10 Months

 10 months has really flown by.  I can't believe that River is already almost out of the "infant" category.  This little one has added such a great dynamic to our family.  I really love the stage that she is in right now.  She is full of spunk and energy.

It's fun to see the differences between Zuri and River.  River is more sensitive than Zuri was at her age.  River bumps into anything and she cries.  Zuri was a lot tougher--she would just pick herself back up and keep going.  River is also not as...dramatic as Zuri.  River coos, babbles and laughs, but I remember Zuri being a lot more vocal.  Zuri has an infectious laugh and has always been easy to get her laughing.  River, on the other hand, will laugh, but not as loud, or as long, or as easily.  River is quick with smiles, but it takes more to get a laugh.  I think that she will be quieter than Zuri.

River's favorite game is a form of peek-a-boo on the bed.  We put her on the bed and peek over the side of the bed while on the floor.  She gets a kick out of finding out which side we are on and will sometimes run from us when we peek over, and sometimes try to get us.  She does a funny growl-like sound when she's having fun, or wants to communicate.

She has also taken to following me around, and has gotten quite good at determining where I have gone when having left her sight.  When we are playing, she will crawl away (she has become quite quick), turn and sit back up to make sure I am chasing her, and then zoom away again.  It's so fun.

The worst we see with River is changing her diaper or putting clothes on her.  She loves to be free and naked, and thinks it's a game to be so.  She's not so bad getting the diaper off, but the second it's off, she starts twisting and turning to get away.  It has made for some interesting poopy diaper changes.  On average, it takes about three tries to get a new diaper on her, and usually with a whole lot of fussing on her end.

Her favorite time is bath time.  She loves baths.  She will kick and splash and crawl all over the tub.  When Zuri takes a bath with her, she makes a game of climbing over Zuri, over and over--another emerging skill--she has learned how to climb on top of things.  River could spend hours in the bath (like her sister), and throws a fit whenever she is taken out of the tub.  

River is most definitely a "daddy's girl."  When J comes home from work, she forgets all about me and is all about daddy.  She will get upset if he leaves the room without her.  It's fun to see them together.

I am really enjoying this stage with River.  I delight in the little baby things that she does.  All the excitement, the curiosity, and the learning that happens in such a short time is incredible.  With Zuri, I remember enjoying this age, but because she was so small there was always a twinge in the back of my mind, so that I missed more than I realized, worrying.  

So now I am taking in the full spectrum of "ten months," and just enjoying the time I have with my sweet girl.  She's already growing so quickly.  It really is amazing all that happens in less than a year, and I don't want to miss a single thing.