Ten Months Old

Happy TEN months, handsome boy! We are so proud of you, little son!

Titon is crawling! He can army crawl and make his way across the room in a flash. Every few strides, he gets up on his knees with his belly off the floor. His coordination and speed are increasing all the time.

Titon is an agile little guy! He'd probably nose-dive right off the couch or bed if we're not there to catch him! And, Mom is getting a little better at "gymnastic diapering" Titon while he's rolling over, bottom up, sideways, or standing up.... or all of those combined. Dad has mentioned it's like trying to put a diaper on an octopus! :) Although he'd probably prefer to cruise around in just his diaper (or less!), he likes to help pull his shirts on or off over his head and puts his arms up through his sleeves. What a good helper!

He LOVES standing. He's even started to stand up in his crib and is pulling up on furniture and big toys. Maybe because he is standing more often, he looks so much TALLER to us!

That means it's also time to officially baby-proof the house! It seems like he's lost interest in toys (we're pulling out some new ones), and he is exploring all the things he's had his eyes on the past months! He's frequently hearing "oh-oh" (our word for "no"), but so far it hasn't stopped him from continuing with determination to check out the wastebaskets, drawers, plants, lamps, computer.... We're trying to find balance in letting him explore and learn under our supervision, while also protecting him from getting hurt. Regardless, Mom and Dad are getting a workout too chasing after him... and his practice at this new mobility is just beginning! It is a lot of fun to watch him excitedly scoot down the hallway, then turn around and wiggle back to us. He likes to know we're close by. He always looks back to see if we're watching him. :)

Other than "oh-oh," there are a number of other phrases or words that Titon recognizes and responds to. We think he understands "Where's Mommy?" or "Where's Daddy?," "let's go!," "turn the page," "milk," "water," "socks," "bird," "ball," "book," and "outside." He is "talking" with us more and more -- he has a lot to tell us!

He really enjoys being outside, going for rides in the stroller, swinging at the park, and helping to water the garden.

We haven't been to the pool yet, but we're excited to try it soon. He sure loves splashing around in the tub!

This past month, we added beans to Titon's cereal and introduced him to a lot of new foods... pineapple, cantaloupe, spinach, pasta, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, chicken, tuna, salmon, beef, and ham! He's eating almost everything we are. :) He sure loves getting a few bites from Dad and Mom's plate. In fact, he prefers to feed himself finger foods over the purees, and he's quite good at picking up even small bits of food and popping them in his mouth!

We still agree that the best sound in the world is hearing him laugh!

Daddy loves how Titon presses his forehead against his, and buries his face in his neck. And, it's a sweet sight to see him snuggle his blankets and sleep peacefully. We love you, Titon, and every precious day with you!