10 Months!

Last week, Annabel turned 10 months.  I think this 9-10 month period has shown the biggest changes of all the months with huge process in mobility, balance and understanding.

So proud to be balancing by herself.

I love when she looks really intently at me.

 Long wet hair.

Her army crawling is getting faster and faster.  She has developed a quick way to get from crawling to sitting by doing the complete splits.  It's really something.  She is just starting to show some interest in pulling herself to standing.  She claps almost every time she sits up.  It's so cute how proud babies seem to get over their accomplishments.  She has a new little piano/xylophone and she looks up at one of us after she hits a few keys, like "did you see what I just did" or "what do you think of that?"

Loves to empty mom's purse.

All of a sudden she is demonstrating associations; it's really neat to watch.  She is responding to the words 'clap,' 'dance,' 'hug,' 'kisses,' and 'wave bye, bye.'    She looks over at the stack of books when I say "read books," and the other day she crawled over to the phone when I said "should we call Grandma?"

She really is enjoying dancing to any beat or song.  It is so cute to watch her little torso move like a little worm; she'll even dance in her bucket car seat.  I've been having her make decisions by offering a choice of a couple books so she will tap on the one she wants....so cute!  I'm working on teaching her to sign for 'more drink' or 'more eat' but she is not grasping that yet.  Hopefully that would help cut down on screeching at a restaurant.  She has started sucking her thumb when tired, but I don't think she is using it to sooth herself back to sleep at night.  Diaper changes are now most similar to wrestling a raccoon.

This month she caught onto using a straw, so she can now use a little water bottle.  That has been handy for in public, especially if she has a snack and wants a sip.  The nurses encouraged trying to skip the sippy cup, so we tried the straw and after some practice, she got it.  It's suppose to help strengthen their muscles that will later be helpful for speech.

She had her first illness.  We have been so fortunate with her health, having made it 10 months without even getting a cold.  She caught a stomach virus and was really down for the count for two days and just less active for about 3-4 days after that, but recovered well by mid-week of our trip to Wisconsin.

Baby Cabin Fever Cures

I don't have to announce that the winter has been long, cold, and windy.  I think everyone is aware.  In an attempt to keep things interesting without buying new toys, I've made a few objects to explore.  Here is a collection of a few things we've done at home this winter.

Discovery Bottles:

I found this idea a website called The Imagination Tree.  I've kept them in a corner under our island area, so when she cruises into the kitchen there is something interesting to look at while I'm cooking supper.  To be honest, I think she thinks they are okay.  But, they were minimal in effort and basically free.  Soap, water, food coloring, popcorn, rice, straws, and pipe cleaners.

 Rice:

This idea came from my friend Lindsay.  I copied it exactly, with the Rubbermaid container top and all.  This excellent sensory activity is a little messy, but quick to vacuum up.  It worked well months ago when she was unable to pick up little pieces, I'm not sure how it would go now.  Most likely would try to eat it. 

Pulling out Fabric:

Great use of a diaper wipes case.  Filled with socks,  fabrics, bandana.  At almost 10 mo, she just started becoming interested in pulling the fabric out.

We've also tried finger painting, but she's maybe a bit young and it was so, so messy!  At one point she sprawled out on her stomach on the paint and paper!  There was paint on the floor, her hands, her feet, my leg....I just started laughing and quickly halted that project. 

We've blown bubbles in the bathtub.  She also thought that was just so-so; she's a tough audience!

Her favorite indoor activities are actually the more basic ones of reading books, riding "airplane," singing songs and rhymes, and just recently, dancing! She also loves emptying out any container, especially her diaper bag.  Next project is to teach her to fill it back up.

Baby's First Easter

This year we were the greeters at church, with Annabel all dressed up in her Easter best. 

She received this dress from her baby shower from my mom.  Her first dress.

There was less people in church than I expected, but since a lot of people have Friday and Monday off, I think many go out of town.  The general school spring break (the entire week) also started, so possibly some go on vacation.

 

First Easter basket.

This cute Easter bunny is from Grandma June. 

I'm going to enjoy assembling Easter baskets in years to come.  I always really enjoyed searching for my basket and receiving bubbles, jump ropes and candy.  My mom was quite sneaky, as we often received some of the same things as our cousins, which really instilled the idea of the Easter Bunny.  My mom said she didn't even think about that helping us really believe, she just had more fun shopping for items with her sister.

We were unable to make time to get a picture with the Easter Bunny this year, but I have yet to see a non-scary Easter Bunny costume anyway.  With all of the Disney character costumes, you'd think it would be possible to make a cute Easter Bunny costume.
   
It's unfortunate that we again were unable to spend Easter with any family, which has been the case for many years running now.  We made the weekend special in other ways.  We took a nice wintery, Easter walk through the park near our house.

She looks just slammed in there, but the snowsuit adds some bulk.  I assure you she is nice and comfy.  She fell asleep on our walk home.

Crawling in a snowsuit is not the easiest.

For some reason I suddenly felt like I was going to just fly down this 10 ft slide. (Note the tight grip to the side!)  Hang on Annabel!!

Trying to take off Dad's glasses, but failing without the use of fingers.

We still have quite a bit of snow here in Saskatoon.

Taking a much needed rest on this handy park bench.

I wanted to take a photo of a huge snow drift, so I stepped off the trail, falling through up past my knees!  They should have had a "Stay on the Trail" sign.

We didn't go too adventurous with the meal.  Simple tends to be the way we have to do things these days with an active baby.  We made Eric's Aunt Jan's pork and beef meatballs, green beans and mashed potatoes.   Eric has greatly improved with his gravy making skills, as this round was not floury at all.  

I attempted to make marshmallow Rice Krispies bars for the first time, but messed them up.  How do you mess them up, you might ask?  I have no idea, but I did it twice.  

Hope you all had a nice Easter too!