Dear Jake,
So we didn’t start this week off very well. Today you are 10 months old and you have RSV. It is a nasty respiratory virus that basically makes you sound like you smoke 6 packs a day. You have a runny nose and you are basically coughing and having trouble breathing. Max also has RSV (and an ear infection) and had to have a breathing treatment today. Right now I am having to keep a close eye on you and Max and when you have a coughing fit or sound like you are wheezing I have to give you a breathing treatment. I’m not looking forward to attempting to give you a treatment because I’m sure you are going to fight me the whole time. My poor little boys!
So many fun things happened with you over the course of the last month. You experienced snow for the first time! We got to play in the backyard for a little while, which you love, and I don’t think you were quite sure what to make of the snow. Of course, you ate some. You and Max got a Power Wheels “Arctic Cat” and you both love it. Max drives you around in circles in the backyard and you love it. Sometimes, he even lets you touch the steering wheel. We also took a trip to Oklahoma and we went to the New Years meeting. It was your first “big church meeting” besides Labor Day, and Lord willing, there will be many more trips to various meetings in your future. I dare say, you made some friends. Towards the end of the services it seemed like the back of the building was “baby row” because there were several of us trying to wrestle tired and fidgety babies.
You have started doing so many new “tricks” this month.I can’t believe it but you have been standing on your own lately! You’ve been pulling up and cruising for a while now but just this month you started letting go. It’s really funny when you do it because you have this look on your face like, “Hey, look what I can do!” Actually, today you took your first independent step! I was sitting on the floor playing with you and you were holding onto the ottoman. Next thing I know you let go and stand there looking at me and take one step and fall into my arms. It was awesome, and I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. You also said your first word outside of “mama” this past month. Oddly enough, you and Max both said “mama” first and you also both said “ball” as your first word. The way you say it is so cute and sometimes is sounds like “bah” and other times is sounds like “bawl” with an emphasis on the “w” sound. Do you even have to ask if I got on video? Of course I did. So that little 3 foot slide of ours was the best $35 I ever spent. Max jumps from it and now when we sit you at the top of it you rock back and forth until your momentum sends you sliding down. It is hilarious, and yes, I got that on video too. I spent $200 on that iPhone and you better believe I’m going to put it to good use.
The past few days you have started mocking things we do or things Max does. I was blowing bubbles with my gum and I guess you just saw the part where I stick my tongue out. If anyone sticks their tongue out at you then you do it back. You’re such a character. You will be playing and you randomly start snorting when you get excited on your mission to get something. Usually that something is what your brother is playing with. At church you have started to “sing” along during the song service, and sometimes when it’s dead silent. The best thing though, is that you give kisses. When I tell you to give me a kiss you open your mouth and plant one on me. It is so slobbery and I absolutely love it.
Have I mentioned that you are getting some hair? Ever so often you will realize it’s there and you pull it and then yelp as though someone else has hurt you. Dude, you are the one pulling it! Also, you must think it’s fun to rub food all over your face and in your hair when you are no longer interested in eating it. Now, you’ve learned another way to entertain yourself, by throwing your food to the dogs. Allie and Zeke love that now there are two of you to sit under during dinner. You get a piece of food in your hand and hold it up as high as you can and then lean over the side of your high chair and watch the dogs scramble for it as it falls. I’m not that worried about it though, you weighed in at 22 pounds at the doctor so it’s not like you’re skipping many meals.
There is nothing that I love more than getting you out of your crib in the morning or after one of your naps. Usually you are sitting there staring at the door, or you are standing in your crib watching the door. You always greet me with a smile and reach for the doorknob and play with it. You are such a mischievous little booger. I have really enjoyed you being a baby and it makes me a little sad that you won’t be my baby much longer. I’m going to stock up on those slobbery kisses while I can!
Love,
Mama
10 Months Old
Video of Jake saying “Ball”
