One year old in 2 months?...Impossible.

I have this book/organizer that Mimi got me for Christmas last year when I was expecting Kirby.  This book has been great for the "planner/checklist" maker inside me whom I've kinda had to suppress.  As much as I love being at home right now, my need to control and plan and check things off my list and organize really aren't being put to good use.  It took me a while to accept that, but this little book has been a great outlet for these planning tendencies.  I record Kirby's meals and poops and diaper rashes daily and can journal about the great things he is doing as well as the not-so-great.  ;)  At every three months, there is a page for me to write a letter to Kirby.  It is funny because I stare at those blank pages and just don't know what to say; how to express how much joy this little boy has brought my heart and how much frustration I have had and overcome since his arrival; how amazing it is to see the world for the first time again through his eyes.  I feel that way today as I sit at this blank computer screen for the third time attempting to write this month's blog post.  Maybe I feel like his first year is quickly coming to a close, and it saddens me.  Why?  Why would it sadden me to watch him grow and learn and become such a funny little man?  Why do I feel like it is the end when I have his life ahead of me to be a part of - as mother, as guardian, as protector, and ultimately as cheerleader and supporter and someday as friend.  Why would I be sad and not just be happy for all that lies ahead of this little boy and me.  God is good, and oh what a gift his has given to Keith and me.  A gift and such a responsibility...so much love and so much trust He must have in me to have blessed me with this sweet heart to care for.  I need to remember these feelings when Kirby's flinging food on me from his high chair due to his new-found love of the spoon, or when he's rolling over on the changing table, or screaming from his crib in refusal to take a nap.  I need to remember what a blessing his sweet breath and little giggle are.

Sweet boy.

 Here are the amazing things Kirby is doing at 10 months.

* Kirby could probably beat any kid in a crawling contest.  He's really fast!!!


Little goofball...this is what Kirby does best.  Can you see what he's chasing?

* One of Kirby's new favorites is his toothbrush.  I can barely get in a few brushes on those 6 (soon to be 7) pearly whites before he grabs it and protests my holding it at all.
* Gone are the days of quick and easy feedings.  Kirby has begun to refuse the spoon from me.  He pushes out his tongue or waves the spoon from me away with his hand.  I can ward him off with a spoon of his own, and the first time I gave it to him with food on it, he shoved it right in his mouth.  Often, I can shovel some food in his mouth while he explores the wonders of his spoon.

So proud of his spoon.

Feeding himself.

* Oh boy, does this boy love his Mum Mums!
* Just after his 9th month birthday, he developed LOTS of pooh and a bad rash on his tooshy, behind his knee, and on his face, elbows, and really bad on his hands.  Pediatricians determined that it is eczema, which is no surprise since I had it as a child, and since Keith has asthma, and apparently the two are related.  We thought we would try to identify the culprit, and we have started with dairy, which means...no dairy for MOMMA.  Yikes!  I miss my ice cream.  Young man, don't ever say I haven't done anything for you!  haha.
* Do not change his diaper...unless you're ready to put up a good fight!
* Kirby has taken a liking to trucks or cars.  He rolls them back and forth on the ground and makes a "vroom" noise, and then he'll look up at me, and SMILE so big.  I'm tellin' ya, you can't teach this stuff.  Little boys will be boys!

Playing with his fire truck.

* Kirby LOVES books.  He loves to pull them all out of the baskets on his floor, and he loves to scoot one across the floor as he crawls.  He also likes to sit in your lap and flip through the pages.  It makes it hard to actually read a story, but at least this little busy boy is sitting still in your lap for a while!
* LIGHT.  First word...so cute to hear him say it through the monitor or from the backseat or when I flip a light switch.  He totally gets it.  He's really starting to grasp things.  He'll look at me when Keith asks "Where is Momma", and he'll look at Keith, when I say "where's Dada."  He even looks at Quillen when we ask, "Where is Quillen."  So much fun!

Little man on the go.

So there you have it.  It just seems like so much in such a small amount of time.  Every month, I'm in awe at the number of new stuff he's added to his list of accomplishments.  And every month, I'm amazed that my heart has grown just a little bigger for this smiley, giggly little boy.