Ten Months Old

Nine Months Old (December 31st)

Ten Months Old (January 31st)

• Age: 10 months 2 days/44 weeks 
• Weight: 16 pounds 14 ounces (23-25th percentile!!!!) as of 1/16/13
• Height:  27 inches (25-30th percentile) as of 1/16/13
• Head Circumference: 18 inches (90th percentile) as of 1/16/13
• Hair Color:  Brown with red highlights
• Eye Color: Grey blue 
• Diaper Size:  Size 3
• Clothing Size:  6-12 months
• Mommy's Favorite:  The whole body excitement she shows when I walk toward her with food, when she smiles, her laugh, when she yells Mama, when she crawls, when she walks holding onto our hands, WHEN SHE DANCES!
• Daddy's Favorite:  When she dances, when she plays peek a boo, when she "beeps her horn" when we say beep beep, when she plays hide and seek with daddy, when she laughs, mornings
• Favorite Toys By Month
• June=mobile
• July= kitty blanket
• August=links
• September=duck rattle and blankets
• October=Box of Fun
• November=Bouncy seat and jingle bells
• December=Activity Table and alphabet magnets
• January=Walker, elephant, and Winnie the Poo train
• Gross Motor Development:
• September=rolling
• October=sitting
• November=standing
• December=crawling and pulling to stand easily
• January=cruising and walking holding onto hands
• Sleep:  She goes to bed around 8pm and wakes up 0-1 times a night.  She wakes up between 7 and 8am.  
• Feeding:  She gets about 5, 5.5 oz bottles a day and 3 meals of baby food
• Food:  She is eating tons of finger foods and is refusing pureed baby food.  
• Favorite Foods:  PUFFS! She is obsessed.  Seriously.  If she sees them out while trying to eat other things she will throw a fit until she gets some.  She also loves yogurt and all finger foods.  If she can feed it to herself, then she eats it.  Peas and apples are particularly yummy.  

37 Weeks
and a stuffy nose

38 weeks

39 weeks

40 weeks

41 weeks

42 weeks

43 weeks

44 weeks

I can't believe our baby is 10 months old!  January was a big month for Caroline.  Gross motor wise she started crawling, cruising, and pulling to stand easily. Because of all her gross motor gains she is getting reevaluated in February and will most likely no longer need physical therapy! 

Socially her personality is really starting to come out.  If we had to describe her in five words we would say happy, inquisitive, independent, social, and loving.  To go along with her inquisitiveness she has discovered Zach's water and food bowls, the bathroom trash cans, the toilet, and the toilet paper roll.  Oh she is a handful!   Our happy, loving baby LOVES to give kisses which also consist of a little tongue action and a bite at the end. Adorable, yucky, and painful all at the same time.    

These days she is busy busy busy.  She has discovered cabinets and loves to open and close them.  She pulls up on anything and everything and cruises around them.  She has a walker that she LOVES and will tap the top of when we say beep beep.  Peek-a-boo is one of her favorite games right now.  She even plays peek-a-boo with people on skype or facetime!  Recently when we were skyping with my brother she started playing peek-a-boo with him all on her own.  It was amazing!   Her other favorite thing is music.  She is constantly breaking out into little dances to the music her toys make.  If you want to see a super short video of it check out this post on my Little Lessons blog.  

Health wise she is doing GREAT!  She is now in the 25th percentile for her weight.  THIS IS HUGE! In September at three months post-op she was below the lowest 5th percentile in weight.  She wasn't even on the growth chart.  I don't even want to know what she was before surgery.  Negative something probably.  In mid-January, at six months after surgery, she is on the growth charts and going strong!  Since 6 weeks of age she has been on a high calorie formula diet.  This month she came off of the high calorie diet and is on normal calorie formula!!! Honestly I'm scared to type this.  My daughter is like any other 10 month old.  She truly is extraordinary. We haven't seen the cardiologist since November so I am anxious to hear what he says when we see him again at the end of February.

