A little over a month late, as usual. Almost done her 11 month letter now so hopefully I’ll remember to post that one!

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November 11, 2008

Dear Bella,

Ten months. Forty weeks. The length of the human gestational period. You’ve been out as long as you were in. It’s hard to believe how quickly the months are passing us by. It’s a good thing we’ve got you and your brother to help us cherish the little things and the little moments!

Just tonight I noticed that you cut your fifth tooth! It’s just to the right of center on top. I’m hoping we can get a little bit of sleep now and that you’ll stop biting me for a while. Please.

You’re itching to get more mobile (though scooting is still pretty darn fast, and crawling is becoming a close second). You’re pulling up on everything and walking between and along furniture with little effort. You walk with your car, too. Just a few steps for now but I’m betting you’ll take off within a week or two.

We’re at Grandma Betty’s house this week helping out with some stuff of Grandpa Jack’s so you’re getting in lots of snuggle time. You have a cold or the teething snots or maybe both. You won’t go to sleep for me at all. I nurse you and then either Grandma rocks you until you pass out or you lie in Daddy’s armpit and flop around until you get comfortable enough to fall asleep. For 20 minutes. I’m pretty sure it’s just a combination of teething and a cold, but you’re nursing all night long and making my nipples absolutely raw. I love you and would do anything for you, but that’s one of the less pleasant parts of motherhood. Don’t worry, though. If that’s what you need, that’s what you’ll get. It would just be nice if you could sleep at least part of the night in your playpen because Daddy and I barely fit in a queen size bed when it’s just the two of us (and his long legs) so there’s not a ton of room for you.

You aren’t eating a huge variety of foods and are finicky about what you’ll eat on any given day. One day you love pears and the next you look at me like I’m torturing you when I bring them to the table. You love to feed yourself finger foods, but even more than that you love to feed the dogs your finger foods. It’s terrible for them and Thai has the nastiest farts after you feed him, but you all love it. We’re going to try to remember to gate them away from the table when you eat to help solve that problem, which means I have to actually clean the floor after you eat. I’m not so in to that.

No matter what else is going on, you are always always always an amazing, snuggly, gorgeous, much loved little baby girl and we all feel so lucky to be your family. You’re the best little girl in the whole wide world.

I love you so very very much, baby.
Love, Mama