Dear Spencer... You're 11 Months Old!

Oh, Spence!
I can't believe you're one month away from turning ONE. I look at you every single day and can't believe how much older and bigger you're getting. You are so dang cute - your big smile makes my tummy do flips. We are all so crazy about you, baby.
I love how much your siblings are loving on you every day. A lot of times I won't be able to find you and it's because one of them has whisked you away to their room and shut the door. Nolan will set up his toys for you to play with, Andie will do performances for you or dress you up, and Cody loves to play in your room with you and your toys.
This month you have become even more mobile and quick. You are everywhere and all over. You love to watch and observe, and you love to be where everyone else is. You don't have much fear and when you see something you want, you go after it quickly. You are standing on your own for long periods of time and cruising around the coffee table and couches. You love to go on rides in the tractors with your siblings. You aren't walking yet, but I will bet that in the next month or two you will be running this place!
You have really started to explore more with food this month. You want to feed yourself and you will yell and scream at me if you're not getting fed quickly enough. You definitely like your voice to be heard. You love to feed yourself bananas, strawberries, peaches, broccoli, and anything else I will cut up for you. You also are eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, waffles, and the occasional mac and cheese. You still eat baby food from a spoon, but it's getting harder and harder to feed you because you want to do it yourself!
You love bath time and will be in there for 30 minutes or more if we let you. You can't stand diaper changes or getting dressed - you will usually scream at us the whole time until we finish. You have quite the spark plug personality and even though it makes me crazy sometimes, I actually love it! You seem to be determined and vocal - which is evident when you want to be heard among the chaos of our household.
You slept through the night last night for about the 5th time in your life. Most nights you are up once or twice to eat and get a diaper change before going back to sleep. Sometimes you also just want to be held and snuggled. You have been working on getting more teeth, which has also been painful for you and made sleep a little more difficult on some nights. Overall, you're doing much better than you were a few months ago and I have been grateful for the longer stretches of sleep.
You are still tiny, snuggly, and I love holding you. You love to be carried and I will never say no when you put up your little arms asking to be held. I love to feel your little body next to mine. You have been doing much better in the car, although you still have your moments where you are not happy to be in there.
I feel a little sad sometimes to know that our breastfeeding journey is over, but you are still getting some breastmilk from the frozen selection we saved up. You don't mind formula or the bottle and you eat anywhere from 16-20 ounces a day. You are a great eater! You are wearing size 12 month clothes and they fit perfectly. I am looking forward to your 1 year old well check so we can see how you're growing.
I am trying so hard to soak you up, Spencer. I can't believe you're approaching one year old. My baby. I love you so much. I hope you always know just how loved and adored you are - just being you! You are here for a reason, and I believe that so much. Daddy and I talk about how cute you are every single day, we still can't believe you are ours!
I am so grateful and happy to be your mommy. I love you to the moon and back times infinity... forever!
Love,
Mama