Watch You Grow! Month 10

Dear Ensley,

You're 10 months old, and I can't believe how quickly it has happened. We are starting to get ready for your birthday party, which is only two months away! I can't believe you are already going to be a year old.

Your firsts:
Weekend without mommy and daddy: (2/9/13) Daddy and I went to Las Vegas to celebrate our friend, Chris's 40th birthday. I was sick about leaving you and almost cancelled like 50 times. In fact, I didn't even book our room until 10 p.m. the night before we were supposed to leave. The picture on the left was Daddy and I playing with you before Mimi came over to watch you. I was crying because I could not bear the thought of not putting you to bed and waking up to your happy little face. The picture on the right is of me and Daddy on the monorail that we sent so you could see us. I missed you so much, and so did Daddy. We Skyped with you, but you were so little you didn't really get that you had to look at us, so we kind of watched you crawl away from the camera most of the time. We even left hours earlier than we had planned to because we wanted to see you so badly.

Getting your taxes done: (2/12/13) I just love this picture because it really looks like Debbie is talking to you about your taxes. I had to include it because it was a crack up. You were such a good girl and got us a pretty good write off. Cha-ching! $

Valentine's Day: (2/14/13) Stepheny Mello bought you this adorable little outfit for Valentine's Day. You HATED your headband though and kept crying because I was putting it on to take pictures for Facebook. The first picture of you smiling is the only one I got without you pulling the headband off or crying because I was trying to stop you from pulling it off. Poor little thing. Porter was your first ever Valentine, and Aunt Jen and I joke that someday it will be adorable at your wedding. Lol!

Your first Valentine, Porter Williamson. 

Pulling yourself up and walking with support: You started doing this so much more this month and nearly scared me half to death. You would pull up on anything and everything you could in order to try to walk around. You were getting to be very mobile, but our house was completely tiled. Every time you would fall or slip or lose your hold on something (which was ALL the time), you would crack your head on the tile and cry and cry. It was so sad. So, needless to say, we rarely ever left you alone this month. We all made sure to constantly have you within arms reach because you would tumble so often. We caught you most of the time, but sometimes you were so fast we couldn't grab you in time. You would cry, but after just a few minutes, there you were again, pulling up and pushing your toy box around so you could walk. You were always so proud of yourself. My little independent soul right from the start. 

You pulling up and standing in your crib. 

Temper tantrums: Oh goodness gracious, did you learn how to throw a fit this month. You finally learned that you could get mad about me taking something away from you. That was what made you the most upset. I have a video of me taking a marker away from you because you were shoving it in your mouth and I was afraid you were going to fall and shove it down your throat, and you absolutely lose it. You cry and get so mad at me. It's so sad because you don't understand why I'm doing it, but I had to get it on tape so you could see your little meltdowns. You started throwing little fits pretty regularly this month, and again, I could see your strong and independent little personality surfacing already.

Mad at Mommy for something.

Clapping: Everyday when I would come home, you would be watching "Ellen" with Diana. You LOVED to listen to the music at the end and clap along with the people. You clapped before this, but mostly by accident or very rarely. This month, you did it on purpose to celebrate something you liked. It was so cute to watch your little, pudgy hands clapping together. You would be so surprised when you did it right! :)

Funny Voice: This was the first month that you found out you could be silly and make someone laugh. You would do this little thing we called "monster voice" which was you like grumbling and doing raspy babble. It was a crack up. We would say, "Ensley, do your monster voice", and you would happily oblige. I don't know if I ever got it on tape, but I hope so!

Some of our favorite pictures of you:

Lunch with Grandpa at Buffalo Wild Wings. Look at that fish outfit!

Love this silly face!

Learning to play with your food.

You liked many of the same things this month (Lovey, nap time, your walker) and so many new things (pulling up to push things, clapping, funny voices). It is such a blessing to watch you become the person you are. I pray often that God will give me the wisdom to raise you in a way that strengthens your independent spirit and drive without creating stubbornness. I love the strong qualities that I see in you, and I am so proud to see your personality take shape. You are starting to test the boundaries and find out who you are, and I am doing my best to help you work through little bouts of frustration and sadness. Lots of learning this month for both of us. I love you, my strong girl. I'm so proud of everything you are.

Love,
Mommy