every time you take her hands to help her walk somewhere, you get the feeling that lift off is about to occur...she is so close to walking on her own, and now has braved for the past few weeks to only hold one hand and go! She has a hard time keeping shoes on, since her feet are so fat on the top and short in length...she takes them off and immediately she tries to eat them..no matter what...i wonder who modeled this behavior?

4. TALK : She has so many words in her vocab, and they take on a creepy reality to the situation you are in...like she was frustrated with not being able to reach some toy (i.e. remote) and after several tries said "JESUS" She also still repeatedly says "HI" and it is truly at the appropriate time-like when greg comes home from work..she waits, watches the door, he walks in "HI" she says. She also says an inappropriate word-that she may have heard from mommy while watching the batchelor - but how was i to know she pick that one? She says "THANK YOU" & "LOVE you" which you only ever hear the first part of...

5. SIGNS : She knows 'more' and 'bye bye'...i just hope she doesn't learn the sign for milk-it makes me uncomfortable.

6. CUDDLES : She has several friends at school, ruby, jenna, elle, and tommy...her teachers say that she shares well, and takes turns..the other day she took turns hugging a doll with one of her friends...and when greg dropped her off the other day-he said another little girl went right over to her and put her head in addie's lap. So apparently she is very comforting to others. awwww. She has also fallen in love with a stuffed dog that greg bought for her-we affectionately call him socks - named by addie. She squeezes him so tight i think the stuffing might come out.

but the best thing addie does lately, is hugs. they are the best, but added to her laughter its a dangerous melt-your-heart moment. i just love the hell out of her...