3 months old (July/surgery), 6 months old (Sept./October), 9 months old (January)
Look!  You can hardly see her scar!

It has been hard for me to wrap my head around that fact that she is doing so well.  I feel as if I admit she is okay then suddenly she won't be.  I'm scared to embrace how well she is doing.  I feel as if I am keeping my guard up.  Caroline's pediatrician keeps telling me that she is her miracle child.  She (and we) are so happy with her progress.  I was actually going to take Caroline in every month for a weight check for the first year following her surgery because this first year is pivotal in her long term prognosis.  Her doctor looked at me at her 9 month appointment and very sweetly told me I don't need to bring her back until her 1 year appointment unless she is sick. She said she would see me if I still want to come in but she really doesn't need to see her because she is her little miracle and is like any other 9 month old now.  I started crying.  I've needed that little pat on the back and the expert reassuring me that all is well each month.  It has helped reassure me that she is doing well.  But I also needed her permission to have confidence in Caroline's health.  It is not easy to move from being a parent of a sick child to a parent of a 'normal' child.  I've had to put in a ton of effort to not freak out when she doesn't eat as much for a few days.  It doesn't mean she is back in heart failure, it means she is teething.  Sweating while she eats doesn't mean heart failure, it just means she is hot.  Weird.  We look at Caroline each day and are so thankful for our little blessing.  

Phil and I are doing well.  Phil is still traveling some but we are used to it now.  We have some amazing friends and neighbors who have helped me out while he is gone.  I'm still adjusting to staying at home.  I am enjoying it more and more each day. I've started an educationally focused blog which has helped because it gives me a creative and intellectual outlet.  If you want to see what Caroline and I are up to on a weekly basis check it out on Thursdays.  Little Lessons for Little Ones

Caroline and I are going to start going to a weekly music class and storytime at the library.  We are also going to try play dates.  Hopefully she won't get sick or else we will have to stay home again.  She and I love getting out so I hope she does well with it.    Caroline LOVES other kids but she hasn't had the chance to be around them much.  When we go to the library for storytime she stares down the other kids then crawls after them and grunts at them.  It is hilarious.  Hmmmm I think we may need to work on those social skills :)  Speaking of social skills, Caroline and I will be visiting a few different preschools in the area over the next two weeks so we can enroll her in preschool this coming fall!  

Look at those two front teeth!

Unkie Max and Auntie Kathleen

She loves to crawl around with this piece of felt in her mouth.
It is kinda hilarious because she looks like a dog.
Speaking of dogs.  She also has acquired a taste for Zach's raw hides.
She likes to crawl around with those in her mouth too.  Eww.

Caroline and Grandma Karen

Morning Baby!

Walk in the park with the family!

Caroline and Grandpa Jeff

This is from right before Thanksgiving when she was sick.
Still adorable even with a nasty runny nose.

Kisses for Gran Dan!

Kisses for ReRa

Look at my muscles

Walking at the park with Daddy.

That is a look of pure glee not a scared look.  She LOVES this!

Caroline and Zach!

First Snow Experience!

Well I think that is it for now.  Can you believe has been 6 1/2 months since Caroline had heart surgery???  Phil and I have recently looked at pictures from her hospital time and neither of us remember her looking so little, frail, or blue in person.  She just looked like our beautiful daughter.  Remember to wear RED in February!  It is heart disease awareness month.   Specifically February 7th-14th because it is Congenital Heart Defect awareness week.  Please continue to pray for us and for Caroline.  Prayers of thankfulness and prayers for continued growth and strength.  We also ask that you pray for some of our friends whose journeys are just beginning and others who are still in the midst of challenges.  Their strength as caregivers and their children's strength as little fighters is an inspiration.  

I'm going to try really hard to get back to monthly posts so be on the lookout for another update towards the end of the month.  No promises though ;)

Love, 
Megan