Oh Amelia. You are 10 months old now. There are days when that doesn't seem possible and others when...well, I'm so exhausted with keeping up with you I don't think I'll ever sit again. You are quite the spitfire these days and have definite opinions about how you think things should happen. You threw your first temper tantrum this month. It was brief but intense. And hilarious. You were sitting on the carpet in our living room and threw yourself backwards in anger about having a teeny tiny [choking hazard] toy taken away from you. You were easily distracted out of your temper, but you sure meant business. You cried, banged your hands on the ground and kicked all at the same time.
You are quite the shoe and sock girl lately. Earlier this week, I caught you trying to put a sock back on your foot after you took it off. You love to take off your shoes and socks. I think within the first five minutes of going anywhere, you easily dispose of both. You love all shoes. All of are shoes are now all nicely put away because you love to chew on them and crawl around with them. You aren't picky about who they belong to or what color they are. We'll have to work on that, won't we sweetie?
There are lots of things you really love lately. You love eating table food, your brother, giving kisses, taking baths, music, dancing, our cats, your brother's toys and when your daddy comes home. Your eating has really taken off. You eat everything in sight saying "Mmmmmmmm" the entire time you are doing it. If I didn't know you do the same thing with cardboard (eat it, say "mmmm"), it might go to my head. You continually impress us with the different things you are willing to eat and the amount you consume. There are occasions where I'm sure you eat more than your brother during meals. Amazing. You chow down on cooked vegetables, fresh fruit, noodles, yogurt, cereal, and meat. The only things you don't like currently are toasted bread and broccoli. These two consistently end up on the floor (although other things do too when you get worked up or when you are full).
You also continue to idolize your brother. You want to be right with him, doing what he is doing all the time. Every single second. He brings a smile to your face and can make you laugh harder than anyone or anything else. This is something we are having to work on because while he tolerates you pretty well, he does need some space. He also isn't a fan of your destructive tendencies. You certainly aren't gentle with books, blocks, cars or any of his other favorite toys.
You also love bath time. Maybe because it is more time with your brother? We were just remembering that about now is when William starting not liking baths anymore. This doesn't seem to be anywhere on the horizon with you. You have no fear whatsoever. At all. Your whole face in the water? Not a problem. When you hear the bathwater start running, you make a beeline for the bathroom. You don't want to miss a moment.
A quick note about your daddy. You have really become a Daddy's girl. You are so excited when Daddy gets home from work. The minute you hear him walk through the door, you are looking, looking, looking for where he is. And if he hangs up his coat before coming to hold you? The world comes to an end. There are tears and dramatic crying. And worse yet, if he has to use the bathroom? Well, nothing could be worse. No distraction will do. Not Mama, not your brother, not toys. Nope. Nothing. Not until Daddy reappears. Then all will be right with the world.
Sleeping has improved. Most nights of the week you are sleeping straight through from about 7:30 to about 7am. Not always, but most nights. You have relocated from your bedroom to our walk in closet in our bedroom because your room is just too cold to sleep in without a blanket. It makes putting laundry and other tasks more difficult with you in there, but it is the right thing to do. We're hoping for an early spring so you can go back to your pretty bedroom where you belong.
You talk all the time. You have several recognizable words: Mama, Dada, Hi, Hi there, no-no and bye bye. The rest of what you say isn't understandable to anyone but you. But, that doesn't stop you one bit. You are a champion crawler and unbelievably fast when you want to be. A small whirlwind flying through the house emptying wipes, dumping toys, pulling books down off the bookshelf. I can always tell where you've been just by following the trail of messes. You've been on the verge of walking for at least a month. You can do it and I've seen you thinking about it as you eye the distance between the couch and the coffee table. But, it appears you are willing to just bide your time and make us wait a little longer.
This is a face looking for some trouble
Love people, love to dance. You point at the CD player and laugh when the music starts. You hang on with one hand to a chair, the coffee table, your brother's leg, whatever is nearby and dance. You also love us to dance you around and you'll bounce and clap your hands in delight.
There isn't much the same about you from ten months ago. You are turning into a little girl. Your eyes are starting to change, your hair is coming in like crazy. You have wonderfully fat thighs and cheeks. Just like a baby should. At least once a day, I am distracted by your beautiful babiness. It makes me stop what I am doing and forces me to kiss your cheeks. Because really? Someone should always be kissing your fat cheeks. They were made for kissing.
