10 Months

Dear Annie,

You've made it to the double digits! And you really are getting to be SO BIG, as we repeatedly tell you. This was a month of big changes for you, mostly in the personality area. You are so much more responsive now, and seem to be trying to communicate more and more. We love to hear your babbles, and they are sounding more and more like words - I can't wait to hear all that you have to say!

This month you have definitely started exploring more - you like to follow us into the kitchen and travel around, but you still aren't getting into too much trouble, which we are thankful for. You learned to pull yourself to a standing position earlier this month, and are now walking tentatively around furniture. It is so funny to me to see a little hand reach up over the coffee table and then your head pops up!

You love playing little games with us - clicking our lips to make a noise, playing peek-a-boo, and patty cake (pat a cake?). It is really so fun to have a little back and forth with you now! Although we can't quite understand your language yet, you will "talk" to us by babbling, and wait for us to respond, and then make another noise when we stop.

Your menu of food choices has expanded this month - you are now nursing or taking a bottle 4 times a day, and you eat 3 meals and a snack. You've been eating a lot more of what we eat, which you seem to prefer to plain veggies or cereal. You really liked spaghetti and LOVED both of your Thanksgiving meals, especially the turkey. I have also tricked you into liking avocado again, by giving it to you as a finger food instead of in puree form. Ha! There isn't too much you outright refuse, but you have your favorites and have learned to just eat those first. At daycare today you ate all of your yogurt melts, and when Sue told you to finish your puffs before you got more yogurt, you apparently just put all the puffs on your lap to hide them. Sneaky girl!

Sleeping has still been good at night - you go to bed at 7, and wake anywhere between 6 and 7:30. We prefer 7:30, just so you know. You are now down to one nap a day, from 12:30-2:30, at daycare, and are getting to that schedule at home too. You don't seem to get too upset if we put you in your crib and you aren't tired though - you can entertain yourself plenty well just by taking your socks off, standing up, sitting back down and repeating.

We frequently get comments on what a content baby you are, and it's true - you usually are quite happy. The only times you aren't are when we are trying to contain you in some way, either by changing your diaper or putting you in the carseat, and you get over it quickly. You also are learning your balance and sometimes fall or bump your head when playing, especially since you can't seem to remember not to sit up under the coffee table. This does NOT make you happy, but your dad and I both can't help but be a little pleased that you want a cuddle after those tumbles!

Tonight you fell asleep nursing at bedtime, which I love. I love feeling your warm little body calm and content on me, and hearing your little snores. I will most definitely miss nursing when we are done, so I'm trying to enjoy these last few months as much as I can.

We love you, Annie!

Love, Mom