Double Digits!

Eden,

Double-digits are upon us once again. I remember clearly when you were double digit days old. And now we're in double-digit months!! Crazy! Just don't get to double digit years too soon, OK?

You're really becoming such a little person. Your personality is starting to shine through. You're incredibly social - especially with babies, and especially with boys. Ever since Zek kissed you, you're in love with him. You see him in the church nursery and you crawl to him so fast you'd think he was Nino. And then if we don't stop you, you tackle him. And kiss him. You know what you want and you go for it. I like that about you. You are starting to get a little more skiddish around adults, though. If someone new starts talking to you, you lean in and cling to me or your Daddy. Eventually you warm up, though, if they keep trying. And soon you're talking up a storm.

You said your first real word this month. It started out because you were shaking your head a lot, and we kept saying "no" when you did it. Then we started telling you "no" when you'd start heading for a cord (to chew) or toward Nino's food (also, to chew). (When we told you no, you'd throw yourself onto the floor, face down, and cry. I have a feeling we're in for colossal tantrums in about a year or so - you're already acting like a toddler!) Eventually you put it together and now you can say "no" and shake your head. Usually you say it in context, but sometimes you just want to practice.

You've also learned "bye-bye"/"hi." You're not quite saying it yet, but you can wave like a pro. Sometimes you're a little late (like today when Daddy left and was down the stairs and out the door before you started waving at him) but you get so excited when someone waves back at you! Today I took you into the bathroom and let you wave at the baby in the mirror. It totally cracked you up!!

You're almost standing up by yourself. You just need a little confidence, and you'll be off. We're not rushing you though. :) You're an expert crawler, and you've got stairs down pat (well, going up anyway).

This month you really got into Angela, who watches you on Tuesdays. She is the only one you'll go to from me (except Daddy, sometimes). That makes me feel good - I know you're having fun with her while Daddy and I are at work.

Daddy taught you this month how to put the rings back on the stacker. He spent a loooong time on that one, very patiently showing you how to do it and lavishing you with praise when you did it. Now you'll put a ring on and look up and smile, as if to say, "Hey! Look at what I did! Yay!"

Finally, this month we cut back on nursing significantly. We're still nursing first thing in the morning, but that's it. It was a very easy transition for you, and physically it was fine for me, but it was a hard thing for me emotionally. I loved having that connection, and that feeling of knowing I'm the one who provides so much of your nutrition. But it was getting to be a lot of work for little output, and we were supplementing with formula already anyway. I'm glad we're still nursing in the mornings, because it's a great time for us to snuggle and connect in our special way, but I think that it won't be long until that nursing session is replaced as well. I wish we could've kept going for another couple of months, but I'm glad we got off to such a great start, and you're so healthy and happy in part because of that.

Beautiful Girl, I love you more that you know. Keep growing, but not too fast. Keep surprising us like you do. And keep being your sweet, loving, adorable self.

Love,

Mommy