48 weeks old: 11 months old, words, straw drinking, spoon eating, and Jameson Square fountain

Today marks exactly 11 months out in the world for Eloise! I am amazed at how much she has blossomed just in the last couple weeks. All of a sudden she has two teeth, her eating and drinking skills have improved by leaps and bounds, she understands lots of words and phrases, even says a few, loves to walk holding fingers, and shows so much more of her happy personality.

She now says the words Dada, Mama, and Up and uses them appropriately! Just this morning she was with her dad and when I walked by she said, "Mama? Mama?" Oh man, what an incredible feeling. I couldn't even list off all of the words and phrases she understands now. She knows milk, eat, water, and when I ask for whatever piece of dirt or lint she finds on the floor she puts it in my outstretched hand! She also shakes her head yes and no. Her newest thing is when I say no, she shakes her head. It's like things just suddenly started clicking.

Since she got her two teeth it seems like she has become much more skilled - and interested - in eating solids and drinking from a straw. She is also showing definite food preferences. She especially likes Baby Puffs vegetable and rice snacks and HappyYogi yogurt and fruit snacks.

I can totally drink water from a straw

Hands off my Baby Puffs!

Over the weekend we had some nice weather and decided to take Eloise to Jameson Square fountain, a kid-friendly water feature. Evan helped her stand in the shallow water and she was taking it all in when suddenly a bigger kid splashed her in the face and she cried. I accidentally caught the moment in a sad photo. You can see the water droplets in her eye!

That was scary!

Afterward, we went to a little boutique nearby called Posh Baby and picked up her first toddler utensils and a couple plates. The first time I gave her the spoon to try to use herself, she knew what to do! I was totally impressed. The other hand still does most of the work but I'm so proud of her.

Day 1 with the spoon - peaches!

Day 2 a little messier - yogurt!

Eloise loves to put things in and take things out of containers in her play these days. Here she is eating bits of tuna and cheddar that she put in the cup holder.

And finally, Eloise still loves the water. Her latest thing is putting her face in. Sometimes she blows bubbles and often she gets a mouthful of water. Here she is in the bathtub with a bubble beard after inhaling a little bit of water. It doesn't stop her.