BABY ROBES

Before JP was even born, I received three different baby robes as shower gifts. These robes were absolutely adorable, but to be completely honest ... they were also absolutely impractical. I mean, who really has the time to wrestle their babe after a bath to put on a robe, only to put on real clothes minutes later? These robes collected dust in JP's closet for his first year of life as he only wore them a handful of times. I dressed AA in a baby robe the other night after her bath ... and I grabbed my camera to capture the occasion.

Diaperless and all, I let her cruise around the house in her duck baby robe. Judging by all of her smiles, I think I better make the robe part of her bath time routine!

BIRTHDAY BASH

We braved the state's first snowstorm of the season and travelled to the cities to celebrate Grandpa T's and Great Grandma H's birthdays. Because, of course, birthdays are a BIG deal to JP.
AA didn't exactly know what to think of her Great Grandma ...

but she did eventually warm up to Uncle M.

AA loved Aunt J the most ... perhaps it was because she licked the frosting off of Aunt J's cake one fingertip at a time!

JP bonded with Aunt K

and Grandpa T had a great party!

CHICKEN DANCE

Last Thanksgiving, Grandma K gave JP a stuffed toy turkey. A stuffed toy turkey that sings the chicken dance. A stuffed toy turkey that sings the chicken dance really loud. I happily packed it away last year, but the turkey has made his debut once again. Each night JP wants to do the "turkey dance" with me ... and AA happily joins in!

Why would any mom need a gym membership when she has two babes demanding nonstop dancing to a stuffed toy turkey???

HAPPY

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands: If you're happy and you know it, shout HOORAY:
If you're happy and you know it, oh your face will surely show it:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

TIME FLIES

November 2009 and
November 2011

ELEVEN MONTHS OLD

AA is 11 months!!!


Her little personality is definitely forming. AA is normally filled with the most precious smiles ... yet she can bring on the tears and quivering bottom lip in one second flat! (And then she'll put the smile back on if she gets what she wants!) She loves giving kisses to mommy and daddy, her baby, and any kind of animal she sees in books. AA does the hand motions for If You're Happy and You Know It like a champ. She claps her hands and waves bye-bye on command. She bounces up and down at the sound of a musical tune, just like her big brother. She loves playing with JP's cars and trucks when he's not looking. She loves looking at picture books.



AA took her first steps a few weeks ago, though she still prefers crawling. She'll stumble through five or six steps before putting her hands on the floor and crawling away.

AA still resorts to calling A Dadda ... and calling me Dadda too! She'll go a day calling me Mamma, but then the next day I'm back to Dadda! Although I haven't heard any obvious formed words, she's always mumbling something ... AA has the sweetest high pitched voice.

She drinks 5-6 oz of milk 4 times a day and eats 3 meals. AA is a great eater ... she often polishes off JP's dinner! She prefers feeding herself. Her favorite foods include avocado, cottage cheese, sweet potatoes, and bananas.

AA takes 2 naps, each around 90 minutes. She goes to sleep around 7 pm and doesn't make a peep until 6:30- 7:00 am.

AA is still toothless! I just adore her gum filled smile!

FLORIDA: PART III

AA saw the ocean for the first time. Since this milestone happened while I was at conference, I was determined to take her again with my camera. Of course, the remaining days of our trip were chilly and windy ... so we mostly just watched the ocean waves from our balcony. On the final day, I rounded up the gang and we headed down to the beach.

AA worked on her walking

while JP braved the cool waters.

We had a wonderful time. JP and AA are beyond blessed to have such amazing grandparents ... all 5 of them!