Dear Owen: Eleven Months

Dear Owen,

Unbelievably, you are eleven months old! It’s a contradictory sentiment, but part of me feels like it was just yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital, and part of me cannot remember or imagine life without you.

You have made leaps and bounds in your development this month, so let’s get started!

Milestones

First word! I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone whose first word was “sock,” but that’s yours! It makes perfect sense, because Drew casts off his socks throughout the house. Always quick on his heels, you scoop them up and grip them in your fists while you crawl around. You even carry them to bed often. After hearing you say “gock” dozens of times while proudly waving around a treasured sock, it’s officially your first word. We’re still watching and listening, but “gog” (dog) and “Dada” seems to be working their way into your vocabulary as well.

Stashing your treasures--including a few socks--in Scout's food dish.

Waving. A wave from you is always accompanied by a 1,000-watt smile, and we love to wave back at a grinning little Owen!

Kisses. If we blow you a kiss, you send an air kiss back in our direction. Muah!

Storytimes. This is a milestone that I’ve been a bit impatient for; I love snuggling with a baby and a book. Whereas in past months, you squirmed away or slammed the book closed, you now rest in my lap for a whole book. You especially love the texture / touch-and-feel books, in particular the “That’s Not My…” series of books. I think “That’s Not My Tractor” is your current favorite. Last week when you retrieved a book and climbed into my lap, my heart melted a bit.

Furniture cruising. You can move all around the house–whether its crawling on all fours or cruising along couches and coffee tables. Watch out world, Owen is coming… fast.

Your Likes

• Your brother. You are his constant shadow, and you put up with a fair amount of rough housing just to be around him.
• Your friend at school, Joaquin. Although he is much older (16 months) and can walk and run, you follow him around all day long. You also play together on the climbers in your classroom.
• Stealing nuks. Even when a toddler (especially Drew) towers over you in height, you seem to be able to lunge upward and deftly hook your finger through the nuk’s handle to snatch it away. Your teachers say you’re definitely the classroom thief to be reckoned with. This is funny because you’re really not terribly attached to them. I think it must be the thrill of the hunt.
• Hawaiian sweet rolls. Your favorite food, bar none.

Your Dislikes

Scout is your constant mealtime companion.

• You are sick of Cheerios and feed them to Scout instead of eating them.
• You HATE diaper changes. I have to pin you down with my leg and fend off flailing legs and arms while you twist away.
• Having anything taken away. Whether I’m gently removing a piece of paper or other remote from your grip or Drew is yanking away a coveted toy, you let us know–very loudly–that you are mad about it.

Memories

This month has included another week of nebulizer treatments for your wheezy lungs, as well as a double ear infection. All this illness has admittedly dampened your smiles a bit, but we know that spring and good health are just around the corner.

Yesterday, on your 11-month-birthday, you were absolutely inconsolable. All morning long, you begged to be picked up and then writhed and pitched backwards in hopes of returning to the floor. This routine was followed by tears, wailing, and clawing of sharp little finger nails. After several hours of this and a few tell-tale pulls on the ears, I brought you to urgent care. We waited for over an hour (missing your afternoon nap) to receive the official diagnosis of “exceptionally cranky.”

This week, we visited Edinborough indoor park again this week and you really enjoyed climbing around the infant and toddler play area. You LOVE climbing as high as possible and are definitely showing an thrill-seeking streak.

Suddenly we find ourselves making plans for your first birthday, and I’m contemplating how I will round out a year of letters to our sweet soon-to-be toddler. We love you so much, Owen.

Love,

Mama, Daddy, and Drewie