Thomas 10 months

I love this picture because I think it is hilarious that this kid wont stay sitting up in the tub. I plop him down on his butt and he immediately flips over and lays down on his belly. Lately he is loving the bath tub!

Education
I'm having a hard time coming up with something for this section... He is doing a little better with object permanence. But he still freaks out sometimes when I leave the room. My little man just LOVES his mommy! He is signing "more" pretty well now and sometimes I think he knows "all done" too. But it's hard to tell if he's signing "all done" or if he's just really excited...
 
Physical Growth
This man is an eating machine! He seriously eats like he hasn't eaten in weeks, at every meal. Tonight at dinner Ian said, "He just keeps eating! He must really like this!" It was broccoli. He just likes to eat. I'm not complaining, it just is something to marvel at. He is a super fast army crawler so he will start to crawl on his hands and knees now, but usually reverts to the army crawl. Then he will find somewhere to stand and cruise around. He's eating mostly solid chunks of food, but I still spoon feed him a decent amount of purees. Makes for less mess. He is working on his two top front teeth and I can't wait for them to be in. He is not a graceful teether!

Spiritual Growth
Thomas just loves to cuddle. And lately I have been really making an effort to tie some heart strings between us, as the Pearl's would say. Basically I just try to have a special time with each kid each day. With Thomas lately I have been holding him close (hence the cuddliness) and dancing/singing to hymns with him. He just lays his little head back in my arms and watches me sing. It is so sweet I never want to stop! But then his brother and sister come in and sit on my feet or run circles around us, etc. etc. So I squeeze the time in when I can and enjoy every minute.

Social Development
This is basically the same except he will now stay calm for a while if I leave a room! Victory! He will go to pretty much anyone and be content with them. He just likes to be held. He prefers me of course...but a lap is a lap most of the time. He's super smiley and pretty tenacious. We are working on the typical 10 month things like learning what to touch and what not to touch, but this kid (also in typical 10 month old fashion) just doesn't quit. He has a stubborn mommy so we will see who wins this war:)

Overall he is such a fun baby right now and I am savoring the last of his baby months. Soon he will be walking and running and toddling away from me.

What we've been up to

Not a whole lot. I'm growing pretty bitter toward this coldness.

 

On Sunday we went out with my mom and step dad for mama's birthday. When Ian said maybe we shouldn't go because of the weather coming I almost cried! One because of the weather, and two because I could really use a night out! We ended up going and had a great time. Other than that we have been holed up in the house. I'm so ready for spring!!!!

Smiles!

If this doesn't make your day a little brighter I don't know what will! He has been super fussy lately working on his top front teeth...but he managed a smile or two for me:

 

 

 Thought I would post this one from 2 months again to show some contrast!

Warm!

Starting to feel a little warm out there:)

 

Penguin Parade

Well we made the trek out into the cold again this year to go see the penguins! Noah still hates being cold so he wanted to be held or tucked into the stroller the whole time.

 My sweet Mary was very excited! Probably because we haven't left the house much.

 Thomas spent his time in the stroller and then tucked in with mommy when he got fussy...

 I LOVE how cuddly he still is! I just zipped him up in my jacket and he cuddled/slept while we were there. And then the penguins came a marchin!

Thomas 9 months

 

Education
It seems silly to call this education but it's how Thomas' mind is growing:) Since he is mobile we are teaching him what he can and can't touch and where he can and can't go. It's an interesting process for sure, but he is getting it! For example, we almost always leave the door to the stairs open if we are near them because we want to teach him not to go near the stairs. Ian was in the kitchen so I ran down to change the laundry over. I knew that Thomas would try to follow. I didn't expect that it would be MARY teaching him not to. But I heard her get close to him like we do and say, "Thomas! You may not go near the stairs. You are too little!"  Ha! The best part is she sounded exactly like me. He's at the point now where most of the time all I have to do is say his name and he will stop what he's doing... but not always.

Physical Growth
At his appointment last week he had only gained a pound since 6 months. He was sick all last week and barely wanted to eat...but he still looks like a little chunky monkey to me so it's good he had some padding to use up. Plus this is when all my kids have fallen off their growth charts. Ah well. We will continue pushing avocado since he loves it so much! Turns out he had an ear infection so I can't blame him for not wanting to do anything.
All he wants to do is stand! He will crawl over, stand up while holding on to me, and just stand there forever. He likes it when I walk him around but he's also content just standing there. He will giggle and coo and you can just tell he's so happy to be standing.

Spiritual Growth
Our prayers for Thomas are pretty wide open right now since we don't know what he will be like. But we do pray specific prayers since he's a boy: that got would make him a strong warrior for the kingdom, that he would learn to provide and protect, and that he would have a strong love for and knowledge of the word so he can lead others in it. I have started reading to him more as he likes books so I will read him the little cuddle and sing books we have. We sing Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Is With Me.

Social Development
Thomas is pretty social for a baby. It's hard to say really. But he will pretty much go to anyone. He really prefers me, but I can hand him to someone at church or even a new babysitter and he happily goes. I think he just wants to be held and doesn't really care who is doing the holding. He's a cuddler like his brother! He is starting to say more complicated sounds (ma, ga, goo) so I have been pointing at him and saying Thomas then pointing at me and saying mama. I love when they can say mama:) He loves to climb all over people and smiles at everyone often.

Thomas, you are my sweet baby boy and I am loving this age! Please continue to cuddle with me and reach for me all your life!