30+ inches
I had to call for back-up in this months pictures so Papa was on hand to help me keep Jake in the chair. Let me tell you, it is not easy to get a clear picture of this kid, and certainly not one where he is actually looking at the camera. We gave him a book (which he loves) and then I think Brian was doing some kind of dance over to my right that was bringing all the giggles. I took as many photos and I could and then we released the crazy animal.
To be honest, Jake's 11th month is a little bit of a blur to me. It isn't just because I am writing this update a month later, even when we took these pictures and I was writing the chalk board I had to ask Brian about the milestones. I think it is a good sign, the months are just rolling together and we are in a good groove, but Jake is doing so many new things all the time I want to try to remember as many as I can.
First for the basics - Jake regularly sleeps through the night, usually about 6:30 or 6:45 to 5 or 5:15. He takes two naps a day, usually a good morning one over an hour and then an afternoon nap that is all over the board. Sometimes 35 minutes, sometimes nearly 2 hours. The morning nap is key for me, I get us all ready for the day and run around doing as many chores as possible. Once in a while on Fridays I will buy a cinnamon roll and watch some of the Today show. Those are usually the days he takes a short nap of course. Our days are full of play and eating and lots of walks outside. Jake loves to ride in his wagon or on the bike seat on the front of my bike. He often goes over to a door or a window and fusses until we go outside.
Meals are a big part of our day because basically Jake eats like a teenage boy (we will be broke when he is an actual teenager) and I have to keep this house stocked to keep him full. He eats very little baby food or purees anymore and mostly feeds himself. He still loves yogurt, any kind of bread products, hummus, cheese, all fruit, and lots of veggies. He is a little weary of meats. He will be really into it one day and want nothing to do with it the next. He eats breakfast around 7, lunch around 11:30, and dinner at 4:30 or 5...then we do it all over again, sometimes with some snacks in between. I am only nursing twice a day, morning and night, and Jake gets really excited when he gets a sippy cup full of breast milk I have frozen from last spring. It makes a great snack. On another note, my boobs feel like they have zero milk in them and I am pretty sure if there is a size less than A, that is what I now wear. Boo hoo.....
Jake was making some explosive diapers this month...I wont get into details, but one time I literally wanted to cry. There was poop EVERYWHERE!
We went on our first vacation this month and stayed at the Westin Scottsdale for a week. It was glorious and Jake had a blast. The resort was perfect for a little crawler who loves the water. There were fountains and a wading pool and lots of little kids to watch. He rode down the "lazy river" with us on a tube and ate lunch everyday by the pool. He slept like a champ in the small crib they gave us, through the night (though waking a little too early for vacation standards) and 2 naps everyday! All that sun and fun wore the little guy out. We went out to dinner every night and he was SO GOOD. He sat there and ate with us and flirted with other tables and all around was darling until he got sleepy and few times lay his head down on the table. Bless his little heart. It felt like a real vacation. I didn't have to cook dinner, I got to have beer in the middle of the day, and I got sun and fun watching this sweet little guy discover new things!
Unfortunately Jake got his first cold the last couple days we were there. You would never know it except for the crazy snot flying from his nose. He was so clogged up and really wasn't liking any of the suckers we tried to use on him, but he made it through like a champ! I can totally understand how hard it is going to be to see your child sick. You are so helpless!
Jake learned a really exciting trick about half way through this month - standing up! He loves to pull himself up on the coffee table, the couch and our legs. His chubby little legs are getting stronger, but I think it will still be a while until we get to walking. Jake talks a lot and tells us all kinds of stories. Most days start with a lot of chatter in his crib. He mimics anything we do and you can tell he is going to be smart. He still loves to play with doors and checks the same outlets everyday - still covered buddy. He loves music and every time I drink from a water bottle he makes a AHHHH sign, I taught him that and its pretty funny. He still claps and kicks his legs when he is excited. He talks all the time and understands a lot of what we say to him. He shakes his head no when he goes after something he isn't supposed to play with like a plug in an outlet or something that could hurt him. He shakes no, but still goes after, still cute and at least we know he is listening when we say "no, thank you."
Happy Jake, smily, silly, laughing, crawling, eating, Jake. He just gets cuter and more fun everyday, if that is even possible!
