Raven has another tooth (a molar to be precise) coming in and we are dealing with the teething issues all over again.  She has been pretty cranky and waking several times per night, I feel so bad that I wish I could take away her pain and can't.  I'm also very tired from this, phew!  It doesn't help that it's cold and mostly gray outside.  On the bright side, I have a mostly happy and very healthy baby so I shouldn't complain.  Tomorrow marks Raven's last full month before she turns 1!  What happened to my tiny little helpless baby?  It's crazy how fast they grow...

I think we might have a future musician on our hands (anyone surprised?)  Raven has an electronic baby piano which she loves to hit the keys on.  She also has this bucket that holds blocks that she flips over and hits like a drum.  She dances to her toys that play music or when we play something for her.  I think the funniest thing is that she got into our record collection (an off limit area might I add) and picked up the Jimi Hendrix album and kissed his face.  Though I had to take away the record, I had a smile on my face since her name is Raven Hendrix so it was quite fitting.

Having a mobile baby has been a little bit more stressful for several reasons.  First, there is just no way we can fully baby proof our living room so I have to constantly pick her up away from the off limit areas like bookshelves and the Xbox.  Secondly, in learning to hopefully walk soon, Raven has had some tumbles which has resulted in a couple minor cuts (falling on a toy) and some bruises.  I hate having to see her hurt but do my best to kiss her back to happiness.  Thirdly, I have to always make sure our bedroom and bathroom doors are closed because she can crawl quite quickly to destroy toilet paper (like a pet cat) or knock over trash cans.  Though I am pleased she is very on track with development, I do kind of miss the days of setting the baby down and that's where she stayed!

I also wanted to talk about the infamous Raven whine.  She has mastered the art of whining and I rush to check her diaper, know she's fed, etc. but she really enjoys whining sometimes for no reason and it can make me want to tear my hair out sometimes.  JD says she gets it from me, thanks dear.  She has had a few little tantrums and am not looking forward to the full blown toddler tantrums coming up in the next couple years.  This is why wine was invented, for moms with whiny babies?

PS:  Winter can LEAVE now.  I just want to take my baby on walks again!!!!!!

Raven is 10 months old already, yowsa!  She loves to stand and walk with the help of a walker type toy.  Her walking with the walker reminds me of a little old lady.  I honestly cannot believe how much she's grown and developed, my heart melts when she says Mama.  Since Raven is now mobile, we have had to really hunker down on baby proofing and keeping a close eye on her.  She tried to eat a DVD a few days ago when I wasn't looking.  She also likes to pick up debris on our area rug and try to eat it.  This has kept me vacuuming but debris just keeps appearing out of nowhere!  With all her scooting around and trying to stand, she's also fallen a few times which is heartbreaking because she always looks at me like it's my fault through her tears.  Mothers have had to reassure me that falling just comes with the territory of babies learning to eventually walk and I've got to roll with the punches.

We also hit another milestone of having to call Poison Control because Raven was in her playpen and was reaching over to get to the windowsill and was able to get a piece of old paint in her mouth.  All I thought was LEAD POISONING and that I was a bad mother for not getting to her in time.  No worries, Raven is alive and well.  I hope for my sanity that I don't have to call Poison Control again for awhile!

I can't believe in 2 months we will be having a first birthday party for Raven.  I'm probably going to bawl my eyes out because she will be a toddler and not considered an infant anymore.  I do miss her as a newborn and how tiny she was (and much lighter to pick up) but I don't miss the crazy sleeping schedule...even though 6:30 am when she usually wakes up is still too early for my liking.  Being awake before the sun rises should be forbidden.

  Happy new year to everyone!  Raven made out like a bandit with the amount of toys she received for Christmas.  Our living room is now officially cluttered with all sorts of toys!  The good thing is that Raven enjoys everything she received and is even standing up on her activity table she got.  She also received a baby walker type thing that she can walk with!  We will have a walker before we know it!  The cute thing is when Raven is standing against something (coffee table, couch, activity table, etc), she is very unsure of how to get down and is afraid of falling onto her bum so she kind of gives me this look that says, "Mom, come help me out here."

  Our New Year's Eve was pretty uneventful, Raven went to bed at her usual time and we rang in the new year with a couple friends that came over.  It is weird to think that this is now the second year that Raven has lived and that she will be one in only 2.5 months!  Where does the time go?!  I still can't believe we have a 22 pound baby vs. the 8 lb. one we brought home from the hospital.  I guess that's what happens when you feed them!

  I know winter isn't going anywhere soon, but I am already over it!  I miss taking Raven on walks and going to the park!  We have days where we are home all day due to bad weather which starts to give me cabin fever.  I can't wait until spring and the ability to be outside without freezing.  I also hate trying to get Raven's coat on, the zipper is so stubborn!  Let's skip January and February and bring on Spring:)