Annie Mae at 10 Months

Dear Annie,
I meant to do this when you turned 9 months, but I'm a bit behind. You'll be 10 months old in a few days, so I'll just go from here.

You are such a joyful baby! I can't get over how much I am enjoying every moment of you as a baby. I just want time to stop for you and your sisters right now because I feel like you're all growing up way too fast for me.

Here's a little about you:

You are a mover! You've been rolling over since 4 months old, crawling since 6 months old, cruising since 7 months old, and now you are standing on your own. It's still a little surprising to see because I feel like you're too young for this. It catches me off guard every time I catch you doing it. If you have something in your hands, you immediately try to stand up.


When you are happy or excited about something (usually the next bite of baby food or getting picked up), you kick your legs and pant like a puppy. It's pretty cute!
Your favorite song right now is "Wheels on the Bus". You'll stop and listen for that one.


You won't sit through reading a book. You make it most of the way through "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?", but usually you're trying to wiggle away or grab the book and eat it. I feel a little guilty about this because we haven't been consistent about reading to you every day. One of the side effects of being the third child, I suppose.

(I am aware that this picture is super nasty, but I think it's hilarious! )

You love the beach! You love to crawl in the sand, chew on sea shells and splash in the shallow water. The only thing you don't like about it is having to wear a hat.



You have finally learned how to clap your hands! For a while there, you would flail your arms around, hitting your legs when we said, "Yay!". But you've finally made the connection and you love to clap all the time.

You LOVE to play with your sisters! You're pretty destructive, but you love the attention they give you. When all three of you play together, I can't help but smile. Sometimes all of you will be up in the playroom for a long time, just playing with toys. The greatest game you guys play together is called "George". Ella yells out "GEORGE!!!" and all three of you crawl around the house like crazy. I'm sure it's supposed to be "Charge!" but somehow Ella interpreted it as "George". I think that sounds more fun anyway.


You learned how to climb the stairs to the playroom very quickly! It's your favorite thing to do. You get really mad when the gate is put up, blocking your passage. Unfortunately, you don't know how to come down the stairs yet. You've rolled down them a couple of times, but usually, you sit at the top and yell until I come and get you.


You and Ella have a special bond. She is so good to play with you and make you happy. She can make you laugh like crazy! You two obviously have a special love for each other. I swear that you have even said her name. Ha ha! Just kidding! Baby jibber jab only, but it totally sounded like "Ewa" to me!


You are a pretty good eater. You like most baby food flavors, as long as they're the stage 2 kind. We tried the chunkier stage 3 stuff and you wouldn't have it! The weird part is that you love regular food. We just kind of go with the flow. I love having a kitchen where I can have you in your high chair while I'm cooking. You like to be part of the action.


You have recently learned the "back and forth" game, where if I'm holding you, you will reach for Daddy until he takes you. Then once he's got you, you reach for me again. Back and forth. You think you're pretty funny! In the end, you always prefer that I hold you though. You are definitely a Momma's girl. And I secretly (or not so secretly) love that.


You have the CUTEST pouty face right before you cry, especially if you get scared. This causes much amusement for Daddy, who growls at you to see it.


"Helping" with the dishwasher is a fun game to you. You'll hang out there the whole time I'm doing dishes, putting the spoons in and out of the basket.

You are a big girl! At your 9 month check up, you weighed 19.4 lbs. I can't remember how tall you were, but all of your measurements were average for your age, which kind of surprised me.

We're finally getting on a really good routine so that you can nap. It's been a little crazy since we moved here, and summer time fun hasn't helped. Now that Ella has started school, we are falling into a nice pattern. You wake up between 6 and 7 am (usually closer to 6). Then you go down for a nap when we get back from dropping Ella off at school, which is usually about 9:30. You sleep for about 2 hours, then we go pick Ella up. You take another 2 hour nap from 2-4 pm, then you go to bed at 8 pm. For the past few weeks, you've thrown a little wrench in the schedule though, and you've been waking up around 4 am. We were giving you a bottle and you'd go back to sleep for another 3 hours, but that is a bit ridiculous. I know you're not really hungry. So this week, we're trying to nip that in the bud. I think you'll do just fine.

We are just over the moon for you! Every one of us loves to play with you, sing to you, hold you, and love you! You bring so much joy to our family. I can't even describe how blessed I feel to be your Mommy.

Love,
Mommy