11 months: Emerson Marie

Dear Emerson,
Here we are, just a couple of weeks away from your first birthday, and you're no longer my little baby, instead you've become such a little person, but with a big personality. You are active, spirited, happy, smiley and oh-so-sweet (most of the time). I love watching you grow and change and you continue to fill our hearts with so much love! Honestly, kiddo, I don't think we could ask for anything more. 

CATCHING UP WITH EMMY ...  

Eating: She's still a good eater, but I have noticed some changes since she's started eating more "daycare foods" (macaroni and cheese, pizza, fries), and stopped eating my homemade vegetable purees. She definitely has more dislikes now than she did before. And she will let you know by taking whatever it is she just put in her mouth, pulling it out with a disgusted look on her face, examining it in her fingers, and then chucking it on the floor. She's currently very into pad thai, pickles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, eggs and snack-y finger foods like puffs and pretzels. 

Likes: These days she loves toys she can hug, like her stuffed bunnies, her baby doll, and her little sock monkey. She also loves containers that she can put things into, and then take them back out. Her toy chest is another favorite - not necessarily the toys in it, but rather climbing into and sitting in there. For the most part she's pretty bored with most of her toys, so I'm excited for her to get some "big girl" toys for her birthday. 

Dislikes: Having her face wiped, when I put her hair into a ponytail, being in the carseat for too long. Really, she's pretty easygoing.

Sleeping: She's currently sleeping from 7:30 pm to about 7 or 7:30 am. She had been getting up around 6:30, but ever since we went on a family vacation to the beach, she's been sleeping in later (woohoo!). She's still an amazing sleeper, it takes about two seconds to get her down for the night. Lately she's been a great napper, too. In fact, while we were on vacation, there was one morning where she crawled into her travel crib (it zips open on the side), and put herself down for a nap!

Saying: Mama, dada, bababababa. Still talking up a storm, and still not making much sense to us. 

Milestones: She recently learned to drink through a straw (and loves it). She just started walking with a walker, and is starting to take a wobbly step here or there, but we're still waiting for the big moment where she just goes for it. She is so active, and will climb anything and everything. And she's much more loving now, giving us hugs, and showing her affection by putting her forehead against ours. There's nothing better than when Emmy stops what she's doing to show you some love : )