With the end of February here (CRAZY), I knew I had to get this 11 month post up ASAP!  It seems like so much has already happened in the last 2 weeks that many of the highlights below are passé… But I still wanted to note them here.  I cannot believe the next Olive update will be her ONE YEAR post.  Okay, I believe it, but it blows my mind.  :)

This is the best “on the rug” pic I could get — the girl won’t sit still!

my sweet girl in one of my favorite outfits from her Uncle Ryan and Auntie CC

Month 11 highlights…

• You are 17 lbs 15.5 oz (okay, pretty much 18 lbs) and 28.25″ long (as of 2/18/13) — still smallish for your age but growing everyday. Your doctor says you just have a speedy metabolism since you are SO active for your age.  We can hardly keep you still for a photo these days!
• We went to Big Bear to celebrate Daddy’s 30th birthday!  We stayed in a darling cabin and enjoyed some much-needed R&R. Daddy had a blast snowboarding while you and I explored town and played in the snow.  Daddy took you on a sled with him in a local park and you LOVED it.  He also made you your first snowman: a little buddy just your size.  ;-)
• My best friend Kristin visited us with her daughter, Sisi (aka your BFF!).  We loved having them in town with us for a few days.  We ate lots of yummy paleo food and enjoyed exploring with them.  At a local park, you rode the swings for the first time.  You seemed indifferent.  ;-)  You did love following Sisi around the house and Kris and I hope that one day you two will be as close as she and I are!
• You point at everything!  You usually follow it up with an excited babble, so I figure you are trying to tell us something.  We can’t wait for you to really start talking.  For now, we enthusiastically nod and chat back.
• Your vocab includes: Dada, Mama, Baby, Fifi (your stuffed rabbit), No, Yes, and Don’t! (haha!  I think this is from me saying “Don’t touch”).
• Your “tricks” (the things you do on command): clap (which you’ve been doing  since you were 30 weeks), wave, shake your head no, dance (bounce and twist), and click your tongue.
• We celebrated your paternal Grandpa’s birthday!  It was a big one so I won’t post it here ;-) but it was wonderful to see lots of friends and family at the celebration.  You met many east coast relatives for the first time at this party.
• We went on a playdate with some mommy friends at another local park but your favorite activity was picking at the rubberized flooring and trying to eat it.  :)
• You became more attached to Fifi; you carry her around and show her lots of affection.  Whenever you pick her up, you pat her head, hug her tightly and sway back and forth.  I like to think you picked up your nurturing from your mama, and it warms my heart!
• Your love for your Daddy melts me on a daily basis.  Since you were born, I would demonstrate lots of excitement everytime Daddy comes home.  I made the big fuss in the hopes that you would learn that it is a special time when our family is together at the end of a busy day!  Now, you can hear the gate open when he gets home and you instantly shriek, “Dada! Dada!”  You crawl as fast as you can to the top of the stairs waiting for his face to appear.  It is the most adorable thing… Maybe the only thing cuter is how happy Daddy is to see you upon arrival.  He scoops you up and covers you with kisses and I just melt!

My darling Olive,  Life is moving at light-speed as we hurtle closer to your first birthday. Lately Daddy and I have been watching old videos of you from your first weeks and it seems like a lifetime ago that you were born.  I am loving this stage with you, as you begin to give us glimpses of your personality.  You are playful and silly and laugh with every ounce of your tiny body.  You are enamored with your Daddy and no one can make you laugh harder.  You are still completely attached to me, though… There are times (bedtime, or when you are startled by something) that nothing can calm you but your Mama’s arms.  You are endlessly curious and you love to poke your head under and around everything to see what you can find.  You still explore the world by taste (much to our chagrin, haha) and your first reaction to any new object is to lick it.  You can crawl across a room in a matter of seconds and spend most of the day cruising around.  Little did we know that you were about to take your first steps shortly after your 11th month-day (spoiler alert!)…  You are sensitive and seem to have a tender heart already.  When Mama or Daddy tell you ‘no’ or not to touch something, you obey pretty instantly.  On the occasions that you don’t, we might say your name sternly and that’s all it takes for you to stop in your tracks, eyes filling up with tears.  Oh sweetie it is so cute and sad at the same time!  I hope that Daddy and I can gently and lovingly shepherd you to be a godly young woman.  For now, keep exploring, keep laughing, but try to go easy on the licking (like Daddy’s slippers… eew!), okay?  Love you to the moon.  xoxo, Mommy

glimpses of month 11, mostly via Instagram (@loveandsplendor)

Everyone: I have some HUGE news (sorry, not pregnant!) to share on Monday as well as a giveaway you won’t want to miss… So make sure you visit again soon!  To tide you over, I will have a fun birthday party planning update tomorrow.  I can’t wait to give you a peek at what I’m creating for Olive’s 1st bash!  See you then!

xoxo, Angel

xoxo, Angel