Andrew's 10-Month Update!

Dear Andrew,

Hey there baby boy.  I can't believe it's only two months until you turn one!  How can that be?  Your personality shines brighter each and every day.  You're full of big smiles, big laughs and, of course, mischief.  You're very favorite thing to do is climb the stairs at home.  You race over to them when we aren't watching and climb them as fast as you can go.  You'll give us this sly look and just head out on this race with a big laugh.

You love to climb-- you climb in boxes, up the stairs, over and under anything you can find.  You also really like to stand and have taken a couple of steps!   You're not ready to walk yet, but the desire is definitely there.  It will be this month, I think!  It's so fun to watch you try and figure it out.  You'll just let go of what you're holding on to and stick your hands high up in the air with a big grin on your face.  You'll take 1-4 steps and then plop back down on your bottom.

You've pretty much given up eating baby food-- only table food for you.  This makes it better and harder on mom and dad.  Better in that you'll eat whatever we're having for dinner.  Worse in that I have to scrounge up something to feed you for lunch b/c you can't have a catered meal yet at school.  One day soon!  You totally dig this creamed spinach that comes out of the freezer section.  Like, totally love it.  It's 100% your favorite.. except for maybe spaghetti.  That may rival your attention, too.  You love it.

We haven't gone any fancy places this month-- just more of the usual.  You enjoy splashing in the pool and are an overall easy baby... except you're on the move.  If I blink, you'll be gone.  We had to install a legitimate gate on the stairs because there was no deterring you from them.  You do really well at school and will be moving up to the next class next month (aah!!!).  Since you've really taken to eating table foods I feel like you have really put on the lbs.  You are definitely chunky and have pretty much outgrown the infant car seat.

You love taking big brother's toys and you always want to be doing what big brother is doing.  At night time, you and Parker have "giggle time" in Parker's bed.   Parker loves making you giggle in his bed and watching you laugh.  He'll hug you (which you think is hilarious) and you'll hug him back.  You love exploring Parker's bed and all of his stuffed animals and Parker even lets you put your mouth on them.  It's a pretty special moment watching you two play together for a short amount of time.

You love sucking your thumb still and rubbing your ear.  I recently gave you a lovey in your crib and cuddle up with it each night.  It's pretty stinkin' sweet.  You're still a great sleeper and milk drinker.  You're often cranky on weekdays since the school day is so long, but you're a real trooper on the weekends.  You definitely still need two naps (switching to the new class in a month is going to be really rough in that regard) each day and drink four bottles.  You have three solid meals a day in addition to the bottles with some snacks as well.

This month we did have something exciting happen... you got a new cousin!  Baby Beckett was born on July 28th!  You're pretty fascinated with him and we're very excited that you are going to have a new play mate, soon!

So, let's see, at 10 months you...

• Weigh about 20lbs and are 30 inches tall.  You wear 9-12 month clothing for the most part.
• Drink 4, 6 oz bottles a day and have three table food meals a day.
• Sleep from 8-8:30 on weekends with two naps (one for about 45 minutes in the morning and the other around 2 to 2.5 hours in the afternoon)
• Have four teeth!  I can see an additional two teeth on the top growing in and an additional bottom two also are coming in.  The ones at the top are closing to appearing than he bottoms.  So, you're well on your way to having six teeth!  You handle getting the teeth really well... you chew like crazy, but you're not overly cranky (and, most importantly, you still sleep).
• Use your mouth like this insane sensory tool.  Anything you find you put your mouth on--including the floor.  You just test it out--you're not necessarily looking to chew and swallow it.
• Have 1-2 poopy diapers a day
• Love your big brother
• Enjoy pushing trucks with your hands and chewing on everything else.
• You're really good at pushing the walker and have just recently discovered how to make it turn (thank goodness-- otherwise, we had to follow you around all the time).
• Are definitely a little explorer-- going everywhere.  We have to keep all the doors shut around here and the stair gate locked.  Before we had the gate, we put up two chairs to block it off.  We turn around and then find you halfway up the stairs!  You  had climbed under the chairs and over the wood to get yourself to the step.  Very clever!

You are so much fun to be around and are my cool little dude.  I can tell you're going to be a wild one, but that you have a big heart.  I can't wait to watch you grow more and more each day!  Mom and dad love you baby boy, always and forever.

Your face, all.the.time.

I can do this, guys.

Learning how to walk!

Parker's 10-Month Update!

