Cecil: 10 months

Is Cecil really 10 months already??? It seems like it was just yesterday that he turned 9 months...

Welp, here are his latest and greatest!

• Only camel- and classic crawls. Does not army crawl any more. 
• Eats solid food 2-3 times a day (usually while I'm cooking or while the rest of the family is eating). He likes black beans, potatoes, and avocados, among others. He doesn't particularly like sweet potatoes.
• Stands for a second or two (this started today)!
• Puts everything in his mouth
• Still 24 lbs/24 month clothes
• Has SIX teeth! (and has since right before 9 months)
• Smiles easily
• Has climbed onto the fireplace and the steps
• Has fallen off of the fireplace and steps (he doesn't climb the steps anymore, yay!)
• Knows how to get around obstacles we put in his way
• Recognizes the phrases "are you hungry?" and "are you done?" He probably knows some others but I just haven't noticed them yet.
• Opens up cabinets and drawers to get to what's inside

Cecil is such an easygoing baby. He still always needs to burp after I feed him and will cry if I put him to bed without getting all the burps out. He doesn't complain about things that are bothering him unless they are REALLY bothering him. He likes riding in the stroller on walks and exploring the places we go. He likes to be around us more than he did before and will actively seek out company.

Books I've read lately: August 2015

Recently I have read--among others--these books:

A Home Concealed Woman: the Diaries of Magnolia LeGuin
This book was incredibly interesting! Magnolia was born in northern Georgia in the late 1860's. The diaries were written from about 1900-1913, if I remember correctly. It was fascinating to read about her life! Much of what she wrote about was child bearing and rearing and the mundane duties around the house. I really related to a lot of what she wrote. It was also interesting from a family history point of view to read about a life that was similar in many ways to my predecessors.

Beneath these Waters
This book was based on historical studies done about the people who lived in a particular area on the northern part of the Savannah river, now covered by a lake (Russell Reservoir) made by the construction of a dam just north of Augusta. I got to read about prehistoric inhabitants (Paleo American Indians and more recent American Indians) as well as people that we have more recent records for. I got different perspectives than I've come across previously. I was glad to get a glimpse of what Reconstruction was like in the South, but it wasn't discussed in depth (understandably). I enjoyed the parts about the archaeological excavations and their finding more than the rest of it.

Welcome to Your Child's Brain
All about brain development, organized by subject, not age. It was a very interesting and informative read.

At Home with Pictures
This book has a lot of helpful ideas on how to decorate with pictures. I thought it was comprehensive and gave me a lot of ideas for decorating my own home.

Coconut pecan deliciousness

So, I've been trying to go dairy free to see if it clears up a few problems Cecil has been having. The results are inconclusive so far, but I have been craving sweet creamy stuff a LOT.

It got so bad that I mashed up a banana, put some coconut in, and added a few pecans. It ended up being pretty good! (if you like bananas)

I tried it again today with a banana that was a little bit more ripe and I didn't think it was as good--I think it was too sweet.

Anyway, it's worth a try if you want something that's less fatty than ice cream or if you're looking for a sweet dairy-free treat.