Listen, I cannot stop looking at my children. I think they are stunning. And this sweet baby girl is so beautiful I just cannot take my eyes off her. This post has way too many pictures, but I don't care. She's just so sweet I couldn't decide which picture to post. To you, all of these pictures probably look the same. And that is Ok. :)
10 months. (today!) TEN. What this number really means is Maclyn is 2 months from being a year old. And that causes me an incredible mashup of emotions. I just can't believe it. I swear she was just born yesterday. Or maybe a month ago. But not TEN months ago.
Oh Maclyn. This baby continues to be so sweet, such a joy. She laughs at just the right time, she is silly and tries to make us laugh, and she is so loving and snuggly. I say it at every milestone post, and anyone who knows this baby knows what a sweetheart she is. Yes, she's mine, and I have a ton of bias. But everyone talks about how easygoing and loving and pleasant Maclyn is. My babysitter and I joke about how she is easy to neglect. She just chills where you sit her down, and plays! Content.
Food-wise, Maclyn is still nursing but is not really interested in it. She could care less about snuggling during nursing sessions...this is the one time she fights me. She just doesn't have time or doesn't want it or whatever. She will nurse in the morning, mid day and then at night. Any day-time nursing is a struggle. In fact, today she only nursed three times. And lately she hasn't wanted a bottle either. I am not sure what's going on, or if this is her weaning. (She has been sick...ear infection...sinus issues...teeth??)
From a "solids" perspective, she would prefer to feed herself finger foods. She will eat the baby food, but really doesn't love anything green. She gags and carries on with greenbeans, broccoli, and even peas. I feed it to her still, but I have to mask it and trick her. Sometimes are worse than others. She loves fruit. And yogurt. And she likes all orange colored foods! Table food faves include pancakes, bananas, white beans, peas (I know...), cheese.
Want a lemon, Mommy?
Motor development: well, still not crawling. BUT she is rolling belly-to-back more readily now. She still doesn't love it and kinda acts anxious mid-roll, often times rolling back to her tummy before committing to the roll. We do "therapy" almost daily and she has been practicing weight-bearing on hands and knees. She doesn't love it but doesn't scream as much anymore. She is starting to rock back into sitting, but still needs help. She "freezes" when placed on hands-and-knees and won't move without assistance. The last couple days, however, she has been reaching out way far when she is sitting so I think her confidence is growing.
Maclyn may be an easy baby to neglect because she is so easy, but in reality she likes to know where I am at all times. If I walk out of her line of sight she protests loudly until I walk back into the room. She squeals and flaps her arms and feet and is just so happy. She absolutely loves her brothers and when they give her attention she giggles and coos. If I am holding her and one (or both!) of the boys is standing near me, she reaches down to pat-pat them on the head. She can get pretty rough, especially with cat-scrating and hair-pulling, but generally not with them. Now she scratches me and pulls my hair almost any chance she gets...
Maclyn says Dada like it's her job. And she says it so sweetly that there is no wonder that her Daddy is wrapped around her little baby finger! She even says it on cue just for him. I mean, really!? That is really the only word that is clear as day. But I have also heard her say "hiiiiiiii" and sometimes she pulls up her hand too. And there have been a couple times she has said "who dat" when I have been holding her in her room and someone walks past her door...she also pairs that with a gesture towards the door. I don't know if these are really words, but they are consistent...so maybe? She does wave, whole arm or just hand, and it is the cutest thing ever.
Maclyn doesn't love to be read to. I try but she bats at the book to where it often falls out of my hands. She loves to sing and dance, and will sway and sing with me when I rock her at night. If she hears a catchy tune on tv when she is playing she will bounce up and down and smile. Mac has gotten the nickname "Grabby Sam" because she can clear a table in nothing flat. She grabs at everything. If we are out to eat and the waiter sets anything down in front of her she grabs and pulls...and she is fast! And she has her momma's reach already! If she is in her bumbo seat on the counter she swipes at everything. EVERYTHING. (yes...I know the stupid thing was recalled because of stupid parents putting their kids on elevated surfaces and walking away...don't call CPS) In fact she just grabbed a crystal candy dish that I received at one of my wedding showers and it fell 4 inches and shattered. Gone. It was out of her reach, or so I thought.
She also puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. We often see her chewing and pray it isn't anything life-threatening. We also think she just likes to make the chewing motion with her mouth because multiple finger sweeps have yielded nothing. (again, don't call CPS. I know what I am doing...but she is my 3rd kid...) For example, I set her on a quilt at a soccer game one day. She was being so good, and I was enjoying the game and when I looked down she had pulled the blanket to where she could get the grass, and she had a mouthful of it. Awesome. I can no longer set her on the the ground on a blanket because she has a taste for fresh cut greens. She will pick the most obscure piece of lint off my shirt and pop it in her mouth. Like a monkey.
This baby...what an absolute JOY she is. The best part is how well she rounds out our family. She is so loved by everyone, and provides so much love in return. God really knew what He was doing when he placed this incredible baby in our family.
Happy TEN Months, baby Mac(k)y. Now, go ahead and put the breaks on the calendar...I'm not ready to have a 1 year old...pretty please!
