10 months

Today Anya is 10 months old!

Here we go....

Locomotion

• Anya is such a fast crawler these days. I turn my head for a second and I have to go look for her. So I guess this means no more turning my head. Ever again.
• She is also still cruising like a champ
• Over the past month, she has stood without any support (as in, lets go of the coffee table or hand) more often and for longer periods of time
• In the past week, she has managed to go from a sitting position to standing using nothing for support. We have witnessed this twice so far.
• This morning, Anya was standing unsupported and took one step/stumble into Chris' arms. Since it was much more stumble than step, I won't call it her first step yet, but, boy-oh-boy, it looks like she's on her way there. The idea of her walking scares me. I don't know if it should scare me any more than her crawling and getting into everything, which she is already doing. But it would probably mean her getting into more stuff.

Speech

• August has been a month of big leaps in Anya's speech development. Let's see if I can remember all the words she's started saying: kitty, dog, duck, ball, baby, dada, light, clock, "what's that?," (yes, she actually says this phrase), milk (pronounced mim), no. She still doesn't say mama in reference to me. Pfft. I am chopped liver.
• Her diction is far from perfect and we are very disappointed in her for this fact. To a stranger, only some of these words would be obvious. Light and clock, for example, are probably only recognizable to Chris and I.
• Anya repeats the sounds of words and phrases more and more often. Just random stuff
• This week, she has been noticeably repeating things from her books. I often read Sandra Boynton's book Moo, Baa, La La La. One of the pages reads "...some other dogs go BOW WOW WOW" (and Anya repeats bow wow wow!) ..."and cats and kittens say MEOW" (and Anya repeats meow). This has happened at 3 or 4 sittings this week. Bow wow wow really seems to crack her up. And when I get to the horse saying neigh, that is pure comedy gold right there.

Other development

• More pointing and waving. I think clapping is now boring to her.
• Anya clearly understands the word and concept of no. There are a few things that are off limits, such as the DVD player. At this point, she knows she's not allowed to mess with it. And its obvious when she wants to. She'll get close to it as if to touch it, stop, shake her head no and then say "no", and then look at me. I confirm it's a "no", she shakes her head no again, pauses, and then crawls away. This is very cute and probably the only time she'll respect my authority. I shall cherish it.
• She might finally be getting a top tooth in. It's been 5 months since her first two teeth came in, so we're overdue. She's got the lump in her gums and has been having trouble with sleep the last week. But you never know. I have seen those signs and expected teeth where none ended showing up before. Those baby teeth can be tricksey like that.

Food

• As Chris noted the other day, Anya has weaned herself. She refused me a handful of times and then stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Lodwig the other weekend. And refused me when she returned, only wanting the bottle. So there ya go. I was hoping to nurse for a year, but I can't force her. At least I can eat all the peanuts I want now.
• Anya is now an omnivore. I've given her bits of chicken, turkey, and pork. She likes them fine. She also started eating beans.
• It's possible her bout of mild diarrhea (which caused her first diaper rash) a month ago was from eating wheat per the pediatrician. So now we need to wait until she's a year old before reintroducing it. I reallyreallyreally hope it was a fluke or a little virus and not a wheat sensitivity. A wheat sensitivity would make life more difficult, since virtually all baked goods are made with wheat. Yeah, I know I can purchase items made with other flours, but it would limit her at social engagements with food...("oh, sorry honey. I know those cupcakes look good, and all the other children are enjoying them, but YOU can't have any. Here, how about some of this yummy broccoli instead"). So let's keep our fingers crossed that it was a fluke. At least we do know its not a gluten issue (as she can handle other glutens fine), just possibly wheat.
• Yogurt is not an issue. Anya has it for breakfast (with fruit and oatmeal) every morning.
• Favorite foods lately are bits of cheese, O's, and cut up grapes. She always has room for these.