So, here's the deal: you feel HUGE! We could swear you are way bigger than all other babies your age. Your chubby legs, your long arms. PLUS you are way advanced, you're basically reciting Shakespeare.
Here are a few of your latest:
- You can launch + stand from a seated position
- (at 9 months) you took 3-4 steps at a time, now that you're 10 months, you're up to 6-8 steps, on to the next one!
- You are super entertained by your daddy; the minute he walks into a room you smile and laugh
- you LOVE your mommy with all your heart, while she may not elicit the same laughing response as daddy, you do love to cuddle and hug her, which in turn melts her heart
- (I think) you have officially said your first word: Dada: you pointed at him as he walked into a room and said dada: I think that's it
- You LOVE animals, any cat/dog/squirrel, you will chase after, guaranteed + you love them licking you, which is 25% disgusting and 75% awesome
- You eat like a mad man; you still have a love affair with your bottle, but you love anything you can chew on
- You are a BITER; you have two full baby teeth on the bottom, 4 partial on the top, and you LOVE to bite. Everything + everyone. It's cute, for now.
Remember that time I promised to update your blog ALL THE TIME?
Remember the time I counted how many weeks/months old you were and would update your blog with your stats - constantly?
That was cute.
Apparently, life takes over, and when I do actually have spare time, I'm either playing with you or sleeping - there is no in-between. Please forgive me.
Here's what I do know: As of this blog post (halloween) you were just shy of 10 months.
You had taken a several steps 3-4 at a time (which weren't documented = bad mommy).
You are eating like an adult.
You stand every time you're supposed to be sitting (highchair)
You feel HUGE to us, far superior to every other baby your age (total unbiased opinion, clearly).
Halloween was FUN this year!! We went to the pumpkin patch twice, daddy brought you to my work party where there were ponies, reptiles, a candyland exhibit, nickelodeon GAK, and all kinds of other fun stuff for kids.
The pumpkin patch was the best part - you seemed tired and not too into it until I let you down. This, as I'm learning, is key. While you love to be held, you really shine when we let you take in the scenery from the ground floor. This was (one of) our first experiences having other parents glare with looks of sincere disapproval - and it only fueled our fire. We let you crawl around in the pumpkins - it started with a photo opp in the patch, and you just took it from there, and took OFF. It was too cute, we just couldn't stop it, and what's a little dirt going to hurt anyone? Queue: rolling eyes, pointing, and gasps that these amateur parents let their 9 month old crawl around in dirt. Don't you know dirt kills people? Guess what judgers: it doesn't. In fact, our kid had a BLAST rolling around in the dirt, and he's still alive, so there. Here's proof:
Before catching up on the last 2 months (oops!), I'm going to write about today.
The day before Thanksgiving, I am so thankful to have the day off, and while I was tempted to take you to daycare (since we ARE paying for it), I couldn't help but keep you home all to myself - even if it meant compromising the hundreds of errands I had to run today. Oh well!
I miss you every day.
In some ways, it gets easier: Routine, schedule, it's good for you AND me, I have me time, it just so happens I love my job and like being there, it just so happens you love your daycare and your friends.
In some ways, it gets harder: you are clapping, walking, almost talking, waving, laughing like a mad man, you are growing like a weed, teeth are coming out of every corner of your mouth.
At the end of the day, I know our situation is right for us, but it makes me cherish these random days when it's just you and me, catching up on all that we've missed.
Today was perfect - just a chill day running errands (you love the grocery store, thank GOD!), and then we came home and just PLAYED. You are so fun these days, you love laundry baskets, the dogs are your best friends at home, books are your favorite, and you LOVE your mommy (SCORE!).
Now, to set the stage: you took your first few steps at just 8.5 months - since then, you've come to realize that the quickest way from Point A to Point B is via crawling, but you are becoming WAY more courageous. Ok, back to the story...
I had just finished the 3rd reading of your favorite book (Peek a Who?!?) and got up to run to the kitchen. You got lonely quickly (as you always do) and started yelling; not screaming, not crying, but yelling. Just a friendly reminder that you're here, waiting for more playtime. I came back into the room - your face lit up (and my heart melted, as it always does when you give me this face). I saw that you were launching off of the ottoman and I knelt down - at this point, you took an impressive 8 steps toward your mommy - arms wide open, face so happy, adorable gummy grin as you fell into my arms. You walked 8 steps and fell into my arms, and of course, I started crying, bawling, actually. You had taken a few steps before, but this was by far the longest you had traveled on those two chubby legs. Not to retrieve a toy, or chase the dogs, you walked with confidence and determination to hug your mommy. It is these moments that remind me what life is all about. In that moment, nothing else mattered. You are growing and walking and becoming more handsome by the minute, and while I am sad that I can't be here with you every minute of every day, I am SO thankful that I have the honor of witnessing these epic moments that in my heart of hearts I know are reserved just for you and me.
Just an ordinary day made extraordinary by the simple things in life. Thank God for you, baby boy.
I love you. (and yeah, I'm crying as I write this, you'll understand some day).
here's you, after you walked all the way across the living room (just taking a few steps in this vid, old news:
