I love this picture, but...
Getting a good picture of Brooks sitting still next to his monkey and smiling is nearly impossible.
Here are a few examples of the boy who never stops moving...
You get the picture...
Another month has come and gone. Brooks is 11 months old and mere weeks from graduating to toddlerhood. It's a bittersweet time. On the one hand, it's wonderful to watch him grow up, develop his personality, and become independent. But on the other hand, it's sad that he's almost done being a baby and is needing his mama less and less. I truly do love each stage better than the last, though, so that makes his growing older a little easier! This little guy is such a joy and blessing. He is sweet, silly, and sassy. He shows his sweet side by giving big kisses, and cuddling for short periods of time. He spends much of his day being silly with his sister. They share a bedroom, and can be heard laughing at each other and "talking" to each other many times throughout they day when they are supposed to be sleeping. Brooks is actually the instigator most of the time. I can hear him trying to get Kylie to talk to him in the mornings and at nap time almost everyday. Those two also play chasing games, which always gets them both laughing as hard as they can. Kylie will run around the apartment, and Brooks chases her by crawling just as fast as he possibly can! As I mentioned, Brooks can also be a little sassy-pants! He lets us know when he wants something by screeching/whining at us. Usually he sasses when he wants some attention or wants to eat. He also puts up a big fuss fest when he is getting his diaper/clothes changed. But I love his little personality. I even like the sassiness...He's going to need a little attitude to keep up with his big sister!
Brooks is loving life these days. He especially loves to play with his sister, and with his cars. We really don't have too many boy toys, but he has found the few that we have, and he loves them. He drives the 3 or 4 cars/trucks/trains around all day long. He also seems to like being read to, though his attention span for books is about 30 seconds. I know I've said it before, but the boy loves to move! When he is awake, he moves constantly. Even when he is strapped into a seat, his legs and/or arms wiggle all over the place! He likes riding in the jogging stroller as long as it is moving. He LOVES eating. We still can't even sneak a bite of food without Brooks thinking he needs a little snack too. He eats anything and everything we give him. It's mostly good, but I've had to pull a few choking hazards out of his mouth a few times too. We have to keep a close eye on the boy! He still likes the pacifier, and has recently developed a strong love for the Wubanub. His is a dog, and it's hilarious to watch him crawl around with a little doggy hanging out of his mouth! He also still loves bath time. He does an awesome move in the bath tub now. He gets into a crawling position, and then crawls in place as fast as he possibly can. Imagine running in place for adults...except he crawls in place...FAST!
There are very few things that Brooks dislikes...But he does let us know when he is not pleased. He doesn't like having toys taken away. He has actually started having temper tantrums when we take toys away. I was a little surprised when this happened for the first time a few weeks ago...He seems a little young. But it's a full on tantrum, complete with throwing himself on the ground, rolling around, and crying as hard as he can. I'm just ignoring it for now...Maybe it will go away!? He also does not like being in the stroller when it's sitting still. As soon as I stop for whatever reason, he wants to get out. He goes from super content when the stroller is moving to extremely agitated as soon as it stops. It's not all bad though...He keeps me motivated to keep on going! And probably his most hated moments of the day are getting his diaper/clothes changed. Also my most hated moments of the day. It's like trying to pin down a writhing, screaming, but really cute, alligator. And on top of pinning him down, I have to try to clean his bottom and/or get clothes onto his wiggling, flailing appendages! It's wild!
This time is clearly a time of rapid development. I can't believe how much he is changing each month. This month he started walking with the stroller (9/7), transferring between furniture pieces, opening cabinets, clapping (9/17), mimicking sounds we make (especially, "mmmm" when we are eating), saying a few new sounds ("ma-ma" FINALLY-9/21) and words ("car"-9/18), signing "more" sometimes, and holding his own bottle. At first I was doubtful that he was actually saying, "car," but now I am becoming more convinced. It sounds like, "gaaaar," and he only says it when he is playing with his dump truck, train, or cars. Also, he says it quite regularly, so I don't think it was a fluke. Regardless, I'm counting it as his first word! :) He is spending more and more time upright, so I am thinking that walking is in the not too distant future, though I'm not sure he'll do it by his first birthday. Physically, he is changing too. He is getting skinnier, probably because he is mobile. His hair is growing in...about the same color as Kylie's. And he popped through his second right bottom tooth on the 10th, so he is up to 6 teeth! His schedule is basically the same as last month, though his morning nap is getting shorter. He sleeps from about 8pm-7:30am (pretty sure day light savings is going to through this off), and naps from about 9am-9:45/10:00am, and 1:30pm-3:30pm. He is still eating four 5-6 ounce bottles a day of either formula or breastmilk at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm. I just finished pumping last week, but my mom brought my frozen supply with her from home when she visited last week. We're almost out of breastmilk, so Brooks will spend most of his 11 month on formula before switching to cow's milk next month. I also plan to start working on the sippy cup this month. Hopefully he's not as resistant as Kylie was! I'm not sure what Brooks' exact weight is now, but I weighed him on our scale last week and he was at 21 pounds. He seems pretty true to his size as he is wearing mostly 12 month clothes, though I think he has big hands and feet. I haven't had him measured, but I'm pretty sure he is wearing a size 4 shoe. He is also still wearing a size 4 diaper.
I have moments when I still can't believe we are a family of four, and I have other moments when I can't believe I've only known Brooks for 11 months...it seems like so much longer! Either way, he is one amazing little blessing! We love being his parents and couldn't imagine a life without him in it! We love you, Brooksie Boy!
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