Ten Months

Parker Holt, you are ten months old!

 

You went from this newborn babe...

To this one month old...

To this two month old...

To this three month old...

To this four month old...

To this five month old...

To this six month old...



To this seven month old...

To his eight month old...

To this nine month old...

To this ten month old...











 

 

In that last picture, you decided to lay down in the chair - my, you look so long and big!

 

Surely we cannot be two short months away from your FIRST BIRTHDAY!!  Where does the time go?

 

Fortunately for you, you don't have to go to the doctor this month for a check-up and shots, but unfortunately that means we don't have any current measurements for you.  However, based on your past growth, I am going to predict you weigh around 21 pounds, give or take a few ounces and are about 30" or so long. We (and many others) are still in love with your big, blue eyes and there is sure to be a haircut in your future in the coming months - probably before your birthday. 

 

You are still wearing size 3 diapers during the day, but we put you in a size 4 nighttime diaper after your evening bath so it'll hold more through your sleep at night. You are wearing mostly 9-12 month and 12 month clothing. 

 

As of November 29th, you are on a breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack schedule and it is working beautifully.  You usually eat your breakfast about 7:30 every morning and then get a bottle afterwards, lunch comes about 11:30 with a bottle to follow and then you have dinner about 4:00 with a bottle also.  About 7:30 we give you a snack - usually applesauce, yogurt or a fruit and then we do your bath and bedtime routine with one last bottle before bed.  So now you eat and get a bottle 4 times a day.  Also throughout the day, usually halfway between meals you have some puffs, melts, cheerios or other snack.  You aren't a big eater, but eat fairly well.  Lots of times you gobble up all of your food and other times you are good with just a few bites. 

 

Mommy is still making the majority of your food.  We have been incorporating some organic food pouches at various times.  We've also been trying to introduce you to meat so you've eaten a few pureed organic meat blends (with vegetables) that come in glass jars. You've really done well with the meats.  We've also been trying to experiment with different table foods from time to time.  I've been trying to add some texture to your meals, so I've stirred in grated cheese, pasta, barley, cottage chesse as well as a few other things.  You are still working on the concept of feeding yourself.  You pick up food really well, but you'd rather just play with it that transfer it to your mouth. We gave you fruit flavored yogurt for the first time recently and you ate it all up. Your current favorites right now are probably applesauce and sweet potatoes. 

 

After your bath each evening, we do a little bedtime routine, read you a book and then give you one final 8oz bottle before bed.  You usually go to bed anywhere between 8-8:30pm.  You are an early riser and are up between 6-7am, but Mommy and Daddy are early risers too.  But that gives you about 9-10 hours sleep each night which we are happy about.  You also usually take a morning nap and afternoon nap and the length varies from day to day.  For some reason, you love to sleep in the corner of your bed right up against the rails so there's always a big, empty space in the middle of your bed. 

 

You have eight teeth to date - actually tooth seven and eight are still making their way in, but it won't be long until they are fully in. 

 

You are still so active, happy and everywhere.  You are ever so curious about your surroundings so you love to explore wherever you are and find something fun to get into.  You love to crawl all over the place, but even more so love to pull up and stand and play with things...or touch things...or grab things. 

 

Your two absolute favorite things are the bath (or anything to do with water) and music. You are definitely a little fish and really enjoy bathtime and splashing like crazy. You also love the sink and watching water in the sink. If we walk by a sink you lean toward it or reach for it as if to say "Turn the water on, I am ready to play". We can see a little pool in your future this summer.  Your favorite toys are any that make music or play music. Your most favorite is your drum and you even crawl around with your drumstick from time to time.  You also have a keyboard, xylophone, egg shakers...to name a few.  Santa brought you a musical play table for Christmas and I think it's a hit! 

 

You are also really into clapping these days and we can say "Clap your hands" and most the time you do.  Or we might say "Yay Paker" and you proceed to clap.  And of course, we have been singing "If You're Happy and You Know It...".   

 

Once again, I've gone on and on, but there's so much to share from month to month, but on to the pictures.

 

Here are various pictures of Parker doing what he does best...playing!

 

Wiped out...

 



I have mentioned this before, but you get so excited when Daddy plays his guitar.  You even crawl to his office in hopes of getting your hands on the strings.  One day, Daddy was sweet enough to hold cords for you while you strummed the strings.  It was precious.  

This has to be one of my favorite pictures to date - a picture of pure happiness and delight.  I love how you and Daddy are looking at each other and you are clapping your hands.  I have made this picture my background on the computer in my office - love it.   

You had so many cute Christmas outfits that we dressed you in this season.  I am sad to see them go!  Here are a few more holiday duds pictures.

 

This onesie we bought before you even came into our world.  It says "Cookies for Santa, Not Daddy".   

We snapped these before church one morning.  An adorable Christmas outfit complete with a reindeer.  You look less and less like a baby and more and more like a little boy - oh my. 

.              

The weekend before Christmas, we met Mamaw and Gramps in Abilene (halfway between us and  them) to celebrate Christmas with them. We stayed in a hotel, which was your first time to stay in one.  We had a fun time eating, shopping, watching some football and opening gifts.  After you went to bed, we also played cards and had a good time.  I am sure sorry that Mamaw and Gramps didn't get you anything...

You weren't too into the opening of presents, so Mommy and Daddy helped you, but that time will come.  I predict next year you'll be tearing into your gifts.  You received so many great things from them (and so did we) and have lots more great stuff to play with and clothes to wear.  It was a short visit, but we had a really nice time. 

On Sunday, when we were packing to leave, you discovered the full length mirror on the closet door and had the best time interacting with yourself.  It was so entertaining and funny watching you.  You even gave yourself a kiss - aww!  

 

Christmas came two days after you turned 10 months old and we've been busy and on the go, so we may save all of those pictures for another time.  We had a fun Christmas at home as a family of three and Calvin.  We made some special memories!

I will say it again, but time is flying by and I cannot believe you are close to being a whole year old.  Mommy is already working on plans for your birthday party.  It's going to be all about baseball.   

 

 

We adore you Parker and love having a front row seat to your ever changing body, development and life.  You keep us going and on our toes, but we wouldn't have it any other way.  You are oodles of fun and we enjoy you so so much.  WE LOVE YOU LOTS AND LOTS!!

Until we meet again...

Riley