10!

What a month this one has been.  So many changes and so much going on, it's crazy!  Time just keeps rolling and Anaya and Audie are now 10 months old!  Crazy.  I guess it's time to start planning their first birthday!  They are really aware of oneanother now and I often find them just talking to each other and playing together...or fighting over a toy.  They have mutually decided to start shunning baby food, which has been a little difficult, seeing as how they DON'T HAVE TEETH!  But they have also done a great job with the toddler food, so at least there's that.  They are, overall, easier to tote around now and I'm not as afraid to get out with them, which is great because I'm tired of being at home.  In fact, a lot of times if they're in a bad mood, I'll just get them out of the house and they're all better.  They still aren't sleeping through the night completely, which is getting really old.  I can't even tell you how much I would love a full-night's sleep.  I vaguely remember what that was like and I miss it.  On the bright side, we're almost through the first year!        

Anaya

Anaya has changed a lot this month.  Her personality has improved greatly.  She can still break some glass with a scream, but she seems to be in a good mood more often, which is nice since she has such a precious smile.  Like the other day, we were at lunch and she was being a little troublemaker.  Alan looked at her firmly and said, "No!"  She looked at him for a few seconds, then slowly broke out her most adorable smile, as if to say, "Yeah, this is how I win this battle."  She's a little chattier now, too, and I'm pretty sure she can say "bottle," although it sounds more like "ba-doool".  She just loves playing with Adam and no one can get her laughing like he can.  She still likes to bounce when standing and she dances to music.  She's lazy, though.  She still is not tempted to move at all.  She's strong enough to pull up and can if you are right in front of her, giving her the means, but she's not going to move to get somewhere to do it.  You would think that with Audie going, she would want to, but she seems content to just stay where I put her.  I imagine one day she'll just stand up and walk, telling Audie that she didn't want to get her knees dirty by crawling.  The only glitch in that theory is that she isn't afraid to get dirty.  In fact, she has become a much messier eater than Audie.  A meal doesn't pass that doesn't leave her with food in her hair, ears, nose, and covering her clothes.  She's a mess, overall, so that just suits her.  She's the princess. 

Audie

Audie has had a very busy month.  He has started clapping his hands and is crawling (instead of scooting) all over the place now, and has even started pulling up and cruising a step or two.  I am officially in trouble.  It's only a matter of time before they are both moving and then my days will be spent just chasing them.  I wonder if Karina will move in.  Audie is still the charmer and jester.  He has an adorable smile and a great personality, overall.  The only problem now is that he can follow me around and complain.  I can no longer leave the room to take a breath - he just follows and fusses at me.  Yesterday I opened the Tupperware cabinet to let him play with it while he was bugging me in the kitchen.  I walked in to the living room to tend to Anaya and heard him fussing, but it was muffled.  He had climbed in to the cabinet to get every last piece of plastic ware out.  He's pulled over plant stands and un-decorated the Christmas tree.  He torments Rosie and even Adam, especially when he's building something with blocks.  He's everywhere I'm not and he's fast.  Unfortunately, he has an interest in cords and outlets, so we have to watch him closely.  Luckily, Adam is ready-and-willing to tattle, so we have some help.  Audie had another first this month, as well:  First tooth!  Thank God, because of the whole "refusing baby food" thing.  At least that explains the fussiness, fever, disinterest in the bottle... He's my little cuddle-bug.

All-in-all, we're doing alright around here.  The kids are healthy and growing and keeping us very busy.  The past 10 months have been difficult ones, but mostly have been worth it, although Adam might give you a different answer.  It's nice to see things getting easier - it gives me hope of someday living a semi-normal life again.  Someday...