11 months.

This time last year I was scrambling to finish sub plans for my 2nd grade class, finding the perfect dresser to use as Rylee's changing table, and T and I were into the third week of our 6-week prenatal class (procrastinators!).  And now we have this sweet little girl who has captured our hearts and wrapped us around her little finger.  Rylee has changed our lives and made us "mama" and "dada."  Life has become better and so much more pleasurable with our little Ry-Ry.

1 month from today we'll have a 1 YEAR-OLD! Say what?!

at 11 months Rylee...

- can say and KNOWS what "mama," "dada," and "nana" (banana) mean.

- still eats everything in sight.  Everything.  She loves graham crackers, guacamole, peas, cheese sticks, Cheerios, roasted carrots, pumpkin pancakes, and eggs.  We still have yet to find something she won't eat.  Oh.  And Pickles!  Girl loves her a good pickle spear!

- still nurses up to three times a day, but oh how she loves her solid food! 

- refuses binkies and bottles (ever since her top front teeth came in!) and it hasn't made much of a difference.  She sleeps just fine and is almost ready to be weaned to cow's milk anyways.  Knowing we won't have to wean her from a binky is peace of mind for her mama and daddy!

- loves getting raspberries blown on her stomach and an attack of kisses all over.  Though she still refuses to give actual kisses.  We're working on it. 

- does the following "tricks": waves goodbye, can sign "please" when she wants more food, can make the touchdown sign, blows kisses, knows what an elephant says, claps her hands, and knows most of the patty-cake song.

- dances to music (especially "Daniel Tiger" opening credits and "All About That Bass" songs.  Girl gets down when she hears either one!)

- tries to "sing" (sounds like humming) when we sing.

- has grasped the meaning of "no" and has gotten good and stopping from doing something when we firmly say "No!" to her.  Though there are those times she stops what she's doing then goes right back to doing it a second later.  It's a work in progress.

- loves bathtime and all of her bath toys.  Until she tries to stand up in the tub and we say no.  Then it's a full on tantrum until she's out of the tub.  

- the aforementioned tantrum?  Yeah.  They're starting to happen outside of the bathtub too.  

- still gurgles with her spit in the back of her mouth when she's happy.  Sounds like a little piece of heaven when she does it. 

- has been in Nevada, California, and Idaho (and obviously Utah...).

- still loves going on walks to the park and swinging and going down slides.  Such a happy girl when she's outside.

- has 6 teeth!  Her front teeth gave us a run for our money when they were coming in- a traumatic week for both Rylee and mama and daddy.  But ever since they broke through, her other teeth haven't given us any trouble except for a little fussiness.  Thank goodness.  

- gets a new bruise on her head at least once a week.  Girl loves exploring and figuring things out.  Which means a few bonks here and there!

- is so over crawling and wants so badly to walk on her own.  Some of her happiest giggles and smiles come during her nightly "walking" practice going in between mama and daddy.  She's up to taking 7 steps on her own!  Girl doesn't just walk either, she runs!  So so cute.

- loves putting a blanket over her head and playing peek-a-boo.  Repeatedly.  

- makes the cutest elephant noise when you ask her the question "What does the elephant say?"

- has retained the nicknames: peanut, Ry-Ry, Rylee girl, otter pop