For Rory: Rory Keiko: Ten Month Update

Rory,

If I had to choose one word to describe you this month it would be curious. You want to see, touch, and taste everything. It's so fun to see you experiencing things for the first time, from the shower to your tricycle.

You have started copying everything we say and do. You know to put your pretend phone to your ear, and just the other day, you said "e-i-e-i" after hearing us sing "Old McDonald". (You can't quite get the "o" sound at the end.)

You are such a happy, friendly baby. Amy, our favorite barista at Starbucks, has nicknamed you smiles because every time you see her, you scrunch up your nose and give her a huge grin. You still love to swing and play in the sandbox, and you are becoming increasingly aware of other children at the park. You like to sit and watch the bigger kids dig and build sand castles.

The most exciting thing to happen this month was our trip to Steamboat Springs with Conrad and Avery. I was so nervous because you had never slept away from home before, but you did great. You adapted quite easily to your new surroundings and you loved your first gondola ride up to the mountains.

Auntie Joanie and Uncle Bob came to visit this month, and to say they loved you would be an understatement. Aunt Joanie took more pictures of you in two days than I've taken in ten months! You are so lucky to have so many people who love and adore you.

You now have 6 teeth and are starting to use your walker to cruise around the house. I don't think it will be long before you are able to walk. Every time I turn my back, you are half way up the stairs, but you still haven't figured out how to go down. One of your favorite activities is to stand at the screen door and watch Marli outside in the mornings.

You are able to stay awake longer between naps (usually between 3 and 4 hours), but you still hate the car. And you love your wooden blocks and your Legos, but not to build with. Instead, you take them out of their containers one-by-one and chuck them across the room. We haven't quite mastered the concept of "cleaning up"; although you do love to hear me sing the clean up song and watch me put your blocks away.

Another big milestone happened this month: we left you with a babysitter...while you were awake! Amanda from next door watched you and put you to bed so that daddy and I could go to the Jack Johnson concert. I was nervous that you would cry and be upset, but Amanda said you were very easy and hardly fussed at all.

You're starting to become opinionated, and although I appreciate your spunkiness, it does make life more difficult. You become upset when I tell you no (as in "No, you cannot chew on my phone charger"), and you cry real tears when we leave the park before you're ready.

I can hardly believe that in two short months you will turn one year old. How is that possible? There are days when I would give anything to turn back time to those moments when you fit perfectly in my arms. Just last night I noticed how much your legs hang when I rocked you to sleep. The only thing that keeps me from breaking down into tears each night is thinking of all of the fun things you have yet to experience. I can't wait to take you horse-back riding and to your first fireworks show. Seeing things through your eyes is like experiencing all of life's joys all over again. It is one of the infinite things I love about having you for a daughter. Happy ten months, Rory!