Eleven Months Old

Dear Katelyn,

It is only four more weeks until you are one.  ONE!  Where did this year go?  The memories from last year at this time are so vivid - how is it not only yesterday that I felt you kick in my belly?  Or that I had to sleep in the recliner in the living room because my pubic bone cracked every time I rolled over in bed?  Oh, those were the days :)

You went from a wee, tiny baby, all snuggled up on my chest to this crawling, squirmy, bouncy, giggly, curious, hilarious little being in the blink of an eye.  Tonight, I had a good cry over the Christmas day, two years ago, when we found out our IVF cycle didn't work.  I was heartbroken, but I knew it wasn't the end. This Christmas season?  With you in your little candy cane striped pajamas, standing up in your crib as I come in to get you, clapping your hands and smiling with your bedhead getting crazier everyday?  That's all I need, baby.  I don't need presents or turkey or singing with the Whos down in Whoville - just you, your goofy smile and your crazy antics.

At eleven months old, you:

- do this awesome little one-handed clap thing when you see the animals...you are do your best to entice them over, but they're much too smart for that :)

- are definitely saying "Mom!" in connection with me, it's just not constant.

- say words that sound like, "Babe!" (which is what your Dad and I call each other) and "book", but again, it's not constant.

- will pat yourself on the chest when we say "Where's Katelyn?".  To be fair, you also do it when we ask you any other question.

- make this fishie move with your hands where you clasp them together, with one slightly in front of the other and make them "swim".

- shake your head back and forth when we ask you, "Who's crazy?".   THIS is not a fluke :)

- love love love iPods, computers, remotes, alarm clocks and radios.

- despise having your nose wiped (but what kid doesn't?)

- are pulling yourself up on everything, but you feel safest 'walking' around in your playpen or crib

- have the greatest fake laugh I've ever heard

- love your baths...you roll, flip, scoot and crawl all over the tub.  You even dunk your own face (well, just your mouth) under the water.

- love to sit and flip through books, babbling away and creating your own wonderful, non-sensical stories.

You are my reason for getting up each day.  You are my reason for anything and everything (and sometimes you're my excuse too!!).  Thank you for making this Christmas the best one yet!

Love Mommy

I've stopped doing the monthly photos where Katelyn lays down and I have a sign next to her - this girl cannot sit still long enough!  Instead, I'll post the Christmas photos that Jen McDougall of McBaby Photos took of the lovely little Miss K!

Trying to look innocent

Doing a lead quality inspection test on the jingle bells :)

Her falling asleep on me occurs so rarely that it is definitely a Kodak moment when it does happen!

And this post just wouldn't be complete without a goofy photo of Miss K...she puts the bowls on her head and then hams it up for whoever is watching.