Britta turned 10 months (10?!!) on May 17th. It was a HUGE month developmentally. WOW!
Britta Boo,
10 months. 10. Double digits. Wow. I can't even believe it. Just a couple months months and we'll have a one-year-old. It's hard to believe. You had a HUGE month developmentally this month, and it was so much fun to have a front row seat. You are had such a fun age - so much change and learning happening every day. Here's a peek at what you were up to...
You learned how to wave!
I think waving is one of my favorite baby skills, because it is so darn cute. This one kind of crept up on us at the end of April/beginning of May. You started raising your hand, and reaching out (almost like a slow high five). I didn't think much of it, but all of a sudden you were waving!
We discovered it by surprise. Linnea and I were playing/talking with you one night and were waving, saying hi, and generally being a bit silly with you - and you shocked us by waving back! I thought it might be a fluke, so I tested you a couple more times - and you waved again...and again! So sweet!
I had you and Linnea at Target together once this month and we were like our own little parade - Linnea was waving to you to get you to wave, and you were waving to...well...everyone and every thing! Way. Too. Cute!
Your waves are usually accompanied but one of your giant smiles, which makes it even better! Such a sweet girl!
You are sitting up on your own...
Magna saw you do this before we did. She said the first time you did it, she didn't even see you, you were so fast. One minute you were on the ground, and the next you were sitting up like a big girl!
It was spotty at first - just here and there, and not done without a little bit of work. But now you're getting faster and faster, and are doing it all the time. You love your new found freedom!
In addition to getting yourself to sitting up by yourself, you are pulling yourself up. You're not quite pulling to stand, but pulling to your knees at the very least. You are so proud of yourself (I am too!)
You started crawling!!
This month you did it! After being so certain that crawling was just around the corner for weeks, you finally got it right as you turned 10 months.
It started with just a couple clumsy strides forward, but within days you were crawling all the way across the living room floor!
Don't think you did it with a little drama. Linnea and I stacked a cup tower for you to crawl to. You made it there - eventually, but had to stop every few strides to sit and fuss. So dramatic.
I'm sure now that you are on the move you will keep us even more on our toes!
You've grown and changed a lot too...
The last time you were weighed was at your 9 month well baby check. You aren't due back to the doctor's until you turn 1! I'm guessing you weigh around 24 pounds, though I can tell your growth is really slowing down. Though others may not be able to tell, Daddy and I can see how you are slimming down - you are losing some of your baby chubbiness.
You are wearing 12 and 18 month clothes. Anything smaller tends to be too small. I'm putting away most of the 9 month clothes. As the weather is getting nicer you are able to wear some of the summer clothes that Linnea wore when she was a baby. We're also buying new stuff for you, which is fun. It's fun to see you in warmer weather clothes, after the long fall and winter season.
You are wearing size 4 diapers. They seem to be fitting pretty well. There was a short time where I wondered if we would need to bump up to 5s because of how they were fitting down your tummy. But I think as you've slimmed down a little bit, it's been enough to keep your diapers fitting okay.
Man, I say it every month, but you are such a sweet, happy, and content little girl, sweet Britta! There is not a lot that gets you too upset. You don't love being changed (or really slowed down at all). You still don't like having your nose or face wiped, but you're actually getting better with it. You don't like being too tired or hungry (though who does?).
Now that you are moving around more, you love getting into anything and everything you should! Somehow, even before you started crawling, you managed to scoot yourself over to shelves, cabinets, lamps, power cords, you name it! Stinker! It's hard to be too mad at you, since you are so proud of yourself, but man, you are keeping us on our toes already, Britta!
As expected, your eating has really started to shift. Your bottle intake is REALLY up and down. Some days you take your bottle like usual, and some days Magna reports only being able to get you to take an ounce or two. At first it made me panic a little, feeling like it was early to have such a shift. I looked back on my notes from when Linnea was a baby, and sure enough, same thing! Grandma always says eating is one of those things you just can't make babies do. All we can do is to continue to offer it, and trust that you will eat/drink when you are hungry/thirsty.
One thing that's contributed to your milk intake changing is your increase in solid foods - particularly finger food. You are loving the ability to feed yourself. You love puffs, toast, little pieces of fruits and veggies (especially banana and peas). We laugh, thinking back just a couple months ago when we thought we'd never be able to get you to eat solids. Wow, that's changed! It's fun to be able to introduce you to new flavors and textures. Your hand-eye coordination could use a little work -as a lot of the food ends up in your lap rather than your mouth, but I know you'll get there. We're also starting to introduce a sippy cup at mealtime. We fill it with water, though you mostly bang the cup rather than drink anything. Again, you'll get there.
Your bedtime is about the same - maybe a bit later. With our busy evenings, it can be hard to get everything done and get you down for bed, but you do just fine which we are thankful for. We start to get ready for bed around 7:15 or so, and you're typically down by 7:45 or 8:00. Admittedly, I take advantage of our nursing time to sneak in some Britta snuggles. I love playing with your hair (so do you while you eat!) and stroking your face, legs, arms, and back. It's a blessing to have those quiet moments just the two of us.
You're still up at least once a night. As I said before, I've mostly stopped trying to figure it out. There's not much consistency in terms of when or how often you're up. I do try to let you "cry it out" a bit when you are up in the middle of the night, but usually that just results in you getting more crabby. You always eat and eat well when you're up. I trust that "this too shall pass." And until then, I try to enjoy the middle of the night snuggles with you.
Your morning nap continues to shorten. It's down to about 40 or 45 minutes (though Magna does wake you typically). Sometimes on the weekend you go without (not intentionally really, but because it doesn't fit in with the activities of the day and you do just fine). I remember being nervous about naps when you were born - just how we'd make it work. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I appreciate your flexibility! You've made it a lot easier than expected to have a morning nap back in the mix of our schedule.
What a big month you've had! It's been so fun to watch you gain some new independence and skills. You are still a sweet, happy little girl. You bring daily joy to our lives and we love you so much!
Love you as big as the sky,
Mama (and Daddy and Linnea)
Hehe! Her hair is too cute!
ReplyDelete