12th Month

11 Months Old

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Walking.  That's the big one.  She started taking bigger steps right after she turned 11 months, but she has been walking since 11 and a half.  And she's pretty fast too.  Wish me luck.

I've seen more of her personality coming through.  She is an organizer.  She likes to have things where they go and she is the one to decide where they go.  Many times I find my shoes on the couch - always in the same place.  

She gets frustrated when she can't do something that she sees us do.  She wants to try and she does not want help.  

She likes to find easy, more efficient ways to do things.  For example: she has a toy that has a row of animals that pop up when you push or twist a button.  To start again, instead of pushing each individual top of a toy down, she turns the toy on it's side and rolls it over so they all go down at once.  

She is more picky about the foods she eats.  She has learned that she doesn't have to eat everything that is put in her mouth and often will let things just fall back out of her mouth.  

Her two back teeth on her left side are starting to come in, so I expect them this next month.  

She loves her dad's ipad.  Sometimes I think she will say "ipad" before "mama."  SIGH.  She also loves my phone - a fact that I don't love.  But yes, I did give her the phone in the last picture because that was the only way she was gonna stand still long enough for me to take the photo.  

She has also started copying me - for better or worse.  Example:  when I get frustrated I often take a deep breath - in through the nose, out through the mouth - sort of thing.  Lately I have noticed Reka doing that.  It gets better.  Last night at dinner she takes a noodle, looks right at me, drops it on the floor  - and then takes a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth.  Doesn't even take her eyes off me.  Great.  My 1 year old is mocking me.  :D

And here's the proof!  I've been working with Reka trying to get her to say different words - my favorite, of course, is mama.  So, the other day she ran to me with open arms saying "mam - mam - mam....."  Success! I pulled her to me and gave her a big hug!  Yes!  The proud mam-mam-mam!  I think I even said, "that's right!  I'm mam-mam-mam!"  The moment I let her go she turn and runs to her blankey with open arms saying, "mam - mam - mam...."  Ah well.  Maybe next time.  

By the way, she does say some words.  Again - sounds like "gehn" - and yes - sounds like "essss."  

All in all, a good first year.  She is definitely a joy and a blessing to our family.  

Boston: The Ride Home

Then we were off.  The long drive home.  

The very very very very very long drive home.

That dad drove and drove and drove.  Then he drove and drove some more.  And after that he drove and drove and drove.  I was tired of sitting and wanted to get up and move around.  So finally somewhere in Rhode Island, that dad stopped the car.  

We all got out for some Wendy's.  

I was happy to be out of the car.

Mama got some chili.  It came with crackers!  

She also got me a potato but I just wanted her crackers.

I shared my crackers with that dad.

It was messy. But don't worry, that's what mama's are for.

Then we got back in the car and drove and drove and drove.  Then I wanted out again.  So that dad stopped at a rest stop in Connecticut.  It was nice.  There were lots of doggies.  

I was thirsty so mama gave me some milk.

Then we drove and drove.  But then we stopped!  We made it to New London!  That's where we would get back on the ferry!  During the day time!  Mama say we would be able to go on top of the boat and see the water!  YAY!

We got there just before 2.  But all the boats were full.  We waited and waited.  Then we waited some more.

Here's me and that dad waiting.

And waiting....

The water and some boats

A no parking sign

We finally got on the 3:30 boat.  

Here's our boat coming.  

A view of our car

No they are not packed in as tight as they look.  They are packed in tighter.  

It was hard for mama to carry me and maneuver through the cars.  And that was when the rest of the cars weren't on!  We are the top white van on your upper left. 

Once we got on the boat we went up top so we could see the water!

There's me and mama!

A family group shot

(I wanted that dad's glasses)

The view

I was SO sleepy, but I didn't want to miss a single moment.  So much water to see!  But inevitably....

I succumbed

In case you missed my cute little sleepy face:

I slept until the boat docked.  The parents tried to get down to the van without me waking.  Silly parents.  I woke up going down the stairs!  And good thing too, 'cause it was quite a show!  Mama and that dad weaving in and out of spaces between cars, squeezing through places that are half their size....  Then we got to the van and the cars were parked too close for us to even open the door!  We stood there thinking we would have to let all the cars to the side of us go first before we could even get in!  Finally mama somehow squeezed into the front seat.  I'm not sure how she did it.  Don't even think she knows.  But she figured we had to get in before the cars started going - for our general well being!  After she was in, that dad gave me to her and she got me in the car seat.  Then that dad got in.  I didn't see how that was accomplished.  Neither did mama.  But he did it.  And just in time too!  A few seconds later were off!  

Here's the welcome sign.  

Mama loved Orient Point and the North Fork of the Island.  It was beautiful.  Much more open than the South.  However, I didn't let her enjoy it too much.  I decided I was done and the parents needed to get me out of here.  A half hour later, that dad was still driving.  So I complained louder.  It didn't help.  Finally we made it home.  I was so happy to see all my toys and my crib and everything else!  

Mama loved the trip.  She loved seeing all the wonderful places that she has read about.  It made the history come more alive.  She said she could almost feel John Adam's presence at some places in Boston.  She loved the Adam's home and the little town!  She really enjoyed the ferry ride.  But mostly she loves that dad who knows how much history means to her.  And she loves me.  She loved spending time together as a family.  It was the best trip EVER!  

