J-Bear is 11 Months!

Dear J-Bear,

I can't believe you are 11 months!  How fast this year is going by.  You are so loving and affectionate.  This afternoon/evening I was out for a couple of hours.  When I came back, you were so excited to see me, you quickly crawled over to me, climbed into my lap and hugged me.  It makes it worth it that we are still up every two hours at night.

This month you had your first ride in a shopping cart.  You weren't actually sure what was happening.  

You learned how to get from crawling to sitting and you started pulling to standing in your crib.  Now you can't wear a sleep sack anymore at night because you can't stand up in a sleep sack.  

You got your fifth and sixth teeth this month - both on top and on either side of your middle two teeth.  

You are a man on a mission - you are into everything, and can even climb stairs.  Your favourite thing to do is climb onto SR's bed.  Actually, you like everything to do with SR.  She loves you too, except when you touch her special things or climb into her bed while she's in it.  Then watch your face or she might kick you.

Not only did you learn to stand this month, you learned to cruise along the couch and the crib.  It won't be long until you are walking.  

You've had a bit of a rough month - your asthma came back, another bout of croup, and you are now iron deficient.  You had to go through a blood test - the first prick they couldn't find your vein and your arms are all bruised now.  And when I gave you your first dose of iron, you threw up four times.  Now I need to give you iron 3 times a day, but I've dropped your dose and will slowly increase it.  

You are starting to understand sign language, and you signed "dog" when we saw some dogs outside.  You are smart as a whip - you know shoes go on your feet, and you always try to put them on.  You know pants go on your legs and you try to put those on top of you too.  You love books, but only when it's me and you, one on one.  When it's SR's turn to read you like to flip through books on your own, rather than listen to us read.

And you are still not eating and waking up every 2-3 hours at night for milk.  

But I love you so much.  I love how affectionate you are.  I love how happy you are.  I love how laid back you are.  I love your curiosity and how you love to explore everything.  You don't give up either, no matter how many times I pick you up and carry you away to a different place.  

Tomorrow we move into our new house and start a whole new adventure.  The next time I write you a letter, you will be one!  

Happy birthday, J-Bear!  Mommy loves you sooooo much!