11 Months: The Countdown is On!

Yes, I realize that I just gave a Teddy update last week.  Sure, I could've combined the two into one post.

But, c'mon, folks: I'm just not that organized or on the ball.

Anyway, Teddy is thisclose to being a big-time one-year-old.  Like I said in the 10 month recap, he's already copping a huge toddler attitude, so this month he's been busy perfecting his technique.

One, going on 21.

I don't like to brag, but I think this nugget is rather precocious.  I mean, Will was at LEAST 13 months old before he launched a reconstituted meat product at me.  But little brother has a mean fast ball (fast nugget?) and a wicked smile to go with it.

Go ahead.  It's okay to feel jealous.

Another toddler behavior that has really come online recently: the Spaghetti Noodle.

I know you know what I'm talking about.  Maybe you call it something different, or you haven't given it a name that can appear in print, but you know the move.

Here's a scenario: It's a beautiful day at the park.  Sweet toddler is gurgling and scampering, birds are chirping, and you're planning to write a book about your awesome parenting practices because you've got this mom/dad thing down cold and your kid is awesome, and you have no idea who these heathen "threenagers" are because your child is the picture of health and happiness and it is so easy!  After awhile, it's time to go home.  A two minute warning is given (and ignored).  You tell your child, "Time to go home!" and your angel says, "NO!" in some way, shape, or form.  He continues to ignore you and the situation escalates to a chase.  Once you catch up, you try to pick Angel up, but he goes limp and slithers out of your arms.

Repeatedly.

Sound familiar?

Yep.  Teddy's working on that move these days, but his I-don't-wanna-leave-and-you-can't-make-me scenario is in the bathtub.  So, there's the super-fun element of danger added to the whole kit and caboodle.

Teddy has not only become more of a rascal this month, but he's also done some big things of the perambulatory variety, namely standing all by himself.  He's walking with assistance and trying to carry stuff while he crawls, so it's only a matter of time, I think.

Unless... he's like Will and discovers that maintaining a lower center of gravity makes you less of a target for your older sibling to stiff-arm you.

All of this means that Sarah and Will feel that little bro makes for the best kind of marionette ever.

Dance, monkey, dance.

Stats:
28 inches long
19 lbs.

He appears to be getting fatter and his pajamas are harder to zip without pinching a roll, but he's slipped down in the percentiles.

Turn-ons:
Unrolling all of the toilet paper from the roll; pants-wrestling (again, I have no idea what this is about); shoe-removal; The Wheels on the Bus; magnets; eating paper; throwing all of the food off his tray; idolizing his older siblings; dancing; Cheez-its; bananas; salad; spaghetti; rolling a ball; and guitars.


Turn-offs:
Getting out of the bath; being in his car seat; people messing with his ears; shoes, hats, clothing in general; bachelorette parties (more on that after Valentine's day); his Sully stuffed animal; hammers in general, Will's Thor hammer in particular.

Most people I know seem to love the tiny baby stage the best (particularly newborns), but this is just not the case for me.  Knowing that Teddy will most likely be our last baby, I've tried to embrace this season and focus on all of the good stuff.  But, to me, toddlerhood and beyond is where things really start to get interesting.  I mean, the kid can actually DO stuff!  Plus, personalities really start to show.

So, as much as I might tease and kvetch about toddlers, THIS is the part I'm looking forward to.