Elise: 10 months

Little Miss E is our happy, sweet, spunky,  daredevil these days . . . (She actually reminds me quite a lot of her big brother - with perhaps a bit of extra spunk!) Elise is very close to walking - she has taken 2-3 steps, but hasn't made it much further yet (which is just fine - she moves fast enough as it is by crawling and "cruising").  One of her favorite places to play is by the barstools . . . she likes to "walk" by them, and sometimes will push a stool with her to  so that she can get to where she wants to go

Over the past weeks, E's sleep habits have improved a LOT after 2 teeth finally popped through.  She is now generally going to sleep for the night around 9, sometimes wakes at 12, but then sleeps till around 7 - 8.  She definitely prefers to sleep in our bed vs. her crib, which we probably allowed her to do way too often when she was waking up several times each night  (it's called survival, people) - and now she's decided she wants to stay!  I think another tooth is on its way, as she's been having trouble falling asleep and just chews and chews (and drools) and is just upset as if she's in pain.  Darn teeth!

At 10 months, Elise:

• says mamamama (and I think she is referring to me at times - other times it's babble), and has started in on dadadada too

• has decided that she no longer will eat bananas, and that she loves her Cheerios!  Elise does a great job feeding herself pieces of cereal/rice puffs.   She also refuses to eat "sweet corn casserole" baby food, but eats all of the other "flavors," though she definitely prefers a taste of whatever we are eating 

• is learning to use a sippy cup - and loves to steal her brother's (especially if there is something really good in there that she really shouldn't have such as chocolate milk or juice) . . . B doesn't really need a sippy anymore, except for that I make him use one if he's not sitting at the table so that he doesn't spill

• loves to play!  favorite toys right now are blocks (knocking down towers), balls, and anything she can climb on/pull up to.  She also really likes one of Braden's trains, as well as a little monkey that lives in her room above the changing table - she is always trying to stand up to get him.  E got several dollies for Christmas, so we'll see if she shows interest in them soon

• is a fan of peek a boo (that's actually old news), and loves to do patty cake and sooooo big (actually any game in which you interact with her - she laughs and laughs).  She also likes to chase her brother and do whatever he is doing (which he sometimes loves and sometimes hates)

• is not afraid . . . see evidence below

Like I said, Elise loves to climb up/on anything.  Billy took the pic below one day when she crawled in the laundry basket by herself but then couldn't quite get out . . .

• is getting more hair!  It's still mostly on the sids/back, but it's coming in on top too.  I think it might be kind of wavy/curly.  She has these long wisps of hair behind her ears that stick straight out when she wakes up - too funny!

• continues to wear size 2 diapers, and 6-12/9 mth clothes (depending on how sized) . . . but will soon be moving into 12 mth (she needs it for length, but the waist is too big right now).  When we can keep shoes on, she's wearing 3's or size 6-12 mth.  It's really too bad her shoes don't stay on, because she has several super cute pairs!

Elise was NOT in the mood to be still on her back for the "monthly photo" - so excuse the shadow/poor quality, because this was the best I could do without making her mad (actually we did make her mad/cry, but who wants to use those pictures?)

She was MUCH happier when we let her stand up for a picture (you can see that the 12 mth outfit almost fits now - but the pants are way too baggy at the top) . . .

Yikes!  10 months!  I am so not ready for my "baby" to be one year old in 2 short months :(