The Drunken Sailor

That's right, our little angel is toddling around like a college freshman at a frat party. She's walking! As I said earlier, she'd been taking steps here and there, and now she just gets up and walks here and there all by herself. She's not perfectly steady all the time, but she is definitely walking. Will try upload video later. More big news: Selby won a photo contest. When we had professional photos taken of her at 8 months at Target, the photographer asked if she could enter her photos into contest. Just the other day, she left a message saying that Selby had won and would be featued on the cover of Lifetouch magazine this summer. Her first modeling gig! Unfortunately, I think only the photographer gets paid a prize fee and Selby gets nada.. except for bragging rights.

Hi

Ok, where to begin since it's been so long. Let's start with our trip to Mexico. Selby was the hit of the resort. Pushing her stroller around and greeting everyone with her new word "Hi!" She says it all the time -- in the supermarket, at Target, at restaurants. And of course she flashes her killer grin when she says it and stops people in their tracks.

Still not walking just yet. She's stands on her own and has taken a couple of steps but no "toddling" as of today. Maybe tomorrow?

We spent New Year's up in the mountains with the Shapiros in Edwards and then the Grossman's in Breckenridge. We took Selby for a short snowshoe (and Mom went for a few long ones), which she loved. Grandma Carole is coming soon and I know Selby is very excited. Here's one of my favorite photos from our trip to Mexico.

Selby at 1 Year

It is amazingly hard to believe that a year has gone by since they first put Selby in my arms. People have congratulated us on surviving a year and I tell them how lucky we've been to have such a good baby and that it hasn't been hard at all. Some of my friends don't like to hear me say that she sleeps until 7:30 am and is a good eater and smiles all the time. Who ever heard of a baby sleeping until 7:30 am every day? Sometimes even 8! The truth is--she has been such a gift to Tom and me, and our families.

That's not to say she's perfect. She has been sick twice this month (not that it's her fault) with a stomach virus and an appearing/disappearing blotchy-red rash. It's so sad to see her listless and not smiling. But, I have to say, she is extra cuddly when she's sick--so there is small upside (I know, bad mom). She now points to Tom and says Dada. She also says, to no one in particular, "Lookalookalookalooka." And she now will feed Nika her food from the highchair, which makes Nika happy and Selby laugh hysterically. Tom has scolded me for allowing her to do this because he doesn't want to teach her to feed Nika from the table (or maybe it's that he doesn't want Nika to get in the habit of begging for food?). Either way, it's so hard for me to stop this behavoir because hearing her laugh is the best sound in the world. (And I'm talking a full-on giggle.)

Her new tricks are waving good-bye AND blowing kisses, as well as climbing down a single stair. I know walking is just around the corner but she seems pretty hestitant to take a step without holding on to something. I think at least one or two more months. She is really becoming more and more of a person--talking and pointing to things and moving around. It's like a little more of the little girl she's going to become emerges every day.

Unfortunately, she had one of her stomach virus bouts the night before her big birthday party so we had to cancel it. Instead, we had a small dinner with just the immediate family, which turned out to be just perfect. Although she was tired by the time we sat down for our meal, she lit up when we gathered around her to sing happy birthday with a cake and candle. Apparently, she likes the song so we've since sang it to her at least twice a day since. Here are some photos of Selby with her best friend from the Big 1 celebration.

Happy First Halloween

We went to her first Halloween party. It was a first bday/halloween party for her friend Tomas. She LOVED her costume and was not interested in taking the hood down at all. It's a shame she only gets to wear it once.

Selby Loves Nika

As Tom and my mother would say -- at least someone loves that dog. I do admit to ignoring her (the dog) more frequently than I did before Selby was born. I doted on Nika before the baby like she was my first born. Tom warned me (and Nika) that my affection would be short-lived once Selby came along and I swore he was wrong. But he was right. Don't you hate that?

So, Selby. Almost 11 months. She is crawling at top speeds, pulling herself up on just about anything that's the right height and even standing on her own for short periods of time. She claps and waves. And -- my favorite-- when you ask her "How big is Selby?" she throws her arms up in the air and flashes a huge smile. It's pretty adorable. Also, she can climb up several flights of stairs, which is both exciting and scary. Another trait that's become even more pronounced is her fondness for crawling under or into things -- tables, chairs, her high chair, a bathroom cabinet, etc. Not sure what that's a sign of.

I just came back from shopping at the mall and every once in a while I'd find someone smiling and waving at Selby. Apparently she was smiling and talking to them and they were completely charmed. She's finally getting her top teeth in. I can see one, but think I can feel two. And her new favorite food is veggie burgers.

Help! I'm being chased by a meatball!

She is 10 months plus now, but at her 9 months check up on 9/7 (she was about 9 months 2 weeks) we learned she was stretching up and thinning out.

Weight: 18 lbs 3.5 oz 35%
Height: 28 inches 60%
Head: 17 1/2 inches 60%

Her thighs are still fleshy and her cheeks are still full. It's hard to believe our little meatball is only in the 35 percentile for weight. She is a great eater (we tried cottage cheese this morning and she scarfed it up). I always trying to think of new foods for her to try. We've had yogurt, chick peas, swiss cheese, turkey and avocado.

She's now beginning to copy us a little. We'll point to the dog and say "doggie" and she repeats it back (more or less), which is pretty exciting. We're still working on trying to get her to direct mamamamama and dadadada toward the right people (us!).

Here's a video of her chasing me.

Summer of Cousins

So much has happened in little Selby's life. Where to begin? Let's start with her mouth, and her tongue. She is constantly blowing raspberries and spitting and moving her tongue from side to side making all kinds of noises. Then, there's my favorite. I call it our little trick. I pat my mouth, as I go "ooooh" and I make these "oh oh oh oh" noises, and then I pat her mouth and she does the same thing. It's all very funny.

She also says "dadadadada" AND "mamamamamama", although neither is directed at Tom or me. Ok, next up.. she's crawling!!!!!

We were at my parents place in Quogue and she was rocking back and forth so much that we knew crawling was coming soon. She started with a few crab-like movements to reach a toy, and now she crawls a few feet. She is also pulling herself up. We are in trouble now!

She's also eating lots of real people's food like strawberries, pasta, watermelon and cheese.

We just got back from a week in Quogue with her cousins and she bonded with all her cousins.

On the only little downside is that she has her first really bad diaper rash. We are trying a whole host of creams but nothing seems to be helping. Hopefully now that she's in a dryer climate.. maybe it will do something? We have her 9 month doctor's appt. on Friday so maybe I'll learn more. Here she is on the beach. Will upload more photos later.