life at 11

Here's what Ben's up to at 11 months:

He has started taking a few steps over the last week but he kinda lost some momentum for it i think and prefers to keep crawling. But he has finally mastered coming down the stairs though

He's getting pretty good at walking behind things

He is sleeping well still. He goes to bed between 6:30 and 7:00 and then usually wakes up some time during the 6:00 hour. We were so excited that he slept till 7:00 every day of the Thanksgiving holiday - what a treat! He is still napping twice a day and we are starting to limit his morning nap to about 1.5 hours and he still sleeps 2 hours in the afternoon.

Meal times continue to be an adventure. He still loves baby food but is finally starting to make some progress. Even being a pediatrician, I still worry so much about the little things and lately it's been his eating! I have these fears that he is going to be in kindergarden eating baby food and drinking from a bottle. God is using this season to teach me all over again that He is faithful and sovereign - including over meal times! God has been gracious to hear my prayers but make me wait just long enough that I have to trust Him!

Meals often look a little like this...

but just in the last week, B has really made some good progress! and he's got 7 teeth in there to help him out.

He likes to help out with the spoon

We are working on using the bottle less (though I fret that he's not getting enough fluids...)

and he's getting better and better with the sippy cup

Lil has figured out that lots of food collects underneath the cover of his seat and she can usually be found doing this after Ben eats

Ben loves toilet paper. He will crawl into bathroom so fast and unroll the whole roll and then shove as much into his mouth as he can before we can get to him.

(i couldn't get this picture to rotate)

He's learning so much though he doesn't really have any words yet. He says mama and dada but he usually points at the dog when you ask where we are so.. I don't think he's using them specifically yet! But he has figured out the remote for the ceiling fan and light.

He is in to everything!

and has figured out how to multi-task while playing!

We love him and can't wait to celebrate one year!

(he didn't really do this on purpose - he was just pointing!)