Don’t mind the Michael Jackson crotch grab, this child is a total male!

Age: 10 Months

Stats: Next appointment will be 1 year which will be the saddest day of my life.

Clothes/Size: MOSTLY 9 month clothes still. Brandon can wear 12 month jackets/sweatshirts/ pullovers and some onesies. 9-12 and 12 month pants are too large in the waist but he need those for the length.

Favorite Foods: Is it possible for him to even have a favorite at this point? Brandon still loves any and everything. He wants anything Kevin and I are eating – and typically gets it. (I’ll be doing a post soon of mini-meals for him). He LOVES avocado probably because it requires no chewing. Not a huge fan of meat but I wouldn’t either if I had to gum my food too. And he loves anything orange. He picks out all carrots and sweet potatoes 10 times out of 10.

Diaper size: Size 3

How much am I eating: I think it’s safe to say Brandon eats more than me. Breakfast is pureed apples/pears mixed with whole fat plain yogurt and baby cereal. He also gets either cheerios or pancakes on the side. He’ll have a 6oz bottle late morning. Lunch is whatever leftovers we have but always a protein and a veggie, egg yolk, ham, turkey and veggies. He can normally hold off eating until dinner where he usually has whatever we’re eating – baby-fied. Again, some protein (shrimp, sausage, chicken, turkey…) a starch and a veggie or two. And another 4-6oz bottle before bed.

Words: Some words are popping out. Book is “bough” and cat is “cou”, blue is “bough” and everything else is “duh” or “dit”. When he’s upset it’s “mamamamamamamama”. He points at everything and wants us to tell him what it is. There’s still no official “mama” or “dada” yet, but we can sometimes get a “da” out of him.

Activities: We now enjoy: standing up holding onto everything, opening and closing cabinets, doors and drawers, banging, hitting two items together, picking up toys and throwing them to see them bounce/roll and going “whoaaaaa”, playing with a jar of sprinkles and cutting boards, climbing the stairs when no one’s watching, walking along the couch and refusing to let go. If this child would gain some confidence to let go, he would be walking on his own.

Sleep: We have had some rough weeks since about late November with Brandon waking up anywhere from 1-4 times a night needing his pacifier put back into his mouth. It’s been brutal and really taking a toll. It would happen most between when he goes to bed and midnight. We changed some of our ways for nap and bedtime and now has been sleeping through the night like a little champ! 8pm-7am.

Favorite Things: Anything that isn’t a toy. Zoe’s toys, Zoe’s food, remote controls and our cell phones. He most enjoys splashing in the toilet and eating the cat’s food (more than once). Brandon does not care much for the TV or cartoons or movies. He LOVES music and loves to carry his little bath book around. He’s just starting to enjoy sitting on our laps being read to. We do flash cards and he thinks it’s fun to look at us and laugh. He wants to hold anything we give him and continuously flips it over and over and over again examining it.

 Signature Moves: Dancing. Making a mean/scrunch face. Climbing the stairs.

Mom’s Proudest Moment: I just love this child to pieces. He can test my patience (more often than not) and make me want to pull my hair out (daily), but when he snuggles into my lap, rubs his face on my shoulder or pulls on my pant leg it just melts my heart. I could almost die when I said “can mommy have a kiss” and he comes towards me, mouth wide open and tongue out. ahhhh, I just can’t even stand the sweetness.

Dad’s Proudest Moment: Kevin has really enjoyed seeing Brandon change and interact with us and his toys. He’s much more verbal with us and seems to want to learn what everything is. Brandon has been starting to play independently lately and it has been a lot of fun to see him play and talk/whisper to himself.