Boston: A Last Look

After the quick stop in John Adam's hometown we drove to Boston for one last look.  Here's that dad driving.  At the same time he is looking at the map.  Mama thought this was out right dangerous.  

So she took a picture in case we did survive. 

That dad thought it wasn't as dangerous as she thought 

so he told her to take a better, more authentic driving-while-reading the map picture.  

As luck would have it, we made it to Boston again without accident.  Whew!  

Here's an old pub we passed on our way into town! 

A view from the car

Before we go much further I should mention I was still asleep and it was raining, so this post is dad illegally parking, mama jumping out - looking around - reading information - taking a picture - and jumping back in the car (repeated SEVERAL times).  

Now let us begin.  

First Stop:

The Old State House

It was here, John Adams declared that the child Independence was born.

Enduring ideas about the proper role of government were explored and debated at The Old State House by Boston's leading patriots.

Right outside it's doors, the Boston Massacre happened....

And speaking of The Boston Massacre....

The Boston Massacre began in 1770 when tensions were high between Bostonians and Redcoats sent to Boston in the wake of the Stamp Act riots. Occasionally things would erupt into fist fights and angry confrontations. On March 5, Private White, on guard at the Custom’s house in King’s Street (now State Street) left his sentry box and struck young Edward Garrick in the face with the butt of his musket for insulting his commanding officer. White soon found himself surrounded by an angry mob that hurled taunts and snowballs at him - and launched the Boston Massacre.

Reinforcements arrived.  Snowballs led to rocks, leading to a club being thrown, which struck a British soldier in the face.  Then the first shot was fired, followed by more, resulting in 5 men dead or dying. 

Next Stop:

Old South Meeting House

Old South Meeting House was the stage for some of the most dramatic events leading up to the American Revolution, including the heated discussion on the what to do about the tea (leading to the Boston Tea Party). 

Then...

King's Chapel Burying Ground

King’s Chapel Burying Ground boasts such illustrious residents as John Winthrop, Massachusetts’ first Governor and Mary Chilton, the first woman to step off the Mayflower.

Which is next to...

King's Chapel

In 1688, the Royal Governor built King’s Chapel on the town burying ground when no one in the city would sell him land to build a non-Puritan church. Boston's first King’s Chapel was a tiny church used by the King’s men who occupied Boston to enforce British law.

The original building was wood.  The stone exterior was was built in 1749.

Then more driving...

and more rain...

Then: 

Boston Latin School and Benjamin Franklin Statue

On School Street a mosaic and a statue of noted alumnus Benjamin Franklin marks the location of the original Boston Latin schoolhouse, which was completed in 1645. Four signers of the Declaration of Independence attended Boston Latin

Ben Franklin, though one of America’s greatest minds, is also one of its most notable high school dropouts. 

Mama thought it was fitting to have a statue of a drop out commemorate where the school once stood.

There was also a statue of Josiah Quincy III

 president of Harvard University (1829–1845), US representative (1805–1813), mayor of Boston (1823–1828)

And the old city hall was behind them.

And to Mr. Franklin's right, a really cool old building that mama loved

Then:

 Park Street Church

Prison reform began in this church, women’s suffrage was strongly supported here, and some of the first and most impassioned protests against slavery were delivered inside these walls.

And finally:

The Massachusetts State House

Massachusetts State House was completed in Boston on January 11, 1798. The land for the State House was originally used as John Hancock’s cow pasture.  The Massachusetts State House’s golden dome, its most distinct feature, once made of wood was later overlaid with copper by Paul Revere.

Then we were on our way out of Boston to make the long journey home.  However, we passed this on the way out!

Mama had no idea this was a real place.

Not as impressive as all the other sites, but hey!  It's CHEERS!  

And, yes, I slept through the whole thing.  The parents didn't even think to wake me.  Sigh....

Boston: Morning at the Hotel & Braintree / Quincy

When we left off I was waking the parents hourly, checking when they got enough sleep.  Finally at around 6:30 they did.  There was mumbling about "giving up" or something like that.  Either way we were up and it was time to get ready for our last day in Boston!

Yesterday we passed a sign for "Braintree" and mama said she remember that being important but couldn't remember why.  So, later that night she texted her resident history major and good friend, Aunt Courtney.  Aunt Courtney said John Adams was born in Braintree.  Mama loves John Adams so she and that dad made plans to drive through.  

While that dad was making driving plans for the day and mama was packing, I found a new friend!

She looks just like me!  

Then I got a little sleepy.  It was tough waking up every hour to check on the parents....

Finally we were ready to go.  It was wet and cold, 

so mama got me in the car seat with blankey.  

Then.... 

(after a quick stop at Dunkin Donuts for that dad....)

Braintree / Quincy!

It was BEAUTIFUL. 

Or at least that's what mama said.  

I fell asleep in the car and the parents didn't wake me.

Here's "Old House at Peace Field" 

It was rainy and I was sleeping,

so mama got out and took pictures while that dad stayed in the car with me.

Mama fell in love with this little town.  That dad asked her if she wanted to live there.  She said no because she wanted to live with that dad.  Awww..... She LOVES him.... 

Mama's one regret about this Boston trip is she didn't research enough.  Now that she looks back at the Adam's National Historical Park, there is SO much more she would have liked to see.  And she didn't even realize it was close to Boston until that night!  Well, she won't make that mistake twice.  Next trip she promises to be more prepared.