almost one!

   Vivian turned 11 months old last week.  It's unbelievable that we will soon celebrate her first birthday.  This past month Vivi has changed more than any other, I think.  She's not talking yet, but she does say mama (yay for me!) and the babble is constant when we are at home.  She crawls like a champ...seriously, I have trouble catching her sometimes.  Vivi still loves to eat!  She will eat anything and everything we put in front of her and her temper flares when her tray is empty.  As most babies do, she loves to be held and cuddled, but also enjoys her freedom.  The BIG news this week is that she has started taking tiny steps.  She loses her balance pretty quickly, but she is working on it!  Sometimes when I'm helping her take steps while holding her hands, she will push me away so she can try it on her own. 

   I took Vivi to the pumpkin patch last week while Emma Jane was in school.  She loves to be outside and closely watches and listens to everything going on around her.  I love the way she likes to touch and study anything she can get her hands on.  Putting things in her mouth is starting to slow down (thank goodness!).  We finally had to baby proof the cabinets in the house since Viv's new thing is opening and shutting doors and drawers.  She pinched a finger in a drawer today!  Ouch!

Some of Vivi's favorite things are...

1.  mom, dad, and big sis, of course!

2.  blankies at bedtime

3.  pacifier at bedtime

4.  music anytime!

5.  photos of family

6.  being tickled

7.  laughing at us when we tell her "no!"

We adore our sweet, curious Vivi and can't wait to celebrate her first birthday!

It's the simple things that babies love best.  I put Vivi in this diaper box and pulled her around the house.  She loved it and giggled hysterically!

Here are a few pics from a recent trip to the botanical gardens.  She was so serious as she studied everything the gardens have to offer that I could barely get her to crack a smile!

Finally got one!

Vivi loves to follow me around and climb up my legs.  This is sweet, but sometimes a little difficult when I'm trying to get things done around the house!

This girl loves balloons!  She'll carry one around for ages, sometimes holding the string in her teeth while she crawls to her next destination!