Jillian ~ 11 months

I remember the night before Susanna turned one.  We had rented cabins with Mike's family and were camping for a few days.  We had celebrated her birthday the weekend before with my family because we knew we'd be on this little vacation so it wasn't so much a shock to think of her turning one, as much as it was just realizing the next day would be it.  She was staying in the room with Mike and I in a pack-n-play but as I rocked her to sleep that night, I didn't put her in her bed, I just held her longer and told him "I just want to hold her all night".  I'm glad I took a picture in my head that night of that moment, because I'll always remember it.

So I guess its safe to say I get pretty sentimental around my kids' birthdays, which I'm sure is a pretty normal mom thing.

I'm not sure why I am feeling these feelings earlier with Jillian.  Birthdays have gotten progressively more bittersweet, probably because each year I realize just how fast they grow and change and that I'll never get those baby-days back (I also get baby fever along with it all...yikes!)  Her birthday is less than a month away now and I really cannot believe how fast this year has gone.  Anyway, I'm soaking in these last few weeks with my baby before she becomes a one-year-old!

Jillian at 11 months is the cutest!  

She has been teething, her 2 bottom teeth aren't fully out but very close.  She drools like crazy and now loves teething cookies!  

She is no longer nursing and eats like a champ.  I am honestly thrilled that I was able to nurse her for so long.  Although I have never been able to spend a night away from her because of it, I've loved it.  We switched her from breastmilk to Enfamil toddler transitions formula and it took about a week but now she drinks it out of her sippy cup like she's been doing it all long.  Weaning her was really quite painless despite how anxious I was over the whole thing.  I was worried about her night feedings but she sleeps through the night about 95% of the time.  She has been the easiest to sleep train, by far! 

She loves to dance and it is so funny to watch.  She moves her shoulders to the music and none of us can get enough.  She likes upbeat music but if we play "Shake if Off" by T Swift, it's on!  She will stop what she's doing and dance through the whole song! 

She LOVES Mike and when he gets home, she laughs/cries until he picks her up.  

She is so happy in the tub and has discovered how to splash...

She likes sweet peas and green beans and baby food in squeezy pouches.

She is still not trying to crawl but she is improving every time we go see her PT.  She is getting stronger every day and so many times I think..."wait...is she about to get on all fours?!" but then she figures out a way to get what she wants without having to crawl!  I don't what to think about that but she is pretty resourceful, I can tell ya that!

Love, love, love this girl!