11 months

Shepherd,

Today you turn 11 months old. I feel every one of these letters starts out with some exclamation that "I can't believe you are already x-number of months old", but it's true. I can't hardly believe you are growing up so fast! This month has been a whirlwind of changes, and you've managed surprisingly well.

At the beginning of the month, we found out you were going to be a big brother. I can't tell you how excited I am to see you function in this capacity. You adore other children, smiling at them, and gently patting their hair (sometimes not so gently, but we're working on that). We are so excited to be adding a little brother or sister to your family. You see, mommy and daddy are very close in age to their own brothers, and we wanted that for you. Everyone has asked if this was "planned", which, as you grow up, you'll realize how incredibly rude this is. And our answer has always been emphatically yes. Just as with you. I don't know that anyone knows for sure exactly when to get pregnant, just as we didn't know with you... but, you and your little brother or sister, were always planned. From the moment your father and I said "I do" we knew we'd have children. We both loved children so much, and knew that one day, God would bring you into our lives. And He did... and oh, how he blessed us with you.

You are the most lovable little man I know. This month has really drawn out your personality. You love to imitate us, especially when we make funny faces at you. You laugh and giggle when I kiss you. You chatter on and on and on all day long, in the car, playing, in your high chair, in the bathtub, and sometimes, in the quiet of night, I hear you chatter softly in your sleep. I wish I knew what you are saying. Sometimes, it sounds as though you're telling a story. At others, as if you're issuing a grand proclamation. And still others, when your voice goes quiet, it sounds as though you're whispering a secret, only known to you.

You also started walking this month. Which completely took me by surprise. You had been cruising for several months, and you had tried walking from chair to chair, but showed little interest in walking until this past Monday. My theory is that you saw several of the kids your age at church on sunday, and a handful of them are walking too. So Monday, you decided to walk, full steam ahead. Thankfully, Daddy had the day off, and he was there to witness your first steps. You were playing by the bookshelf, and I turned away to put up a toy you'd been playing with. I was sitting on the floor, and I turned around, and there you were, halfway from the bookshelf to me. And you continued walking to me. I cannot describe what that moment felt like. The only way I can try is to say that it felt as though my heart exploded inside of me, and the only thing I could do was squeel and laugh and kiss you all over. All afternoon, you kept trying again, and trying again, and you did surprisingly well. By Tuesday, crawling was a thing of the past. Your main mode of transportation, walking.

With the walking, has come an incredible exhaustion for both of us. You now sleep entirely through the night, waking up at 5:30am for a bottle from Daddy before he leaves for work, then you go back to sleep, waking up for good around 7:30. This comes at a perfect time, as mommy really, really needs that extra sleep to help the little baby inside of her grow.

You've also developed a strong attachment to Daddy. You regularly look up at the picture of daddy and you in your room and say, "Dada!" When Daddy comes home, you squeal with joy and either run (if you're walking or standing) or crawl to him. When he goes out of your site or when he has to leave for work, you cry. The other night, when Daddy got home, you greeted him as usual, and as he sat down on the floor with you, you gently rested your head against his chest. You'd never done that before, and it was such a special moment that daddy and I almost cried. It was as though you were saying, "Thanks for coming home".

There are so many other things I want to say. Every day, I love you more and more, and every day, I'm amazed at what you can do. I don't want to miss a single moment with you, and find myself missing you when you're napping... wishing I could just snuggle right up next to you and hold you just so I don't miss a moment of you growing up, because, man, does the time fly.

I love you so much little man... and I always will..

Love,

Mommy