10 Months

We had two big milestones this month: Lucy started regular daycare for the first time, and Lucy got sick for the first time. Correlation? HA! This whole “building immunity” business is getting on my nerves. Two days into daycare we got a stomach bug, followed by an ear infection in both ears. Two days before the end of the month, we got a cough, runny nose, and high fever, rounded out by another ear infection in both ears and some nastiness in the chest area. I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to be “in like a lion, out like a lion…”

So yes, indeed we have entered The World of Many Germs. But we have also entered The World of Much Fun. Lucy likes her daycare. I think she is enjoying being around the other kids, and more than once we have heard from her daycare provider that “she is such a happy little girl.” It’s fun to see the new things she’s picking up just by watching the other kids. Last week I turned my back for a moment while she was in her high chair, and when I turned around she was drinking from her sippy cup like a pro.

Lucy is still crawling all over the place but prefers to stand, and is now an expert furniture cruiser and window gazer. More and more these days we catch her standing all on her own for longer periods of time. She thinks it’s hilarious to “walk” with Daddy’s help, and I’m convinced that any day now she’s going to decide to take a step or two all by herself. I’m actually in no hurry for her to figure this out. I already have a hard enough time keeping anything and everything out of her grabby little hands! Her favorites are tissues, remote controls, magazines, and any loose papers sitting within reach. She is ignoring “NO!” more often now, and definitely turns up the drama when something is taken away...and boy do you know it when she’s ticked off! Let’s just say that expressing her feelings is not an issue.

This month we also made a more aggressive transition to “big-people food.” I probably struggle with this the most, because I have to pack her lunch every day for daycare, and I’m still figuring out what she likes. So far she loves toast (just plain dry toast), peas, applesauce, bananas, and yogurt. The verdict is still out on noodles of any type. She also loves her little crackers and cereal snacks, but won’t touch peaches or mandarin oranges. We just continue to try new things, and hopefully she’ll build up a healthy portfolio of likes.

To sum up the month, we totally have a little ham on our hands. She can be the goofiest little girl and make the funniest faces to make us laugh. She can make any one of us smile in a second, and it seems she knows exactly when it’s needed. When she’s sick we really miss her sunny little self, but when that smile returns…all I can say is, I’m convinced having a 10-month-old who smiles at you like that is about the best gig in the world.