Freddie is 10 months old!

Happy 10 month birthday to our little Freddie! It's definitely been the best 10 months of my life so hopefully the same is true for him. :) In some ways it seems like it's flown by and in other ways, it seems like he's always been here and been a part of our family.

Freddie gets up between 6 and 7 every morning and is, usually, in the BEST mood. He often plays around in his crib for awhile, chatting to himself, before crawling to the end closest to the door and standing up to wait for us. William or I will go get him, sing a good morning song ("good morning" over and over again basically), say good morning to things in the room and friends and family in his poster on the wall and then bring him into our bedroom.

I'll give him some milk (he's always really hungry) and then the three of us will read a book or two before finally getting out of bed. Freddie crawls back to his room with us and gets his diaper changed and dressed for the day (or at least until he gets covered in food and has to be dressed again). The three of us play for awhile while William gets ready for work.

He's getting more adventurous every day and loves a challenge. He likes to find toys or socks or anything if we hide them. Sometimes I put a little toy in his barn and velcro it shut. He furrows his brow and thinks about it for a minute and then, using all his strength, pulls the velcro apart and finds the toy- beaming when he does. He shows his strength pulling himself up on the couch and chair as well and has even started taking a few shakey steps when we hold his hands.

The three of us eat breakfast around 7:30-7:45. Today it was oatmeal with various toppings (dried fruit and walnuts for me, coconut and dried fruit for William and cinnamon and applesauce for Freddie). After breakfast, we sing our clean-up song and clear the table and wash Freddie's hands in the kitchen sink. Freddie and I wave goodbye to William at the door and then again at the window. Freddie is definitely getting the hang (hand) of waving! Yesterday, after we watched William drive off, he sat on the floor and waved his hand at the window above him.

Freddie has a morning snooze shortly after that and I work/clean/blog/do laundry/shower and get ready for the day. When he wakes up, he has some more milk and then we are ready for our first outside-of-the-house activity of the day. Yay! We go to the playground or to the pond to wave at the swans or to story time at the library or to the museum to play in the learning centre. Sometimes I incorporate a run on the way to one of these and he spends that time looking at other pedestrians, the birds or dogs. He prefers if it's not too sunny but doesn't get as frustrated with the sun in his eyes as he used to. I think I need to get him some baby shades!

We're usually back home for lunch. This is the best meal of the day for both of us because Freddie does the majority of it on his own. He has toast with cream cheese and avocado or PB & J or PB & banana. This is usually followed by some fruit (peeled plum or pear or banana or strawberries) and yogurt and then a rice cake or two. We usually listen to Pod-a-doodle-do or a football podcast while we eat. Some of you might not be aware that my other career (other than cancer research and being a mom) is fantasy football manager. I'm superb at it (a couple weeks ago I was 81st of over 2.5 million people) so it's vital I stay clued into any injury or transfer news.

Freddie has another nap shortly after lunch and I work/pump/clean/do laundry/blog and think about what we can make for dinner. When he wakes up, we play for a bit, he has more milk and then we decide what to do for our next outside-of-the-house activity. Sometimes we go to Starbucks and then the playground or museum or the store. When we get back, we see if any of our American fam is on skype and say hello to them. Freddie now knows the sound of skype ringing and gets really excited. I put the computer on the couch and shove it as far from the edge as possible so he can stand up and see it but not quite touch the keyboard.

Before we know it, it's 5pm and time to make dinner. The day flies! Freddie now eats pretty much whatever William and I eat for dinner, which is great. He usually starts with a veggie (loves steamed broccoli and parsnip), then we feed him his main course (pasta, fish, spuds, curry...) and then he has fruit and a rice cake or two for dessert. He LOVES when we hide the rice cake in one fist and then have him figure out which hand it's in.

My favorite time of day is after dinner, when the three of us get to play together. We chase Freddie around the living room, play with his toys and read books. He sometimes has a bath- depending on how much crusty food is stuck in his hair. :) William usually changes Freddie and gets him into his PJ's while I put on a load of laundry or check the weather for the night (I'm obsessed with knowing the temperature so I can know how many layers to put Freddie in- it's a huge OCD thing that I've had since he was born. I can't shake it!)

After milk from me, reading a book and singing a song with his dad, Freddie is in bed and usually asleep in minutes. We've been trying to stretch the bedtime to 7:15 but some days he's just too exhausted to make it past 6:45. It's exhausting being a ten-month-old!

Well, that was long but fun to write! The days go so fast and each one is filled with so many smiles, laughs and snuggles. When he does something cute or funny, I always think to myself- write that down! I never want to forget any of these fun little Freddie moments.