slow down, you're going too fast...

Dear J,

As I write this, you are 11 months and 2 weeks old!  How can that be?  As time flies, I forget more.  I lose track of when you hit certain milestones or when you start doing new things.  I don't want to forget - I want to preserve every little moment and lock it up in my brain forever.  I told Mr. A that I want to start video recording all the sounds you make...because one day I know I won't be able to remember all the cute sighs and babbles and even your experimentation with the upper range  :)

Fingers in your mouth help produce cool sounds

I don't know if I am just acting like the typical mama, but I am super impressed with all that you're learning!  In just the past 2 weeks, you began:

1.Waving hello and goodbye, fairly consistently.  You have us all flapping our hands at the wrist to encourage you :)

2. Eating from a banana directly, without a spoon (as Mr. A likes to call them, "daddy-size bites!")

3. Tilting your head and pretending to hold a phone to your ear when I say, "Hello?"  This, I suspect, has developed from your obsession with cell phones.

4.  Drinking from a straw...a regular grown-up straw!  None of this baby straw stuff.  You did this all by yourself (after practicing using the straw a couple times), thus redeeming my guilt from never buying you a sippy cup past Stage 1 (beginner sippy cups for 4 month olds)!

5.  Walking, holding on the handles of your hippo cart, all the way across the living room and back!  You do this with a huge grin on your face and with such glee.  It makes my heart happy and also kind of makes you look like the world's smallest grocery shopper :)

Showing off your hippo cart to Grandma Lee

6.  Calling me "Mama."  Not quite as often as you like to call for your daddy, but it's enough to make me smile :)  I find it hilarious that you are the quintessential Korean-American...calling me "Mama" and yet using the Korean word for daddy ("Appa").

Mama & me  |  First trip to Annapolis

7.  Giving lots of hugs and kisses.  I never want to let go. :)

8.  Laughing at everything!  You're really developing an awesome sense of humor.  Today you cracked up so much every time I would blow raspberries on you.  And then when I did it to your daddy, you laughed even harder.  You're also amazingly ticklish.  Just two days ago, you suddenly burst out laughing and I didn't know why... until I saw that you were tickling yourself!

Giggly boy  |  First softball tournament (2nd place!)

You are growing  s o o o o   fast!   Your emo pointed out to me recently that I always make a sad face when she comments on how fast you're growing or how cute you are.  It's just a natural reaction for me as I think about how this is all going by too quickly!  Don't ever forget, though, that I do want you to grow (in so many ways) and love to see you do it!

I love you, baby boy :)  We are so proud of you.
Love,
Mama