10 Months

Dear Sweet Sam,

How in the world can you be 10 months old today?  It is so bittersweet to think that in two short months we'll celebrate your first year of life.  It's sad to see how fast time is going, but the sadness is overcome by thankfulness for your health and ability to grow and thrive.

You have no growth stats this month, but we are not worried about your growth.  We have had to order a new wardrobe of 12 month clothes.  9 month onesies still fit, but pants are too short.  In some brands I think you would have to go to 18 months for the length.  You are about to move to a size 4 diaper.

Your eating habits remain the same: 4 bottles a day plus 3 meals.  We probably should give you a snack too.  You feed yourself puffs just as fast as we put them down.  You are surprisingly good at shoveling in slippery bananas too.  You have had random bits of table food: lunch meat, bread, fries, beans, peas, etc.  You gag to the point of throwing up when I give you stage 3 food, so I think we're just going to move to table food.  I am always hesitant to get away from baby food, because the nutrition and variety is far better than what I provide, I'm afraid, but it's about to be time.  You successfully came off your Prevacid this month, and it's time to introduce some dairy.  It's actually past time; I've been dragging my feet.  You just cut your 8th tooth and are steady gnawing like more are on the way.

You continue you be on your nice sleeping schedule.  Several mornings during Christmas break, you slept until about 7 a.m.  Most mornings it's between 6 and 6:30.  You nap at 9 and 1 and go to bed between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m.  Santa had to bring a new sleep sack because your feet were about to bust out of the old one.  You love your sack, your sound, and of course your Duckie.  I love to go in at night and find him tucked under your arm or by your face.  We rock just about every night after your bottle and I love your head on my shoulder.  Many times you hum a little sleepy song.  You are so happy in your bed in the morning and after naps. 

You continue to army crawl at a rapid pace and sometimes make a lot of noise while doing it.  Nothing is deemed impossible or out of reach.  You don't mind crawling away from us either.  Lately your favorite thing to do is escape from the playroom down the hall...right to the steps.  It looked like you did a backwards crawl yesterday and ended up getting into a sitting position.  You have also started pulling up from sitting, but your feet have to be in just the right place.  You love to stand at your toys and will move your feet just a bit around them or while we're holding your fingers.  Diaper changes should be an Olympic sport, and they can only be done on the changing table where you can't roll away.  Dressing you can be a workout.  We have had to retire your beloved bouncer because you were all but hanging over the edge of it.  You are busy, busy, busy!  You have started your own little wave, where you hold your hand out but don't move it.  You turn your head and grin when you do like you know you are the most precious thing ever.

You like to play and entertain yourself so well.  You are most happy just moving from one thing to another, but you do have some favorites.  You like both your activity table and your IncrediBlock.  You love balls, whether they are rolling across the hard floor or just being dropped repeatedly.  You like the Little People bus and farm lately and having fun taking things out and putting them back in.  The Learning Home seems like it will be a big hit with you too.  Random household objects are lots of fun also.  You especially love opening and closing doors.

You think everything Avery does is wonderful, unless she is taking something away or not sharing.  You tried to push her out of the way recently when she was at a toy you wanted.  I had no idea it started so soon.  She loves you just as you love her, and she works hard to take good care of you.  I hope you will always have a deep love for each other.  Avery calls you "Samo," and I'm afraid that's the name most-used at Jen-Jen's.

Sam, our love for you grows and grows.  Each day it's hard to imagine how we could love you more, and each day our heart just swells.  I am fascinated by all you do, all you are learning, and all that it means to have a son.  I could kiss your sweet cheeks all day, and usually I do.  I would never, ever rush these days away, but I'm eager to see what a sweet, fun, and busy little boy you will become.

We love you!

Mommy and Daddy