Marin is 10 months old

On March 16th Marin turned 10 months old.  I am very late with this post and if you scroll down to an earlier post and read you will see why but I feel good that I captured so many great moments of our beautiful girl in this past month.

Marin continues to be very very busy and similar to her last few months this month brought great change.  She is about to cut 4 top teeth to match her two bottom ones.  She continues to walk everywhere and has now begun climbing on anything she can reach.  Shawn turned around from his desk and found her standing on Symeon's small rocking chair grabbing things off my desk.  When he said her name she turned around and went ha ha it is so funny when you bust her.  My friend Lisa said Marin is like an 8 year old trapped in a baby body and playing the part for all our sakes and I find this to be pretty accurate.  She carries things around with her everywhere and if Symeon has something you  better be getting something ready for her as well.  For example she loves to drink out of our water bottles and sippy cups and if Symeon is handed a drink and you do not have one for her the yelling begins.  Her new thing is if she wants something she puts her hand out and curls her fingers toward herself with this priceless look on her face while "yelling" at you.  It is funny and yet not all at the same time.

We taught Marin sign language like Symeon and she knows all done, more, and we are working on please which she does about half the time.  She waves hello and good-bye and she does the motions to Its bitsy spider which she loves.  Marin also loves to dance with or without music.  It is hysterical to see her bend her knees and sometimes to mix it up she spins around and stomps her foot.  Oh yah she also stomps her foot when she is excited or if she is mad when you will not give her something she wants.  Her most recent development is that she points at things that excite her like the ceiling fan and says ohh ohhh ohh over and over.  It is so cute to see her point her short little chubby finger.  Marin also plays peek-a-boo.  If you ask her where is baby she will cover her eyes with her hands and then pull them off smiling and laughing.  She will also put things over her head and then pop out laughing.  Oh and her laugh is so great it fills the room and comes from deep in her belly.  

Marin continues to be a bit scrappy and when provoked or sometimes without  provocation she will walk up to Symeon and tackle him.  This month she has started with sneak attacks often coming up from behind him and taking him out.  Symeon thinks it is so funny but we do not find it as funny and neither does she when he returns the favor.

In the midst of all this mixing up of life she continues to be such a blessing and a source of great laughter and joy to our family.  She has a smile that draws people to her.  Everywhere we go people comment on how beautiful she is and they always mention her hair and eyes.  She is daring in spirit and has no fear and yet she continues to be weary of people and still does not like many people to hold her.  She loves any kind of food and eats so much for her age but I think that is because she is so active.  Marin continues to nurse although usually only 3 or 4 times a day and one of those is usually in the middle of the night she is a bit busy to nurse as you can imagine.  She has lost some of her baby look and Shawn and I joke that she is a toddler through and through rather than a baby (which makes me sad at times).  At the rate she is learning and interacting we think she might want to drive soon.  The other day she was quiet so I went to find her and she was sitting on Symeon's potty which she does often, why not potty train a 10  month old that would make life easier.

We put another stool in our bathroom because she has to climb up and stand on it just like Symeon when they brush their teeth.  No matter where she is if you say Sissy it is time to brush your teeth she heads toward the bathroom brushing her teeth with her finger.  She will also put things in the garbage if you ask her to which is handy when we are changing Symeon's diaper.  One of the funniest things she does is when you say Sissy is that yummy in your tummy she will take both her hands and rub her tummy and smile.  I tell you there is nothing like a buddha baby rubbing her own belly to make you laugh a deep belly laugh which makes Marin good for the soul.

She loves her babies and carries them all over the apartment.  She entertains herself quite well although you have to keep a close eye on her because you are never sure what she might be getting into when you think oh she is playing so nicely.   

I want time to slow down I want Marin to slow down and yet I would never want her to stop being her.  I love her determined spirit, her heart melting smile, and the joy that she brings to our lives.  We love you Marin and we pray that we will be able to nurture your spirit and guide you in a way that develops the gifts God has blessed you with in this life.

   Marin 10 months old

So cute....

A game of peek-a-boo

I am not sure what we did to her but whatever it was she didn't like it

Eating is a full contact sport for Marin and the amount of food in her hair and on her clothes might rival what ends up in her stomach.  She also pulls a bib off no matter what I do so I use a lot of stain stick and I practically hose her down after every meal.  And one dirty little secret I have learned is that if you wait for the food in her hair to dry you can comb it out easier which  means I don't have to wash her hair 3 times a day but she does look a bit rough while we are waiting for it to dry.  Oh the plight of the second born! 

If you look closely you can see a bandage on her pointer finger.  Her finger was closed a door by her brother and it was bleeding all over the place.  We had to make a little bandage and tape it to her finger to keep her from pulling it off.  She is so tough a little cry and she was off again no big deal to her except that blood was getting all over everything as she moved about thus the taped on bandage.  

This is one of those times I thought oh she is playing so nice while I am helping Symeon on the computer.  When I turned around I realized she had found a piece of chocolate on the floor from a chocolate covered strawberry and she had indulged.  Her hands, face, jeans, and the back of her hair were covered and she was happy!

She put this hat on all by herself

Seriously look at those legs how cute are those chubby little legs and her curled toes digging into the carpet for balance. 

Oh the dress up that is sure to come!

This is what Shawn saw when he turned around from his desk, another time when she was playing so nicely by herself.  Busted Sissy girl but it gets better...

...she then proceeded to get up on her tip toes on a rocking chair so she could reach my lap top

Marin you are beautiful in so many ways and we are so thankful for 10 wonderful months with you!