11 Months

Dear Grace,

You've been a bit of a challenge lately. You've been teething, so you're extra fussy. And by fussy, I mean that you've been cranky, whiny, clingy, grouchy, and you throw a fit anytime your dad or I leave the room for .0000000001 seconds. You constantly want to be picked up, immediately try to get down, and almost as soon as your feet hit the floor you turn to be picked up again. We do this about 3940830294823 times a day. You also think you no longer need your morning nap. Trust me, we both need that nap! You eat whatever paper you get your little hands on. You insist my name is Dad even though we both know you know that my name is Mom and you even know how to say it. You have started biting and get mad when I stop you. I've also noticed a strange phenomenon that when I say, "no!" it somehow comes out of my mouth as, "quickly crawl faster into whatever dangerous/forbidden place you are headed!"

But for all the challenges, you've also done lots of things that more than make up for them. Since you've been so clingy, we've gotten lots more cuddle time than you normally tolerate. When you want to be picked up, you move my hands so they are open, then raise your own. Too cute. You started coming up to me and resting your head on whatever part of me you can reach. You are walking unassisted more and more every day. I know I'll just have to chase you, but I still can't wait for you to be completely walking.  Someday I'll even get a good picture of you walking, but this will have to do for now.

you LOVE the care bears walker

You love getting into your books and our magazines. I love it when I catch you "reading." I hope you learn to love reading as much as I do. (Or at least more than your dad, who just falls asleep to anything unrelated to technology.)

You try to mimic some new words. This week was 'yes' (esssssss) and 'hot' (hot-tot-tot). Last night as I was rocking you and singing to you before bed, you started singing along. Precious. You make my day better every morning when I get you out of your crib.

I'm so thankful for the past eleven months of your life, and I'm so grateful I get to be your mom. I love you.

notice my phone next to her - her favorite toy