10 months

Elysen, today you are 10 months old. This month has gone by so much faster than the others because we've been so busy with the holidays.

Weight: Probably still hovering around 18 lbs.

Height: Not sure

Sizes: You are still in a size 3 diaper. You are wearing 9 month clothes and a few 12 month outfits.



What you're up to:

- EVERYTHING! You are into just about everything imaginable. You are crawling - army crawling, scooting, etc. - and you can move extremely quickly when you spot something that you shouldn't have. There are presents under our tree and we have to cover them with the couch pillows so that you don't notice them. You also are putting anything and everything into your mouth. We have had to fish some things out of your jaws of steel so that you wouldn't choke.

- While we're on the subject of eating, you are also eating all sorts of fun food. I've almost stopped giving you your oatmeal because it made your tummy rumbly. I'll break out the baby food sometimes, but most often, you eat puffs or Cheerios or saltines or whatever else we have around. Last month, we went to Chick-fil-A and I got you a fruit cup. You loved the mandarin oranges. You also like bananas, which is no surprise since you've liked the banana-flavored oatmeal and baby food for a long time.

- You are pulling up on everything. You try to take steps if we are holding your hands, but you're not really trying to walk. You are very sturdy on your legs.

- You are giving kisses to everyone and everything....even the dogs (we try to discourage this - Ha!).

- You had your first Thanksgiving this month. We had such fun. You loved eating bites of rolls, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. We were at your Aunt Sarah's house in West Fork on Thanksgiving day. It's the house where your daddy had his first Thanksgiving!

- You love music and you love to dance. And, of course, you still love the dogs so much.

- We went to get your first Christmas tree this month! You had a lot of fun playing around with everyone and looking at the lights. We started a new tradition. After getting the tree, you and I read a Christmas book together and I let you wear your Christmas pjs for the first time. You looked precious.

- We traveled to Branson this month with the Savage family. It was the first time that Charlie got to come with us. You had a fun time playing with everyone in the condo (and unpacking your clothes)

- You are starting to try to say "words". Besides "da-da" and "ma-ma" and "ba-ba", you are making other sounds with recognition. You make a "p" sound when I ask you if you want to go see the puppies outside. You also make the "p" sound when we ask you if want some puffs to eat. You also say "uh-oh" when you drop things (accidentally or on purpose). It makes me happy to see that you are already so smart.

- You love to wrinkle your nose and "sniff" at us. You do it all the time to show off because it makes us laugh. I was so happy to catch this picture of you and your Aunt Sarah sniffing together.

- You had your first haircut today. Your hair fell out a few months ago, except for the hair on the top of your head...well, that hair had gotten so long, and the rest of your hair is only about an inch! Your daddy was very sad and didn't want me to cut it at all. But you were starting to get tangles that we had to comb out, and I knew it would look so cute, so we gave it a little trim tonight. You got mad because you couldn't hold the comb, and it made me so nervous to have scissors close to your head (ha!). But it turned out to look precious.

Sweet girl, we love you more and more every single day. You are full of life and laughter. You make us smile all the time, even when we are stressed or tired. You are developing the sweetest personality, and I can't wait to see what develops over the next month.

You are a gift from God, and we are even more thankful for you during this time of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We love you so very much.