10 Months

Dear James,

It has been awhile since I have taken the time to do a monthly letter-update for you. You’ve been keeping me (us) so busy, there has hardly been the time to collect my thoughts. I missed your ninth month, so to catch you up… You started walking the week you turned nine months old. You were standing independently at eight and a half months old, but you were walking at nine months old… You now prefer to walk everywhere instead of crawling, though you will crawl after Mmbo! Yes, your first real word that you say and associate with something is Mmbo! for Mambo. And we know you know what you’re saying because you’re pointing at him. (Mambo is our tuxedo cat.)

Both your dad and I are astonished at how quickly you are learning things. On Mother’s Day you learned the baby sign for “more” and two days later you were signing “light” and “milk.” You’re getting much better at waving “bye bye” though sometimes you do it when only I am watching you! We are anxious to see what your next sign will be. So far, we’re showing you “eat” and “drink” as well as “bath” and “all done!”

This month, this tenth month, is the month of the molars. Right before you turned ten months old, you started teething again and today (May 25) I felt in there and that bottom left first molar is just about poking through. Any day now you will have nine teeth. The eight that you have are very dangerous – I don’t think one more will bother us and I am praying that it doesn’t bother you, either.

This month, your dad and I finally bought a video monitor to peek into your world during naptime. I think it has helped me realize when you’re up and when you’re just rolling over or adjusting and your naps have evened out into a 1.5 hour nap in the morning and a 1 hour nap in the afternoon. Much more predicable and much more consistient. Now that I’m typing this, you’ll probably change your routine, huh? Your daddy likes it when you wake up and stare into the camera when it’s dark because your eyes glow in the infrared light. The night vision is way cool, but you don’t know that yet.

Our lives are about to change with moving and so far, you’ve been taking all the packing really well. We took down all the shelves in your room pretty early in hopes that you’ll be okay with bare walls. We don’t know where we’re moving to yet, but we know that the Lord will provide a place for us to live.

And you’re starting swim class on Monday. Daddy will be there to take pictures of your first class. We are looking forward to it even though we know that you have no idea what the activities of the day will be. You’ll have to write a big thank you card to grandma and grandpa K for the swim classes. If it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t be taking them, and we know you love to be in the pool!

I am so excited about planning your birthday party, little guy. You’re growing up way too fast, but it sure is fun. Thanks for all the laughs and memories!

Love,

mama