The Time You Said/Whispered Your First Word

I guess months of hearing us shouting at your "puppies" set you up well for your first word. You have already been pointing toward the dogs, walking toward the dogs, and yelling indistinguishable babbles toward them after mommy or daddy chastise them for roughhousing or general craziness, but now you've stepped it up. We were visiting Houston and we were at GiGi's house playing in the living room with blocks when it happened. You looked at the dogs and in a soft whisper and a little bit of stuttering over the "p" sound, you said "puppy"! We were all a little shocked. We weren't sure if we could count it as your first word. We didn't know what the prerequisite for first words was ... does she have to talk louder, does she have to say it multiple times, do we have to be sure she isn't saying it indiscriminately, etc? But sure enough, you were looking right at the dogs and you said it a few more times - likely because we were so excited that you decided you should probably say it a few more times for the praise and glory. You've said it a few times since, but cutely ... and strangely... you always say it softly and almost under your breath. More often than not, you are back to your yelling at the dogs - those bad brothers! Your relationship with them is adorable. I was very nervous with the number of stories I hear at work where typically good pet dogs snap but your brothers have so far been wonderful with you. They have demonstrated extreme agility in playing hardcore and always avoiding you as they pass by and they have licked you all over and never nipped. Well that's not entirely true - Dexter did nip at your toes once when I was holding you up and he wanted to go outside, but I feel like it was accidental and it was more what he does to me when he wants to go outside and your foot just happened to be there - oops! Other than that, Gams and Dex have been super sweet to you - allowing you to slap their tummies with both of your hands, allowing you to pull at their loose skin around their mouths, and allowing you to pet/pat them to your heart's content. Gambit will occasionally walk away when he's had enough but surprisingly Dexter just lets you have at it occasionally turning around to lick your face as a subtle encouragement to change what you are doing to him. We are very fortunate they have developed this loving relationship with your so that we do not have to be on high alert every moment with you around them but we do have to watch you with other dogs because you are definitely being set up to be super affectionate to all animals -which is great, but dangerous when they aren't quite as friendly. What we all love the most is how un-phased you are by the dogs presence when we are over at Grannie Jannie's and there are a million dogs running around you, licking you, or bumping your little walking self over. Puppies and babies... double the trouble, double the cute!

While at GiGi's you also got to play with your cousins and play at Water Park McKinney. GiGi loves the summer and more than that she loves buying new pools for the backyard. Each summer, GiGi usually picks out a new inflatable pool and some are small for kids while others are large enough to need filters and ladders. This year, GiGi one upped even herself and not only had her large enough pool for kids and adults but that pool's ladder went into another smaller, baby pool and then there was also a splash pad set up for you on the patio with a large cabana shaded area, water misters, and a painting station. Fancy! You had a blast swimming it up with your cousins.

The Time You Completed Your First Masterpiece

I've been a pinterest-aholic for a while now and the saddest thing is that I'm not crafty, I bake but I'm not artistic enough to bake master creations, and I never had enough time, patience, money, or art supplies to accomplish half the things that I pin. HOWEVER, after seeing that your Aunt Bronwyn had done an art project with Owen - well - painted Owen's feet and basically painted with him - I figured that I should do what I had pinned and allow you to paint as an activity. I took care to find non-toxic, child-friendly paints. I made sure to lay down plenty of plastic on the back patio and then I even taped down the white paper so that you could sit and paint. I started by putting it on your hands then I put blobs of paint on the paper itself hoping that you would start smashing and playing in it. Well, you were more confused than anything and as we don't go outside in the backyard aka the dog's pit of despair often you were also more interested in exploring off the plastic and in the backyard while covered with paint than on the paper laid out. Surprisingly, you didn't try to taste the paint. With more assistance from me than anticipated, we got some pretty fun pieces of artwork out of the event. I had pinned this event for your first birthday with the intention of trying to have you paint me artwork for each of your birthdays... perhaps we shall still do this, but it was definitely fun to get all messy and paint together even if it was not as long of an activity as I thought it would be and you weren't half as excited and interested as I thought you would be in the novel activity and gooey paint.

The final masterpieces... we called the "Hands" followed by the exquisite "Feet"

The Time You Turned Ten Months

Another month has come and gone. You are ever the social butterfly this month. You have really started to shine in public. It's a funny thing though. You have also started to have some serious 'stranger danger' anxiety, but at the same time, you really seem to be enamored with babies and children. You are constantly twisting and turning and back bending to get a better look at new friends. You make huge smiles and coos. Then in come the adults that you've known all your little life and you do this cute head nuzzle into my chest and pretend to be shy or even better if you are even slightly passed in another person's direction - the waterworks begin! If it was even possible, you are even more attached to me. You won't let me go anywhere without screaming bloody murder. Daddy seems to get things done without you attached at the hip, but mommy can't even eat without fighting you for my food. You now stand at the ottoman dreaming of the days when you could vault it, screaming at me, until I return to the room. On the one hand, I'm flattered and intrigued that you love me so much; on the other hand, I'm exhausted! ;)


Other hits this month:
YOU TOOK YOUR FIRST STEPS! (A total of four so far and you are taking your sweet time to wow us with anymore. We figure you are convinced that it's silly to wobble when you can run using one hand on the furniture or speed crawl on the floor. You also take your walker for long jaunts across the room if all else fails.)

You have been trying several new foods and some big girl foods too. You are still a sucker for the puffs though - which can become very demanding sometimes too! New foods include: little chunks of meat (if you don't choke on them or just chew for twenty minutes), avocado, mac n' cheese with veggies, veggie puffs, and real bananas

You have been swimming in the big girl pool and at a splash pad and you LOVE the water.

 I'm so stinking cute - I don't even know how you guys handle it.

Now it's on ... now it's not.

Dancer in the making ... pointing my toes with my pretty long legs!

Yeah, I'm walking. NBD.

Eating my monthly sticker - as per usual these days.

And I'm done with photos mother ... PLEASE!