10 months

Dear Ruby,

You are ten months old today! You may have noticed that we skipped posting about nine months, but it is not because it wasn't eventful. It was TOO eventful, really, and that is the reason for the omission. Part of the craziness was because your dad was working in the ICU, which means he was working a lot. We put most of our energy into what I like to call Keeping It Together. And it worked! Mostly!

Unfortunately, ICU month corresponded almost exactly with your nine month sleep regression. That's a real thing, I looked it up. You must have too, because at nine months on the dot, your sleep took a nose-dive. You wake up multiple times a night now, sometimes clapping, sometimes whispering, sometimes waving. Your brain is working working working, all the time. All that work is paying off, you are a Super Genius (that's a real thing, I looked it up). But dang. I'd happily accept average if it meant more sleep.




This is you with Oma. She and Opa visited last month, and will be here again this weekend as they finish up their trip south. You had so much fun with them. It was really wonderful to see how much you love each other.

Here you are staring out the window, contemplating the meaning of it all. Or looking at birds. One or the other.

This one's a bit blurry, but it's you standing in the middle of the kitchen. You do that now, stand up all by yourself, not touching anything. Sometimes you'll dance and clap a little, for variety. Your dad and I are betting you start walking some time this month.

As for teeth, you now have four top ones to go with your two bottom ones. There is a delicous space between the two front teeth, just like your dad has. Of course there is. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple gray hairs sprout out of your head, either. You bear a slight resemblance to your father, is what I'm saying.

Other things: You are trying very hard to repeat after us, and you've been pretty successful. You can say "butta" for butterfly, and "poop" for poop. The topic of poop comes up a surprising amount. You've said baby once or twice and a bunch of other little bits.

You are fearless, charming and funny. You're a little obsessed with other babies' heads, a little overly affectionate with them, and I've had to run some interference when petting turns to grabbing. It's out of love, of course it is, but I've noticed other mothers wince a little at your lovey ways. Can we help it if the world is full of weaker babies? No we cannot.

So to sum up: your belly is for kissing, your neck is for snacking, and your tush is for squishing.

love,
Mama