Natalia at 11 Months

Last week Natalia made it to the 11 month mark. And despite her best attempts to injure herself, she did it in one piece!

There is no convincing Natalia she isn't at least three years old. We took the kids to the park on Sunday, and you can tell it drove her nuts that she wasn't physically able to climb and keep up. Thankfully, she was also happy to sit with me and swing.

She imitates everything her siblings to. Somehow, a nightly game has evolved where after dinner the three big kids and Leon's Baby Mickey all crawl in bed with me and pretend to sleep. (I get to lay down and close my eyes for this game. I like it even if it means elbows to the eyeballs and the occasional foot in the ribs.) Natalia can't climb on the bed yet (thankfully) but she joins in too. She stands next to the bed and lays her head down on the mattress and grins like mad.

On the day she turned 11 months she celebrated by standing unsupported for the first time. And, of course, she did it in the bathtub. It's more fun when you are naked and there is lurking danger. (Then again, isn't everything better that way?) Tonight she stood in the middle of the room and clapped along while Ree sang (REALLY loudly - Leon complained his ears hurt).

Natalia loves the dogs, although I'm not sure the feeling is mutual. When Pru is stretched out on her side, our little tank likes to crawl back and forth over her. From Pru's back to belly, belly to back, again and again. Max was her bestest friend in the whole world til he growled at her. Not that we blame him. She is always playing with his collar and tags while they are attached to him. We've caught her holding his food dish in the middle of a meal. Twice. And he just stood there wide eyed wondering what to do. So when she decided to climb on his bed and steal his blankie to tuck herself in while he was sleeping he finally got in her face and growled. If he could talk, he would've been shaking his head saying, "Enough is enough, kid."