10 Months!!!

Mina J,

I am not certain what it is about 10 months- I feel like this is a really big accomplishment for us. When people ask me how old you are I have to stop and think- Is she really THAT close to 1 year old? Did time go that quickly? Wow, and wow.

You have become quite the mimic... So much so that Mamma has had to tone down her language quite a bit. Sure it is funny to hear you say "asshole" or "bastard" but it could be a bit upsetting should you say such things in the presence of people that would find it offensive. You have not developed that filter yet. Actually- I have never fully developed that filter, lets hope you surpass me in that realm.

Among the many words you have begun to speak in your bebe-tongue we have cat, dog, duck, fish, hi (accompanied by much waving), the aforementioned naughty words, peek-a-boo (most often just boo), rectal (you can thank your father for this one), rat cat, shoe, and more than I can't seem to remember. You move so quickly day to day- my brain is a poor recording device for your brilliance.



You are so close to walking- you manage to make your way around the house holding onto any elevated surface you get your paws on. I don't know when it happened, but one day I walked in to see you on your tippie-toes trying to get things off of the dinner table. SERIOUSLY... WHEN DID YOU GET THAT TALL???



You are a great little eater- and though that probably sounds ridiculous, it is a great relief. Your father had some traumatic experiences with foods- and to this day he cannot be within 30 feet of a plate of peas or onions without breaking into hives... Ok that is exaggerating, but suffice it to say that I was worried this trait was genetic. Not for you. Anything we are eating, you will eat- In fact, you would be most pleased if it came directly off of our plates thank-you-very-much. Current favorites are spinach, cottage cheese, grapes, and chicken. It is so nice not to worry about you gagging on strained peas. However, you make a giant mess and then you enjoy revisiting the food that is on the floor if I turn my back for more than 3 seconds. Times like this I wish we had a dog to help with clean-up.



I have been hard-pressed to get a good picture of your new teeth. Your eye teeth have poked through just enough to give you the look of a mild-mannered vampire. A milk-vampire if you will. Terribly adorable. I am going to have to wrestle you to get a picture of them, but I am bigger and stronger right now, so it should not be too hard... As long as you don't bite me. Those little teefs are SUPER SHARP. You bit your finger earlier this evening, REALLY bit it. And you cried. It was pitiful, and slightly hilarious.

Speaking of Hilarious, you continue to have early morning ramblings that turn into rants. As you wake, we hear the scratchings of flannel on cotton as you climb to your feet, followed by the soft thud of your pacifier (or some other object of your desire) being thrown on the ground. You take time to greet the cats (usually Pan, the gay cat) and speak to the sunshine (or moon light- guh) and pretty much sound like the happiest, most charming little person I have ever met. Your father and I will sit in bed and laugh to ourselves because it is just so damned cute. Then something happens- boredom, frustration, loneliness- and you begin to yell. VERY LOUDLY. MAMMA!!!! MAMMAMAMAMAMA- And shortly thereafter DADA!!! DADADADADA (Thank you for calling me first, it is secretly quite gratifying) At that point one of us comes to get you and you smile the biggest, happiest smile... Like "I was JUST thinking about you- what a fantastic surprise that you came to visit" and you hop a little in order to get out of your crib 3 milliseconds sooner. That smile and little dance happens to be one of the greatest rewards of being your mother.



I love you!

~Mamma