11 Months!!

Wow 11 months already!  Where has the time gone!!  You are turning into a little right before my very eyes!!

This month you decided that you were too big for baby food and you should start eating big people food.  The main problem with that is that you don't have too many teeth.  Only two and a little piece of one.  So, I started cutting food up really little and letting you at it.  With this decision you have also turned into a bit of a picky eater.  I think the new tastes and textures are too much for you sometimes.  It is really frustrating mama that you reject so much of the food I try to give you.

The big thing this month is that you started walking.  You took your first steps on September 23 and about a week later you decided that you were able to walk more than you crawl.  You fell a lot, but it didn't take long for you to improve.  It's hard to believe that you are already a little toddler.  You are in way too big of a hurry to grow up.

You have started to get slightly better about sleeping through the night.  I started diluting the bottle that you get in the middle of the night and I guess that you decided that it wasn't worth waking up for the watered down stuff most nights.  You have been sleeping from 8:30 until about 6 or 6:30 when you think you are starving.  After a bottle (full strength, because after all it has been 10 hours since you ate anything) you are back to bed for a little bit more sleep.  Then you are ready to start the day between 7:45-9 depending on your mood I guess.  I have to say that Mama has been enjoying this little bit of extra sleep.  It has also helped me accomplish a few more things because I don't feel like I have to have a nap ever single day because you woke me up in the night.  We can keep this routine up and I will be just fine with that!

We bought you some 12 month winter clothes so we will be ready for the cooler weather.  You are still wearing your 6-9 month clothes, but some of them are started to get a little small on you.

We also got you your big girl car seat.  You are fascinated with it.  It took you a couple of rides to get get  used to it, but you have adjusted and seem to like it just fine.

I have started weaning you off of formula.  I think you like the cows milk.  You really seem to drink your bottles down in a hurry.  You learned to drink out of a straw and love water and juice out of your cups with straws.  You have no interest in giving up the bottle though.  The doctors say you are supposed to be done with the bottle by the time you are a year old.   I try to give you milk out of a sippy cup before naps and bed and you hate it.  You refuse to drink it.  I am at a complete loss.  We keep trying and eventually I hope to convince you to give it up, but you are very stubborn, like your Mama. :)

You are quickly becoming my little girl and not my baby anymore.  It is so fun to watch you grow and learn.  I do get a little sad sometimes to see how fast you are growing up, but each new stage is fun and exciting and we are having a blast with you!

 Practicing your walking

 Checking out your seat

 Very concerned with Daddy's owie

 Looking cute after church

 Carrying things around

 Pointing!

 Packing up the baby toys

 Clapping and looking ornery

 The smile that greets me every morning

 At the beach with Daddy

At the beach with Mama

Silence is Trouble

My little Chloe had learned that there is fun to be had all over the house and, most of the time, that fun does not include toys.  Most days I try to save my big chores for when Clint is home to play with Chloe or until she is napping.  Sometimes though I get behind and chores just have to be done while she is awake.  She is generally right there with me trying to help and play with whatever I am working on.  Every now and then she wonders off and entertains herself for a few minutes.  I have learned that this is very rarely ever good, but sometimes I just need 5 minutes without assistance to get my project finished.  This week this is some of what has greeted me after I finish my project.

 What I found when I finished cleaning out the refrigerator.

 What I found when I finished organizing the pantry.

What I found when I finished cleaning up supper dishes. ( I love how intent her little face is while painting my trash can with the rootbeer)

Some days it is exhausting to finish one chore to know another like this waits for me, but at the same time I love that she can entertain herself and that she is learning and exploring.  Some messes are easier to clean than others but, they are all totally worth it.   

Oh!  11 Month pictures are coming!  We are running behind this month because she was teething something awful when I was supposed to be taking them.  

A Baby's Treasures

Chloe likes to push a laundry basket through the house while we are doing house work.  She started doing it to help her walk.  Now that she has that conquered, she just thinks it is fun.  It also helps her walk faster so she can keep up a little better.  One day after following me around the house with her little basket, I happened to notice that she had been collecting things as we were working. 

Her treasures consist of a fake rose petal, a hair barrette, a ponytail holder and a Christmas bow.  Sometimes I wish I had a window into her mind to see why these particular items were worthy of being collected that day.  So random, so cute!

Baked Oatmeal

I am always needing quick and easy things I can have for breakfast.  I found this recipe on Pintrest the other day and decided to try it with a few modifications.

Gluten-Free Baked Oatmeal Casserole
Total Time: 50 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients
2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnut pieces
1 cup raspberries {any berries work}
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
2 cups milk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a 10-1/2 by 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, half the walnuts, half the strawberries and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries, walnuts and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal).

In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.

Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar.

I didn't make mine Gluten free, just used regular oatmeal.  I also used frozen raspberries and peaches because that is what I had on hand.  I left the nuts out because I was being cheap.

I thought it turned out very good.  I just cut off a piece every morning and warmed it in the microwave.  Turned out to be very quick and a fun different way to have your oatmeal.  I will definitely make it again!