On the eleventh day of 2011, he turned Eleven months.

The countdown is on. We are exactly 31 days away from my baby turning one. ONE! This makes my heart beat fast, and panic just a little. I find myself saying this every month, but honestly, where does the time go? Sometimes I wish it would go faster, as in bedtime can't come soon enough, and some days I just want it to stop, to freeze time and freeze the moment. I never want to forget his smell (thanks to mustela, I can bottle that up), his soft noises, his loud squeals, his little grunts, his giggle, and smile, I love it all. He is looking old, so big! Like a little boy. Somedays I find myself just staring at him in awe of how fast he has changed and grown, yet he still looks like the brand new bundle we brought home just shy of a year ago.

He is hyper! Like I get tired just watching him sometimes. I have a feeling I am in big trouble when he starts walking. He is in to, and climbing on everything. I love watching him speed crawl around the house and discover each new thing he finds. What is he thinking? What is he learning? It all just fascinates me. He will stand up, and balance for a second by himself, he gets a big smile on his face like he is so proud of himself for standing alone. Oh, and he has a new found love for blueberries. He would eat them all day everyday if we let him. They are his favorite.

Every morning after he gets up, and after his breakfast we sit in the family room with all his toys and play. After a little while he lets me wrap him up in a blanket and give him his binky, he lets me hold him. Snuggle him so tight he can barely move. He holds my hand, and we watch a cartoon together (via Playhouse Disney). And yes, the songs are stuck in my head the rest of the day. Some days it lasts 20 minutes, other days just 5. In this moment nothing else matters. The feeling is unmatched to anything in the entire world. I wish there was a word to describe it. The only thing I can think of is true love, an unconditional love so strong that I would give up anything to have it.

As I say every month, I love him, we love him. Life is so fragile and quick! If you're not careful it will pass you by in the blink of an eye. I am thankful for this blog, that I can record and remember all these moments, both good and bad, and cherish them for years to come.

"Hulking" out in the bath tub. Pictures don't do justice to how funny it is.