TEN MONTHS

C -

It's hard to believe that you are nearly a year old. You've grown so fast - where has my little baby gone? You've been crawling since late spring and in July you started pulling yourself up into a standing position. These days you are constantly on the move - crawling, climbing, and standing again any object that will support you.

You are now capable of: climbing unassisted onto your sister's bed; jumping on said bed; climbing all the stairs; climbing onto the toy box; climbing into the toy box; lifting the toilet seat, holding it open, and playing in the water; removing the toilet paper roll and unrolling it; pulling the water table over when there is not sufficient water in it to support your weight; and moving the little table and chairs around in the sunroom.

You are one busy little man.

It's pure joy to watch you motor around the house.

You continue to be one pleasant little fellow. Everyone remarks about how smiley you are and how expressive you can be. You have a wonderful pout-y face and when you put your lips together to say "oh, oh" I get the giggles. Your double (triple) chin is still soft and adorable. Watching your personality develop is delightful.

As of today, you:

-- have eight teeth
-- have survived four ear infections
-- weigh about 24 pounds
-- enjoy eating carrots, sweet potatoes, black beans, peas & broccoli, and all kinds of fruit
-- are sucking in the sleep department
-- continue to nurse well
-- like bottles with rice milk
-- cannot stop biting
-- have a nearly full head of hair, which looks to be a light strawberry blonde.

You are a wonderful snuggler. You also love to be held, which can be exhausting. However, the muscle definition of my arms is improving. You love swimming and bath time. You also love anything that belongs to or is being used by your sister (must to her dismay). You are finding your voice and are often heard yelling noises like "di-di-di" or "da-da-da".

We are teaching you to sign. Hopefully that will help you communicate more effectively.

You are such a delight. As you enter your eleventh month of life I pray for no more ear infections and some better nights of sleep. This whole waking up around 2am thing needs to end TONIGHT.

I love you,
Mama