10 Months Old

Sallie Cate is 10 months old today!

The biggest thing that happened in the last month is that she got tubes on January 24th. I was so ready for it to be done because I could tell her ears were bothering her so much over the last month. She would stick her fingers in her ears and just cry as well as a few other things that let me know she was so uncomfortable.

{this was before surgery}

She did great during the procedure, and when the nurse brought her back from the recovery room, SC was asleep on her shoulder, and the nurse said, "She's just too sweet! I don't want to hand her over." :) The ENT said her ears were in bad shape and he's glad we got it done. Besides throwing up on the way home, she did great and was so hyper and in a good mood the rest of the day. She never fussed one time {after the anesthesia wore off}. She has always been a "talker" but I do feel like she is saying a few new sounds. Her balance also seems to be better- she's standing alone for longer periods of time without wobbling. I have also noticed that she's back to being happy when she wakes up in the morning. Up until the last month or so, I wouldn't even know she had woken up until I looked at the monitor because she would just play quietly and happily in her bed. But after Christmas when her ears started getting bad, as soon as she woke up she would just cry until I came in there. Now she is back to her normal, happy self in the mornings. I never would have associated the fussiness with her ears until it got immediately better once she got the tubes.

{on the way home}

I mentioned that she is standing alone for longer. She seems very sturdy but I can tell she gets nervous and constantly looks for something to hold on to. Right after Curran turned 9 months, she started standing straight up from the floor without pulling up, and by 10 months she had started taking steps. SC has never seemed quite as "strong" as C, but she rolled over and crawled a good bit earlier, and her overall mobility has been much more efficient than Curran's was at this age. However, I could always tell she probably wouldn't walk as early. C was never content to crawl and just wanted to be upright, whereas SC is much happier crawling everywhere. I think that SC may take her first step sometime this month, but I don't think she will be walking until after she turns 11 months. We'll see.

{this was earlier today- it was the longest she has stood alone so far.}

She is pretty much eating mostly table food these days. She still has oatmeal and a fruit in the morning, and I will definitely continue the oatmeal for a while. She loves it and I know she gets good and full from it. I struggle with the transition to table food because I feel like I can't gauge how much she's eating when so much ends up in her lap or on the floor. She absolutely LOVES grilled cheeses and cheese quesadillas. She can eat more than her sister when those are on the table. She also loves any bread product like muffins or zucchini bread. It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was making zucchini bread for C for the first time. Can't believe my baby is old enough for it. She also likes black beans, rice, yogurt and string cheese. We are struggling with fresh fruits and vegetables. That's one reason I am hesitant to get rid of the baby food all together. Also, she still only has two wittle toofies, so we get a tad nervous when she eats. She gags a lot too, and we constantly freak out that she is choking.

She is still nursing/taking a bottle four times per day. She is still taking two 7 oz bottles at school. My supply is definitely decreasing, but I am just hoping I can make it two more months! I have enough milk in the freezer, I just still want to be able to nurse her too.

She LOVES her sippy cup! She has the small two-handled Playtex kind. I think I introduced it around 7 months but just really starting giving it to her at meals around 9 months. So far she only drinks water in it, but she really likes it. Sometimes I have to take her cup off of her tray because she just wants to play with it and not eat. :)

She is still a GREAT sleeper and I am so thankful! She still goes down between 6-7pm and sleeps until 6:30-7:30am. She takes 2 naps per day, always at least 1.5 hours and sometimes 2+ hours. She has her pacifiers in the bed {and in the car} as well as a few lovies. It's her little safe haven. She hasn't let me rock her in months. As soon as she's finished eating, she's so ready to get in that bed.

When I get her out of her crib, she gives the tightest hugs around my neck and kicks her legs so hard. Makes my day. And she gives pretty sweet {and sloppy} open mouth kisses on the cheek.

I have loved watching Curran and Sallie Cate's relationship develop. From day one, C has been very interested in and loving towards her, but now that they can actually play, it's even more fun to see them together. Although it's also starting to get a little rough which makes me nervous.

Everyone also comments on what a sweet and happy baby she is, and it's true. I mean, it's not sunshine and roses all the time- when she is tired or hungry, look out! But for the most part, she is just so sweet and smiley. We just cannot get enough of our precious girl!

Happy 10 months, Sallie Cate! We love you!