First Xmas and 11 Months Old

Christmas! We had our usual family packed times of eating, drinking, game playing, movie watching, cookie making, and gift giving. Plus we had our little daughter climbing around and making everything that much sweeter. She didn't really get what was going on and had no idea what was coming next but she sure enjoyed herself. This year Christmas was the 7 of us plus Henry. She loved spending time with everyone. She got a fun assortment of gifts and liked playing in the wrapping paper and packaging materials almost as much as the gifts themselves. Her two favorite gifts were her Animal Sounds Farm and Scout, a smart robot-like stuffed dog. She plays with them like she's a little girl, not a little baby. It's so cute. She had a yummy Christmas breakfast of homemade waffles, blueberries and eggs. I think the holiday was a hit in her eyes.

Dahlia is pretty much a walker. She doesn't do it steadily, but occasionally she will take about 8 steps like its no big deal. She's a chatterbox. Dahlia is going through a sort-of scaredy-cat phase. She never got the "stranger danger" thing but this seems like a version of it--being scared of things she used to like. Like the bath and swings. Although tonight we had a breakthrough happy bath again. That was a relief. She's cuddly and funny. She likes reading, listening to music (but she doesn't like the quiet space between songs) and dancing. She's becoming quite an eater, though still very dramatic about the whole thing. She's getting to be a better sleeper -- we're at one waking a night. This is the last monthly birthday update of my baby! Next month...my toddler! How did that happen? Dahlia, you are amazing.