You are 10 months old!! You’ve entered double digit territory and in only two short months, we will be celebrating the big O-N-E!! I must admit that the past month has been the most challenging since your birth. Even though your Papa and I love experiencing life through your eyes and find so much joy in watching you grow and develop, the past month was far from filled with sunshine and roses.
The month was plagued with your ever-present cold which caused a cough and runny nose, contributed to you being extremely fussy and clingy, and prevented you from sleeping very well in your crib without being propped up in your car seat (thank goodness you still fit it in!!). Papa and I can’t be certain, but we think your cold also heighted your reflux symptoms and made for some extremely difficult bottle feedings and may have even caused you to stop enjoying even your favorite foods. To top it all off, you cut SIX teeth…OUCH…my poor little baby.
Despite your cold, congestion, coughing, teething, eating challenges, and reflux, you find joy in so many things. Some of your favorites include dismantling your play mat and chomping on the parts, shaking your maracas or banging together objects, deliberately throwing things to the floor while in your high chair, splashing and watching me blow bubbles during bath time, listening to stories, turning and touching the pages in your books, running around your entertainer, sitting and scooting to grab something fun to play with, standing at your Zany Zoo or activity table (or anywhere…you LOVE to stand), dumping out bins of toys, trying your best to get a hold of the laptop, our phones, remotes, glasses (both drinking and eye), listening to me and your Papa play music on your entertainer keyboard, my favorite being Papa’s version of the Rocky theme.
You always flash your biggest smile when I sing the ABC song or the Hello song from our Mommy and Me class. You love when I make animal sounds, especially the monkey sound. Even when you are in the back seat of the car in your car seat, I will make the monkey sound while driving and see you smiling away in your mirror. It is just too cute. I can’t wait to bring you to the zoo to see real monkeys!!
Even though we’ve had challenges during meal times over the past few weeks, you love broccoli, all fruits, pancakes, pizza, grilled cheese, graham crackers and yogurt. You eat much better for your teachers at school then you do for me and your Papa. What’s up with that?
In other developments, you are a chatter box and continue to be a razzberry blowing addict. I don’t *think* you have officially said your first actual word yet, but I have heard “Bye”, “Hi” and “Yeah”. I’m tough, so until I hear a word more than once in the correct context, it won’t be your official first word. Until then, we will enjoy all of your rambling, complete with Mama’s and Dada’s, and continue to teach you all we can.
You are also working on perfecting your pincher grasp and army crawl. Your favorite place to army crawl is on the bed, rushing toward the edge to peek over, which isn’t very safe my darling. You are also determined to pull up to standing, but you haven’t quite figured out that you must get on your knees first. I wouldn’t be surprised if you can pull up before actually crawling on your hands and knees. Either way, you are quite a bundle of energy and are constantly moving….you must have ants in your pants!!
Of course, you continue to be Miss Fuss-bucket during diaper or wardrobe changes, and when we wipe your nose, face or hands…LOOK OUT. You also haven’t been enjoying being on your tummy these days since you would prefer sitting or standing instead. But, it’s Mommy’s goal for you to learn to crawl so practice is required!!
Your cold seems to be winding down, and so far, no new teeth are cutting through so we are hoping this month is full of many new milestones that don’t include getting into the Guinness Book of World Records for the amount of snot mucus a baby can produce!!
I love every little bit of you and look forward to seeing your sweet face each day and being blessed by your smiles and giggles. I can’t imagine a day without your version of hugs and kisses…even if you do pull my hair and pinch my neck.
You are the sunshine of my life,
Mommy
