Months 9 & 10
Senses: Your baby is very interested in touching different textures -- make sure there's nothing hot or sharp in her way, then let her explore.

Body: She pulls up to a standing position and may begin cruising along furniture.

Brain: Around 9 months, separation anxiety gets stronger (prepare for clinging) as your baby begins to distinguish between familiar and new people.

Communication Skills: Your baby will start to sound out consonants like p and f.

Aww Factor: She realizes she's the one in the mirror and smiles at herself.

Fave Toy: The contents of your low bookshelves. She loves dumping stuff on the floor.

Playtime: Hide-and-seek. Crawl out of baby's sight and then pop out -- she'll giggle like mad!

Mealtime: She's ready to experiment with feeding herself, so give her finger foods like Cheerios and tiny chunks of apple.

Months 11 & 12
Senses: Your baby's very interested in different scents, so introduce him to a sweet flower or the whiff of freshly baked bread or cut-up lemon.

Body: Prepare for a workout. Your baby will start standing alone for a few moments (before getting freaked out), then take his first step, his second -- his one-thousandth.

Brain: He understands symbolism: He realizes "mama" stands for you and pointing means "get me that, stat!"

Communication Skills: By his first birthday, your baby has a couple of words down and is officially the boss of you. He responds to simple directives like "Wave bye-bye."

Aww Factor: Chances are "mama" and "dada" were among his first words -- yes, you rock!

Fave Toy: Musical instrument. Greater motor abilities and control mean your little one is ready to bang a drum, shake a maraca, or tinkle on a xylophone.

Playtime: Dance party! Your baby can move and groove.

Mealtime: If at first you don't succeed.... Keep offering foods he spat out the first time. Research shows it may take eight to 15 exposures until a baby likes a new taste.

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