Last Month Before a Year

Today the babies turned 11 months old. I just can't believe it. I really can't understand where all the time has gone, yet here it is, 11 months ago that I gave birth to them. Crazy. I've been in full party-planning mode (which is where I LOVE being), but it makes me sad when I actually think of the reason for it. They're getting bigger and bigger each day, but more fun too!

Ella and Evan continue to eat "big people" food and love going to restaurants... everyone likes to feed them! They continue to drink their milk amounts (around 27 oz./day) and eat lots of fruits, veggies, grains, and puffs, of course! =) I witnessed Ella talking to Evan today while handing him a puff during snack time. It was the cutest thing! He took it and put it in his mouth. How precious is that?!?

The house is rarely quiet and is usually only that way during a snack time. We have decided that these babies are destined to be talkers as they talk every waking moment. They usually talk and laugh at each other for about 30-45 minutes in the morning until I decide I'm willing to leave my warm, cozy bed. As crazy as it sounds, Greg and I are convinced that Ella says "real" words. Ella, fish, ya, mama, dada, and an occasional swear word (!!!) are a few examples. But, really, it's so cute to watch them communicate in their own little language.

They both love to chase and be chased. I spend many times throughout the day on my hands and knees chasing babies. It doesn't get old to them (at all). Music and dancing is a big part of our day too. They love to be sung and read to. I love the sounds of our house filled with laughter and talking-- such a happy place to be.

They've come to understand so much. Evan's newest interest is pointing to everything he sees. As he points, he likes to say, "uh, uh". It's really funny and cute. We will name off whatever he's pointing to and he will now point to many things that you ask him to find (i.e. light, daddy). He enjoys looking at pictures and smiles when we tell him who's in the picture. He loves animals and rolling his ball around on the ground. Evan also likes to smell things; he does it with a loud inhale. He'll smell his hand, foot, strap on the high chair, etc. It's really funny and he doesn't do it for attention because he usually does it when he doesn't realize I'm watching. Too funny!

Ella still has just 2 teeth (on the bottom), but Evan has recently had 4 teeth (4!!!) come in up top in the last week!!! So he now has a total of 6 teeth! Wowzer!

I weighed them about a week ago on our home baby scale:

Ella~ approx. 22 1/2 lbs.
Evan~ approx. 24 1/2 lbs.

Ella continues to do her crazy things like holding on to something in each hand and stand on her tippie-toes to reach things. She'll crawl all around the carpet and tile with her "horse shoes" on. Greg calls them air hockey pucks because she'll often slide all around with them on the tile! =) Her sense of humor cracks us up and her smiles light up anybody's day. She's such a sweet, cuddly girl.

Here are a few shots of the babies at 11 months old!!!