Considering we’re closer to Alex turning a year than he is 11 months, I figured I should probably get this update up now!
Man, time just keeps flying by!
JUST FOR FUN: HERE’S A LOOK AT LUCAS AT 11 MONTHS!
Weight & Height
I actually haven’t weighed or measured Alex in quite a while so I have no idea where he stands. However, the last couple of people who have picked him up have commented on just how heavy or solid he is. Whatever he weighs, he’s definitely keeping mom’s arms in shape, and there’s a reason he’s been nicknamed “Tank!”
Eating/Nursing
Alex loves his food. He eats it all, and we’ve pretty much gotten to the point where I can give him anything to eat as long as it can be cut up bite-sized. Some of his favorites these day include…
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Grilled cheese sandwiches
- Hummus
- Yogurt
- Chicken meatballs (any of my chicken burger recipes made into meatballs works, I’ve mostly been doing the Chicken Parmesan ones!)
- Pasta of any kind
We also started introducing whole milk to him within the past week or so and he LOVES it. I’ll offer it in a sippy cup with meals, or occasionally in between, and he guzzles it right down.
When it comes to nursing, Alex still nurses first thing in the morning. On the days that I’m home with him, he may or may not want to nurse after he wakes from a nap, so the morning nursing session is really the only consistent one. On the days he’s in daycare, he gets two bottles of formula; right around when Alex turned 11 months, I decided to stop pumping at work. Just as it did with Lucas (although I lasted about a month longer this time), my supply got to where I was really only getting about 2oz each session, and it just wasn’t worth it at that point. So my days of pumping are OVER, and I can’t say I’m sad about that one bit.
Sleeping (naps)
Alex is still pretty consistent with his naps. He’s still doing his morning nap anywhere between 9-10am and will sleep for anywhere between 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours. He’s then ready for his afternoon nap around 2ish or so, and that nap is usually between 1-2 hours.
He typically goes down for his naps awake without any trouble, but will need an occasional snuggle here or there if he’s overtired or sick. Our days of the “boob snooze” are pretty much gone at this point, which is definitely bittersweet.
Sleeping (at night)
Unless Alex is sick, he is usually a really great sleeper at night. Most nights, he’s still down for bed around 7-7:15pm and will usually wake for the day any time between 6-7am. Occasionally, I’ll hear him making a little noise on the monitor around 5-5:30, but he winds up going back to sleep for a little while, which is great. We’ve gotten rid of the wearable blanket so now he just sleeps in his jammies with a light knitted blanket.
Clothing
These days we’re in mostly 12 month clothes, with a few 18 months tossed in there, too. We’ve also moved up to size 4 diapers for both day and night.
Social/New this Month
I think we are verrrrrry close to having another walker on our hands!
Alex loves cruising along furniture and toys, and will walk anywhere and everywhere if you hold his hands. He’s taken up to about 7-8 steps on his own so far, but he often gets so excited as he’s going that he basically catapults into whoever he’s walking towards. It’s seriously the cutest.
Alex also loves sharing his toys, his food…pretty much anything. He gets very excited to give whatever he has and also tends to make the same sounds every time he does it (which we like to tell ourselves is his way of saying thank you…which I doubt it is, but still).
We’re up to 4 teeth now! And there are two more that don’t look to be far behind. Alex is still wearing the amber teething necklace that I bought and I’d say I’m impressed with it (I take it off for bath and sleep). People ask me a lot if I think it helps and I really don’t know, but he definitely has not been as grumpy. So considering how cheap it was, I’m considering it a good investment!
Likes
- trying to walk and moving everywhere
- construction vehicles driving through the neighborhood
- Lucas (and anything Lucas is playing with)
- playing peek-a-boo (around corners and under blankets are his favorites)
- any That’s Not My… books (he still loves the lion the best!)
- puffs
- blowing raspberries
- dancing to music
- splashing in the tub
- remotes
- my phone
Dislikes
Still the usuals…
- getting his diaper changed
- getting his face wiped (the worrrrrst)
- pacifiers
How is Mommy Doing?
I’m doing really well! I think our family is finally, really starting to jive and it just feels so awesome. Sure, we totally have our struggles, but it’s gotten to the point where they all feel manageable. Does that make sense?
Because Alex isn’t so dependent on me now, I feel like my daily schedule doesn’t have to be totally dictated by his. I can leave and not have to worry about being back for a feeding. I can let someone else put him down for a nap because (most of the time) he’s fine. A weight has seriously been lifted.
Of course, the fact that we’re coming up on Alex being an entire YEAR old has also left me feeling a bit emotional. My babies are growing up, and the fact that I have zero control over that sometimes hits me harder than I’d like it to. I have no doubt that I’ll wind up spilling my heart in a blog post sooner or later. I tend to do that. ;)
Comparison
I still cannot believe that you are going to be ONE in just 10 short days from now. Alex, you make me laugh every single day and you are loved more than you’ll ever know. <3
Juliette | Namastay Traveling says
Happy 11months Alex! Can’t believe the year is right around the corner! What an adorable and sweet little man.
Heather says
Oh my goodness,what a sweetheart he is! You have some seriously adorable little boys!
Mollie says
My little guy is just 2 weeks younger than Alex, and he LOVES your chicken parm meatballs (so do my husband and I, for that matter). Planning on trying your chicken/bacon/ranch ones next week!
Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! says
I just bought my first “That’s Not My…” book for our baby girl (coming in September)! I can’t wait to read it to her!
Stephanie says
Oh my gosh! Where did you get the t-shirt? My son’s name is Crew (he is 6 months old) and I would love to get him one! Happy almost birthday to Alex, he is such a cutie pie!! :D
Christina @ Montessoriishmom.com says
What a cutie, I can’t believe he’s almost a year old!
Stacey says
We’ve always sworn by the amber necklace for our daughter. For consistency reasons you should never take it off… we do for bath but at bedtime we have an amber anklet she wears under her footies. If he wears footies you could always double up the necklace around his ankle (we’ve done this a bunch too). This way he’s still wearing it at night but you don’t have to worry about it becoming a choking hazard.
Shaqueefa says
My man got his baby an amber nexklace but it ended up being one of dem candy sugar nexklaces. He did NOT go to sleep intil 7 AM tha next mawning
Kelly @ The Fit Skool says
He’s adorable!! He reminds me so much of my son who will be turning 11 months this week. He’s a huge lover of food too ;)