Ten Months

Grace is ten months old and boy is her little personality making itself known. I feel like we just sit around and laugh at her half the time...the other half I spend chasing her or trying not to pull my hair out. No, not really! Although she has started testing us a bit. For example, she'll sneak toward the dogs' water bowl (stopping to glance back at me every so often) and then, when she sees me coming, crawl as fast as she can and tump it over...and just sit there in the puddle looking at me ever so sweetly. We've also experienced some very dramatic arching of the back, usually after moving her curious little hands away from something. GramB likes to work with her on just touching things with one finger (so that she can touch whatever she wants gently), which I think is too funny. Sometimes she actually does do it, but other times she gets frustrated and just starts frantically grabbing whatever she can get! On the other hand, she's gotten so much more lovable. She now gives kisses and hugs all on her own and, my favorite, lays her head on our shoulder when someone approaches. Her new way to fall asleep is kind-of straddling me with her head nestled in my neck or chest. I'd started thinking I was never going to get to hold her that way! Makes me melt. She's also clapping on demand, shaking her head (randomly), and saying "whoa". Evidently I've been saying it when she'd knock over blocks, fall down, etc. Then I noticed her doing it the other day each time she'd drop her keys out of the stroller, and ever since. Not sure if that counts as the official first word; it's definitely intentional (and without coaching). We keep working on Mama and Dada, which she babbles throughout the day along with numerous other sounds, but she just laughes at us. Oh well. The other big development this month was food. She can have meat now...and she loves it! She pretty much gets a taste of whatever we're eating these days, except for junk (and the few things she can't have until later), which makes meal time much more fun for all of us. She's got the pincer grasp down pat! Except for the pureed food I have left in the freezer, my baby food making days are over (for now at least). As for walking, I think we still have a while. She's let go while standing up a few times, but only lasts for a couple seconds before falling down. Everyday I just find myself getting more and more sentimental (a.k.a. emotional) about how fast she's growing up...she's nearly out of the baby stage and into the toddler stage. I have to keep reminding myself that it's a good thing! Love that little girl.

Oh, here are a few pictures taken this month (on my cell) that help show her little personality. Can you tell we have a favorite pair of pajamas?