11 Months Old

Well, here we are--our last monthly update before Grant's 1st birthday! Where has the time gone? Grant continues to make us smile everyday--as well as keep us busy. He is all over the place! He has gotten so fast at crawling, and when he knows we are coming after him, he squeals and laughs, and then gets going even faster! He is pulling up on everything and moving along all the furniture while holding on. It won't be long before he starts to let go and try to stand on his own. Grant is also learning to wave. When we say hi or bye-bye, he is starting to put his hand up and move his fingers in a waving motion. He usually ends up doing it backwards and waving to himself, but at least he gets the idea!

Grant is learning so many other new things as well. There are many words we will say, and he will look at what we are saying, such as light, doggie, books, tv, fan, dada, and mama. We also think his first word will be doggie, because whenever he sees Lexi (or any soft stuffed animal for that matter), he says, "daw-ee!" At first he was just making that sound at random times, but now we notice that he says it everytime he sees the dog! What a smart little boy! He also LOVES books. He always goes over to his bookshelf to play with the books--choosing that over many other toys in his room! And many times, he will beg for me to pick him up as I'm sitting in the rocker next to the bookshelf, and then will reach over for a book. He will sit on our laps for a long time as we read to him. I hope he keeps this love of books forever! Grant is also learning to share. Whenever he is holding something in his hands, he will reach it out to us to feel or eat. He of course wants it back after we are finished, but he loves showing us what he has. Finally, Grant is becoming very cuddly and attached. He will now cry for a minute if he sees us leave the room, wants to be held more, and loves to come and get a small cuddle while in the middle of playing--just to reassure himself that we are still there! The good thing is that he will still go to other people--like our family, and is fine to be off and playing if we are at someone's house. He just loves his Mommy and Daddy!

Grant also now has his 2nd tooth. The top left tooth has come in--which surprised us since usually both bottom ones come in before the top. I'm sure the rest of the teeth will just keep coming one after another now!

Now we just need to prepare ourselves for Grant's birthday. I am already emotional about it! We can't wait to continue to watch him grow into a little boy, but we will always miss the other stages we have experienced along the way--having a tiny preemie, then an infant, and now a mobile almost toddler! He is starting to look so much older now. His hair is growing like crazy (and probably needs to be cut again), and it is lightening up a little. And with his teeth, he looks older as well. He continues to bless our lives everyday, and we couldn't be more grateful!