Our Little Walker

Hattie is 11 Months!

• We have a little walker on our hands! Hattie started walking in about the middle of December at 10 1/2 months. While it still isn't her preferred mode of transportation, she is getting there. She stands alone for long periods of time in the middle of the room, has been cruising for quite some time and will take possibly up to 7 steps between us or starting from standing in the middle of the room. If I just would keep walking away from her she might go longer, but she knows I am going to catch her so she just collapses! It's adorable. :)
• Hattie celebrated her first Christmas recently. She truly handled traveling really well. What I am most thankful for is that she has remained very healthy. She doesn't sleep very well away from home, but what 11 month old does?
• She has two new teeth. On December 4th her bottom right lateral incisor finally came through to even things out on the bottom (she had 3 teeth for about a month, they usually come in pairs!). Then on December 14th I noticed another tooth! It is the upper right lateral incisor. Odd! The first time I saw it she happened to be eating some cottage cheese (favorite food!) at her great grandma's 95th birthday party and I thought that could not possibly be a new tooth... However, on our way to Grandma Nelson's house afterwards I was glancing through some pictures and noticed it again on a picture from the night before where she had a huge smile. So, I'm not sure exactly when it came in but it was there by December 13th. That explains her increased night-waking! The other 3 are close, but nothing yet. Rustin has started to call it her "snaggle-tooth" as it grows in more and more. In an affectionate manner, of course!
• Her vocabulary is increasing and she now says "Go!" when Rustin encourages her to say "Go Hawks!". Of course that would be one of her first words... She is also increasingly vocal about letting us know what she wants. When she sees the cottage cheese container she then grunts and points until we give some to her. Crazy girl. She knows what she wants. :)
• Hattie is also able to communicate what she needs better through her actions recently. She will grab her sleep sack when ready for "ni-night" or cuddle down on the ground like she is going to bed. She also stands up by her height chair and taps on it when she is ready to eat.
• Some of her new tricks are blowing kisses. She puts the back of her hand in her mouth and says "mwah!". She tends to do this when we tell her to say ni-night to Emmett or Daddy etc. Hattie also enjoys saying cheers with her sippy cup at dinner. She smiles and laughs and holds her glass up to us. Sweet girl.
• Hattie has started to be a little bit rebellious. I have found that if Mommy tells her No to something - such as when she heads to climb up the stairs from the basement on her own, she obeys. However, Daddy tells her No and smiles and laughs and then she does not obey him. Unfortunately I think he's taught her it's ok to stand up on Emmett's little brown rocker because of that! It's not ok little girl. :) She will learn in due time.. She has him wrapped around her little finger already...

This stage is the best I must say. She is learning so much and is sweet and snuggly. Her separation anxiety has gotten better within the last month so that is a little bit of a relief. We are really enjoying this stage. She is easy to take care of and showing so much personality.