Annabelle's Eleven-month Update

Annabelle is eleven months old and doing great!  Her major milestones this month are rolling from back to tummy and beginning to really eat pureed foods.  She has been so eager to lie on her back on the floor so that she can practice her rolling and wiggling skills, and she is all over the place!  She often wiggles completely off the mat or blanket we lay her on.  In the mornings, I often find her with her head where her feet were when I laid her down at night.  She is also getting more flexible at her knees, and she looks better when we practice supported sitting with her.  I can tell that her upper body is getting stronger, although her balance is still pretty shaky.  Also, she thinks sitting is for the birds.  She wants nothing more than to lie down and roll, roll, roll.  Finally, she has begun to tolerate being on her tummy for short periods of time.  She can hold herself up on her arms and doesn't fuss half as much as she used to.  Progress with tummy time is awfully slow, but I know she's developing great strength and vision skills when she's able to do even a little.

When we first started feeding Annabelle solids, she would not open her mouth for them at all.  But now she opens (could be wider, but we'll take what we can), smiles at the spoon, and kicks her legs in delight.  She is beginning to move the food around her mouth with her tongue and jaws better instead of just sucking it back.  Her favorites so far are bananas and yogurt, but she also likes applesauce and pears and sometimes potatoes and avocado, although those are less reliable.

Annabelle continues to be happy and smiley and to love sounds.  She giggles at all kinds of sounds, from velcro and zippers to fingernails on the material of her car seat to the sound of her little fist whacking the paper table covers at the doctor's office.  We discovered Sophie's forgotten drawer of music toys, and Annabelle gets a thrill out of banging on the little drum we found inside.  She has started making raspberry sounds - they were one of Sophie's first sounds, too, so that seems like a good sign.  We are beginning to do some simple sign language signs with her - eat, milk, and bath.  She is fascinated when I make simple consonant sounds for her and loves to watch me shake my head and nod.  She also shakes her head, often to hilarious effect.

She continues to gain weight like a champ, and she's now 17 1/2 pounds!  She is also healing well from her surgery.  The stitches are all gone, and she has a "normal" bottom at last!  The coming month will bring not only a barrage of medical appointments, but also Annabelle's first birthday!  Hurray for surviving the first year!

For some reason this month's photo session was a FAIL.

"Maybe she'll be happier lying down," thinks Mommy.  "Wish I was anywhere but here," thinks Annabelle.

Big sister brings momentary joy to even the most trying times.