11 months

A month away from Zoe turning 1 and I know with all the holiday festivities going on, time will fly even faster than usual! Geoff and I have been talking about how we almost can't believe this is Zoe's first Christmas since it just seems like she's been part of our family forever. This time last year we didn't know whether we were having a boy or girl, I was on bed rest, and we were oh so anxiously awaiting the arrival of our child - I wanted her to come early but she was super comfortable in there :)
This past month has been a great one! Zoe has really mellowed out and her goofy personality is starting to show through more clearly. She is pulling up on everything and can move between furniture if she really wants to. She stood without support for a second or two last week but doesn't seem too interested in letting go of the security of an object to hold on to just yet. Fine by me! Probably my favorite thing is her love of stuffed animals right now- she gives them all hugs and sometimes wants to take one along with her in the car.
Some funs and not-so-funs this month...

FUNS
~ she has mellowed out so she is much more easy going, less whiny, and more into independent play
~ continues to be a pretty good sleeper, getting about 12 hrs each night and 2 daytime naps (sometimes one of her naps is 2+ hours which makes such a difference! if only it were every day)
~ enjoys books and looking through them on her own, can keep her occupied for awhile!
~ gives hugs and kisses
~ gives high fives
~ generally eats very well- she loves broccoli, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados and bread
~ she absolutely loves playing in the tub and just got some new bath toys from Oma!
~ her two bottom teeth fit between her top teeth which gives her the cutest little grin :)
~ She babbles on and on, and I think she has a word for "daddy" that sounds something like "dah"? She is going to be a talker for sure!
~ Zoe loves people and other kids/babies in particular. She loves play dates and its helpful when she goes to the nursery to counteract the mommy-clingyness :)

NOT-SO-FUNS
~ she went 12+ hours without eating 2 or 3 nights this month but overall continues to wake up to eat around 11pm... sometimes I can get her back to sleep without feeding her at that point but she usually wakes up an hour or two later to eat anyway...
~ I feel like I'm saying "no" A LOT! Whether its the Christmas tree or getting into the kitchen pantry, she ignores the 15 times I say "no" and redirect her until I finally block her path or we have to move to a different room for awhile. She's definitely got a stubborn streak in her.
~ The car continues to be a challenge. She just isn't happy in the car for more than a few minutes, generally. We recently went to Williamsburg for the weekend and I sat in the back with her for all our travel which helped for part of the trip... but a lot of the time its just me and her in the car and I've pretty much come to dread having to drive anywhere. Hopefully switching to a bigger car seat will help?!
~ She's started chewing on her crib rails. Not cool.

You bring us such joy, Zo Zo. You really are our little sunshine. Happy 11 months!