Eleven Month Update

We are only one month shy of Joey's first birthday!  Not to mention this month had flown by.  This update is going up a little later than usual, but don't worry, it will be chalk full of Joey fun facts and photos!

Health and Medical Update

Still no doctor appointments until next month, but I think I jinxed myself last month because Joey did experience his first cold and/or virus.  It started pretty bad, he even had a low grade fever for a day or two.  Combined with really bad constipation and teething, he was pretty miserable.  He still remains congested at times, with a runny nose, but after about two weeks of not quite being himself, he seems to be feeling better.  He finally has his appetite back and is a happy baby again.  But he still HATES to have his nose wiped!

Firsts and Milestones

I think I've said the same thing in the last two month's updates, but Joey is *this close* to walking.  But he just hasn't felt the urge to let go of our fingers yet, which is fine by me.  He crawls so fast that I can't imagine chasing him around once he is walking.  He sometimes can stand on his own, although most of the time he doesn't realize that he is doing it.  He can walk with only a light touch on the coffee table or couch and will coax you to walk with him by grabbing your fingers and leading you through the entire house.  Maybe by his first birthday he will be taking steps on his own, but whenever he chooses to do so, he will be pretty proficient at getting around right away.

I am still waiting for the first "mama", but Joey loves to babble all the time now.  Everything is "dada" or "baba", he likes to practice his "f" sounds whenever you mention a word that start with that sound, and he talks to himself in his crib every morning when he wakes up.

Joey now loves to clap and wave and is just getting the hang of the baby sign for "more".  He is also so smart that he figured out how to turn his light switch on and off from his crib.

Grandma and Papa took Joey to his first Gymboree class this month.  He loved to play with the bubbles and under the parachute.  

Likes and Dislikes

Joey still loves to play peek-a-boo and hide and seek, except now he doesn't need anybody to play with him.  He will sit in his pack-n-play with one of his swaddle blankets and cover his head and then throw it off over and over again and he just makes himself laugh while doing it.  

His favorite toys are mom's keys, the remote control, his stack of rings, the tube to mom's breast pump, board books, and his Albert Einstein. Einstein goes in his car seat and stroller with him and he likes to play with his crazy hair.  Whoever gifted that in the White Elephant gift exchange this past Christmas, Joey thanks you! 

Minus the couple weeks when Joey was sick and became a pretty picky eater without much of an appetite, he continues to love eating whatever we are eating.  The only things we are continuing to avoid for a little while longer are honey, shellfish, and nuts.  He is getting much better at feeding himself and is even picking up some finger foods with just his thumb and index finger.  The more his dexterity improves, the less food the dog is getting because most of it actually makes it into Joey's mouth now.  

My milk supply is slowly diminishing, but Joey continues to nurse at least once a day and I continue to pump, however his bottles are mostly made up of formula.  My goal was to nurse/pump for one year, so I will continue on that journey for a few more weeks and see where that takes us!  But Joey doesn't seems to mind the formula at all.  He also loves drinking water and juice from his sippy cup.

Family Update

This month I went on my first work trip since Joey was born.  Luckily, it was only Vegas and only for about four days.  We had our annual Baskin-Robbins meeting.  I got to gamble for the first time in a couple years also!  (Last year I was very pregnant for this annual trip, so I tried to not spend any extra time in the smoky casino.) Grandma and Papa watched Joey whenever Jamie was at work and Jamie had his first few full nights by himself with Joey. All in all it was very successful.  I don't think Joey even realized I was gone, and I definitely missed him more than he missed me!

Grandpa Don had another successful knee surgery, and Joey can't wait 'til he can chase him around.  Joey also had a fun lunch at Grandpa's with his Great Aunts and Uncle.  He also can't wait to see his new baby second cousin, Cece.  Hopefully they will get to meet at Easter!

Again, thanks for checking back in this month, sorry the update was late! See you in a couple weeks for Joey's One Year Update!! Yikes.