Eleven Months

One year ago at this time of year I was very, very pregnant.  

A few months before that I thought pregnancy was the best thing ever.  Eat all you want, have people do stuff for you, feel this crazy creature in your belly doing somersaults.  Good things.  

Then the extra weight (51 pounds of it) and the exhaustion took their toll.  Physically, I was Miserable with a capital M.  My hips hurt, I couldn't walk ten feet without feeling out of breath, I woke up nearly ten times a night to pee.  I longed to sleep on my back, but when I tried, I felt like I was suffocating.  

I wanted this baby out.  Out and in my arms so I could kiss her and squeeze and love her.  And so I could sleep on my back again.

This year I'm happy to report that my hips no longer bother me, I can walk up and down the steps repeatedly without feeling like I will pass out, and I only get up once during the night to pee.  (Was that TMI?)  And I can sleep on my back again.  Heck, I can sleep on my stomach if I want!  It's so liberating.

Enough about me.  You want to read about the Abster.

At eleven months, Abby. . .

• walks around the house with her wagon, though she can't turn yet
• makes noises that sound like cat, tree, mama, dada, though I'm not fully convinced it's speech
• shares her food and toys with anyone who will take them
• pulls on Desmond's tail
• signs milk
• plays peek-a-boo by covering her face with a blanket or random piece of clothing
• can turn a perfectly organized space into a disaster area in 60 seconds flat
• eats most foods, still adores whipped cream
• climbs to the top of the stairs
• tries to climb on her toy piano and wagon
• giggles at herself in the mirror
• sits in a big-girl car seat now
• cries and/or yells when she doesn't get what she wants even if it's dangerous, like a cup full of hot coffee or an electrical wire
• throws her food on the floor when she's done eating
• has the time of her life with a spoon, suction-cup bowl full water and a few blueberries
• rolls and throws balls back and forth with Mommy and Daddy
• loves to read her books
• has three teeth
• makes the most mischievous yet absolutely adorable faces.

Here are the pictures.  Once again Abby was on the move; there's no stopping this girl when she wants to play with her toys.