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Monday, January 11, 2010

10 months

**Another late post. I'm getting caught up though.**
Dear Zoe,

We're in the double digits....you're 10 months old! I can't believe that it's already time to start brainstorming for your first birthday party. It seems as though Mommy and Daddy just brought you home.

In the last month it seems like you've just "come to life" so to speak because you have become so alert, aware and engaged in the world around you. Mommy and Daddy are really enjoying watching you grow and learn.

When you were newborn we used to call you our little squirm worm because you squirmed so much. Now you really squirm a lot. You hardly can sit still which makes ordinary tasks such as combing your hair or cutting your nails a real chore. I often try to foolishly reason with you to sit still. Hah! Silly Mommy! You can, however, be bribed into sitting still if I give you a remote control (not an old one either, it has to be an actively used remote....you can't be fooled) or my Bla.ckb.erry. Speaking of the remote control and Bla.ckb.erry, you LOVE technology! I guess most babies do though. Daddy and I joke and say that you can do with one swipe of the hand things we never knew possible with the remote, Bla.ckb.erry, our phones, our laptops, you name it. You're our little compute whiz. And you love setting appointments on our phones. One day Daddy's calendar alarm sounded on his phone with the appointment description "pppp". LOL.

I hesitate to say this because I don't want to jinx it, but you're finally sleeping through the night. One evening I noticed you seemed pretty tired at 6:45, which was well in advance of your previous 8:30 bedtime. Following your cues, I took you upstairs for the bedtime routine and you were in your crib fast asleep by 7:30....and you slept until 6:00! When you woke up Mommy brought you to bed to nurse you and you went right back to sleep until 8:15!! This trend has continued although your wake time varies between 7:45-8:15am. Now Mommy and Daddy need to work on getting to bed earlier so we can benefit from the extra sleep you're dishing out these days. We're so proud of you, sweetness. It makes us feel so good when we know you get good rest. We're still working on your naps, but we rejoice that the evenings seem to be solved.

This month you started saying "dadada" although it's not specifically directed toward Daddy (yet!). When I ask you to say "mama", you say "yaya". I believe that means "mama" in your mind, although it's not specifically directed toward Mommy. It's just so exciting hearing you "talk" and seeing you attempt to communicate with us.

You're beginning to understand and respond to simple commands such as "sit down", "where's Gy.mbo" (your little clown from Gy.mbo.ree), "give kisses", "where's your peek-a-boo book", "where's mommy/daddy", and "clap mommy's/daddy's hands" (interestingly, you won't clap your own hands). You also learned where your nose, eyes and mouth are this month; you learned this very fast. Now if we ask you where your nose is, you lean in to our hand or arm and touch it with your nose. You're inconsistent with showing us your eyes and mouth, but you definitely know where they are. Zoe, Mommy and Daddy think you are the most amazing and most intelligent baby EVER!!! :-)

After doing some research on the topic, Mommy and Daddy decided to teach you baby si.gn lan.gu.age. We are starting with simple signs that are pertinent to your current interests: "milk", "eat", "more", and "all gone/all done". You haven't started signing back (yet), but you do seem to understand the signs, particularly the one for "milk" because when you see it you sometimes will lean in towards the breast. We're so excited about giving you a mechanism to communicate with us until you learn how to communicate more verbally.

This month, as advertised, you developed separation anxiety from Mommy. Some days the anxiety is worse than others, but it's not uncommon for you not to want me out of your sight. I often have to play peek-a-boo and slowly walk out of room to get out of your sight. Although separation anxiety combined with your continued stranger anxiety can be tough on me, I'm okay with it because I know it's just a phase. Mommy is committed to giving you the comfort and reassurance you need during this time. I love you so much, Zoe!

In terms of motor skills, you have become a much faster crawler in the last month. You still do this silly little crab crawl with one knee and one foot, but it's a fast crab crawl! And it's so cute. You also love standing. You stand so much and cruise along stationary objects. We've even caught you standing unassisted for a brief second or two. You're getting so strong.

Oh, this month you saw your first bit of snow! It was a huge surprise for all of us. You weren't too impressed.

Zoe, you are so very loved. Mommy and Daddy simply adore you. You are the best thing that has happened to us as a couple. We love you very very much!

Hug, kisses and all my love,
Mommy

10 Month Photo

First Snow!

Standing Tall

First Bubble Bath
(notice the bow in Zoe's hand...she snagged this from a Christmas present and wouldn't let it go)



Cutie Pie
(Zoe loves chewing on the phone)


1 comment:

Lady Anne said...

Hahahaha! I love the appointment alarm. Eddie has sent blank text messages before.