11

We have a couple of first birthdays in our house coming up in just one more month! I know I say it all the time, but I can't believe how fast time flies. We've been chasing around two very active 11 month olds and we love every minute of it!


Austin is such a joy and so much fun. He has a cute little personality and a radiant smile. He's such a flirt! If you make eye contact with him, it's almost guaranteed he will grin back at you. He follows his sister around (or gets chased by her). He's started clapping his hands and waving hi and bye. He has the funniest limp-wrist wave. When I tell him NO he shakes his head back and forth, but keeps on doing whatever he was doing. Austin sings now too, which is adorable. During church today he joined in during one of the hymns. He makes all sorts of noises and talks as if we should know what he's saying. He crawls super fast now and pulls himself up on almost everything. He can stand on his own, too. I think he really likes to stand but freaks out when he notices that no one is holding onto him. I predict he'll be walking pretty darn soon, though. This boy loves to play with his daddy. He chases Andrew around on the floor and laughs when he gets caught. He is the epitome of boy. In a sea of toys, he usually picks out his toy truck and ball. He pushes the ball around and follows it around the house. He occasionally likes to kick his toys, or anything near his feet. A soccer player in the making, maybe? Love this boy!


Avery is as cute and sassy as ever. Who knew an eleven month old could have such an attitude? She is blissfully happy when she has what she wants, and you better stay far away when there is something she can't have. We are trying to teach her about, and helping her understand she can't have everything. Since she literally tried to hold everything in her hands at the same time. She is full of fun, I promise. She waves hi and bye, and shakes her head when she hears the word NO (although she has a much better understanding of the word than her brother). She has a speedy crawl, pulls herself up, stands on her own, and has even taken a step! She can repeat sounds back to us like a pro. It is so funny to hear her try to say words. We haven't considered any of them as her real 'first word' yet because so far it is just gibberish. Cute babbling gibberish though. When she hears music, she swings her hips, shakes her head, bounces up and down, and does this weird sprinkler-like movement with her arms. During a musical number at church (we do more than just sing, promise), Come, Come, Ye Saints sang a capella by an older gentlemen, I looked down to see Avery rocking out. As long as it's music, she doesn't mind. Girl can groove.


I love these kids. I can hardly call them babies anymore. They are so big and independent. They bring so much love and happiness into our home. Sometimes, just sometimes, they fall asleep in my arms and I want to savor those moments forever. I love the feeling of a cuddly baby and that just doesn't happen too often anymore. My almost-one-year-olds are so sweet but I know that our years are numbered with them wanting and letting me hold them and kiss them and love on them, so I'm taking advantage of those moments while I can! My, oh my, this has been the best, most trying, most love-filled eleven months of our lives!