Celebrating 10 months

Ralph had a fight with himself in bed last night. I'm not sure who won. I had thought about cutting a few fingernails before he went to bed. Guess I should have tried a little harder.

The little man enjoys going for walks when he has a grasp of someone else's hands. He is starting to get a little more aggressive in climbing over things but hasn't tried much to pull himself up. In his defense, there's not much around the living room for him to work on this skill - he tried once at the learning table and it fell back on him.

Ralph is pretty agreeable these days. His newest "trick" is to nod in agreement in response to most questions asked of him. Luckily, he hasn't figured out to shake his head yet.

Ralph now has a pair of bottom teeth. The arrival of the second tooth has been pretty noneventful.

Ralph is into opening and closing things whether its the little gates on the Little People Farm or the bedroom doors - luckily he hasn't shut himself in a room yet. He also likes to beat on things (dishwasher, fridge, oven, microwave, empty formula cans) with his hands to hear the different sounds.

Ralph is stuck on stage 3 baby food. One day last week I put some roast beef through the mini processor thinking Ralph would like to pick up the bits. He didn't get into it as much as I hoped and voiced his unhappiness with it after a few seconds in his mouth. He has pretty good finger dexterity but we haven't progressed further than the Gerber puffs.

Ralph is beginning to turn into a flirt. We went to a sporting event over the weekend and some college girls were sitting nearby. Ralph spied them; they smiled at him and he raised his eyebrows and smiled back.

Everyday I marvel at how this little guy came to be, the milestones he has achieved so far, the new discoveries he makes daily, and try to begin to comprehend his thought process. Life is incredible.

A Future Hunter?

Ralph likes to put things on his head - I'm not sure who helped him discover his head is a good shelf but it started when he used to sit in his bouncy seat more often. He'd have a toy in his hand, reach up, and leave it on his head. More recently, the washcloth we use during feedings would somehow end up on his head. Most anytime something ends up on his head he cracks a big grin. Naturally, hats are pretty cool too. Grandpa is hoping Ralph takes an interest in hunting in a few years . . .but for now Ralph is only allowed to "hunt for hugs" as the hat notes.

There's a Thief Among Us!

Ralph is becoming a pacifer thief at daycare which is strange since he hardly uses one at home. Ealier this week he had another boy's pacifer in his mouth when I arrived to pick him up and yesterday morning he took his "girlfriend"'s from her mouth and put it in his. I think he just likes having something in his mouth right now.

A Late Christmas Gift

Ralph wish for his two bottom teeth came 1/2 true a few weeks ago. One of his bottom teeth FINALLY broke through. People have tried telling us the longer it takes for teeth to arrive the better off he'll be be - I can only hope he'll have a cavity-free childhood.

Fun on a Sunday . . .

Last Sunday was the first time I caught Ralph climbing into the base of the exosaucer. I'm not exactly sure what he was after but he was quite content hanging out.

Go Car Go!

Ralph received a hippo car as a baby gift. We finally put it together last month. He thinks its putting cool to be pushed around - he is not quite ready to walk behind the hippo himself but with a little help it's pretty fun too.

Who needs gifts?

Who needs gifts when a box is just as much fun? Ralph had a good time on Christmas. He received many good gifts - and many good boxes to play with as well.