Dear Parker,

You just seem to get bigger and bigger every day.  You are full of so much energy it sometimes makes my head spin.  Your smile lightens up any room and your laughter makes my heart full.  This month has also been a big month for you.  You've gotten three more teeth and are starting to eat some "people" food.  You have also gotten bronchitis where you saw the pediatrician three times in three days.  You have taken a few steps on your own, but for the most part you prefer to have someone hold your hand so you can walk around.

We also moved into a new house with so much more space!  You now have the freedom of a backyard and love your new swing.  You no longer swing in fear and will giggle and laugh.  You've been back to the zoo (and not noticed really any animals) and enjoy opening every cabinet that mom tells you "no" too.

You have started to figure out right from wrong and will crawl over to what you are not supposed to climb on very slowly and look back, flash that million dollar smile, and then inch a little closer.  It's so hard to say no to your sweet face.  You really do have a million dollar smile and you flash it all the time.  Your smile consumes your face and your eyes squint with the big ones.  So, of course, we do whatever it takes to keep you smiling!

At ten months:

• Wear size three diapers
• Drink 4 bottles a day, 6oz each
• Eat solid foods 3x a day with real fruit given as a snack
• Love spaghetti and pizza (you are your mom's son!)
• Sometimes will eat chicken, steak, and other foods.  You also like puffs and goldfish and any chopped up fruit.
• Sleep 10-12 hours each night.  Usually from 8-6:30 on weekdays and 8-7:30 on weekends.
• Nap twice a day for about 1 to 1.5 hours at each nap
• Don't like to be rocked to sleep at night... you prefer to just fall asleep on your own.
• Wear 9-months clothes but your pants are usually too short
• Do well wearing shoes, but you still like to eat your shoes
• Don't sit still for more than 1 minute.  You'll even just crawl about 2 feet sit for thirty seconds and then repeat.  You are always on the go.
• Favorite toys are Scout (Dee Dee Nana's dog), chapstick, pens, stackable giraffe from grandma Kathleen, Tupperware containers, doors that open/close and your walker that you push.
• Love going on walks and being outdoors in general
• Struggle with separation anxiety.  You don't like for us to be out of your sight.
• Love, love your daddy and him chasing you around the house.
• Can high five and wave.  Your daddy gives you a high five and "blows it up" with you and you find that hilarious.  He will just put you in the swing and give you high fives over and over again while you laugh uncontrollably.  I love watching moments like these.
• Haven't missed a beat living in the new house.
• Have been to see the neurosurgeon again and there hasn't been much change in your head growth.  It does look 1000x better, but it looks like most progress was made in the first 6 weeks.  Though, the hospital asked to photograph you for some marketing materials.  Everyone just loves your helmet designs that mom accessorizes your helmet with.  We just moved to aviators and air force stickers.
• Will sit still if we keep food on your high chair and let you feed yourself.  You do better with new foods if you give them to yourself instead of mom feeding them to you.  You are getting so independent.
• Officially a pain when changing your diaper.  You will not stay still.  It makes for a very stressful diaper change and usually ends up with one person holding you down and the other person rapidly changing your diaper.  Forget the diaper cream... we don't have time for that!  I don't know how to make this better for both you and myself.  Hopefully you'll grow out of it.  But, its a terrible phase right now!
• A good car trooper generally.  Your legs still push up against the seat, so I think you will like it more when you can face forward.  We'll think about that when your a year old.
• Will drink out of a sippy cup (water only).  I guess I need to start weaning you off bottles slowly.  Aaahh.... I don't know how to do that!
• Have five teeth... three on bottom and two on top.
• Have had three different breathing treatments at the doctors office where you screamed bloody murder.  Mom cried with you and when the doctor was examining you.  Poor, little guy.  You couldn't breathe.  We also had to use the albuterol inhaler on you.  I sure hope you don't have asthma!
• Have taken a few steps on your own, but much prefer to hold on to something when walking
• Take off like a nascar racer on your walker.  You haven't mastered moving around objects or turning yet.  You do best when its a straight shot.  :-)

You are so much fun to play with Parker!  You still love peek-a-boo and love to watch patty-cake.  But, you don't clap your hands.  You are also learning to wave "bye," but you don't wave on demand.  You usually wave while eating.  Slowly, but surely baby boy.  We love you, always and forever.

This is the smile that I love.  You do it all the time.  I'm also glad the swing no longer scares you.

Happy Easter!  Your face... priceless.