10 Months Old

Can I just tell you how hard it is to get a photo of a moving, writhing, wriggling, jumping 10-month old? I could only get one shot of him this month where he wasn't moving and the pic didn't come out blurry. I guess that pretty much sums up what Reed is like to be around nowadays!

He is moving, moving, moving. He does not like to sit still in mommy or daddy's laps oh no! He is crawling, climbing, bouncing, rolling, etc. He loves when mommy helps him jump up and down either on his changing table, on the counch or even on her knee. This boy loves to jump. He also loves to climb as evidenced by this photo of him sitting on TOP of the fireplace.

I believe this boy will be walking before his first birthday. I had a trip to Washington D.C. this month. I was gone for three days. When I got back, Reed was standing up by himself without pulling up on furniture. In addition to standing himself up, he can stand in place unassisted for about 10 seconds. His first steps can't be far away!

We also notice that he is starting to understand us when we talk to him. A few nights ago he was sitting in his highchair after dinner, and I told him it was "bathtime." His eyes got big and bright, and I could tell he was excited about what that meant. He has started saying "mama" and "dada" but isn't consistent in using it. He often looks at me and says "mamamama" but then I also notice he says it to Cubby sometimes so who knows what this kid is trying to communicate.

He is wearing 24-month clothing now. We can still tell he is a big kid and is taller than most others his age (or even older).

It has also dawned on me that his infancy is falling behind us now, and I can see how the parenting role is evolving from just cuddles and kisses to discipline and guidance. He is starting to demonstrate his personality and now knows what he likes and doesn't like. He is very vocal in letting us know what he doesn't like - much more fussing and whining. It is so frustrating sometimes to not know what he needs or wants. Beau and I have also started telling him "no" on certain things like chewing on electrical cords, hitting Cubby, wanting to play in Cubby's water bowl, etc.

In fact, the realization that I will have to actually discipline this child came the other day when for about the fiftieth time he crawled over to Cubby's water bowl to splash in it. He LOVES to play in it because it's just the right height. We discourage him and try to redirect his attention because 1) he splashes it all over himself, the wall and the floor and 2) we don't want him getting into Cubby's areas lest Cubby gets aggressive (he never has and doesn't seem to care at all, but still).

I told him "no, thank you" like the do at daycare. However, I realized that Beau and I have both been saying, "no, thank you" in this sing-song kind of voice that has no air of authority around it at all. After I said, "no, thank you," for the fifth time, and he looked at me and giggled but turned back and kept going for the dog bowl, I'd had it. I said "Reed, NO" loudly and sternly. He stopped--shocked--looked at me and then started to cry. Oh, my heart.

More photos from this month...

Reed loved this tub he found in the cabinets. He must have worn it for about 20 minutes before I finally took it off.

Reed's friend Lucien turned one in June and moved into the one-year-olds' room across the hall. The daycare workers say that whenever his room is let out into the common area, Lucien will come over to the window looking for Reed. Reed also does the same thing with Lucien. Isn't that sweet? I caught the two of them interacting when I came to pick Reed up one day.

Some people still ask how Cubby and Reed are doing together. Well, here's a recent example of their budding relationship. Reed fell asleep in our bed one morning, and Beau called me into find Reed sleeping with his foot up on top of Cubby's back.