Maren's Growing Ways

Maren is 10.5 months now and her personality is showing more and more.  She has become more clear about her likes and dislikes at meal time, for instance.  She used to be my eat-anything-and-everything girl, but her tongue is much more discerning now.  She prefers table food cut in baby bites, and when she gets tired of it, she flings it off the tray.  We have had a lot of flinging and not so much happy eating lately.  Her two favorite menu items are: cooked, scrambled egg yolk and semi-frozen blueberries and blackberries.  Aside from those two standbys, she also likes pureed green beans.  Unlike Ezra, she still allows me to spoon-feed her for part of the meal.

Maren isn't very verbal yet.  She has two words: da-da (which means daddy), and Eh-da (which means Ezra).  Big brother is at the center of her world and she calls to him constantly.  The funny thing is, Maren has already picked up on intonation of words, and Eh-da can be spoken sweetly, or screamed in frustration, such as when big brother grabs her toy for the fifth time.  Poor girl, she has been poked, pushed, sat on, mashed, hit, rolled over, and squished by Ezra since the day we brought her home from the hospital.  Their relationship is iffy most days.  So, for better or for worse, little Miss Maren already knows how to express her displeasure, and can turn on a dime from pleased to perturbed.  I would say that she is feisty, and perhaps a little short-tempered.

She is now crawling in the traditional hand-arm/bent knee fashion, but if she gets excited or needs to get somewhere fast, she reverts to her body flop.  She pulls herself up to anything and anyone that will hold still long enough.  She loves standing at the bottom of stairs, but hasn't yet figured out how to climb.  She loves playing the piano.  She loves balls, and has a strange habit of holding small balls with both hands up against her chest.  We have discovered that it is very comforting to her, and will often calm her cries, especially when she rides in the car.  Perhaps it is some sort of tactile/sensory connection?  It works, so we keep a lot of little balls around the house.

Maren loves being outside.  She is fascinated by rabbits and birds.  She adores riding in the baby backpack carrier.  She is perfectly still and content in the backpack on walks, but will often thrash, cry, and get frustrated when buckled into the stroller.  The phrase "go swing?" always brings a little excited smile to her face; she and Ezra both could swing for 30 minutes or more and never want a change.   

Maren is super wiggly and sitting for books and pictures is not her preference.  She has no real attachment to any doll, toy, or activity.  She is a very snugly, and giggles when we nuzzle noses.  We are learning body parts and gets a kick out of stuffing numerous fingers in my nose and mouth.  She plays peek-a-boo and "so big!" with me.  She loves the "dump it out" concept and can make quick work of pencil boxes, laundry baskets, and toy buckets.

Her hair is long and curly and her eyes are still a gorgeous clear blue.  She has been sad, restless, and uncomfortable lately and may be teething, have an ear infection, or tummy problems--or maybe a little of all three.  She wakes up in the middle of the night often for no apparent reason, and she and I spend the wee-small hours of the morning walking the house.  I am hoping my giggly girl returns soon!  She has such a great smile!