Some Answers and 10-Month Rundown

Yes. Even more photos. I have been having a blast with this black wall! I can't wait until we start drawing on it, but we have another coat of paint to go to cover a couple missed spots.

First, to answer a few questions.

Where did you get Ada's chair? It's cute, right?! We love it, but I didn't anticipate so many of you would, too. So, to answer it in one place: Land of Nod. It's called the Nod Chair. The particular yellow loop pattern we bought was on sale for $35 (normally it's around $125). The chair is suitable for ages 1 to 4, and there are still a few select patterns on sale.

What brand of chalkboard paint did you use for Ada's wall?  It's Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint in black, obviously. I sort of wish I had picked it out with Stephen way back when because it also comes in GREEN! That may have changed the nursery entirely. I'll try not to dwell.

Do you have tips for getting my baby/child to sit still for photos? This one made me laugh. I've gotten quite a few emails about how Ada is such a good poser. But that's so not true! She's rarely still. In fact, to take these photos, I had to basically put her back on the chair each time and take a split second shot before she would run away again.

A few tricks that have been helpful:

• I wait to take photos when she has found a way to occupy herself. Sometimes she's just in the mood. So, I take full advantage.
• I give her something cute to play with. Like the book in the photos above. Or a piece of ribbon. A cute rattle. Something that might occupy the mind for a couple seconds.
• I use Stephen whenever possible. Since I'm often using my 50mm lens, I need to stand back from Ada to get more than just her face in the frame. So, Stephen can position and/or spot her if she's doing something a bit crazy and might fall. (That sounds like I put my daughter in danger just for cute photos, which isn't true. Babies tend to topple before they're walking, as I'm sure many of you moms know!)
• I give up and just make sure I'm in good lighting with a relatively fast shutter speed. Then, shoot away. That's really the best trick -- take LOTS of photos. Many will be blurry. Maybe a few won't be. So, even if I just get a couple, it's a win.

10-MONTH RUNDOWN

• Height/Weight: No idea -- we don't have another pediatrician visit until the day after her 1st birthday. She is getting really long and heavy, though. Sometimes I find it difficult to believe she's mine.
• Words: Ba-Ba (bye-bye), Dada or Daddy (obvious), MumMum (me/food), Ktsssss (kitties), nay-nay (no!), a-DA(she says her name, but it's not quite right. we just know it's her name because she uses the same inflection we do after we say it to her.)
• Walking? Not yet. So extremely close it hurts, though. No, really. She falls a lot trying.
• Other developments: Enormous sense of humor -- finds tons of ways to make us laugh, as well as herself. Very social with other babies. Clapping! Wow. There's actually quite a bit new.
• Nursing sessions/day: 5, I wrote more about it here.
• Solid food/day: 2 meals -- a lunch of fruit/cereal/yogurt and a dinner of vegetable, beans/tofu/cheese/other protein and bread/rice/pasta/grain.
• Favorite food: Tofu. Cold, unflavored, and cubed.
• Sleep habits: Goes to bed at 7:30, dream-feed at 11ish, gets up at 7:30. Two naps, both between 1 and 2 hours long, on a good day.
• Favorite toy: Remote controls. But actual toy, probably tambourine or cow bell.
• Best time of day: 3pm, after all naps
• Transportation: Still using the Beco a lot. BOB on jogs (probably every other day between my/Stephen's runs)
• Activities: I had hoped to do some sort of class by now, but we're in such a transition with naps and feedings, it's been hard to get out.
• Favorite book: Where is Baby's Yummy Tummy? (It's all about the flaps!)
• Most adventurous: Ada ate some restaurant food this month -- some "zesty vegan carrot soup" and a small piece of haddock.
  
• Halloween costume: Picked out, purchased, but not sharing until the holiday. Where's the fun in that?
• First birthday thoughts: Theme decided (loose theme -- wild animals!), going to be small and intimate, and going to replicate my first birthday cake! So much fun . . . so overwhelmed. ONE?!
• Looking forward: To the holidays. She was so tiny last year, I cannot wait to celebrate x-mas and play in the snow with her.

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