10 Months — Nora is officially in “double digits”
Honestly, I can’t believe how much she has changed since last month. Looking back over the past 10 months, I would say that we’ve seen more changes this month than any other month!
She was super squirmy, and she wouldn’t put the leaf down… so it’s in pretty much every picture.
Here are some of her new accomplishments…
1. She walks!
Yup, you read that right — full blown walking around from room to room, wherever she wants to go! She took her first steps randomly on her 9 month birthday and Dave and I both looked at each other like “did you just see that!”
We got so excited that she spent the next hour walking from Dave to me and from me to Dave; and then screeching with delight when we cheered for her. Maybe we should try cheering for her when she goes to bed… and then she’ll start sleeping more 🙂
I’ve included a video of her walking — nothing too exciting, but it’s proof!
2. She waves and claps.
This also came as a shock to us because we hadn’t really tried to “teach” this to her (note to self, they really do learn by WATCHING!) One day, someone waved to Nora at church… and she waved back!
Of course, now we have to wave whenever we come into a room, leave a room, see someone new, or anytime anyone says bye-bye!
And any time we praise her for anything, she has to clap… for herself. Even if you just look at her and say “yay Nora”, she’ll start clapping and get really excited.
Yeah, it’s cute!
3. She plays.
We can really tell that she is starting to understand us more, and then respond and mimic what we do.
For example, we’ve been trying to teach her peek-a-boo for a while now and a couple weeks ago, I was changing her diaper and she pulled her shirt over her face, pulled it down again, and smiled at me.
I just thought “oh how cute” but then she did it again… so I said “peek-a-boo” (in a very excited voice). She laughed and laughed and then continued to lift her shirt up and down over her face at least 20 times. Now any time she covers even part of her eyes with something, she wants you to excitedly say “peek-a-boo”.
We also broke out the Legos last week — and both she and Dave are having SO much fun. She loves grabbing all the Legos and throwing them onto the floor. Then Dave builds her towers and she knocks them down.
4. She is a little dare-devil.
Now that she’s walking we’ve found her in some pretty crazy places (yes, we do monitor her… she’s just so fast).
The other day I found her trying to climb into her car seat — and once she climbed in, she proceeded to rock it back and forth with the most determined look on her face.
Then she climbed up on the couch, onto the armrest, and almost made it onto the tray of her highchair before I pulled her down.
She’s extremely strong so she’s constantly pulling herself up onto things or pushing her way through small openings (like behind the toilet or under her pack n’ play).
Oh, and when she’s not sitting nicely in her bouncy chair she uses is as a “spring board” to get her up to higher ground (like couches and chairs).
I just know she’s going to be one of those fearless kids who tries to jump out of a tree with a sheet for a parachute! Hopefully we have good insurance.
5. She bites.
She has four teeth now and she’s turned into a little biter. She’ll walk right up to me while I’m sitting in a chair and bite my leg (really hard!) She’ll also bite your finger if you get it anywhere close to her mouth.
Someone told me that I should bite her back (yes they were serious) but I don’t think I’m going to try that method just yet!
She just loves feeling her teeth with her tongue and her fingers… and I suppose this is the one time when a huge gap between front teeth is really cute 🙂
6. She’s cuter than ever.
No, she still doesn’t nap, she still wakes up at least 3 times EVERY night, she still refuses all people-food except yogurt, and she still makes me question whether we could ever handle even one more stubborn child like her…
…but she sure is cute (and getting cuter ever day!)
Only two more months until her first birthday… looks like I better start planning (no, I’m not doing anything extravagant, I just know how much longer everything takes me now days!)
Happy 10 months Nora!
Debra says
My daughter is now 20 years old. I wish I would have thought to blog her progress and here little brothers, like you are for Nora. Nora to me, is like my boys (now 17 and 12 years old). Perfect and VERY busy growing and learning. 😀 I was lucky that they took naps.
Bethany says
I have a daughter (my first too) who is almost exactly 6 months younger than Nora, and her pediatrician recommended we start her on solid food. I was wondering–did you buy baby food or make your own? With coupons I can get jars for pennies on the dollar, but I still think it might be cheaper (and healthier) to make my own. If you did this, do you have any recipes you care to share?
Andrea says
Hey Bethany — unfortunately I don’t have any tips for you because Nora still refuses to eat anything. We’ve been trying to feed her cereal, baby food, and even small chucks of people food for several months now but she won’t eat anything — so I don’t have any experience on this topic.
However I would say that if you can get baby food for free or almost free, I’d definitely keep some store-bought stuff in the house for convenience purposes at least!
Chalyse Meiklejohn says
She is so totally precious! What an adorable little girl. I can’t believe she’s walking already! And those blue eyes are beautiful!
I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and am due on November 20th… so maybe our little man will be born on Nora’s birthday?!
I’m already thinking about Christmas decorations and when to put them up… I always put up our tree and everything else the day after Thanksgiving, but I won’t have time to do that if I have a newborn! I also don’t want to be 39 weeks pregnant and trying to assemble a 6′ fake tree… so I’m trying to convince myself to put up the Christmas decorations REALLY early… like the first week of November… when I’m only 38 weeks pregnant. That just feels SO EARLY! When did you put up your Christmas decorations when you were pregnant with Nora?
I absolutely love your blog and all of your posts about your beautiful little girl. Keep it up!! Praying she learns to sleep soon! 😉 God bless!
