Playing with her Christmas Gifts...

Nevi is very busy playing with all her new toys from Christmas! Her tent has been set up in our living room since Santa came and there are farm houses, tractors and play blocks spread across the main level floor....our house has officially been taken over by baby-dom. There are outlet protectors in every socket, no plants resting below 4 feet and every time I attempt to open the cabinet under our kitchen sink, I am rudely reminded that it has been Nevi-proofed. If only I could remember this! Dirty dishes are everywhere and 'cleaning' has taken on a whole new meaning... picking up toys off the floor at the end of the day and cleaning Nevi's bottles is the new thorough cleaning. Forget vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, etc. it just doesn't get done. I never understood why people hired cleaning crews but now I do. Playing with Nevi, educating Nevi and assuring her safety, health and happiness is our #1 priority. Everything else falls to the wayside. It's a bit shocking but definitely worth it. NO teeth yet but occasionally she'll chew on her frozen teething ring when I think she's uncomfortable or grouchy (the signs I've been told). She's walking better and better everyday but still a hand. She'll take a few steps on her own before teetering over. And we praise her profusely when she does! It's hard to believe she's almost 10 months old and she's looking more and more like a toddler everyday, instead of my little baby Nevi. It's soooo cool to watch her transform so rapidly. I use sign language all the time now and she'll raise her hands up and try to imitate me. No real signs yet but she's making associations and putting it together. You can just tell. She understands her name and words like milk, food, Dylan and walk. She hugs me tight every night before bed for a good 5 minutes before I lay her down. She takes her thumb and rests her head on my shoulder and sometimes rubs or pats my neck as I rub or pat her back. I love my cuddle bug more than I could have ever fathomed possible.