11 months old

A couple weeks ago when Grandma was overseas, Papa came over to watch the Vikings game (they lost) and then go to the park. Bethany loves to swing, but doesn't like riding in her stroller to get there. We have to pick up leaves to keep her interested and even if we give her snacks or special toys she cries and draws too much attention to her predicament. I really hope that next summer she enjoys the Chariot Cougar a little more!

Bethany is so busy finding new activities at home and especially likes crawling under the chairs and coffee tables

Funny girl wearing her noodles instead of eating them

It is getting harder and harder to take pictures of Bethany with her monkey. Apparently she doesn't like to share the chair with it anymore. Most of the pictures were of her flinging the monkey on the floor.

This is the best 11 month photo we got!

Bethany, we love you so much and are enjoying this stage with you! You love to show off your new walking skills, and you are getting so good at bending down to pick up toys to carry with you. It is funny to get you up from your naps and sometimes find you standing and clapping for me when I walk into your room! We are working on words right now and you seem to say bird, book, puppy in addition to mama and daddy although not many people could understand you yet but we know what you are saying. You like to test your boundaries and know what we mean when we say "no" but you think it is funny to go to the "no" item. When someone does something new like making a funny noise you get very quiet to watch what they are doing. Sometimes you can copy it right away, and other times a few days later I hear you practicing your new noises. In your room you can turn on the music on your swing and then bounce along to the music. A few commercials on tv in the background have a good beat and you stop what you are doing to bounce and dance. When we ask "How big is Bethany?" you bring your hands to your head for "so big!". We can't wait to see the next things you figure out. You bring so much joy to our lives and in a few weeks you will be 1 years old!