11 Months Old!

Happy 11 Months, Cody & Jaden!

What a wild ride this month was! Not only were the boys walking all over the place and increasing their speed in doing so, we basically covered the whole spectrum of sicknesses (ear infections, diarrhea, rash/possible yeast infection, vomiting, fever, sneezing, runny noses, coughs). Thankfully not all of these illnesses came at once, but, still... (whew!) we are glad to have most of those symptoms behind us! We are also thankful to have spent time with some dear family members (Grandma & Grandpa and Jonathan & Chelsea) to give us some GOOD memories to remember for the month. Here are some updates for our almost 1 year old boys.

SLEEPING HABITS

• Not the greatest nighttime sleep, due to all the sicknesses
• Take 2 daily naps, between 1-1.5 hours
• Enjoy wearing their sleep sacks
• Favorite sleeping position is on their tummy
• Still waking up way too early for Mommy & Daddy's liking (usu. 4:00 or 4:30), so we rest with them until 6ish

EATING HABITS

• Both boys have now mastered the pincer grasp, so we've seen a lot of progress with self-feeding.
• To teach Cody self-feeding, Daddy would give Cody a high-five after every successful food pick-up. Eventually, Cody started giving us a high five after every bite, sometimes even after being spoon-fed!
• Favorite finger foods: cheese, bread, peas, yogurt melts, Cheerios
• Accidental "foods" (at least the ones we know about!): cat food (Cody) and a piece of mulch/bark (Jaden) -- Oops! 
• Both enjoy sampling larger food chunks in their mesh feeding bags
• Eat some fruit & veggie purees at every meal to ensure sufficient nutrition
• Nurse 4-5 times each day
• Jaden hasn't been as interested in drinking from his bottle following the nursing times.
• Cody has started to throw just about everything over the side of his high chair.

DEVELOPMENT

• Walking is their preferred method of transportation.
• Both have gained a lot of confidence and fall much less frequently.
• Can purposefully walk around toys, change direction, or slow their walking speed when approaching our laminate floor
• We can tell that both are understanding more of what we say. Cody will clap whenever we say "Yay!" "Good job!" or "clap." He also waves whenever we say "hi" or "good-bye." He especially loves the page in our opposites book that reads "High and Low." He starts waving like crazy! :)
• Jaden is usually more verbal and likes to try to imitate our sounds. He especially tries to repeat any word starting with "b" that Daddy says.

BOTH BOYS

Jaden, Cody

Cody & Jaden having a twin "meeting."

It's a common sight nowadays to see the boys "wrestling."
Unlike this picture, Cody is usually the one initiating.

Both boys have started sitting still on the floor while Mommy
reads to them. They like to help turn the pages.

This favorite chew-toy football was a gift from Uncle Jon.
(Cody is on the L.)

Both boys laughing at Daddy. (Jaden is standing.)

One of their rare moments sitting still. (Cody on L.)

• Occasionally get stuck underneath the kitchen table after standing up underneath it
• Learned how to climb up the entire flight of stairs on their own!
• Got first pair of rubber-soled shoes this month
• Transitioned into some 12-month clothes 
• Consistently know how & when to wave to others

CODY

• Currently 19 lbs. 13 oz. (overpassed Jaden)
• Started to cut tooth #7! 
• Seemed to be more of the "bully" this month, stealing toys & pacifiers from his brother, often first grabbing Jaden by the collar
• Usually just laughs if Jaden pulls on him
• Successfully pushes his push-car toy from the back or the front (Mommy & Daddy no longer have to turn it around for him. He can independently push it back and forth across the room.)
• Likes waving with just one finger

JADEN

This is Jaden's favorite walking stance-- arms bent  up!

• Currently 19 lbs. 5 oz. (lost weight this month after his bout with the flu and his recent disinterest in the bottle)
• GREATLY dislikes when Cody tugs or pulls on him
• Started to cut tooth #7 midway through the month
• Often whacks himself in the head with an open palm while nursing or drinking a bottle