Eleven.

Dear James,

Wow, you’re eleven months old today! That is totally cool.

I was going to brag on how well you sleep through the night but this morning you woke up at 3:50-something screaming your little head off. It’s okay though. I secretly love getting to hold you in the dark, nursing away your “wakies.”

Your personality is really starting to shine. You are the most darling little copy-cat I have ever met and the way you copy my coughing is enough to bring tears to my eyes. Yeah, mommy isn’t feeling well right now, and I have a feeling that you aren’t feeling too well, either. You’ll also copy daddy when he makes all kinds of noises. Right now it’s cute but I know sometimes parents can be annoyed by stuff like that. I hope we’re not those parents.

Today you ran to my open arms and wanted to be held so tight, so I held you and started singing all the songs that we sing. You know them impressively well and do the baby signs to some of them without us showing you. Today I was humming “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and you were doing the signs! I wasn’t even singing the words. I hope this is an indicator of some musical ability hiding in there somewhere… …anyhow, yeah, so I was singing songs to you and I made a funny sound… something like “Bleh” but sticking my tongue out at the same time. You giggled. I must have said “bleh” about 350 more times before it wasn’t funny any more. You thought it was the funniest when I would replace random words of the songs I was singing with “bleh.” Wow, that was a great moment today, James. We both felt better for a short time.

This month you’ve perfected walking, started standing from nothing, started copying what your daddy and I say and do, learned about 5 new baby signs, whistled, smacked your lips, started dancing, even running (oh boy) and gotten three molars, started swim class and held your breath for 2 seconds underwater, and gotten your first pair of real shoes. Wow. You’ve been busy. How about his next month you cut us some slack? You do realize we’re trying to move as well as take care of you, don’t you?

I can’t believe you’ll be a year old in a month.

I love you more than you’ll ever know.

Love,

Mama