11 Months Old

Oh boy!  This little one is growing up so so much.  

The biggest change physically this month has been his hair.  He's beginning to show signs of some curl and it is adorable! I am already getting pressure to cut it.  I will go down kicking and screaming before cutting it (just like I did with Owen's).  He has also gotten some new teeth on top.  One is completely through and visible and the other is just coming in.  I love his big top tooth that shows when he shoots us his big wide-mouthed grin.  It's his signature smile.  He'll drive girls crazy with that smile someday.  All of the kids inherited their dad's big happy smile!  Jude is comfortably wearing 12 month clothes but I am still squeezing him into some of my nine month favorites and pulling out some 18 month stuff as well.  I love the merry-go-round closet...revisiting old clothes worn by Owen (and others).  I especially love the old clothes that have been worn by all three of the kids.  

Jude is learning lots of new skills and making a place for himself among his big brother and sisters during play time.  The girls love including him as their little doll, caring for him and teaching him new things.  Just yesterday Annie took him for a stroll around the cul de sac in the wagon and he loved it.  Millie loves to carry him around the house.  Owen desperately wants him to be bigger and more sturdy than he actually is.  Jude is going to be one tough kid after surviving Owen and I know they will eventually love playing rough together.  

Jude isn't yet walking but is cruising around pretty steadily.  He crawls very quickly from place to place; over, around and through anything in his way.  He loves looking out the windows, especially the front door.  He pulls up on anything to stand.  One of his favorite hang outs is at the dishwasher when it is being loaded or unloaded.  For this reason we've snatched many sharp objects out of his hands causing terrible rage in him.  Jude also loves the vacuum.  Sometimes I sweep just to distract him from crying.  Toilets and trash cans seem to be a source of entertainment as well.

Naps are not Jude's strong suit, but that doesn't stop me from trying each day to get him to take two naps.  Usually he will sleep a combined two hours between them.  He is sleeping through the night consistently, going to bed at 7:30 and waking up around 7.   

Some of his favorite foods are blueberries, yogurt, cheese, grapes, teething biscuits (is that a food?), pretzels and macaroni.  He isn't very patient at mealtime.  He doesn't sit for long periods in his high chair and he doesn't enjoy being fed.  He grabs the spoon to feed himself, usually making a mess of everything within two feet.  He still takes a bottle about four or five times a day.  He hasn't figured out sippy cups yet.  He just is frustrated by them, despite knowing that they are supposed to do something.  

Jeremy and I finally feel like we can breath a bit now that we are out of the newborn/infant stage of patenting.  Now we are so busy keeping Jude safe from himself and the gang that I don't know which stage is more exhausting.  I guess its a different kind of exhausting.  I am enjoying watching Jude's personality take shape and seeing him find his place in all this craziness.  We are blessed beyond measure to be the parents of such amazing kids.

This picture cracks me up