11 Months Old

I cannot believe that in one month, Mariella will be celebrating her first birthday. Mommy and Daddy are trying to work our way up to celebrating, and hopefully by then we will be on board. Time is going too quickly, and we are NOT ready for her to be walking and getting ready to turn a year old!

Her walking skills have really improved in just under a week. She's still working on balance, but there are times when she can steady herself before she falls. She can take anywhere from 3-15 steps before falling. She could probably take more if she didn't insist on trying to take large and/or heavy objects with her. Walking empty-handed just doesn't make sense to her, I guess.
Her appetite continues to be huge. Some new foods lately have been broccoli, pineapple, yogurt, and vegetable ravioli. Her favorite foods right now are pasta (anything she can pick up by herself) and any meats that are small enough to pick up. Diced ham, ground beef, turkey meatballs, you name it. She loves it all, and definitely needs the fuel!

Other stuff:

• She likes to smash things into our faces, as though encouraging us to chew on them like she does. Early sharing skills?


• Enjoys being read to, and will really study the pictures


• Has already mastered climbing up the steps to the slide and sitting down at the top. She needs help to slide down, but sometimes she will roll over onto her tummy and slide down backwards. Smart girl!


• The molars are on the move. It will probably be awhile before they come in, but she has been really fussy at times and chewing on her fingers. There are some big bulges in her gums on the bottom.
  

Cute little profile

Silly grin

Such a silly girl!