PracCharOp for Dragon Paladin Monk Caster

[Stam]

I may shortly have the opportunity (or need) to replace one of my characters. I'd be bringing in an 11th-level PC with 49,500 GP (yes, that's below average) and most likely will have spare XP for crafting.

Setting is the Forgotten Realms.
Stats are 32-Point-Buy.

Race will be Human.

Important restriction: Only four classes or PrCs may be used over the course of the build.

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PHB 1, MM1, DMG1
Completes Series except Complete Champion and Complete Psionics
Environmental Series (Cityscape, Dungeonscape, Frostburn, Sandstorm, Stormwrack)
Heroes of Battle, Drow of the Underdark

Spell Compendium is entirely approved and available. All of it.
Psionics, on the other hand, are entirely disallowed regardless of book.

All WotC-published Forgotten Realms material from 3.0 or 3.5 sources, including FR-branded Dragon articles or web articles.

Magic Item Compendium is accepted on a case-by-case basis, so suggestions for equipment can be made from there.

I am looking to build an armored paladin caster utilizing the Knight of the Weave PrC (Champions of Valor), followed by the Abjurant Champion PrC (Complete Mage). And while I've got a few decent ideas as to build and whatnot, this is essentially a Noncaster starting build which picks up casting partway along. Decent casting, with access to decent spells, but the main point still stands.

Having recently seen a higher-level group being battered around by one of the DMs under whom I'd be playing, I sort of want to ensure this is as strong as possible.

Moving along: Here's my proposed build. Take it apart or suggest alternatives as you will!

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Starting stats 14/14/14/12/8/16. 2 points to spend, with another coming up shortly upon levelup. I'm thinking Cha is a good place to stick them.

Class breakdown (in order taken)
Monk3 - picking up Improved Grapple and Combat Reflexes as my choices.
Paladin3 - not planning on any alternate class features.
Knight of the Weave2 - just enough to get Armored Casting for that Mithral Fullplate.
Abjurant Champion3 - and planning on taking the last two levels immediately afterwards.

Feats:
1st: True Believer (Bahamut)
Human bonus: Jotunbrud. (Races of Faerun.)
Monk bonus: Improved Grapple, Combat Reflexes
3rd: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Mancatcher (Complete Warrior)
6th: (Open)
9th: Ascetic Mage. See items below!

Key Items:
+1 Mancatcher, obviously. 2k gold.
Gauntlets of the Talon (Relic, rationale for Bahamut and everything else) - 4k gold for MIC version (preapproved).
+1 Mithral Breastplate; 5k gold.
Custom armor crystal (likewise preapproved) to allow use of Monk AC bonus while armored. 10k gold for light armor.
Circlet of Mages for keeping more of my spells. 5k gold.
Bracers of Striking for backup enchantments. Price varies, but I'll be looking at Bloodstone early on.

Spells:
Here's where I need serious help. I have a very limited set of choices, barring dropping more cash on Knowstones or similar items. Save DCs aren't going to be particularly high, so I presume buffs/utility spells are better. In two levels my caster level and spells available will improve dramatically, but that's in two levels.
Spells Known @ 11th: 4/3/2, with spells available being 5/4/3.
Here are my first-thought picks:
1st: Shield (duh), Fist of Stone (ditto), Benign Transposition, Blood Wind
2nd: Resist Energy, Heroics, Wraithstrike
3rd: False Gravity, Vampiric Touch

Summary of build's strong points:
Cha of ~20 to AC and saves, even while wearing armor.
Swift-cast Shield spell providing +7 AC.
Reach weapon with free grapple.
Grapple check of at least +24
BAB of +9 @ ECL 11th.
Unarmed damage and possible enhanced healing, if cash available, for anyone who thinks getting in close is smart.
The best fast-tracked arcane casting option available which will add spell level known each time I level till 6th.

I've looked at going Monk2/Paladin4 instead, and there's little enough loss going that way, but I'm unsure of what real benefits that will provide over a little more unarmed smack.

Where am I going wrong, what could be improved, and how can I take this build (with a grapple mod that's already +12 before Str, BAB or other factors) to the next level AND stand a chance at keeping it competent in CastersRule territory? Spell suggestions for upwards mobility (other than Bite of the X line which I'm already all over as soon as they open up) would be nice too.

[sirpercival]

I suggest you don't grapple, since at your levels Freedom of Movement is likely.  However, if you really want to, may I refer you to my grappling handbook?

Knight of the Weave is a great PrC.  Monk is rarely worth it...

How does your DM feel about early entry?

[Stam]

Yep, it's noted that grappling is usually a sub-par tactic without some pretty far-out optimization. I have SOME of what you have in your handbook already (Gauntlets of the Talon add not just +4 to that, but also let me grapple incorporeal) plus I'm grappling at range; anything Medium without FoM is going to be screwed. Other stuff noted, but I'm unsure how smart a move it is to dedicate limited spells to something you already note shouldn't be your sole focus.

(Hence the whole question posted here: how do I do this reasonably well enough to play a decent role in a party, yet have other options available at the same time?)

FoM has...thus far...not been widely encountered in the campaign. This isn't to say it isn't likely, but I'll still be able to squash noncasters and minions, as well as casters who the DM hasn't prepped as I Scried You So Screw You.

Monk rarely worth it: Yup. In this case, it's two useful free feats (Combat Reflexes to go with my reach weapon, and Imp Grapple as a freebie), skills and backup/close range weapon - plus Cha to all forms of AC. If I drop that to 2 levels, and Paladin up to 4, I get me some turn attempts which could be used to power...what?

Early Entry: Nope. No luck here.

[Garryl]

What exactly are you getting from the 3rd Monk level? Still Mind, +10' speed, am I missing anything else? The speed boost won't even work in armor, and your armor crystal says for AC bonus, not everything else.

[Stam]

Higher Monk level for boosted things (1d10 damage instead of 1d8, at minimal equip), really. Still Mind helps, but...good point. Seems I'd do better off with the Monk2/Pal4.

Edit: And yeah, you read the crystal right. I lose Flurry and Speed while wearing armor.

[Stam]

Spell suggestions? What works well with the Limited List Gish?