Bennett Michael {11 months}

Dear Bennett,

This can't be right. How the heck are we less than a month away from your FIRST BIRTHDAY?!?! Maybe it's because you are tiny, or maybe this year has just gone by way too fast, but I feel like you should only be about 8 or 9 months old at this point! But you're not. And it makes me so sad, but also so excited for what is to come for you! This has been a fun month, so let's see what you've been up to!

Height: 27.5" (5 %ile)
Weight: 18 pounds, 3 ounces (4 %ile)

Head circumference: 46 cm (50 %ile)

Clothes: Well I finally stopped squishing you into 6 month pajamas and you are now in size 9 month ones! Your clothes are all pretty much 9 months or 12 months. Except: the onesie in these pictures (6 months) and the Shrimp and Grits Kids jon jons that always run crazy big (again 6 months). We just moved you up to size 3 diapers on Tuesday!

Nicknames: Ben, Ben Ben, Little Bean, Bean Bag, Benny Ben, Benny Boo Boo, B, B Man, Big Guy, Sweetest Peach, Peanut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Milestones: This is the month of "almosts"!!! You are almost crawling with your tummy off the ground (maybe you'll just be an army crawler for life?! I don't hate that). You are almost saying "Mama" and "Dada" and "Ella" while looking at us, but you will not do it on command to save your life. You are almost climbing up the stairs (helpppp). You are almost clapping (my favorite milestone! Please make it happen soon. I live for baby claps). And two more teeth on the top are just barely almost poking through. You have gotten more confident in pulling up and have started stepping! You can hold onto things with just one hand and are pretty freaking proud of yourself! You love to grab things including people's hair and skin, ouch!

Sleep: You are still a rockstar sleeper! You will sleep 12-13 hours most nights!! I do wake you up to eat before I tutor because my boobs might explode if I don't, but you'd be perfectly fine sleeping until 7:30 or 8 AM if I didn't! On the days you get a morning nap, you fight it hard...but you always get and take an amazing afternoon nap!

Best Moment: Celebrating my birthday in the mountains with you! We also "celebrated" your 1 year anniversary of your first blood transfusion with some slurpees! We've also had so much fun splashing with you at the pool! You are the cutest swimmer!

Worst Moment: When you get into something you're not supposed to....like the chalk that I thought you couldn't get to, but surprise! It got all over you and the playroom carpet, yay. At least its non-toxic?! 

Likes: Sucking on your pointer and middle fingers, ceiling fans, "Baby Shark" song, "The Wheels on the Bus," big brother's tractors, cords/chargers, eating paper/books, when we give you "raspberries" on your tummy, playing Peek-a-Boo, bath time (you love when the water splashes on your face!), when we clap in front of you, chasing the Roomba, making a clicking noise with your tongue. 

Dislikes: When Ella and/or Lucas have something you want (especially when it comes to food!)

Health: You recently have had a random runny nose. I think it might be from teething?! Because you are fine otherwise and it comes and goes randomly. 

Eating: You are still an awesome eater! You pretty much eat anything and everything! You especially love Nutri-grain bars, cheese, blueberries, veggie straws and pancakes! You had your first Chick Fil-A kids meal this month and you housed it down like a boss. You were done several minutes before either Ella or Lucas! You are still nursing, but good grief you are so stubborn about it! I am talking 3ish minutes per side and you. are. DONE!

Ahhh sweet boy! The countdown is ON! I can't believe this time last year, you had already had two blood transfusions and we were getting ready to meet you! It's hard to even remember life without you though because you are such a light! I'm so excited to see what this next month brings, especially because you are on the verge of so many milestones! We love you sweet boy!!!

{Ella at 11 months | Lucas at 11 months}