10 Months, 2 Challenges, Any Strategies?

Our littlest one is 10 months old and I predict she will be walking by her first birthday! She is determined. She pulls up. She lets go and balances for a few seconds at a time. And she watches with envy in her eyes as her 3 year old sister runs/ dances/ skips around the room.

The big challenge right now... well, there are two challenges: toys and over zealousness on big sister's part.

Toys. Big sister can share at play group. But at home she will snatch and hoarde toys if necessary. Littlest one screeches when a toy is snatched. Yes, big sister has a few "sacred" toys that no one can touch, but the rest of the toys are fair game.

Over zealousness. Big sister wants to hug/squeeze/touch/be with the littlest one and she does it so roughly. She lunges for the littlest one, or she hugs her until she falls over, or she squeezes her tight until she screeches. Her intent is good. No matter what we say about gentle touch, etc. she is just not picking up what we are laying down most days.

So yeah... this is where we are.

That. And cabin fevered in the middle of the snow belt. Cold weather advisory these past few days. We are stuck in.

She is nearly 9 months.

E is 8 months, nearly 9 months. Yesterday for the first time she pushed herself up to sitting. She has been mobile for a few weeks - not exactly crawling, but scooting and pulling herself around.

She is pulling up - or trying to. In the past few days she has brought several things down - like a bin of toys - and she's knocked a few things over as well. She looks for me and howls when stuff comes down.

She has 4 teeth. She is smiley and joyful. Still turns her head to one side when she is smiling at someone she likes/loves.

Eating fingers foods more and more - even though the whole food thing is a slow process.

It's as though she has always been a part of our family. And I can and can't remember life before her. And the past 8 1/2 - 9 months have flown by. I have vividly colourful memory snippets here and there, but the days weeks months are a blur.

New Sibling Blues

We seem to be going through a phase 2 of new sibling rivalry. Baby E smiles at strangers with her 3 teeth and gets a reaction - and C is finding this hard. Baby E is sitting and moving around a bit more too - and this is also hard for C. We are working on it.

Overheard

C sees E this morning and is overheard saying, "You look much more bigger E, I think you are growing in your sleep."

Friday at the Library

Early literacy.

"Gay" is not Worthless, Stupid, or Dumb

Inspired somewhat by this post:
http://aqueerfamilygrowsinredneckville.blogspot.com/2010/10/getting-better-and-wearing-purple.html
I organised a rally (with 2 other friends) this past weekend against homophobic bullying, to support LGBTQ youth, and to honour those who felt suicide was their only option.







In the midst of it all, Baby E became a 7 month old with her very first tooth.

Good Book

Finished Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen.