10 months

Baby Pudge is 10 months old (as of yesterday). 10 months! Two months from his birthday! What?! Seriously, this is going way too fast.

--As of today, S has four teeth. The third popped out on Sunday (7.7), the fourth broke through yesterday. These two are on the top right, first the lateral, then the central incisor (for anyone who cares....or just for me.)

--This kid does not hold still. So, he figured out mobility last month and quickly went from army/caterpillar crawl, to hands and knees crawl, to pulling up on furniture, to cruising around along the furniture, to taking three steps in front of everyone in my sunday school class. I died a little, sitting in my seat and watching him along with everyone else. And head bonks are a regular thing now. Why do they have to grow up so fast?

--His favorite thing, in the whole wide world, aside from never holding still is eating. He will open his mouth for a spoon, but food on a spoon is not as appealing to him as a cuddle and some mama milk. Which can cause problems, because he wants his milk, but he wants to move. (Thus making for a very frustrating situation for me.) If it is nap-time or night-time, he will fall right to sleep while he eats, but if I try to set him down he wakes right up. Sometimes I'll get as much as 5 minutes (at nap time) or even an hour (at night), but he knows he's been left alone and he doesn't stand for that. Actually, he does stand for that, stands right up in his bed and hollers at me until I collect him. I had actually gotten quite used to him sleeping in his own bed through the night, and it's been a bit difficult for me as he has insisted on staying with me all night. Amazingly, last night he did sleep in his bed all night, but we have yet to see if he'll go back to that, or if he'll be needing me for a while longer.

--His weight hasn't changed, except for a few ounces, since last month, so still 'round 17 lbs. He got a little bit taller, though, 29.75 inches.

--He got his first taste of watermelon a few days ago, he liked it, but mostly he liked squishing the melon between his fingers.

--He loves the bathroom. We have to be vigilant about keeping the door shut or he will get in there. He goes strait for the tub, pulls himself up and just stands there banging on the edge of the tub. --He's been getting baths more frequently and he loves baths now, which explains his fascination with the tub.

--He's been saying mama and dada for a couple of months now, and I think he tried to say "gun" the other day. Probably sounds bad that one of his first words could be "gun", but when you consider that Mr. Boss is a student gunsmith, and that, because of this, guns are frequently spoken of in my home, it makes a little bit more sense.

--He is much more apprehensive of strangers these days, but he still grins at anyone talking to him, just don't get to close or try to hold him. He just might start to holler at you.

--S is such a mellow chap for the most part, though. If he's stuck in a stroller he will sit there quietly and observe the world around him. If he's off exploring, he'll frequently stop and look for me, grinning his impossibly cute grin at me as soon as we've made eye-contact.

--Oh, and he's super ticklish! I love his soft giggle when I nibble on his arms, or pinch at his thighs, or rub the bottom of his feet. Oh, he is delicious!

Oh, and just now, as I was typing all of this, he was standing up next to me. He was holding onto the leg of my desk and was trying to transfer his hands to the shelf right next to it. To do so he let go of the leg entirely. He almost lost his balance, but kept standing for another few seconds before finally grabbing onto the shelf. Honestly, all he wants is to be a big kid, and it is so cute and so heart-breaking all at the same time. The joys of motherhood...

trying to escape and....
"mom, can we be done with these pictures already?"