Nate and Bethany: 10 Months

The closer it gets to one year with this little girl, I just wish time would pause and not go by so fast. I miss the little baby stage so much and the constant snuggles and just wanting to be held but then this stage of life with her is also so fun. That really is how life is though. There are so many memories that you cherish that you want to go back to and also future moments that we look forward to and yearn for. Sometimes living in the present is the hardest, but it really is little moments that bring me joy that help me live in the present. It's the cutest smile with her one little dimple when she sees Dad come home every day, the little squeals of delight when she is playing with her sisters, the tiniest fingers that work so hard to pick up little pieces of food to feed herself, the fastest army crawls whenever a door opens to try and go explore a new place, the little handprints and slobber marks on the window, the snuggling her face into her blanket when she is tired, and the cutest little claps whenever she hears music. I just love this little girl so much and watching her grow and learn every day!

Here's what McCall is up to at 10 months:

She is still a tiny little thing and fits in 6 months clothes though I think this will be the week that I switch to 9 month clothes. Everyone always thinks she is much younger than she is because she is so small but I love how tiny she is and it seems to make the baby phase last longer.
She is crawling normally now a little more especially if she is just in a diaper because I don't think she likes the feel of the floor on her belly, but she still prefers her very fast army crawl. I just love her army crawl- she pushes off with her forearms and her big toes and it's so fun to watch.
She is great at sitting up on her own and she goes from sitting to crawling and then back to sitting like a pro.
She is starting to pull herself up which has led to a new level of her getting into things. She is starting to be able to open up some cupboards and loves to pull herself up onto anything she can. We had to lower her crib mattress since now she often pulls herself to a stand once she wakes up.
She loves to eat and wants to always try whatever you are eating. She usually eats whatever we are eating but still loves fruit baby food, yogurt, and bread. She is getting a little better at drinking out of her sippy cup. She still nurses before she goes to sleep for naps and night time. She now has 2 little teeth on the bottom to help out with all the food is she trying out.
She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. I have to constantly be on watch with what she puts in her mouth and I feel like I'm constantly sweeping the floors.
She is starting to sleep longer stretches but still is inconsistent in her nights. Her usual is waking one time in the middle of the night and then again anywhere between 4-6 am and then will go back to sleep and then be awake for the day close to 8. She usually gets one really good nap in during the late morning and then her afternoon nap is usually pretty short because it is usually in the car when I'm picking up Paige from school.
She loves the water. She is a crazy splasher in the bath and you always get soaking wet if you are the one helping her in the bath. She is getting pretty wiggly and tries to squirm around and crawl in the bath which can be difficult since she is so slippery and trying to keep her safe and make sure her face doesn't go in the water.
She does the cutest little squeals and will mimic if you squeal and we all love it and try to get her to do it as much as possible. She will also do these little squeals when you hide around the corner and peek at her and she squeals every time she sees you. They are happy little squeals and then with her cute smile and little dimple, we all just melt for her. She is definitely the favorite in the house right now!
She is pretty good at playing with toys and looking at books. I love watching her play with toys and seeing her explore the world around her. I love her curiosity.
Her sisters love her so much and always want to help with her or hold her. Paige's only thing she doesn't like is the poopy diapers and Baylor is not a fan when she is playing with something and then McCall tries and gets the toys she is playing with. It has led to McCall squawking and trying to get the toys and using her head to push her way past Baylor and Baylor using her body as a shield yelling "No McCall!" It will be interesting to watch as she gets even more mobile and interested in what Baylor is playing with.
Changing her diaper is a struggle! She is so wiggly and tries to get away and crawl away. We hold her legs while is is twisting around which makes it so hard to get her clean especially when it is a poopy diaper.
She still is not a fan of the car seat. She does okay as long as the car is moving or she is being carried in it but as soon as I set her down in the house after being in the car, she will let you know she is not pleased if you leave her in it for too long. She is just such a busy little girl that is always on the move. She likes being in the stroller since it is moving. She loves to be carried around but when you pick her up she is always looking down or around to see the world around her. She is not cuddly at all much to Nate's dismay.
Of all my babies, she has the least stranger danger. She is starting to get it a little more depending on the person. I think some of it is that every week sometimes a couple times a week, I am with the young women and she just gets passed around. I hardly ever hold her when I am with the young women and I love it. I love that the young women love my little girl.
She still doesn't really say too many distinct words that are associated with certain things but she does babble a lot. She loves to make noises, hear her voice, and blow raspberries.
I love that I can get a tiny little ponytail in her hair. She has such wispy hair and her long hair on top just sticks straight up.
We sure love our busy little 10 month old that is just pure curious about her little world and wants to see every bit of it and I'm so eternally grateful that I get to be her mom!

I loved watching these pictures get taken from the kitchen window. Most of these pictures she is looking up because of her two cute sisters that were doing all sorts of funny things behind Dad to try and get her to smile.