Ten Months
Ten months! Amazing, isn't it? I say it every month, and I'll say it again... wasn't it just yesterday that they handed Keira to me for the first time? And yet, I can totally believe she's ten months old because, well, she's huge!
Bragging Ensues
Since last month, Keira has been making lots of strides in her communication skills. She has learned how to clap, and for the first time today she actually waved bye-bye to me when I left at lunch time. It was quite funny because she wanted to cry, but was also quite pleased with all the praise she was getting, so she didn't know how to react. Keira has also been mimicking sounds and signs more. Yesterday when I told her to say "Hi Daddy!" she responded with "Haaaiii dehdeh!" and later when I signed "milk" to her, she signed a baby version of it right back.
I've also noticed that Keira now responds to certain words and directions. Most times when I say "No," she stops whatever she's doing... most times. If I tell her "turn the page" or ask "Can I have that?" she'll respond accordingly. And of course, when we say "Keira, feet on the ground," at her daycare, she usually stops trying to climb up onto the table. Usually. :)
Of course, with all these advances comes increased anxiety for my little Mumpkey. She knows all the signs for when I'm going to leave her at daycare, or when her Grandma Daisy is about to leave the house. If she's not tired, she usually handles our comings and goings okay, but when she is tired, tears ensue and she makes what I call the angry monkey face. Some days, God forbid that I should even go upstairs or go out to the kitchen.
On the walking front, Keira has started cruising fairly well. Her favorite place in the living room is the little charging station we have for our phones. It sits on top of our entertainment center and has two drawers and a cubby with a lid. When it became obvious she was always going to be fascinated by that, we removed all the items (many of which were hazardous) and started stashing toys in it. Oh my goodness but she loves it!
Keira now boasts six teeth, that fourth bottom tooth having broken through this past week. She makes use of them, too, gleefully snapping off bits of her snack puffs. It's quite funny.
Hmmm... Oh yeah... I've decided to begin the process of getting Keira off of bottles and at least onto sippy cups at her daycare. This is in anticipation of her transition to the Toddler Room, where I believe they want the kids using a cup. We'll start now and see how it goes. I've also decided that as soon as she is at twelve months, we'll start weaning her over to straight milk, at least during the day. I am completely over pumping and all the trouble that goes with it. Just done. I still want to nurse her in the morning and evenings, I just don't want to have to worry about pumping enough milk for her to use everyday.
The only really negative change has been in the past week. For whatever reason, Keira's sleep pattern has reverted back to what it was a few months ago (waking up sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. every night). I'm hoping this is a temporary change, but it's hard to say. All I know is I'm very sleep deprived right now. But that really is the worst of it.
Other than all the aforementioned bragging, I'm just moving right along on planning Keira's birthday. Invitations will be going out soon, so if you'd like one, speak now so I don't accidentally leave you off the invite list. For reference, it will be on October 16, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bragging Ensues
Since last month, Keira has been making lots of strides in her communication skills. She has learned how to clap, and for the first time today she actually waved bye-bye to me when I left at lunch time. It was quite funny because she wanted to cry, but was also quite pleased with all the praise she was getting, so she didn't know how to react. Keira has also been mimicking sounds and signs more. Yesterday when I told her to say "Hi Daddy!" she responded with "Haaaiii dehdeh!" and later when I signed "milk" to her, she signed a baby version of it right back.
I've also noticed that Keira now responds to certain words and directions. Most times when I say "No," she stops whatever she's doing... most times. If I tell her "turn the page" or ask "Can I have that?" she'll respond accordingly. And of course, when we say "Keira, feet on the ground," at her daycare, she usually stops trying to climb up onto the table. Usually. :)
Of course, with all these advances comes increased anxiety for my little Mumpkey. She knows all the signs for when I'm going to leave her at daycare, or when her Grandma Daisy is about to leave the house. If she's not tired, she usually handles our comings and goings okay, but when she is tired, tears ensue and she makes what I call the angry monkey face. Some days, God forbid that I should even go upstairs or go out to the kitchen.
On the walking front, Keira has started cruising fairly well. Her favorite place in the living room is the little charging station we have for our phones. It sits on top of our entertainment center and has two drawers and a cubby with a lid. When it became obvious she was always going to be fascinated by that, we removed all the items (many of which were hazardous) and started stashing toys in it. Oh my goodness but she loves it!
Keira now boasts six teeth, that fourth bottom tooth having broken through this past week. She makes use of them, too, gleefully snapping off bits of her snack puffs. It's quite funny.
Hmmm... Oh yeah... I've decided to begin the process of getting Keira off of bottles and at least onto sippy cups at her daycare. This is in anticipation of her transition to the Toddler Room, where I believe they want the kids using a cup. We'll start now and see how it goes. I've also decided that as soon as she is at twelve months, we'll start weaning her over to straight milk, at least during the day. I am completely over pumping and all the trouble that goes with it. Just done. I still want to nurse her in the morning and evenings, I just don't want to have to worry about pumping enough milk for her to use everyday.
The only really negative change has been in the past week. For whatever reason, Keira's sleep pattern has reverted back to what it was a few months ago (waking up sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. every night). I'm hoping this is a temporary change, but it's hard to say. All I know is I'm very sleep deprived right now. But that really is the worst of it.
Other than all the aforementioned bragging, I'm just moving right along on planning Keira's birthday. Invitations will be going out soon, so if you'd like one, speak now so I don't accidentally leave you off the invite list. For reference, it will be on October 16, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.