Hi Caroline ~

Hi Caroline ~

It is your eleven-month birthday today - yay for Caroline!!  You've done so much in the past month that I'm unsure where to begin.  First of all, you are really into your Snoopy doll lately, as well as the plastic kids that came with your Little Eintstein airplane rider... once in awhile, you get a kick out of sitting on top of the plane and having mom or dad push you around the foyer. But usually you prefer playing with the four kids that came with the toy.  

You are still balancing easily on your feet.  One evening before dinner, dad was on the floor playing with you and I was in the kitchen.  The next thing - we looked at you and you had pushed up from crawling on some cushions and were standing there holding on to nothing, looking like you'd been doing it for years.  Needless to say, you don't seem overly concerned with walking - you seem content creeping along the sofas, coffee table, and dining chairs right now!  Oh, and you get a big kick out of sitting under the dining table, then crawling over the chair leg crossbars... back and forth, back and forth.  We think it's adorable!  You'll also walk behind your airplane, pushing it as you go.  Every time I try to video you in action, you sit down just before I get the camera turned on!  Babies' law!

You're a very sweet natured, curious little girl.  Like most babies, you love to watch bigger kids - every time we're around them, you are fascinated by the scene.  My theory is that you're used to seeing adult sized people, so when you see someone almost your size you are enthralled - like seeing a Lilliputian from Gulliver's Travels or something!  Pointing is a big thing too.  I'm not always sure what you're pointing at, but it's cute.  Sometimes I say to you "E.T. phone home" and then you touch your finger to mine.  Again - very cute.  Over the past month, you picked up that shaking your head back and forth means 'no'.  Just today I put you in your crib after changing your diaper and told you I'd be right back after washing my hands.  You held on to the railing and shook your head 'no', and then when I started to go in the bathroom you began to cry... I think we can safely say that you understand the meaning of 'no'!

Every time daddy mows the back yard, you crawl as fast as possible over to the back french doors, stand up, and stare out the windows with a grin on your face.  Sometimes I get his attention or he glances over and sees you, and then he dances over towards you at the door and waves and makes silly faces.  You love that.  You are not a big fan of the gate we put up to keep you out of the kitchen and laundry rooms - you stand on the other side of it, holding on, and yelling.  Sometimes you even do that when we're on the same side as you!  I think you're trying to tell us something, yes?  The swimming pool is also a new favorite of yours.  Daddy took you in for the first time last week and I took you in this week and you had a ball splashing and observing.  

Parties were a big thing for you this month too.  First came mom's birthday party and Great Grandma W's club.  You played with your cousin Evan under the dinner tables after most of the guests left.  Then you went to a barbeque at Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Mike's house and visited my cousin, and your second cousin, Jackie.  In addition to those, you helped Aunt Corky celebrate her 60th birthday at Aunt Jenny's house... it was a surprise party and you were a good sport and even stayed up until 9:00!!  And finally, you went with Mom and Dad to an overnight get together at the Smoketree Resort in Scottsdale - that was your first time in the pool!   

Fresh pears, chicken, cottage cheese, and whole grain pasta are some of your new fav foods.  With your four little teeth, you spend your meal times gumming away.  Right now, you spend time with your friends Bryn, Chase, and Jack.  

As far as the world around you, a lot goes on there too at your eleven-month birthday.  The Democrats chose Barack Obama as their candidate for the presidency, so very cool history has been made again by our country... we have our first black party nominee for president.  Our country is suffering a bit right now.  Since last month gas has now gone up to @ $4.00 a gallon, and many people are struggling with a sluggish economy.  Some day, when you're old enough to understand you'll probably study this period to see what can be learned from these times (remember the power of the value of currency - it affects much more than most people take the time to understand).  Other June events to celebrate on your mini-bday: Bestselling books right now (per the NY Times) include - 

Fiction "Blood Noir" and "The Host"

Non-fiction "What Happened" and "Audition"

Childrens' "Gallop!"

Daddy has been listening to a compilation cd of Grammy-nominated music and you and I (since you're usually in the car with me) have been listening to Sara Bareilles' cd.  The best selling album right now according to Billboard is "Indestructible" by Disturbed and the #1 movie is Kung Fu Panda - some day mom and dad will watch that with you!

I am reading Eclipse, Saki - still, A Passage to India - still, and The Secret Life of Bees (for book club).

So, sweet pea, next is your first BIG birthday - your One Year Birthday!  I will keep you posted on the exciting and new things that come up for you and we wish you a very happy Eleven Month Birthday, Caroline!

Love,

Mama