Haddon's 11 month letter

Dear Haddon,

You're 11 months (and I'm a few days late, but at least it's getting done) old! Honestly, fastest 11 months ever.

You are rolling and crawling and standing and cruising and eating and babbling and laughing and climbing and bringing joy into our home in ways you'll never know. 

Speaking of joy, your sleep! It's getting better! Last night you only woke twice and they were super fast feeds and then back to sleep. You slept 12ish hours last night and your naps are pretty darn good, too. You are still taking two naps and they last usually around 1.5 hours - sometimes longer. 

You are an incredibly fast crawler when you want to be - like when you spot your Daddy or an open door or stairs. You love pulling yourself up to standing and then shaking "your thang" - especially if you're on one side of the gate and one of your brothers is on the other. I can't tell if this is an excitement dance or out of frustration but either way it's funny.

You love balls and animals - dogs in particular. You've started making "woo woo" sounds when you see an animal and it's so darn cute. 

You can wave! And give high fives! And bounce and bop to music when you're really digging the beat.

You love cheerios and apples and "squoosh" packs and scrambled eggs and yogurt although you've started "chewing" yogurt which seems ridiculous to me, but whatever.

You say "ba", "ma", "dah", and you often make these wheezing, squealing noises which is quite funny.

The biggest change is that you've started sharing a room with your brother Blaise! This transition was ridiculously smooth and even though it means you wake up a bit earlier, listening to you both chat away in the morning is pretty much the cutest thing EVER! I can't even express how happy it makes me that you're both sharing a room now because it means that I have my room back and it also means that it's a new stage in your relationship with Blaise. And I love that. What it practically means is that I usually breastfeed you and put you down around 6:45 and often you're asleep within a few minutes although sometimes you will fuss on and off for a little bit longer, but usually you're asleep by 7 or 7:15. By that time, Blaise is almost ready for bed and I'll read him a story in my room and then we quietly tip toe into the room and he'll climb into his bed and fall asleep within minutes! You do wake up a few times (usually around 3 times a night, but last night was only 2!) but you don't seem to disturb Blaise so that works out great!

You definitely let us know when you're not happy or you've had enough with whatever is going on, but for the most part you are a happy, chill guy who loves people and especially babies! You will often crawl right over to them and put your face right up close to theirs as if you're about to give them a kiss, but usually you're just moving in close. Heart melting!!!

And now you have 6 teeth! From 0-6 in a month! Four on the top and 2 on the bottom and they are the cutest little chiclets/hippo teeth you ever did see! And you were a bit fussy with some rosy cheek action, but nothing extremely out of character for you, my chill little man.

You are still breastfeeding about 6 times within a 24 hour period. Usually 3-4 times during the day and 2-3 times at night. With your new teeth we've been going through an adjustment period which has been not without some pain on my part, but we're getting there. And it's interesting now that you nurse on both sides in one sitting, that when you're waiting for the other side, you're not fussing anymore. You just lie there while I get ready, knowing that more milk is coming. I love this understanding you now have that I will provide for you and take care of you and you're patiently waiting! It's really sweet.

I love you so much my baby...this month you'll get to see lots of family and friends and experience your first Christmas and I can't wait for what the next 11 months will hold for you! 

love you so much!

Mama