Liv and Mama
Originally uploaded by kyleroth.

Liv was 11 months old on Sunday. I have a feeling that this month is going to fly by so I need to get going on what is sure to be the biggest social event of her life thus far.

I’ve decided to change her name to Houdini. This kid can break out of everything…bumbo, bouncer (both of which she’s too big for, but I need them once in awhile when the situation arises), highchair, stroller…and is well on her way to figuring out how to escape the crib and playpen. She likes to climb the stairs, but only if I’m not looking or happen to leave the room for a moment (I really wanted to avoid the hideous baby gates that I seem to have a way of constantly tripping over).

She loves to play tag. Kade will take off running and she follows close behind shaking her little biscuits as she speed crawls after him. When she gets him in sight, she’ll giggle and turn around so he’ll chase after her. It’s quite a sight.

Just within the past two weeks, she has started to consistently associate her words with objects. She yells for me with a sweet little, “muhma.” At the sight of Lola and Rocco running around, she’ll point and say “gog.” And her bottle, well she goes nuts for that thing…saying “bah, bah” until she gets it into her eager little mouth…cause lord knows I starve her. I think that she also refers to her favorite of all foods…crackers, as “cah cah,” but it’s not as clear as the other words so I can’t be certain. How could I forget “dah dah”? She is definitely a daddy’s girl.

Yesterday I noticed that she was holding onto a toy with both hands next to a table and was standing unsupported without even realizing it. It’s only a matter of time before she truly takes flight…watch out Kade, your retribution is coming.

We have an heirloom, children’s rocking chair that Liv has become quite fond of. She’ll climb into it and watch all the activity around her. She used to just stand in it, but now that she knows she can sit, rock and relax…she uses it for a much needed rest (the kid has an exhausting life…really).

She is still entirely toothless, with so sign of an impending arrival either. This has not stopped her from devouring food, though. She can eat just about anything you throw at her.

This time last year was a very uncertain, anxious, and frightening time. Liv was our beacon of hope through it all, and her peaceful, loving, quiet (albeit sneaky at times) nature reminds me every day that the sun can shine even through the rain…the storm will not last forever…and the calm will be sure to follow close behind…chasing away the memory of what went before it.