Happy 11 Month Birthday, Allison!

I apologize for my brief blog hiatus. We were out of town for a week and returned to eat, breathe, sleep and live HOPE (Hutchinson County Oil Patch Extravaganza). We will continue to eat, breathe, sleep and live HOPE until after our "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" clean up party on Sunday. Please breathe a sigh of relief with me... After HOPE we are on a down hill slope with a few more travels and most importantly, a first birthday party! Then, perhaps, we will take a rest!
However, while in Norman, our little dear turned eleven months old! Let's take a look at Allison's accomplishments, shall we?

*Allison is 18 pounds! Can you believe it?! I cannot! She is filling out rather nicely!
*Allison still wears a lot of 6-9 month clothing, but she can also wear 9-12 months. Lately, I have been purchasing 12-18 month sizes just to be safe.
*She is STILL bottle free and pacifier free! My girl is a full on sippy cup girl! All of the bottles and pacifiers are put up and kept up! The entire transition was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Thank goodness!
*Allison is still nursing (just one more month!) and still eating a lot of food! She took it upon herself to let us know that she does not want anymore formula. That is fine. She just nurses and eats her solid food. I give her water or water mixed with apple juice in her sippy cup. Even though milk is to be given to babies only after their first birthday, I cheated. She has had a couple ounces of whole cow's milk on occasion.
*Allison's favorite foods are still: bananas, goldfish crackers, peas, turkey, ham, soy chick patties and pizza. She still has yet to find a food she does not like!
*After this past weekend, Allison decided it was acceptable to eat off of a spoon again. She boycotted spoons about a month ago in an effort to tell me she was completely finished with baby food. She has insisted on only feeding herself...with her hands. Last Friday, while in Norman, we went to Passionberri. Allison had a bit of my frozen yogurt and decided that good things can come from spoons!
*Allison has four teeth and is getting two more in on top right now!
*She is as fast as lightening in her walker!
*She is EXTREMELY close to walking! She cruises holding on to tables, etc, but has yet to venture out without support.
*Allison "purrs" and rolls her "aaaaaarrrrrrrs." We call her our little senorita! When she is crying and upset, she makes an "aaaaaarrrr" sound and rolls her "aaaaaarrrr." She certainly gets that from Nick because I cannot roll my "R's". She also makes close to the same noise and purrs when she is happy or concentrating.
*She adores Margo and other dogs. She has a special squeal she makes when she sees animals!

*She still adores Elmo!
*She is in full fledged "Mommy phase!" We really hope this will pass soon!
*She is completely curious and inquisitive about EVERYTHING! However, she listens and obeys (most of the time) when told, "No! Do not touch!"
*Allison still sleeps about 12 hours a night and takes two 2 hour naps a day. However, if she gets off schedule, she is a trooper and goes with the flow!
*Allison loves other people and children (right now as long as mommy is near by). But honestly, she is so happy go lucky, I truly think she is smiling 99% of the time.
*She loves to read! She loves her books and her reading time.
*Allison still loves to run in her BOB with me daily. We just ordered a weather shield for the BOB so she can go even when it is cold!
*She is constantly on the go!
*She RUNS in her walker and crawls really quickly!
*She has the sweetest laugh in the world and I cannot believe she is eleven months old!