When discussing the development of a child, everyone always asks about the typical things like walking and talking but no one wants to know about the really cool stuff. For instance, Tess is all about hugging and kissing Mom and Dad these days. The hugs are very nice--she smiles at you and then puts her arms around you, laying her head on your shoulder. Often she will hold the hug for a few seconds, back away and look at you, then smile and hug again. This can go on for some time but I can't imagine ever getting tired of it. The kisses are not quite as developed. Most of the time she just opens her mouth, holds her lips very still and leans in to press them on your cheek. She thinks this is one of the funniest things in the world. Another new and interesting development is the frown that we now get in response to telling her "no," seen in one form here. This usually comes when she's testing the capabilities of her voice and we ask her to keep it down. She immediately recognizes this tone of voice and responds with the pout: bottom lip out, head tipped down and eyebrows pushed into a frown. It's difficult not to laugh. These are the things that really keep me going. As you might imagine, a hug from Tess works wonders.

In other news, we'll be leaving for New York in a short while...four hours to be exact. If you know me outside of blogging you would know that I grew up in NY and visited the city often. Tess on the other hand, has never been to New York City and has lots of family to visit with who have never met her before. Well I'm off to finish packing...traveling with a baby under one is a handful! I'll have lots of pictures of us in the city to share when I return. So until next week, toodles!

My baby is determined to walk! She made it around half of the coffee table today, holding on and cruising! She usually stands holding on to something with one hand and doing other stuff with the other - like picking stuff up from the floor or emptying the magazine and video racks. But now she's really getting into letting go of things altogether, which leads to major balancing acts, but she thinks it's hilarious. Many times when I help her walk she will just let go and stand there, thinking about taking a step, but instead she just sort of leans forward and I have to catch her.

I've also decided to night wean her. She barely drank anything when she woke up at around 10 and 2 so I gave it a try. Sometimes she wakes up around 5 a.m. but I had decided a while ago not to get up for that one. 5 a.m. was just too brutal - I would come back to bed wide-awake with the birds chirping and the sun out - it was impossible to fall back asleep. Well, it's been two days I started doing that and already yesterday she just woke up at 10 p.m. and then slept until morning. I think she is still confused why she doesn't get the breast but most of the time she will go back to sleep with only a little fussing. It helps that now she's older and can understand what a lovey is. She has this little lamb-blanket and usually holds on to his ear or arm when she goes to bed and also in the morning. It's so cute. She is so cute. I'm so in love.

If you think your life is tough, try being 10 months old. It is T.O.U.G.H. Imagine having two healthy hands but not being able to eat by yourself. So you are being spoon-fed and there is nothing really for you to do except open your mouth and chew. What would you do with your hands? Tess has some suggestions: Grab your sippy cup and smash it on anything hard. Make it loud. Try to get the valve to fall out - then let the liquid pour out on the tray. Distribute all over with both hands. Get a hold of a piece of food and squeeze it ... tight. See what happens. Then open your fist and try to lick any leftovers off your hand. Wait for the dog to come by and offer him your hand to lick. That tickles! Laugh until your food gets stuck in your throat. Cough. Spray your mom with little chunks of food. When being fed with yogurt, cereal or anything pureed try to grab the approaching spoon. If you do it in the right moment, the content will land on your hand or tray. Quickly spread your dinner all over the tray and your mouth (you have to act fast, they will try to stop you!) - then scratch yourself on the back of your head.

Well, if that wasn't enough, imagine not being able to walk nor crawl but all the objects in your surrounding are absolutely new to you! So you try to reach things, which always brings your body in some impossible position you can't get out of. This happens about 50 times during the entire day. You have to scream for help every time. Sometimes you have to wait to be picked up. It might take a LONG time, like 5 minutes or so!

Twice a day you are put into your bed to sleep. You cannot leave the bed by yourself in case you are not tired and decide not to sleep. What to do? Tess has some tips: Move around as much as you can. Lying on your back, lift your legs up as often as you can, at the same time move your head - that will eventually make you rotate. Grab whatever you can reach and throw it to the other side of the crib. If you rotate well enough you will come within reach of the bumper - try to lift it. Try rolling on your tummy. If you succeed, cry for help. If you are not too tired cry REALLY LOUD. Let out an ear piercing sound. Several times. If you are too tired for that, chat with yourself. If you hear the dog barking, imitate him. If you do eventually fall asleep, make sure you are awake before your mom comes in. Do NOT let her know that you really were tired. Pretend you've just had a grand ol' time by yourself in the crib!

Given this enormous amount of frustration there are luckily a few activities that offer relaxation: - Being super-cute 24/7
- Opening and closing the dog kennel door and banging on the washer beside it
- Dropping and picking up objects
- Lifting your favorite toys in the air and bursting out in enthusiastic praise
- Growing your first two bottom teeth
- Kissing your stuffed bunny
- Feeding your cracker to the dog
- Sleeping through the night once a week
- Watching your favorite videos and
- Being super-cute 24/7!

My poor baby has an ear infection! It began with a fever one day when we were at Grandma's house. We went home the next day but the fever wasn't going away even with Tylenol. So I took her to the doctor and the diagnosis was: ear infection. It was just horrible to see her being in pain. She completely altered her personality - no laughing or exploring, no attempts to walk or play. All she wanted to do was be held, nurse and sleep. I was so concerned. She had never had a fever before and then to see her so quiet and whiny and just not herself... scary!

She is such a trooper though - swallowing all the yucky Tylenol and antibiotics with almost no complaining. Tess is a tough little thing!

Update: Well, it WAS an ear infection, but rather as a consequence of a viral illness called Roseola, which is a rash that breaks out after a few days of high fever. So she got the rash too, and the diarrhea as another symptom. It's all supposed to end soon. SOON. Soon... sooon...