Well, my son, we have made it eleven months.  We were sitting around on the 4th of July this year and I had a quiet teary moment alone, remembering last year when you were still all mine, safe and snug.  Then I gazed at this loud, raucous, cheerful boy, in awe at how far you have already come and how much life lies ahead of you.  I guess you never get over this wonder of motherhood.  I know you will probably have your own feelings about being the second child, but know that while the experiences of parenting you and your sister are unique they both share the same sense of wonderment and awe.  Watching you grow up and seeing the love you have for your family and life never loses its luster.  I am grateful to be along for the ride.

At eleven months, you are such a rough and tumble boy.  You grapple into a standing position by taking a handhold of whatever happens to be nearby…parents, sister, dog.  You have also been standing by yourself in the middle of the room, but apparently it’s easier most of the to just snag a hand up.  And speaking of taking the easier road, you are perfectly happy to charge around the place on all fours.  You walk around while barely holding on to the finger tips of one of our hands.  You have taken independent steps.  But after less than a handful, you will just lurch forward at your intended target or drop down and crawl on your way.  You are too stubborn to do it any way except your own.  And speaking of stubborn, you also refuse to speak.  Sometimes you humor us with repeating an approximation of what we say and you have a few signs, but mostly you are carrying on conversations in your own language, pointing and gesturing with great squeals and giggles.  You are a happy, happy kid.

You love just about every food we set in front of you and are always game to try something new.  You are chomping with your six teeth these days (four front on top and two bottom front).  Your crib railing shows little gnaw marks and today you gave me a little head butt and then took a munch out of my stomach.  I still have the marks to prove it tonight.  Hopefully, you don’t try to pull that one out on your sister, but at least for today you seemed more upset by my reaction of surprise than I was at being bit.  Little stinker.

I am sure I am leaving out some of your developments, but I am still caught up in the whirlwind of realizing that my baby is almost a toddler.  And that eleven is closing in on twelve.