Baby Mim - 10 Months

Dear Mim,

TEN MONTHS.  I'm slightly in shock that we've entered the stage of double digit months.  Time is flying by at the speed of light and I'm baffled each time I flip the page of my calendar that you're another month closer to turning one and that much farther from being a tiny baby.  You are growing so quickly these days and you're starting to resemble a kid as my squishy baby fades away.  I'm not ready, sweetheart!  I'm just not ready!

I think the biggest change this month is in your mobility.  I swear it was only a few days between the time you started dragging yourself around on your belly to the time that you were speed crawling around the room faster than we could keep up with.  And from there, you started pulling up and cruising around on the furniture, like you'd been doing it your whole life.  Up and down was no problem for you as we watched you work on your balance and steady those wobbly little legs.  You also took me completely by surprise when showing me that you could climb stairs and I almost had a heart attack after my back was turned for 5 seconds and you were half-way up the staircase.  

Your gained mobility has come at a price though, your little forehead has taken quite a beating and you've had multiple bruises in various spots on that shiny noggin of yours.  I know once you start walking it'll only get worse and I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for more scrapes and falls by self-medicating with wine.  I hope you like Band-Aids little lady.  Between your wobbles and your brother's dare-devil stunts, you two are going to turn me grey sooner than anticipated.  I don't know whether to invest in helmets and knee-pads or just buy a case of wine and hope for the best.

I know I probably say this every month, but your personality is really starting to shine!  You are so much fun these days.  You are much sweeter and loving than your brother was at this age.  He never slowed down for a second, but you love to stop and give hugs and kisses.  Despite being very mobile, you still love to be held (and passed back and forth).  You love snuggling, rocking and nighttime cuddles.  You are just so sweet and affectionate.  You give pats on the back, face touches and the best sloppy open-mouth kisses.  You've also started to lay your head down on any pillow or blanket you find and snuggle in, which is so ridiculously adorable.  You love to laugh and be tickled, which makes my heart melt every time.  

You are also a lot like your brother in that you are stubborn and persistent and opinionated.  You want what you want and you want it immediately!  You will scream your head off if he takes something away from you that you wanted.  But then again, you will take things from him quick as lightning, with absolutely no remorse.  When you see something you want, you throw your whole body towards it (usually launching yourself out of our arms) and you usually get it.  There's really no telling you no right now, as you absolutely refuse to take that as an answer.  I like that. :)  

You are still a GREAT eater.  There's really not much that we've found that you won't eat.  You had ice cream for the first time while we were in Florida and it blew your mind.  You ate almost my entire cup of ice cream and then screamed at me for 10 minutes after it was gone in frustration and anger.  The next night we got you your own cup.  You love chicken and steak, like fruits and veggies and go nuts over anything sugary.  You're totally my kid.  You still take a small bottle in the morning and before nap time, then a big bottle at bedtime and for our dreamfeed.

At your 9-month well-visit (which was a month late), you weighed 21 pounds.  Most of that is in your thighs, which are so wonderfully squishy and amazing.  You wear size 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  You are getting way too heavy for me to carry around on my hip all the time, but you insist.  My left arm is SO strong.  

I'll stop there because this post is a bit late (you're going to be 11 months before I know it), so I'll save the rest for that post.  Suffice it say that you're just about the greatest little thing ever.  Keep it up, Mimmy.

Love, 

Your mama