Every month I write a little update about what Anneliese has been learning or doing or anything that’s new. I think this past month has been a little bit of a lull, rather than an explosion of growth. Other than a seventh tooth that just showed up in the last few days, things have been, well, normal.
A few days ago Anneliese turned 11 months old, and this is what she and I did.
She woke up in her bed, hung out with her mama and papa for a little while…
…nursed and snuggled, and…
…got very sleepy again.
After a little nap, we went outside to play.
I don’t think you can really tell, but she was enjoying herself in the swing. She’s just so tiny she has to hunch her shoulders a bit to hold on to the top of the seat. It’s a little pitiful looking, but so cute.
We came back and had lunch, Anneliese nursed some more, and she went back to sleep for another little nap.
I went in the kitchen to experiment with a frosting recipe (trial for her birthday cake).
Quality control, you know.
When Anneliese woke up, we both got dressed up in swimsuits and slathered with coconut oil (works GREAT as a sunscreen, in case you didn’t know).
We walked down to the housing pool (for her first trip to the pool ever! so excited!) only to find…
…which made us very sad pandas. Very hot very sad pandas.
It could’ve been love.
So we went home. Anneliese nursed, snuggled into my arms, and let me lay her on her bed. Then, 2 minutes later, she was UP. And AWAKE. And wanted to explore. I played with some of the toys in her room while she crawled over to the door, opened it, and left. She crawled down the hall, then came back to make sure I was still where she left me, giggled, and then…
…zoomed away again, into my bedroom this time. She came back a few times to check on me, but felt really comfortable zooming around on her own.
When she joined me again in her room, she played independently for a while. My little girl loves books, and will often drag out a basket of them, then just look at each one intently, turning pages and studying the pictures.
A bit later, it was baby dinner time. She enjoyed some pot roast and veggies, and drank some water.
Then some more snuggle-nursing, and time for bed again.
Such is the life of an 11 month old.
I hope she is enjoying it. I’m certainly enjoying her.
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and stay at home mom of two beautiful children. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate my home on a budget, and keep a happy household. I tandem breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, homebirth, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
I hate that they close the pool like that on base! Next time, you could call and ask, or drive by the other one to see.
Awesome about the coconut oil sunscreen… How did you find this out? For some reason it makes me nervous to put oil on before heading into the sun… but I’m gonna take your word for it and try.
Also… is that red velvet cake? If it is, I’m hoping you made it without the food coloring and are going to share the recipe!
I haven’t made red velvet cake in years because of the food coloring… so if that’s what the pic is, I’m anticipating your version.
I don’t remember where I read about the coconut oil thing, but it’s all I used last year, and it worked great. Sometimes I get a little bit of “color” (like reddish) but it doesn’t feel like a real burn or hurt/itch/peel, and in a day or two it fades. But usually not even that.
Not red velvet cake. If you look up the “happy birthday sweetie” cake post, it’s that same chocolate cake recipe but with almond butter, not peanut butter. Very tasty.
But if you want red velvet, I’ve heard of people coloring it with beet juice.
She is just so tiny but adorable!
So sweet. And beautiful.