11 Months!

It's true. This girl is 11 months old today. I didn't know 11 month olds were allowed to be this cute, smart, well-behaved, fun, entertaining, or sweet! At 11 months Mckinley:

• weighs 19.8 pounds


• is super ticklish and laughs really easily


• smiles at anyone who smiles at her


• raises her hands above her head when you ask her how big she is


• sticks her tongue out anytime you ask her to


• still takes 2 good naps a day and sleeps all night


• started drinking whole milk as of today. I'm just nursing her in the morning and at night now


• is getting really steady at walking now and will walk quite a long distance if you're right in front of her


• loves to climb up the stairs


• jabbers all the time


• dances when she hears music or just when you ask her to


• loves to hand things to me, especially her hair clips when she pulls them out (which is a step up from putting them in her mouth)


• will put anything she finds on the ground in her mouth, but she'll spit it out for us if we ask her to


• loves to stomp on things or kick them with her feet while she's standing


• is about to cut her 8th tooth, which will make four on top and four on bottom


• waves hi and bye


• gives open-mouthed kisses


• loves grown up food. She hasn't had baby food for months now and I hardly even use my masher because she likes to eat it just how we're eating it.


• is a pro at using her sippy cup, she tips it up with just one hand


• has never had any stranger anxiety, she'll go to anyone, although she does get a little shy around new people sometimes, she'll lean her head against me and "hide", it's so cute!


• is starting to put items into containers instead of just taking things out


• learned how to open cupboards and drawers. yikes.


• loves to pull the toilet paper off the roll


• knows how to brush her teeth by herself

I'm sure there's a lot more I could say but that's about all I can think of right now. We are loving every minute with this little girl. Our life revolves around her and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Brandon's basketball season is over and softball starts up tonight. It's always fun to get together with the sisters-in-law and talk while we try to pay attention to the games.

My life consists of taking care of Mckinley. I get my stuff done while she's sleeping (working out every now and then, and showering, etc.) and when she's awake we either play at home or go run errands. I have been able to work during her naps mostly so I don't have to arrange for babysitters. Life is pretty darn good, we're enjoying every minute of it!