10 months

I know, I know. I start every post wondering where the time went. Just wait until you're 16 and I'm making a big deal over you driving. I'm really going to get on your nerves then. I promise to at least hold in my "mommy-ness" until your friends aren't around :)

A year ago this month, you decided you wanted to make your grand appearance early. Luckily, Dr. Small & Dr. Forman at Duke stopped you and you stayed put until your lungs had a chance to mature. You were destined to be born in October [my birthday and Titi's birthday are in October].

So, what are you up to this month?

• I'll have to update your weight when we go to the Peds for your shots


• You have EIGHT teeth and they just keep coming! We ♥ Motrin.


• You want to stand up (that should not come as a surprise) and you've been standing up holding onto furniture. I think cruising on the furniture is in your immediate future. You are also starting to pull yourself up from a sitting position.


• You mastered combat crawling this week! It's so cute to see you scoot across the floor. The problem is, we have to baby-proof. You went straight for the TV and pulled all the DVDs onto the floor, and then for the big plant.


• You are sitting up like you've been doing it your whole life. Well, I guess you have been doing it for half of your life. Your skills are so great that we feel comfortable leaving the room while you sit and play. Besides, if something happens Lulu comes running to let me know I am needed RIGHT NOW!


• Speaking of Lucy. I have no clue what it is about her, but you think she's hilarious! All she has to do it stand there and look at you and you bust out with a full-body laugh. When she stands at the door to come inside, you just about come out of your swing trying to turn around to see her. So far, she has not stolen any of your toys, although you steal hers.


• When you are really concentrating on something, you curl your toes up tightly


• When you fall down or fall over, you get this confused look on your face until we say "Uh Oh!" and then you start laughing. You're a silly goose.


• Apparently I play around "sniffing" you more than I realized (it tickles your neck and makes you laugh, which is my favorite thing to hear). Now when you see me, you crinkle up your nose, put on this huge smile and SNIF! See the picture below.


• You have perfected saying mama, mommy, dada, hey, and what sounds like baby. It also seems like you are becoming discriminate in that you say mama for me and dada for your Daddy. You also screech and yell a lot. I think you like to hear yourself talk. Your poor Daddy is never going to get a word in between you and me talking so much. I shouldn't tell you this but when I was in 3rd grade, I made all A's on my subjects and got U's (unsatisfactory) in Conduct b/c I talked too much in class. Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.


• You're a little clingy this month, but that's "the age" from what we've been told. If I put you down to play and walk out of the room, you start crying and wailing, "maaamaaa" which makes me laugh. Not because it's funny, but you're just so darn cute sitting there with your arms stretched up in the air. If one of us gets near, you will grab onto whatever piece of clothing you can and pull yourself up into our arms. We're working on teaching you to say "up."


• You're still appeasing our requests to eat food and drink milk, but you don't enjoy it much. I'm hoping you will be reading this when you are a teenager wondering who I'm talking about as you are engulfing entire pizzas with your friends.


• You do, however, like ice cold water. And you like it even better if it's from a straw that's in my cup or your Daddy's cup. Stinker. I told Dr. B that this does not mean I intend to drink Prosobee formula just so you will copy me!


• You are mesmerized by running water and get a kick out of splashing in the River.


• This is one I haven't figured out yet, but you are terrified of the lamp in the foyer. It's just a black lamp but you stare it down whenever we walk past it.


• When you take a nap, you go from 60mph to zero in 1 second; when you wake up, you go from zero to 60 mph in a second. It's so funny because your eyes POP open, you grab the nearest toy and continue playing like you never missed a beat.


• Your favorite game is Peek-A-Boo or "Where's Carter/Mommy/Daddy?"


• You're still a clapping fool and you love to dance, especially when your silly Daddy sings to you

As always, you are a joy to be around. I am so lucky to be able to work night shifts so that I can be home with you during the day. Your Dad hangs out with you in the mornings so I can sleep, and we're thankful that his job allows him to do this.

Love you bunches Monkey,
Mommy & Daddy