The Vanderwalls: Chloe Girl

Sweet Girl,

10 months!

Happy 10 months to you! You really don't look like a baby anymore. That toddler look is starting to overtake you - it looks good on you, I must say! However, I'm not quite ready to give up my baby.

You're doing everything you'd expect of a 10 month old, maybe more. Crawling all over the place, climbing, pulling yourself up to stand, standing without hanging on to anything for a few seconds at a time, teething (you're working your hardest to make sure your one lone tooth that came in last month has some company), jabbering constantly, working to keep up with your brother, and learning to love table food.

You are a much pickier eater than your brother was at this age. We've been working to add some new things into your diet, which would consist of oatmeal, oatmeal, and a little more oatmeal if it were up to you. Since being able to eat some table food, you've become a little more adventurous. You like cheerios, graham crackers, rice, sweet potatoes, saltines, applesauce, and bananas. We've tried a few other things that haven't been successful at all like carrots, butternut squash, and avocados, just to name a few.

9 months!

It was only last week that you had your 9 month well child check. We had to push it back a little later than it normally would have been because Daddy's job changed and we had to wait for new insurance to kick in. The doctor said you look just beautiful. You weigh 17.5 pounds (31st percentile), you're 27 3/8" tall (24th percentile), and your head is 18" in diameter (88th percentile). You didn't have to get any vaccinations! Hooray for no sore legs!

The amount of things that are changing in our lives is almost unfounded. I do not do well with change. I mean, honestly, people are lucky I change my clothes everyday. Anyway, your Daddy started a new job on July 1. He still does the same thing, but Skyview was sold to Help Systems, so now he works for them. The transition has been about as good and smooth as one could hope for, but with a new company comes a different set of requirements. One of those requirements is that he work a full 8 hour day. So, Daddy has to go to school part time in the fall. This will mean that we get to see him a little more and he'll have less homework, but it might take him 3 more years to finish school instead of 2. I'm not a fan of that. On the plus side, we now have dental insurance and both Mommy and Daddy have life insurance. We like that.

Last family picture outside our old house

Last family picture inside our old house

The other big change we're facing is moving. We are crossing our fingers for a moving day of 1 week from today. There is a chance that it'll have to be 2 weeks, but hopefully not. Nana is bringing pizza in a while and then she's going to help us pack some more. We'll see how many boxes we can add to our current running total of 79. She's also staying with us this week end because Papa and Auntie Kristi will be out of town. We have to finish all our packing this week end so that Daddy and I can load a U Haul on Monday night. Then, we're living with Nana and Papa from Monday or Tuesday to Thursday because we leave for camping next Thursday and are gone until the following Monday. We'll have a new house and a garage full of boxes awaiting us when we get home! I'll have to write a blog post telling all about our new house and putting up some pictures once we get all settled. We've loved this current house we're in, but we are also excited for the new one. It can be so hard to leave memories behind, but I know we'll make some great ones in our new place.

The last change we're getting ready to undergo is that of your brother starting 3 yo preschool! What?! I fear that I'm going to blink my eyes and we'll be completing your registration for the same thing...how time flies!

Mommy and Daddy love you immensely! You are the happiest, most content little baby I've ever met! You are a true blessing to us. You add so much joy to our household and it's so fun to see the little girl you're becoming. You're such a sweetheart! Never stop being you!

Here are some more pictures of all the summer fun we've been having: