The Leen

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Dear Elanor,

Today you are ten months old, and every day it seems you are more a toddler rather than a baby.

You are pulling up on everything, and cruising all over the house. Papa and I are waiting with bated breath for you to take your first steps. It’s coming, soon. You crawl like a pro; you move so quickly that we can barely keep up.

We’re also waiting on you to say more words. You babble all day long, and it is as though you expect us to understand what you’re saying. You definitely say Mama, as you have for a while, and we think you are saying Kitty, too.

You’re beginning to use sign language back to us as well. You signed finished back at us over the weekend when we asked you if you were finished. And you’ve been trying to sign more for a while, we think. It’s really fun to see you acknowledging our signing. Auntie Rachel taught me several more signs while she was here this past weekend, and I’m looking forward to using them with you.

You’re into everything you shouldn’t be into. The stereo, the records, the bookshelves, the rug by the front door, any piece of electronic equipment within your reach: you want to explore it all. Turn the knobs on the stereo, pull the records and books off of the shelf, rip the dust jackets on the books, eat the fringe on the rug. It’s all just part of how you’re learning, I know, but redirecting you every 10 seconds gets tiring. But that’s okay. Even if it’s tiring, it’s just what babies do.

It’s been very fun to see you growing to acknowledge your papa more. When he walks in the room, your face absolutely lights up. You squinch up your face, and grin, and squeal. It’s really precious, and I know your papa loves it.

You are also more attuned to what Papa and I are doing. If we’re doing something on the computer, for instance, you want to do it, too. Same goes for the cell phone. And if we laugh, you laugh too, looking from one of us to the other, as if you are asking, “So, guys, what’s the joke?”

We are very ready for Christmas and your birthday to come so you we can give you some more toys. All of your current ones are getting a little boring for you, I think. They’re very baby-ish and are more along the lines of glorified rattles, mostly. But I can’t justify buying anything new for you because you have those big events coming up quickly, and I know you’ll be showered with gifts.

You enjoy eating all kinds of food, but your favorite things tend to be guacamole, bread, and cheese. You also loved the quesadilla we made for you the other day. You are clearly taking after your papa.

It is so very fun to see you becoming so much more of a person, with a developed personality. You are usually happy and playful and good-natured, although we’re finding that you do not like it and protest very loudly if we try to make you do something you don’t want to do (like go in your carseat or go to sleep, even if you are exhausted). I guess that’s just part of being human, but to us, you seem especially strong-willed. Papa and I say that we’re in for it when you get a little older.

Happy Ten Months, my girl! Being your mama is the best gift in the world. I love you!

Love,
Mama