Raffi’s 11 month update
I say it every month, but every month is my FAVORITE one. As Raffi grows and develops I am having even more fun with him. I love the way we can interact now.
Here are 11 things about 11 months:
1. Raffi now stands unassisted and will stay there for a minute or so playing with a toy. He will take a few steps before diving for whatever he was reaching for. Walking full time is around the corner, and while I know I should be scared I’m really excited. When he crawls he still does his straight legged crawl.
2. He can follow basic directions! This was the month where I realized he understands me. It is such a unique feeling to know communication can truly be two ways. I taught him to put a block in a cup, put a cup in a cup, etc. Sometimes he listens and does it, but other times he doesn’t. If I ask him to go get his water he will usually oblige, and when I tell him to give me a hug he does.
3. Not only does Raffi have full on conversations with himself, he also has a few words. Right now he says “baba” (for Trig), “wawa” (for nonna), “PaPa” (for PopPop), and “baba” (for banana). He says lots and lots of other things, but who knows what they mean.
4. He is a little trickster. He spat out some water from his cup and I laughed really hard, so he then repeated it about 1,000 times. He makes me so happy.
5. Raffi will share with me or his stuffed animals, but he isn’t quite sure how to hand things over nicely. Instead, he chucks them at you. He also likes to throw food right off the high chair when he’s done eating. It is infuriating and funny at the same time.
6. When you leave and say BYEEEE while waving he will finally wave back! I love it when he waves. When Trig closes the front door Raffi starts saying baba? baba? baba? over and over again. He loves his baba.
7. Naptime is still at 9 AM and 2 PM, and he usually sleeps for 1-1.5 hours at each nap. His bedtime is closer to 7:30 PM, and he will sleep until almost 7 AM. I’m crossing my fingers it stays that way. At 11 months he is down to nursing 4 times per day and we are actively weaning.
8. Raffi will play peekaboo behind the curtains when he’s in his room. He loves his room and when he’s tired he just starts crawling up the stairs to go to his crib. When we were at the shore he even did it at our aunt’s house. He is a smarty pants.
9. I always hated changing Raffi’s clothes, but it recently has become much easier. He will now lift his feet to help me take off or pull on his pants, and he tries to help me get his arms through his shirts. He sometimes freaks out at diaper changes, but other times he will lay there and talk to me about his day as I’m changing him.
10. Raffi notices and loves when we are all together. He keeps looking from Trig to me and smiling as big as he can. He loves family time.
11. Sometimes while I’m cooking dinner Raffi crawls into the other room to play with his toys. That area of the house is completely baby proofed so I feel comfortable leaving him there and checking on him now and again. Many days when I check on him I can’t find him. Where is he? In his crawl tunnel. He loves crawling in there and playing in his little hideaway nook.
Click on the thumbnails for the full image –
Random facts:
Weight: estimated to be around 19.5 lbs
Wears: size 4 diapers, 6-12 month clothing (although he still fits in some 6-9 month pants), size 2-3 shoes
Teeth: 2 on the bottom, 3 on the top, currently teething.
Loves: people, swimming, sand, toys that do stuff, putting anything in any vessel and taking it out, slamming doors, opening every drawer and pulling everything out, shaking musical toys, music, dancing, doing things that make us cheer for him, pushing anything from boxes to his walker to a lamp,
Hates: car rides, car rides, car rides
Foods he loves: string cheese, yogurt, Goldfish, peas, broccoli soup, grilled cheese, potato chips (yes we gave him a couple), lamb, strawberries, bananas as long as you don’t slice them, fruit smoothies, cantaloupe, whole plums, spaghetti, eggs
Foods he hates: some days he will now reject blueberries!, cow’s milk,
Favorite toys: his tunnel, stacking cups, books he flips through himself, walker, fake cell phone, bear puppet, animal farm puzzle
Previous updates can be found here.
11 Responses to “Raffi’s 11 month update”
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oh my goodness, he is SO PRECIOUS!
What a sweetheart! God bless him…
He is adorable! I look forward to your updates every month. My daughter will be 11 months on the 17th and she is doing similar stuff as your son did last month so I’m looking forward to seeing what she’ll do next.
How are you going about weaning? I am so confused about it!
@Laura @FoodSnobSTL, I went from 7 to 5 sessions by just cutting them out at once and giving him tons of snacks during that time where he would usually nurse. Then 2 weeks ago I dropped down to 4 (morning, before 1st nap, before 2nd nap, bedtime). This week I dropped the one before the second nap and he falls asleep with minimal protest. I offer him a bit of cow’s milk but mostly pack him in with water and snacks.
Next week I’ll drop the one before first nap, and then I’m not sure if I’ll drop the nighttime or morning one next. He is pretty reliant on both of those.
Weaning is confusing and I have no tips for you except to share what I did!
We are confused about weaning over here as well! My baby will be 11mo on Sept 20. I’m not sure when to start. Was your ped ok with starting this early? Our’s suggested not starting until 1 yr ON THE DOT because my baby is allergic to milk. We will have to use a dairy free milk of some sort. Are you trying to get Raffi to drink a certain amount of cow milk during the day to replace breastmilk or just winging it? I know it will all be fine but I’m just scared:) Also this might be too personal for you to share, but I’m curious how YOUR body is handling the weaning process (do you pump?). Again, don’t feel like you have to share. I’m just not sure whether to pump some or not. Wouldn’t that tell my body to keep making that milk? Sorry for the rambles…
What a great update. He is absolutely adorable. His facial expressions are great and I just love his hair!! You sound so incredibly happy. 🙂 Way to go, mama!
Keri, I am weaning my 11 month 3 week old and I dropped his mid-morning and afternoon sessions in the past couple weeks. I would really recommend not pumping. That does tell your body to keep making milk. I was uncomfortable for a day or two during those times but quickly adjusted. I, too, am in Sabrina’s position of not knowing how to cut the first morning feeding or last session at night. My gut says morning will go first. Good luck to all you mamas!!
loving the princess purse!
Where did you get the crawl tunnel? My 10 month old would love that.
Hi Sabrina! Random question.
I noticed you’ve had Raffi in Size 4 diapers for awhile, even though he’s still well within the weight range for Size 3. Is this because of his height? Or have you just found Size 3 leaks or something? I’m asking b/c my baby is about the same weight as Raffi (though shorter ; ) and his diapers have been leaking a bit! Size 4 seems like it would be too big but maybe the weight ranges aren’t super accurate…?