11 Months

We're one month away from having a one year old! Thinking about when Ilyana was a newborn seems so long ago, however this year seems to have flown by so fast! Our little baby is becoming a toddler and her personality is becoming more clear every day. Miss independent (a.k.a. Ilyana) is smart, funny, curious, and energetic. She loves to climb anything and everything (I wonder who she got that from? *cough cough daddy*), read books, play with cars, and drum on every surface possible. She may look like her mommy but she sure takes after her dad! This month, she has really started to come out of her shell. She definitely still has some separation anxiety but we've finally hit a point where she can do great with babysitters and has even initiated contact with others! Much to Jake's delight, she has also become quite the daddy's girl. She will point out  pictures of daddy on our wall and loves to greet him with a huge smile, hug, and kiss when he gets home from work. Ilyana continues to eat and sleep great and is currently working on her 5th and 6th teeth. She switched to only one nap a day (most days) which has made her a lot more flexible, just in time for little brother to come and have his own schedule to work around! She has also learned to wave (and say) "hi" and "bye" and to use sign language to say "all done" after meal and bath time. She is working hard on learning to stand on her own and has taken 2 unassisted steps. Hopefully by next month she will have the confidence to take even more steps by herself!

Ilyana loves: Mommy and daddy, Super Why, dancing, babies, playing with cars and blocks, reading books, and bath time.

Ilyana doesn't like: being told no, broccoli, staying still.