Once Meses!

I'm guessing most of you can figure out the title, but just in case . . . Eleven Months!  I seriously can't believe that 11 months have passed, or that in just one month Jayden will be one!  It sounds so much older, even though it's just one month more from now. 

I think today finally made me realize that I should have invested in those onesies with the numbers on them, instead of relying on my homemade signs.  Oh well.  Today's photo shoot took place over a few hours, in a few different locations, using a few different tactics . . .

Oh, you think you're going to take my picture?  Funny story Mama.  I'm going to move anytime you try to take it and then I'm going to try to grab the camera so if I'm not moving you are and it'll be blurry anyway, HA!

Yeah, we can both hold the sign, but you know I won't look at the camera while holding it.  And I DEFINITELY won't smile...

Fine, I'll pretend the sign isn't touching my foot and I'll just play with my book.  But I'm still not looking at you.

Oh, you think this'll work better while I'm eating?  Nice try.  I'm just going to reach for your camera with my hands covered in yogurt and mango and muffin and make an even bigger miss.  I win again!

BEST new game ever!  Mama and Daddy put a sign on my tray, Mama tries to take a picture and I see how fast I can grab it before the picture is taken.  I'm really super duper fast so I usually win.

Okay, Mama, you've been working really hard all day and taking good care of me, even though I whine constantly while I eat my solids and I hit the food out of your hand all the time.  So just this once, I'll let you get a picture of my face while I'm happy AND the sign.  (Mama says "thanks Jayden, you just made my day!")

We've had a good weekend visiting with Carmen's dad - we've been to the beach, to an outlet mall and to old town Orange.  Jayden is warming up, although slowly.  He smiles at big Carmen but is still not sure whether or not he can trust him!  I've tried to leave the house a couple of times so that the boys could play together - Jayden is usually better with people when I'm not in the room. 

Tomorrow we're not sure what we'll do, maybe go back to the beach (big Carmen loves the beach) or find something else fun to do in the ridiculous heat.  It has been in the 90s and somewhat humid. It's nothing like the east coast, I'm sure - but it's been much hotter than we are used to.  Big Carmen and Carmen have definitely taken advantage of the pool this weekend. 

Jayden is continuing to learn new things almost daily.  Over the past few days he has figured out how to stack one of his toys - and he has been putting things in boxes, taking them out and putting them back in.  Finally, he can help me clean up!

He got two on and figured out how to get the green one on.  At one point I looked over and he had stacked them all in order, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.  Have I mentioned our child is a genius?!?

The poor baby has also been teething like crazy.  As exciting as it is for us to see him get teeth, I think it is ten times more painful for him.  Last night he was up quite a bit, three or four times at least.  Carmen was incredibly nice and took the brunt of the responsibility.  I feel so bad for him because he is practically still asleep, he just keeps wailing.  He had a fever, he ate less than normal and he was congested - all side effects of teething!  Thank goodness we only go through this once in our lives, it's just too bad it happens when we're so young we can't do anything about it. 

A couple more photos, from Laguna Beach yesterday and Orange today:

Jayden at breakfast, checking out the table next to us and the Carmens walking around Laguna after breakfast. 

Wearing Daddy's hat at lunch today.