Andrea says
Chalyse, I always put up my decorations the day after Thanksgiving too — but last year, I put them up the 2nd week in November. It did seem really early but I had so much fun and when I brought Nora home on Thanksgiving day, I was SOOOO glad I had put the decorations up early. If I hadn’t done it earlier, they would have just sat downstairs for another year!
Congrats on the soon-to-be baby!
Laura says
I had a biter. My collar-bones were blackish purple for months. I was the only one ‘lucky’ enough to get bit on a regular basis & it was sort of a family joke that I must taste good (I was also the only one routinely bit as a child by my cousins).
My little one did it when she was JUST SO EXCITED!!! She wasn’t trying to be naughty or even looking for attention. It sounds strange but it was almost like she was overwhelmed with feeling & being too little to express it she bit. We got a book, “Teeth are NOT for Biting” & I would make a sad face & tell her she hurt me. It took a little while but it worked.
Good luck! Those brand new chompers can be sharp!
Abra says
She’s adorable! Thanks for sharing her with us!
Sandy says
Thank you, Andrea for the monthly updates. I have to smile when I see those cute pictures!
I am Happy you are enjoying each and everyday….They grow so fast and before long she will be breaking the hearts of those darn guys that will be knocking your door down. LOL
Maggie says
She’s getting her little girl face! And it’s beautiful 🙂 and oh, that picture of her lashes!
Krisna says
She is just so adorable! And a pretty strong baby,look at her legs and how she supports herself. I really like her cute little flowered headband, it’s like her trademark already.
Colleen says
Bite her back?! That is really idiotic advice. I hope you bit whomever suggested it!
Library Momma says
Such a cutie, don’t worry everything will come in due time like eating big person food! You will also know when the time is right for another, don’t worry!
Bama Girl says
Hi Andrea! Nora is just adorable! Those eyes! And what a stinker, no naps! She is an early walker! That’s got to be exhausting for you and the hubs, but I know ya’ll are enjoying every minute of it! Thanks for sharing her with us! Blessings from Bama!
Jenny C. says
PRECIOUS!!!
Cathy says
Ahhh gorgeous gal!
It goes by so quickly doesn’t it!
My second child (a boy) bit me a lot. That year my daughter did a family portrait for her kindergarten class and drew me purple because I had so many bruises! It sure made us laugh. We heard the same advice – bite back – but were never tempted to try it. We were worried it might reinforce the biting or encourage other unwanted behaviors. We stuck with “No”. The biting eventually stopped. I think he was showing frustration at his limits. He wanted to be moving and doing everything. (Sounds like your gal).
Have fun. Before you know it she will be so big!
Susie says
My baby has been keeping up with nora, feels like I could have written this about katie! If you are still nursing and she bites you, just squish her against you so she has to breathe.Sounds kind of mean, but I have had to do this to all my kids and they only try to bite once.
Sarah says
Her eyelashes are killing me! She is such a beautiful baby.
Nancy says
Your daughter is beautiful!! And mirrors my experiences with my first born! So, I’m commenting to tell you that she will sleep – eventually!! My daughter took 10 minute catnaps around the clock for about 4 months, then continued to wake up several times at night – for a really long time… she almost never napped – when she did, I knew she wasn’t feeling well… unlike you, I had my second baby when Sami was 14 months old (don’t ask)… anyway, I’m not going to lie and tell you it got easier – BUT eventually, the babies won out and wound up in our bed at night. Guess what? Everyone slept! We had a king size bed and everyone just piled in. I’m not interested in starting a debate on kids in parents’ bed – I would have done ANYTHING to sleep!!! I don’t have any regrets and would do it all again. Folks used to tell me that babies that don’t sleep a lot are very alert and usually develop early (seems like that’s true for Nora). If you haven’t tried just letting her camp out with you guys at night, maybe it’s time? Just a thought… BTW – my Sami is 25 years old and now teaches 3rd grade – my other daughter is a speech pathologist – they are both normal happy, well adjusted adults with no residual side effects from sleeping with mom and dad for a few years 🙂
<3
Evie says
Andrea, it’s so much fun watching Nora progress. Ahhhhh, takes me back 30 years! So have you decided which kitchen cupboard will be filled with pots and pans and cooking utensils for Nora to play with while you’re busy in the kitchen? When my kids were around that age, they spent so much happy time at my feet with their kitchen stuff! …and one of my earliest memories is doing the same thing… Nora, happy birthday! You’re wonderful!
JoAnn C. says
Bite her back?? Oh my. When I worked as a nanny bites were part of the job. They all bite and they all out grow of it too. It’s their way of making sense of their environment.
Nora is walking like a champ.
While working for one family, the oldest child started walking for me one full week before she walked for her parents. Of course I couldn’t say a word because I believed mom and dad should always be the first to discover these milestones. It was a long week for me. And my amateur acting skills came out when mom met me at the door yelling “She’s walking get in here and see”! I acted appropriately excited all the while knowing what I knew.
You are so kind to share Nora’s special moments with your readers. Thank you.
Kristia says
This post makes me want to go look through my kids’ photo albums. I LOVED this stage and honestly, little Nora doesn’t sound any more stubborn than many other 10 month olds that I know.
My kids were biters too. I used to have bruises all over my legs and arms. I didn’t bite back. I just said, ‘no biting, that hurts mommy’. They really don’t understand what they are doing and in some way I think they bite as a way to communicate. They eventually will grow out of that stage.
She’s a cutie!
Teri says
These were the months I loved. Enjoy them and as you said, the challenges they will bring! She’s a delight!
Paulette says
This child truly is adorable. Thank you, Andrea for the monthly updates. ; )