11 Months

Dear Ryan,

Today you turned 11 months old. I still can't believe how quickly each of the past 11 months have gone by. And yet, as I have said before, I feel like you have been a part of our lives for so much longer than 11 months. You just fit in so perfectly.

While you are still learning new things every day it seems, I think the biggest change in the past month has been the development of your little personality. More and more we are seeing a little boy with his own thoughts, wishes, and desires shine through. You are determined and certainly have a mind of your own. You can't say much, but you find a way to communicate what it is you want. Just the other day you and I were playing in the family room. We were stacking cups, reading books, playing with the xylophone. I thought we were having a good time. But suddenly, you got up, brought me your shoes, and then walked to the door and banged on it. You were clearly telling me that you wanted to get out of the house. So, we did. We went to get coffee (well, Mommy got coffee, you just enjoyed being your usual social little self with the people in Caribou Coffee). Once you know what you want,  you do everything you can to make it happen!

Concentrating on trying to stack the cups. You've almost got it! 

Because you have strong wishes and desires but lack the vocabulary to communicate them, you do at times get VERY frustrated. Recently Daddy and I watched you have a complete meltdown while standing in front of the laundry basket. You started crying huge crocodile tears and were banging the side of the basket. It took me a few minutes, but then I realized that you wanted to be pushed around in the basket (something we do with you often). So, I plopped you in, and the tears ceased immediately. There are also a LOT of things that you want to do more than anything else, that you're just not allowed to do, such as going downstairs to the laundry room by yourself (see picture below), eating Mommy's cell phone, playing on the laptop, etc. You want to be such a big boy, but, you're not and you find this to be the greatest injustice in all the world. Oh, the terrible twos should be fun with you!

Getting sooooo mad because you can't get downstairs to the laundry room! 

Rejoicing as you made it to Daddy's laptop before anyone noticed! 

But with all of your frustration, you also continue to be a happy, lovable little guy! You are becoming a very affectionate little boy. When I hold you I instinctively pat your back gently. Now, you do the same thing to me. You are becoming more and more of a snuggle bug and especially love to cuddle when you're sleepy. You used to need to be rocked (with me standing up) in order to settle down at night. But now, you just snuggle on mommy's chest while I sit in the glider. It is definitely my favorite part of the day.

Ryan, you are such a joyful (most of the time) little boy and I love you so much! You give new meaning to the word LOVE.

I can't wait to watch your little personality grow and develop over the days, months, years ahead. It is going to be a very special journey indeed!

Happy 11th Month Birthday!

Love always and forever (no matter what!),

~Mommy