Malone Marie: Month 10

Well Lovebug, congrats on reaching the double digits. As of Wednesday (sorry about the two-day delay), you are 10 months old!

Still sittin' pretty for your weekly shots, even when posing for them in brand new cities...

This has been a month full of big changes for our family, and you are no exception. Here's the lowdown:

• The most significant development that has taken place is that you are now a full-fledged crawler! Hip hip HOORAY! You took off a couple of days after hitting the 9 month mark and haven't looked back since. Maybe you just needed a slight change of scenery to motivate you to get movin'? One thing's for sure: You are a much happier girl now that you are able to go after what you want, chase your big brothers around, and fully explore your new surroundings. I have yet to do any baby-proofing around our house aside from outlet plugs; my biggest concern is our large staircase. I'm definitely not looking forward to the day you take an interest in climbing it, as we have no way to install a baby gate. We'll just have to keep a close eye on you! Here's brief footage of you in action about a week after you crawling commenced. (You're even speedier now.)

• I dare say you've become quite the eating enthusiast. You are still nursing four times a day (not really sure when Mommy will be ready to wean you), but you heart solids bigtime. Despite some iffy faces in the pictures below, you have thoroughly enjoyed each of the new foods you've tried this month:
  
  
  
  
  
  In addition, there are a handful of items that you had only eaten pureed, but now eat cut up into small chunks (butternut squash, zucchini, peaches, green beans). At this point almost all of what you are eating is finger food, and boy can you pick up those pieces and shove them into your mouth quickly! You are developing clear preferences and when your "favorite" food in a meal has disappeared from your tray, you will flap your arms and grunt to signal that you want some more. It's also important to note that with our move to Atlanta, you were moved up from the Bumbo seat to a full-size high chair. You seem quite pleased with this promotion. :)

 Love having the extra room to wiggle!

All smiles at din-din time.

I got so tickled watching you in your own little world while you were eating the other day:

{What, doesn't everybody eat their lunch like this?!?} :)

• Sleep has been a bit variable this month, and I've no doubt that being in a new bedroom (with windows that let in significantly more light) is at least partially to blame. You've been waking earlier than I would like; we've been slowly working our way back to 7am, but the past few weeks it's been closer to 6:00, and even a couple of days before that! No fun. This has meant that you've been ready to go down for your morning nap by 9:00, but thankfully that rest has been pretty solid. Afternoon naps have faired surprisingly well, too, despite the lack of darkness in your room. By late evening, you've been so worn out and are usually pretty cranky until I nurse you. You seem incredibly thankful to snuggle your Lolly and often don't even give me a second look after I lay you in your crib for the night.

Fresh off an awesome nap!

• It comes as no surprise that you're now an old pro at pulling yourself up to standing. Sometimes you choose objects that surprise me to help in your endeavor, but more often than not you manage to make them work for you, and before I know it you're on your feet. No cruising yet, but I bet it won't be long before you figure that out.

"Steady, steady..."

"See? I knew I could do it."

• On those same lines, one of your new favorite activities is pulling yourself up on the rails to look from our second-floor playroom down into our family room. At least one of your brothers is happy to do this alongside you. It has provided a great deal of entertainment.

"Look how high we are!"

Behind bars.

So proud of yourself.

• Again on the subject of pulling up, your learning activity table continues to be one of your most-loved toys. We can also add to that list your shopping cart and your Winnie the Pooh car, which were unpacked shortly after we moved and I realized we had so much more open space for you to roam! You are not yet racing all over the place, but you will also slooooooowly push your cart on the carpet to go on a "shopping trip"; you are also happy just to hold onto its handle and play with the pieces of toy food. As for your car, you like to stand holding onto it and push the buttons, but you really love it when Mommy sits you inside and Kaiser and/or Porter takes you for a spin around the kitchen and dining room. (FYI, this is something that they beg to do, and is almost as fun for them as it is for you!)

How you love bouncing to the music!

You would've made a great contestant on Supermarket Sweep.

"Faster, faster!"

• Speaking of rides, you love to be pulled around our neighborhood in the wagon. It's one of the best gifts we've ever received! (Thanks, YaYa!) We've logged lots of miles in that thing. It is hilarious watching your facial expressions as you bounce around in your seat. You get such a thrill out of watching Kaiser race toward you on his tractor and will clap your hands and squeal like crazy. I look forward to many more post-dinner family walks in the coming months. 

It's the simple things.

• Can't forget to mention a couple of major "firsts" (likely of many) in your life: 1. You moved! (I already covered most of the details here and here.) and 2. You went on your first family vacation. (I'll be working on that post next!) As usual, you were a trooper and made life relatively easy for your momma. Muchas gracias for that, M'Dear. :)

• I know I'm always commenting upon your relationships with your brothers, but it seems that they have changed even more so this past month. Kaiser has taken on the role of your guide (at least in his mind). He was thrilled when you started crawling, and has been anxious to help you learn how to walk. It has been really sweet to see him take increased interest in how "grown up" you're becoming. Porter, meanwhile, is the smotherer. He seriously loves you to pieces, but lately his affection has been a little -- how should I put it? -- overwhelming. There have been a handful of times that I hear you hollering from the other room, and when I come to check on you, I find Porter laying on top of you (in an effort to give you a hug, of course). His intentions are almost always good, but he definitely needs a bit of instruction on how to best demonstrate love to his sissy.

K is more patient with you than he is with anyone else.

This picture just about sums up y'alls relationship.

• It's a well-known fact that you are Daddy's girl, and you adore Kaiser and Porter; however, I'm glad to say that Mommy has a hold on your heart, too. We have oodles of fun together, just the two of us, especially when you wake up early from nap and we're trying to kill time before your brothers join the land of the living. I can't wait till you're a little older and we can go out to do "girl things" together. Prepare to be spoiled rotten! (Okay, maybe not rotten, but spoiled.)

You're kinda fun.

And, as it turns out, you give good kisses, too. :)

• It doesn't take much for your hair to become a hot mess, what with the humidity we're experiencing down here in the South; therefore, pigtails have become a much more regular occurrence when we're out and about. We always get compliments on them, and I have to admit, you wear the look well. Can't wait till I can stick some bows on them!

Bonus points for lopsided piggies.

• People often ask your age and then comment on about how small you are, but to me you are such a BIG girl! You are filling out your 6-12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. I finally bought you a pair of shoes (C'mon, you know this child of the 80's couldn't resist jellies!), but they are a little large, so still no footwear being worn on a regular basis. Don't worry, I promise to get you some cute -- but practical -- shoes once you take off walkin'. 

Sweet feet.

Always a few more shots to share of my best baby friend...

Tummy full of milk. Kicked back in your glider. Life is good.

Shopping at Walmart will wear a sistah out.

"What do I have to do to get some service 'round here?"

Bowls make great hats, according to your brothers.

Sweet moment rocking in your daddy's childhood chair. 

{Wink.}

"CHEESE!!!" (No, seriously, this was your very first time eating cheese.)

Malone Marie, 

What a month it's been for us! Lots of exciting stuff goin' on in our world. It's been an absolute delight to watch you grow more capable and confident and cuter by the day. Couldn't have asked for a better #3 than you, truly. I thank my God every day that I get to love you.

XOXO