Ten months

I feel like I just wrote your letter last month.  This month flew by too! It's hard to believe only two more months until you are one.  That is almost too much for me to handle.  The other day I watched your birth video and read the book I made you after you were born and I couldn't help but cry, thinking about how fast time is going.  It is so fun to watch you get bigger, but I wish it didn't go so quickly. 

Our biggest excitement this month was our trip to Vermont.  We got to meet your sweet new cousin Annabelle, and spend time with your aunt, uncle and cousins.  We had such a great time and you LOVED your cousins.  It makes me even sadder that they live far away now that you are old enough to enjoy them! 

Another big thing that happened this month was our first trip to the emergency room.  Afterwards we realized we probably did not need to go, but we were so scared when you woke up and couldn't breathe that we took you in right away.  We're still not positive what happened.  It could have been an asthma attack or just a build up of mucus, but either way it was so scary.  You have been sick a lot the last few months with bad colds and we are ready for you to be healthy!  The only plus of you being sick is you are extra sleepy and cuddly. 

Now that the weather is nicer we spend a lot of time outside.  We go on walks, although you do not like being in your stroller for very long, but I am determined to change your mind and we keep going!  You do love crawling around on our deck, swinging, going to the park or walking around the forest with daddy. 

It's funny how your preferences can change so much from month to month.  You now do not like the bath, as all you want to do is stand up on the side and try to crawl out.  While it's getting a little better, you still hate being in your carseat for long.  I think you just hate sitting still!  You are moving everywhere, pulling up on everything and trying to crawl on top of everything.  It makes me nervous that you are going to crawl out of your crib someday soon.  Please don't!!!

You're eating lots of new food this month and you'll try anything we give you.  So far your favorite foods are yogurt and cheese, just like your momma!  You started doing some funny things when you are eating.  You always put your right leg up and rest it on the top of the high chair.  And sometimes you bend down and eat food off the tray with your mouth instead of using your hands.  You are quite flexible.  I've been collecting a large amount of these pictures because it makes me laugh every day! 

You are talking more and more these days and you're little voice is so cute.  You still do the occasional man grunting sounds, but thankfully have a cute little voice in there too!  You definitely have a word for light and point to the ceiling and say it often.  I'm pretty sure you have a word for dog too, and say "dada" for most things and "mama" when you are whining. 

You're kind of stingy with your affection.  You give me lots of hugs, mostly when you are tired or when you just wake up.  But you are kind of picky with who and when you give hugs and kisses to.  I try to sneak in kisses any way I can get them!

Ironically though, you love grabbing, hugging, "kissing" other kids.  When we are at music class, sometimes you crawl from kid to kid and give them a kiss or grab them.  It is pretty funny.   You love being around other kids and get so excited when someone comes over.  I hope you stay this excited and happy about playing with friends! 

This month I got to celebrate Mother's day and it was wonderful.  I feel so thankful that God picked me to be your mom.  We say this every month, but you are getting cuter and cuter and more fun every month. It is hard to believe how much you change and learn every month.  You're getting more opinionated, a little wild and can throw the occasional fit when you don't get your way.  It makes me a little nervous about your strong willed self in the future!

Addiyln Jane you are the best.  We love you more than you know and couldn't be happier that you are ours. Happy ten months!

Love,

your mom

Hello 8 Months

Dear Addilyn, 

I know I say this every month but this month I really mean it! You have grown and changed so much and I can't believe how fast time is going.  I love the new things you are doing, but I miss those snuggly newborn days and want time to slow down a little.   Your personality is really coming out this month.  You are silly, active and love being around others.  You are constantly wanting to move and play and interact with whoever is around.  

You rarely cry and are happy most of the time, as long as you are being entertained and played with. You'll be content in your highchair or exersaucer for short periods of time, but usually like to be played with on the floor or on the couch.  You love being tossed in the air, playing peek-a-boo and running around the house.  You laugh a lot more these days and your sweet little giggles are so cute.  You don't make your manly grunting sounds as often, which surprisingly I miss.  You've started making "la la la" and "ba ba ba" sounds.  And have discovered that you can scream, yell and make all kinds of noises!

This month you ate puffs for the first time and you love them! Whenever I take out the bottle and shake it you start flailing your hands and laughing.  No matter how many I put on your try, you try to grab them altogether and put them all in your mouth.  They've worked well for bribing you to sit still for pictures too!

 Besides loving puffs you like just about any food we've given you.  Sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, apples, pears, peaches, and bananas to name a few.  Your favorite food is probably yogurt.  I'm pretty sure you could eat tons of it if I let you!

You love being in the water.  You love the pool at the Y and love taking baths at home.  You've started splashing more and kicking your feet.  It's taken you awhile but you can finally sit up for an extended period of time on your own.  You aren't crawling yet, but can get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth.  You can scoot backwards and turn in circles, you just can't move forward yet!

 Minus this last week, you've been doing such a great job sleeping.  You go to bed between 7 and 8 and wake up between 4 and 5 to eat and then sleep until about 6:30.  This last week you've been crying when we put you to bed and waking up earlier in the night.  I think you are dealing with a little separation anxiety and hopefully will be back on track soon!  You still take three naps a day and the length of the first two are a little unpredictable and the last one is just about always 30 minutes.

Our days look pretty much the same as last month.  We're always home in the morning until after your first nap.  We both stay in our pajamas, make coffee, eat breakfast, unload the dishwasher and hang out in the living room.  After your morning nap we try to get out of the house.  We often go visit my friends at school during their lunch time and recently started going to the Y twice a week.  You've done pretty good in the childcare there, except for once.  I hope we can keep going as it's good for me to workout and good for you to be around other kids and adults without me.  We go to music class or have playdates with friends, and we see your grandparents often during the week too which is great for both of us!  I am so excited for warmer weather so we can go on walks and play outside.

I love your big eyes, long eyelashes, scrunched up nose, big cheeks and perfect smile.  You make my heart happy every day and I am so lucky to be your mom.  This month has been so fun to watch your little (or big) personality come out.  There are some moments where I get a little nervous about mothering your active, wild self in the future.  But I'm so thankful that God gave us a spunky, funny, full of life baby girl and I can't wait to watch you grow into a little girl (although not too fast!).  I hope some day you know how much your daddy and I love you!

Love, 

your mom