Vivienne at Ten Months

Dear Vivienne,

I said to Daddy the other day, “I guess we should start thinking about planning a first birthday party soon!” It’s hard to believe that we are only two months out from your big day. What in the world? Slow down, time! How is it already June?!

Spring has sprung, and you seem to be enjoying the outdoors in all of its glory. Grass? You’re content to sit in it for long periods of time, exploring the blades with your fingers and toes. Crumpling helicopters and other bits of pieces of flowers and leaves between your fingers. Occasionally you’ll try to taste them, too. You may not be as big of a fan of sand, though. Grammy tried to put your feet in Hunter’s sandbox over Memorial Day weekend and you didn’t seem to like it too much. I hope we can get you accustomed to it before our trip to the beach this summer! In general, though, the outdoors keeps you entertained. We’ve taken you for some lengthy walks during which you never make a peep—you just look around at everything there is to see.

When you’re not strapped into the stroller, though, you are a mover and a shaker. You have learned how to sit up from a lying down position. You’re crawling on your hands and knees more and more lately, but you are still fastest on your belly and elbows, so the army crawl is still prevalent. You are capable of crawling from one room to the next, and onto another. You’re pulling up on things regularly, usually on to your knees, though. There have been two times (that I know of) when you have pulled up to a stand, but I think you’re still at the point where the position of your feet has to be just so. I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon and we’ll have you pulling up to stand on everything!

You love everything your big sister has. You want to be involved in everything she is doing. If she’s playing on the floor, you are immediately over there, too, trying to take part. You are obsessed with crayons! Sometimes, Nora is frustrated and wants us to take you to another room or distract you with something. Other times, she shares brilliantly. Typical, I think! If she tries to take something away from you, you fight her for it. You’re only 10 months old, but you’re already not willing to take any crap from anyone. I love that about you.

Speaking of your sister, she has taken to calling you Vivi, but she says it “Bizzy.” It’s adorable. And she LOVES to make you laugh. Sometimes, she gets the real belly laughs out of you, and when she does? She’s going to do whatever caused the laughing again… over and over and over until you’re bored with it.

You don’t have much interest in real food. Sometimes, we’ll put it on your tray and you give us looks of disgust, like “What is this rubbish?” and promptly throw it onto the floor without even trying it. Oooookay then. Other times you’ll try one piece and then you ignore the rest. Purees are where it’s at, I guess. You sometimes eat a giant bowl of oatmeal mixed with a jar of baby food, and then STILL pound back a baby food pouch (which you can hold all by yourself). It’s shocking, really, and I’m not sure where exactly you even put it all. And you are now a champion puffs eater, so you’ve got that going for you, too. (Nora also LOVES them, of course, which is ridiculous because they taste like nothing.)

We have entered the “acrobatic nursing” stage. When you’re nursing, you are doing anything and everything you possibly can while still maintaining your latch—contorting your body, twisting, pulling, kicking, stretching. It is not the bonding time that it once was. Instead, it’s simply a means to nutrition, and you are done with it as quickly as possible. When you decide you’re full, you want DOWN. Immediately. Because Heaven forbid you miss anything going on around you.

Except at nighttime. Sometimes. There are nights when you will let me snuggle you at bedtime and I cherish them whenever I can. You’ll rest your little head against my chest or shoulder and I just rock, hugging and kissing you, trying to memorize what it feels like to have the weight of your growing—but still very tiny—body relaxed in my arms. Other nights, you want nothing to do with the snuggles and insist on being put in your crib as quickly as possible because you’re tired, and you want to go to bed.

You’re a fantastic sleeper these days. You sleep tremendously well at night—so exhausted from the activity-filled days—and you’re usually not a bad napper, either. I dig it, so keep it up.

At your 9-month well baby visit, you weighed 17 lbs., 8 oz. (25th percentile). We won’t have another appointment until after your first birthday, which is crazy to me. Still only two teeth. Still no babbling noises beyond your “yelling” that you do—still waiting for the consonant sounds to start. Nora was such a late talker (after her first word, anyway) that I shouldn’t be surprised if you remain quiet for quite some time to come.

You have learned to clap recently, which is so adorable. You “dance” a little bit by wiggling your little body around to music. You are OBSESSED with my car keys… like you will dive at them when you see them, and cry if I dare to take them away from you.

You are happy. Chill, but headstrong. Determined. You’re the little sister, but you definitely hold your own. A spitfire. Curious. Mischievous. Absolutely beautiful.

We’re so fortunate to have you, Vivienne. You’re one of our greatest blessings. Saying that I’m thankful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I’ll love you forever and ever.
Mommy