Hadley,
Today you are 11 months old! I cannot even begin to believe that you are almost a year old. These past 11 months have been absolutely amazing (and tiring), and so much fun! If it's possible, I think I love you more every single day. I can't wait to see your smiling face each morning, and I can't wait to get home every day and see your excited face as you crawl towards me. Your sweet toothy smile and your cute laugh light up a room. And your precious kisses (and "forehead kisses") melt my heart.

Every day you seem to be learning more new things these days. You are now standing on your own, without holding onto anything, and you are getting better and better every day at walking while holding onto things (the table, the wall, our hands, etc.). I am convinced that you will be walking any day now, and while that is exciting, it is also kind of scary at the same time. I guess mommy and daddy need to get busy Hadley-proofing more things in the house!

These days you have two great loves...Mickey Mouse and Murph. The Mickey Mouse thing is not new - you have been a big fan of his for a while now. But one of your new favorite things to do is "play" with Murph through the back door. You will stand there and look for him, and then when he comes, you just laugh and squeal with delight. Someday you two will be best buddies!

You are still a really good eater, and we are trying more and more finger foods in place of pureed foods. While that seems to make you happy, it also makes a huge mess!! But, everything is washable, right!?!

Recently you have discovered lots of things that have buttons for you to press, and you love that! Some of those discoveries include your books and toys, and some of them are things you don't need to be playing with (like the computer keyboard and the dvd player).
You were sick for a week this month with (another) ear infection and the flu. We kept you home for a week, and spent lots of time cuddling with you. Luckily, you got better quickly (your case of the flu was very mild) and returned to your happy self.

Oh, my sweet beetle bug, I love you so much. Thanks for making every day an adventure, and for keeping mommy and daddy on our toes. I love you to the moon and back!
Mommy