Simply Us: 10 months

What a fun month this has been! Griffin is just oozing personality and turning into a little boy! I'm loving all the changes. He is "talking" more and most definitely calling me "mamamamamama" when he's tired and upset! Sometimes when we're driving I can hear him chatting in the back and I see him in the mirror gesturing with his hands and everything. It's so cute! He is also an expert at raspberries now and at times will spend upwards of 30 minutes just tbpfff-ing around. It's quite entertaining and of course we participate. Griffin prefers the stick- your-tongue-out method and Pax prefers the just-two-lips method! Sometimes I wonder if it feels good on teething gums.

Griffin is fully mobile now. He took his first steps on August 30 and is becoming more and more a toddler everyday, standing up on his own and taking steps. When he's not up for walking around on his own he likes to walk around with his toys. He gets really angry when he runs into a wall and gets stuck. I'm using those opportunities to try and teach him "please" (help) and "thank-you" in sign language.

His personality is starting to really shine. He is incredibly smart, determined and stubborn. When he wants something he can usually figure out a way to get to it. Or he knows exactly where you put it. Or he gets really really mad when you say no (too bad buddy, I'm the mommy!). Or it's nearly impossible to distract him. Just a few things Griffin's not allowed to have but will move heaven and earth to get are the dog dishes (food and/or water, makes no difference to Griffin), tv remotes, cell phones, laptops, ipods, etc. We also don't let him in the kitchen (or more like we try not to) and I'm thinking for that one to work, I need to order another baby gate!

He's figuring out things that I don't feel like he should be able to figure out yet. Maybe I'm just a proud first time mom but he's already trying to put the rings on his stacker toy! I just feel like that might be slightly advanced:) And he is determined when it comes to figuring stuff like that out. He has also started initiating peek-a-boo and being the one who hides. He enjoys a good game of "I'm gonna get you" and has started sharing with me. His favorite things to share right now are pacifiers and other small toys. He has also learned (on his own I might add) how to get off our bed without falling (its on the floor currently, after he rolled off it a couple months ago) AND how to go down the stairs correctly (backwards) without falling. He is unstoppable I tell you!

He got two more teeth this month. His upper outside ones. The two upper middle ones are as stubborn as he is! The far right arrived on Monday August 15 and the far left arrived on Thursday August 18. More important dates include: Thursday August 18, Griffin started playing peek-a-boo today! (Where he's the one to pull the blanket over his head and the play with you! SO CUTE!) Saturday August 20: Griffin stood up, from sitting, all on his own. He did it at family pictures at Kayak Point, on the rocky beach! He'll be walking soon! Tuesday August 30, Madeleine Rose Johanna Jenks was born to Marc and Meredith. Griffin will hopefully marry her...or at least be great friends:)!