11 Months

It is becoming more and more challenging to get these shots each month. It is definitely a two person job.

Clare has figured out what the remote control is for. She points it at the TV, waiting for something to happen. We are kind of embarrassed that she knows this, but on the other hand, at least she is observant, right?

She has two favorite Sesame Street videos that we watch on You Tube over and over. And over.  Feist singing "1,2,3,4" and Will.i.am singing "What I Am." (The Sesame Street versions, of course.) She loves Elmo and the other monsters. She also dances: turning her shoulders and bouncing up and down. She'll dance to pretty much any music, even my singing. If you have ever heard me sing, you know this is saying something.  Of course, I think the only person who has ever heard me sing is my friend Chelsea. We used to sing along to the "Lite" radio station in her car in college.

Anyway, Clare is getting pretty adventurous with food. She basically just wants whatever I am eating, whether it is refried beans or an avocado and cheese sandwich. She loves restaurants, thanks to the people watching she can do there, and even had her first French fries at the Night Owl here in town. Needless to say, those were a big hit. Oh, and mushrooms. She adores them. We also ordered her something off a children's menu for the first time: scrambled eggs and French toast. I made her eat the eggs first, because I knew once she got a bite of that French toast the eggs would be rejected. I was right.

Thanks to the early spring, we've been playing outside quite a bit. Clare rolled off her blanket onto the grass for the first time last week. She immediately lifted both feet and hands into the air. She was not at all sure she wanted to touch the grass. After sitting like that for a few minutes, she got bored and went on playing, perfectly comfortable on the lawn.

She is curious about everything, pointing and saying "this" or "that." She is babbling constantly, and I can't wait for more words to start coming out of her mouth.

She is very close to walking, and can take several steps with assistance from her walking toy. She can stand on her own for a few seconds, so I know this milestone is right around the corner.

She also loves technology:

Clare blogging.

Watching her favorite Sesame Street video.

Whew. I think that is it. 11 months! I said it last month, and I'll say it again: this is such a fun age.