letters for levi: 10 months old

:: ten months::

Darling boy at ten months old… I am in love with this age. FUN. It's the single word I'd choose if I had to pick just one. You are so much fun right now.

One of the reasons I love this age so much is that it seems like the best of both worlds. You are still a baby - you still nurse and you don't talk or walk yet. But you are also growing more independent and love to explore and can entertain yourself and initiate play with others. It's such a fun combination at this stage.

{you were actually about 9.5 months in this photo}

You've also been healthy, not teething, and generally just so agreeable this month. I want to freeze this age and enjoy it for a while!

You are more and more confident in your cruising - constantly around furniture and pulling up on everything. You definitely want to stand and/or walk any chance you get and you often take our hands and lead the way around the house or even just around in circles.

You're also eating more finger foods at the moment - and you're enjoying feeding yourself more and more. Makes me wonder how much longer we'll be making baby food for you. It all goes so fast. So. Fast.

We started our big trip to America for Christmas. First we had five days in Sydney with Nanny and Bop and the Taylors. You had so much fun playing with cousin Jackson… especially his drum set. You'd go into complete melt-down when we had to peel you off those things. Sorry honey, but as much as we want to encourage you in music… we probably won't be getting you a drum set any time soon. :) Maybe a guitar instead?

It was really good to have time together as a family - having daddy with us instead of working is a great joy and all three of us are enjoying it a lot. (He's going to find it hard to leave you again and go back to work, I know that for certain. I'll find it hard too, I'm sure.)

Also while in Sydney we had your dedication at Engadine Church of Christ. Adam led the service and we had a great time. It was really special to have Nanny and Bop there with us especially. (We'll do another one in Bend so that Gigi and Gramps can be there - it's really special for grandparents!)

You loved playing on the beach and even though it was a bit cold to go swimming, you still loved splashing around in the waves and walking on the beach and wrestling on the grass. Sydney such a fun time for all of us. You are so lucky to have such an awesome extended family.

And now we are in Hawaii. it's gorgeous here, and so good to be with the Duttons. You love the big kids, and ohmygoodness do they love you! You've done an amazing job being flexible and taking naps on-the-go in the Ergo (which we love). It's so nice to be able to carry you like that and you really enjoy being up close to us as long as we're moving. You also adjusted to the time difference so easily. WAY faster than mama and daddy did. You are a champion traveller my little one!

Every day you look and act more like a toddler and less like a baby. Some days I find this hard and I want to slow down the clock. But I also find it exciting. Watching a little person grow is one of the most magical things in life, no doubt.