10 Months

You officially have been outside the womb longer than it took to bake you! It's so hard to imagine you as this almost a year ago:

Here are memories we want to hold onto from the past two months...

Papa showed you how to get down the stairs safely awhile ago and the lesson stuck. You can get off our bed and down the stairs {with our help}. It's so cute to see you position your legs so you head backwards and then slide down on your tummy.

Ever since that juice box at Ikea, you love to use straws for drinking. It's been an added bonus when sippy cups are dirty or momentarily misplaced.

You are such a vocal and babbling baby!! I'm surprised that your voice hasn't gone hoarse from all the talking you do. We've heard many constance sounds from you like 'd, m, v, t, b and g'. The latest thing is making weird facial expressions while you make noise. Although we're not too keen on the screaming stage that popped up after our Wisconsin trip...it's seemed to die down for now...

Our very favorite thing you do is giggle, laugh and squeal whenever your papa & I kiss and hug. You love it! You'll hop up and down in Papa's arms with a huge smile on your face. It's the sweetest thing!

Food connoisseur! You still eat anything we put on your tray. Including eggplant. Pickles, bananas, and now cheese are among your favorites.

Definitely in the balls and wheels stage...and climbing! You climb your book basket to get up on the end table next to your rocking chair. Or climb up on top of Jojo to get to the couch. And a pillow to get a better view of our bed. More recently, the dishwasher to find your spoons. Not one of your more "exciting for Mama" stages!

You...cough..discovered yourself while sitting on the potty at about 9.5 months.

It's getting much harder to contain you to one area or to keep you still. You want in the action NOW. You are extremely social and love other babies and kids. We're working on being gentle even when you get so excited. You want to touch and grab at them or use them to help stand up which the other kids don't appreciate. But you are the most happy baby. People are still enthralled by your happiness and smiles. 

First steps! This week!! It was so very excited and shocking at the same time. Thereafter, you've been doing a great deal of standing on your own. I'm waiting until I can get some video or at least a few pictures of this monumentous event.

One we shouldn't remember but do: the time you pooped on the carpet then almost started playing with it until I caught you. I whisked you to the sink to clean off your feet while calling for Papa. With great skill, he got it out of the carpet {of which it smeared into}, and off Jojo's wagging tail. Gross.

Only two teeth still, but we can totally see the top two coming in. It seems like they've been almost breaking through for awhile now. We can see the little white tips on the bottom of your gums.

You have many favorite games. Different ones you play with different people. You play "fetch the ball" with Papa. Something about "getting your nose" with Grandma. And usually before bed, we press our foreheads together and rub noses. Then we scrunch up our noses and breathe loudly. It's just so silly and we both can't stop giggling. I so adore these sweet moments with you...when you're tired enough to slow down for some extended lovin'! :)

Animals fascinate you. You absolutely love them. The giraffes at the zoo. Turkeys at Gma & Gpa's. The geese and ducks we fed. Jojo is your favorite though. You take her toys and try to play with her. And it seems like you now love feeding her from your tray too. She is always so patient with your antics.

We are simply head-over-heals in love with you, Bookie. Thanks for being so adorable and lovable! You challenge us everyday, and we delight in the gift the God has given us!!