Kelly's Corner: Look who is 11 months!!!

11 months! One more month until my baby is a whole year older and wiser...because Tommy and I know she's smarter than we are. We can just see it in those big hazel eyes. That look she gives us when she climbs that first stair and looks at us until we see her and then squeals and tries to out climb us. We see it in those eyes when she stands and takes her first steps and claps because she's so proud of herself. Luckily we will still be able to fool her to think that we know best for at least 15 more years (let's hope!).

Who me?

This past month it has been very apparent that Lilly is quickly leaving the baby/infant stage behind and she's not looking back. While I am so excited about the milestones we have past and will soon be reaching, I am looking back on this year with a tear in my eye thinking: "man when everyone says the baby stage doesn't last long-BOY were they right-too right!". It wasn't just fast-it was lightening fast. As much as I tried to take in every moment and hug her just a little longer and hold her while she sleept-I don't think it could ever have been enough looking back.

Lilly is officially walking. It happened overnight. She started standing up alone in the middle of the floor so we knew then it would happen soon. At first she didn't seem interested in walking back and forth between Tommy and I, but as soon as she saw that it was a fun game and got her lots of attention she was hooked. It took about a day or so of walking back and forth between Tommy and I or the couch and one of us before she was getting up on her own and practicing herself. She's taken some spills but always gets right back up again-determined she is!

She's cruising around now. While she will still crawl to get somewhere fast, she will walk around more and more and she's so proud of herself. I've caught her clapping to herself when she walks pretty far. Starting that good self esteem early-that's my girl! In addition to walking this month she got to help me celebrate my 30th birthday and celebrated her first Valentine's day.

As the picture above shows, Lilly has really developed a BIG personality. BIG. HUGE. She's not shy (where the heck did she get that from ;), she loves to sing, she is always happy, and as my husband would say: "she's just awesome". I have to agree but we also may be a little biased. She's funny and when she's playing independently- I just love to watch her. My favorite is when she laughs to herself! She says uh-oh, barks like a dog, and loves phones. She knows just what to do with them too. She sticks them right up to her ear. It's amazing how much she already imitates everything we do.

Remotes also make good phones

Lilly now has 5 teeth-3 on top and 2 on bottom and more are on their way!

Oh and she's a lover...

These past 11 months have been the fastest 11 months of our lives but they have been so full of love and joy. In one more month I will have a toddler and while I am looking forward to it, I am going to hold on to my baby a little longer these last few weeks.