10 Month Update

My little Helena Blythe is 2 months away from being a year old! How can that be? No more being able to state her age only in months. So sad. I have already started the ordering process for another, these things take time and I don't want to be without a little one.  Haven't gotten a really good reaction to the order, but you can't fault me for trying.

We finally hit the monthly picture wall. This is the best we could get. I took about a hundred pictures and I got ONE good one, and it's not that great. There have been months that I've only taken 10 or less and gotten what I wanted, but I guess those days are over. Since she doesn't crawl, at least she couldn't get away.

She is very much a Cloud in that she will eat anything. She is happiest in her high chair, breaking bread with the family. She prefers to feed herself, whether it's a piece of meat lover's pizza (don't cut it up, I'm not a baby!) or a bowl of oatmeal. She finds dog food just as delicious as human food so keeping Frasier's food out of reach is a concern now.

She has found her "voice" this month and says mama, dada, papa, bubba, more, and what sounds like "Helena". She also signs finish and more, waves bye-bye and nods yes and shakes her head no. My favorite is that she cries when you say "no, ma'am", no matter what she is doing. Even if she is sitting on the floor, playing, and you say from across the room, "Helena, no ma'am", she starts to cry. Oh, the drama starts early, doesn't it?

Because Little Bit isn't crawling, isn't motivated to get up on her knees, pull up, or even put herself in a sit, the pediatrician suggested a referral to ECI. Almost every student I have worked with since I began working for the schools has worked with Early Childhood Intervention. I always tell parents who ask about it that it's a great program and they should most definitely take advantage of it. It was weird giving my own daughter the same advice.  

It's not like Helena can't get around. She just doesn't do it in a conventional way. Since she can't/doesn't want to go from lying down to a sit, and HATES being on her tummy, it is of utmost importance not to get into a prone position. This has required a technique to mobilize herself and still maintain her sit. It doesn't work well anywhere but at my house, but since our hardwood is old and smooth girlfriend can move when she wants something. It's reminiscent of the way Ursula on The Little Mermaid moves. Bottom stays on the floor, legs and arms stretch to drag her, octopus like, all while sitting up.

Here are a few out takes of our less than successful 10 month sidewalk chalk shoot. Thank goodness we only have 2 months left of this! We are going to have to come up with something else if/when there is ever a baby number 3 (please, please, please let there be one).