10 months old!

Baby Boy!

You are ten months old!

You are so, so much fun!

We still go on lots of walks and you enjoy them.

You have been taking amazing naps - usually at least an hour long! Hooray!

The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night during the ice storm and you slept through it for an entire hour!

You and I have been having "cradle roll" class at home. I love to do the songs with you and see you interact with the toys. You held the flower up over your head when we sang that it "grew and grew and grew!"

One of your very favorite songs is "God Made the Big Round Sun".

You turn pages in books now on your own and point at things with one finger in books.

We thought you were trying to dump out your water cup at mealtimes but then we realized that you were turning it just far enough so you could see the pictures printed on the cups and then pointing to them. Cute but messy.

You went with Mama each Tuesday to Rosa's to eat tacos and have lunch with the women from Ladies' Bible Class. They all enjoyed you and you liked them.

We had dinner with Miss Tiffany and you had fun playing with her hair, coat and purse.

You *love* the vacuum cleaner!

You began clapping this month.

You say "Dada" and you began saying "Mama" and "Nana". I don't think you know that nana has any association with a grandma or a fruit yet but you will learn.

Your very first word was "hi" but that was several months ago now.

When we let you down outside you try to eat the dirt, leaves, grass . . . whatever's handy.

You like to spend time with your mama and daddy. It is fun to be able to do things as a family.

You are "on the go" and taking it outside. Sometimes we sit out on the balcony together watching for Daddy to come home.

You had to have blood drawn for your allergy test and I hated it. But you did *such* a great job! I was so proud of you! You didn't even cry when you got stuck. You only began to fuss at having to be confined while the blood was being drawn because you wanted to be down exploring.

You are such an explorer that I now put you in the doorway jumper so you can watch me while I'm getting ready without getting into things like the trash can or the toilet brush holder and in the jumperoo so you can watch me iron but you are safe and sound away from the cord.

This month we took a big family trip to Central Market to get foods for all of us to eat since it seems you are allergic to milk, egg whites and wheat. We enjoyed a few samples too.

You crawl over *super* fast whenever the dish washer gets opened! You love to stand at the dishwasher and explore. This keeps us on our toes!

You also turned off a light switch all by yourself this month while I was holding you. You used one finger. You are getting so good at that. The one thing you're really a hold out on is the mini blinds. You do not want to touch them with one finger, you want to attack them!

You really experienced your first snow. Your very first snow was when we were in Colorado at Thanksgiving but Mama tried to take you out for a picture and it was cold and blowing and you wanted none of it.

This month it snowed & iced in Dallas and we got to have Daddy home with us for four days off of work because of the crazy winter weather. Mama decided this time to bring the snow in to you.

hmmm . . .

you explored

and of course tasted!

You learned to make the weebles go down the slide on the treehouse all by yourself! So exciting!!

You can now pull up wherever you please! Again, this keeps us on our toes.

We cheered for the Steelers.

You ate your first whole apple. Mama took a couple of bites out of it to give you some starting places and handles but you took it from there. You worked and worked on that apple and ate it down to the core!

Daddy had to take it away while you were a little distracted or I think you would have eaten the core, seeds and stem too!

You also started feeding yourself with a fork and with a spoon this month. We're very proud of you.

You still love to eat beans and rice and peas.

You tried some frozen mango today and loved it.

Sweet potato and meats, especially ham are other favorites.

Sometimes you still wake up for a feeding in the 4 or 5 o'clock hour or sometimes you will stretch it into the 6 o'clock hour! You almost always go back to sleep until sometime in the 7 or 8 o'clock hour and *every* once in a while until the 9 o'clock hour.

We went for a play date at Mrs. Jenny's house and it was such a warm day that you got to sit outside in the backyard in their high chair in just your diaper and eat your banana before we got dressed in some summery clothes that they let us borrow to go to the park and take a walk.

You and I went to visit Sweetie and our extended family.

We flew all by ourselves and you were a champ! You slept on the flight down nestled up against Mama and you didn't sleep a wink on the way home. You were pleasant though and we kept from disturbing our seat mates *too* much.

You are very attached to your mama. The other day when you stayed home with Daddy while I went to Mrs. Jacquie's, Daddy told me that when you woke up from your nap, you crawled over to the back door and sat fussing at the door. You wanted me to come home.

We went to storytime at the library with Mrs. Betsy with our friends, one of the ladies Mama used to teach with and her daughter and then for a play date at their house. We also went to night time story time with our other friends from church!

You learned to open drawers!

It's a skill you're proud of!

You and I played "chase" this month for the very first time, baby boy! You were crawling around on the floor and you kept acting like you wanted me to chase you. When I crawled after you, you squealed with delight!

You weigh a little over 18 pounds.

You began getting your third tooth right here at the end of the month.

You've started sitting cross-legged which is really fun.

You drag things with you when you crawl now. It is fun and funny.

Mr. John and Mrs. Sarah baby-sat you so Mama & Daddy could go on a Valentine's date to Starbucks and Half Price Books.

We enjoyed a Valentine's date out as a family

and you and I hosted a little Valentine's party at our house where you were the only boy.

You treated all the girls nicely and shared your toys and snacks with them.

You got several sweet Valentines from your friends and family and you got to wear the red and gray striped shirt that Mrs. Erin bought for you *last* Valentine's day when you were still in Mama's tummy!

It has been a great month. You seem to get more and more fun by the day, sweet boy!

We love you very, very much!

Mama & Daddy