10 Month Update

Dear Tatum,

Once again, we have been busy girls. I am a day shy of being a week late documenting your 10 month update. Summer is just about over and the Fall season is just about here. The weather has changed drastically in the past week and Mommy is loving it. Fall is my favorite season of the year.

You turned 10 months last Saturday and we had a full day of events to attend. Mommy decided to bring you along to Karen and Jeremy's Baby Shower. Not sure what I was thinking considering Daddy and I are a bit hesitant to take you to a restaurant these days. Your short attention span for sitting in a high chair or on my lap in the same place for too long has proven to be risky. I decided to take my Little Tot with me as many Mom's usually do. You were an angel for the first hour or so and then you became bored with your surroundings. I decided it would be best to take you for a walk to the lobby. Which you loved... new faces, new furniture to look at, new pictures to "ooh" and "ahh" over. You seemed to be okay and ready to go back into the baby shower. After a couple of walks, we rejoined the party when the food came. I placed you on my lap. Engaged in the conversation at the table, I did not notice as you grabbed my untouched lunch and pulled it onto my lap. Yes, that is right. Mommy was wearing her lunch consisting of a chicken breast, beans and a side of mashed potatoes. It wasn't as bad as I thought. When our friend Lori lifted the plate away, I only had a small amount of potatoes on my belt. Daddy arrived a short while after so that we could head to our next party. We laughed when I told him about our experience. You were happy that we were leaving and became a different child as we left the restaurant.

Note to self: Move all plates out of reaching distance of baby from now on.

We headed to the next party. Saturday was also Ava's 3rd Birthday party, daughter of our friends Bob and Keri. You were napping when we arrived. Once you awoke, you were fascinated with Ava and her cousin. You watched as they danced and squealed. You so badly wanted to take part in their fun. This party was more your speed and definitely had your attention. Elmo decorations were hanging everywhere you looked. You pointed at a card board Elmo hanging over the kitchen table and said, "Da-da." We all laughed. Daddy is much better looking you silly girl.

Then for a big surprise, guess who showed up to the party but Elmo himself. Your eyes grew bigger than I have ever seen them. Big, red, furry Elmo was standing right in front of us. We went to the backyard to watch as Elmo danced and played games with all of the kids. As Elmo handed out red balloons, he came by to meet you. You weren't afraid as he touched your little hand. You were just so fun to watch.

Once Elmo left, we spent some time playing with the other little girls: Ava, Emma and Ava's cousin. They are all around 3 years old and wanted to play with you as well. Ava tried to kiss you several times and wanted to hold your hand. They would bring toys over so that you could play along. You had so much fun. Mommy was quite exhausted and told Daddy it was time to head home. This was the first kid party that you so obviously enjoyed. I can only imagine the years to come.

It is hard to believe how much you have changed in the past month:

• You now have four teeth
• Your hair is beginning to grow over your ears and hangs in your eyes
• Your vocabulary consists of: Hi, hello, Hi GG, Da-da, Ma-ma, ball (you said it once)
• Your play area now consumes a quarter of the family room
• You have mastered crawling and are working on walking
• You love to walk while assisted
• You can stand on your own while holding or leaning on something
• You can pull yourself to your feet while pulling on something
• You point to people and pictures of people
• You laugh out loud as we play now
  
• You know how to fake cough and began fake choking today to get Mommies attention. This is not a good thing as it is very scary.
• You absolutely hate being put in your car seat. I am really looking forward to your first birthday so we can face you forward. Until then we will limit the long rides as you tend to get very upset.
  
• You love to make friends wherever we go. Tonight while shopping at Old Navy, Daddy had a chance to witness how you call out to other children to get their attention. It is as if all kids under the age of 3 have a special language that none of us understand. You were both sounding off back and forth until you were brought face to face, which made you very happy.

You are so incredible. You are turning into a little girl before our very eyes and it is so much fun.

I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Today's books:
"So Big"
"Eloise Wilkin's Poems To Read To The Very Young"