Letter to Rua - 11 months

Sept 5 2015

Dearest Rua,

11 months!  The countdown to one year is on! This month milestone almost slipped by unnoticed, you keep me too busy to keep track of things very well. You are quite the busy little girl and you move so fast. It is exhausting trying to keep up with you. It's a good thing you've got an Abby to help out. When she isn't worried about you stealing her toys she is quite loving. She treats you almost like one of her baby dolls, even trying to lift you and carry you around (arms wrapped around you from behind). I learned today that she can now lift you up on things, ie the couch. Oh dear. But you eat it all up, laughing hysterically until you get hurt. Or until you reach for one of her cars and she flips out. You are starting to hold your own though, you hold on tight to things and shriek back when she tries to take things away from you. Now, if I could just get you guys to share and have no shrieking on either end.

Other than your up and down relationship with Abby, some other fun things about you at 11 months:

• You are becoming increasingly agile and balanced. You have started to have short spurts on standing on your own (like 2-3 seconds). You like to sit kneeling down on your knees. You have starting climbing things. I looked over at you today to see you sitting on top of Abby's little table. You can push Abby's shopping cart around. You like to walk holding on to my hands, and now on to just one of my hands at times. 

• You have a couple of words, or rather, word approximations that you say. The most prominent is 'Da' for Dad. You very excitedly say 'da' whenever he comes home or when he calls on the phone. Occasionally you say 'ma' for mom. The only other one I think you say is 'ba' for bye. You say this sometimes as you wave your arm. We have been doing signs, but so far none from you, unless we count the waving. 

• You are still making lots and lots of messes
• You like to put necklaces on and off. Purses too. 

• You love to eat - some favorites right now: watermelon, cheese, smoothies.

• I'm starting to wonder if you already need your own baby doll, because you sure like to give Abby's lots of love

• You like to push toy cars around
• You can throw a ball (1-2 feet) and love to have me throw them back to you.
• You absolutely love water! Bath times continue to be some of your favorite times. They are tiring for me because you are constantly standing up and I am constantly sitting you back down. You love love the beach too. You are fearless and crawl straight into the water

I still get soo many comments from people about how happy you always seem, and this is definitely true. You constantly light up with your beautiful smiles. Those smiles sure help make things easier when I am exhausted from yours and Abby's endless energy. So keep smiling.

I love you

Love, Mom