Eleven months!

Charlie is eleven months old today. I’m no math genius but I think that means that next month he will be one year old. ONE YEAR OLD! Holy Moly…where did the past year go?!

So, here’s what the cutest, sweetest, most cuddlely, lovable eleven month old around is up to these days.

*  Houston, we have a tooth. Actually we’ve got two teeth. FINALLY, Charlie has two pearly white little chompers. They arrived the week that he turned ten months. He’s very proud of his teeth and likes to show them off. At his last doctor’s visit she pointed out that the two top teeth are also about to break through the skin. One of the little suckers just bust through the gums, but has yet to make an appearance.   

*  Freakish strength. Yep, just like Beau, Charlie seems to have acquired his father’s freakish strength. I was watching him on the school’s webcam the other day when he stood up against the play area. It kind of looks like this, in case you were wondering. After gaining his balance he proceeded to push it about three to four feet across the floor. His teachers were just standing there watching in disbelief. It didn’t really shock me; I’ve seen what he does at home.

*  Charlie has not been spoon fed in over a month.  He insists on feeding himself, which makes it easier and more difficult for me, all at once.  Luckily, he pretty much eats anything we put in front of him, but he is particularly fond of cheese or anything with cheese on it.  Oh, and formula...forget it.  That's for babies.  I'm lucky if I can get him to drink 18-20 ounces in a day.  Sheesh.

*  Oh, and speaking of food...Charlie has added another word to his vernacular.  We have "ma ma", "da da" (both directed at the correct party) and "Beau" and now we have "mum mum."  Oh yea, the kids loves him some Mum Mums.  I never knew anyone could get so excited over a rice cake.  But hey, to each his own. 

*  While hasn't taken any unassisted steps yet, he LOVES walking behind his activity walker.  Heck, he loves walking behind anything he can push - Beau's trucks, the kitchen stools, mommy.  He'll definitely be walking sooner than later. 

*  Unlike his big brother, he took to the sippy cup immediately.  He now casually sips his formula (see above) and water.  I can't wait to see his face the first time he gets a little juice in there. 

*  Charlie loves playing with balls.  Any type, any size.  He can now roll them to you and catch them when your roll them back.  He also has learned to throw them pretty well.  Apparently he had a lot of practice pitching his pacifiers from his crib.  (Seriously, at first I was finding them at the foot of his crib.  Now I find them hurled across the room behind furniture.  Do we have a little QB on our hands??)  

*  He also likes to crawl to the nearest pillow or blanket and bury his head in it.  He then looks up as if to say, "Did you see that?"  It's almost as if he is pretending to sleep or pretending to throw a tantrum.  I prefer to think it's the former.  Besides he does this at bed time too.  Core gave him the most darling puppy pillow, which he has used correctly since the day I put it in his crib.  My little guy is really growing up. 

*  And the best for last...remember the old addage, "Monkey see, monkey do."  Well apparently we are doing something right in the Brian residence.  Check out the note Charlie's teacher left us on his daily progress report last week.  She said if she had a video camera, it would have gone viral by that evening.  *sigh* These are the things I hate missing.